blood pressure has been higher since double mastectomy

coffeelatte

I wondered if anyone else has had this experience. I am 57 and I have had normal to normal low blood pressure readings my entire life until last year. Last year I noticed I had high blood pressure readings in the hospital after my double mastectomy but that was to be expected because they were taking the readings on my ankle (and it hurt) and I was just recovering. Then I waited months before I was brave enough to let a doctor's office take my blood pressure on my prophylactic side and the few times I have had it taken, the readings are higher than they have ever been before surgery.  I was always reading 110/60 to 120/70; now the last two readings I have had are both 140/85.  I am upset and very discouraged.  I have been leading a healthier lifestyle since the surgery with less salt and sugar in my diet and more exercise.  I was wondering if anyone else has had a similar experience.  Could my fear of LE spreading to the good side raise my blood pressure?  I am so bummed right now.

Anonymous

Coffee, really sorry about your high BP. I haven't but I might just say this though I can't see anything about your  dx. If youre on an AI that can be a side effect. There is so much to deal with with BC and for sure stress can play a part.

coffeelatte

Hi Musical. No I do not take medication for hormones because the cancer was not estrogen or progesterone positive. I guess it just has come on and I will need to deal with it.  I have a return doctor's appointment this afternoon to have it checked again.  I may need to take some medication for it if it is still high.  As my dear friend would say, "getting old is not for sissies".  So true.

Annette47

I didn't have a BMX, but have noticed my blood pressure has been higher (similar numbers to yours) ever since diagnosis.   I have it taken on my non SNB arm.  My PCP did a full work-up with an EKG, echocardiogram and stress test as well as checked cholesterol and all is well.  She thinks it is most likely "white coat syndrome" meaning that I now find medical offices more stressful than before being told I had cancer.    To confirm it, one of these days I may get a home monitor and check it here, but I was talking to a couple of other friends who have been through cancer treatment and they have had the same experience.  At this point my numbers aren't really high enough to consider medication, but we will be keeping an eye on the situation.

Jbug

Coffeelatte, I have experienced the identical problem you describe.  I had very normal blood pressure before my bi-lateral mastectomy.  In the hospital right after surgery it was extremely high as you describe and is now usually 140/80 or higher when I go to the doctor (which is way too often).  I have a home blood pressure monitor and it always reads in the normal range so I am going to blame the stress of the doctor's office for causing this.  I'm getting mine checked tomorrow at one of my follow up appointments and I am going to really try and relax while it is being taken.  I think what stresses me out is when the automatic blood pressure monitor has to try a second time (and squeezes really hard) because the first time it was set for someone whose blood pressure is under 140.  Ouch!!

coffeelatte

Annette and Jbug, thank you so very much for your responses.  I am terrified to go to the doctor to have the BP read and the harder I try to relax, the worse I feel.  I think you nailed it, "white coat syndrome".  I have been a nervous wreck since the cancer last summer and I think I put on a good front to the family so they will think all is fine with mom.  But this BP is showing me what fear can do.  I was actually shaking getting ready to go to the doctor this afternoon and now feel much better reading your responses.  OK, I am going to take a deep breath and go. I will let you know the numbers when I get back home. Thanks so much.

Jennie93

Coffeelatte, I have an interesting BP story. My DH was diagnosed with high BP and he got a machine to check it at home every day to see how the meds are working.  So out of curiosity I checked mine a few times and it was nice and low.  Went to the MO for a routine checkup and they take my BP and it's a full 30 points higher on both numbers. Honestly I would question whether the one we have at home was accurate, but he took it to his dr when he first got it and they checked it and said it was perfect!

Hard to believe just being in the drs office can make that huge a difference but it can!  So, don't let them put you on any meds until you confirm there really is a problem.  

Annette47

Hope it is just white coat syndrome for you.   I actually got some probable confirmation that it is for me today.

I had a check-up with my rad onc today and due to a mix-up with the nurse, I had the exam before they took my vitals.   Don't you know that when they took my BP after I had already seen the doc, it was perfectly normal?

angelia50

I have taken meds for blood pressure for many years but with the meds, it has always been fine at check up visits to doctor.  Since my mastectomy, it has been high each time I have been for return visits to the surgeon and plastic surgeon.  I haven't returned to my regular doctor yet but guess he may have to up the dosage if this continues.

coffeelatte

Well I just got back home and my blood pressure was finally back in the normal range: 122/70. I was so relieved to read those two posts before going to my appointment, it made all the difference.  I did not feel that I could calm myself enough so I took half of a 5 mg. Valium right as I was leaving the house. It was left over from last year when I was first diagnosed. I now remember I had to take them a few different times to get through the breast MRI, biopsy and a meeting with the plastic surgeon. I had forgotten I had a few left from last year. Anyway, after reading it could be white coat syndrome, I decided to try taking a half to see if it helped; it did. I wish I could say I got that number without taking the medication, but it showed me my nerves are really still very much on edge.  Thank you so much for the support.

vlnrph

I really don't like it when they call you into the back, make you get on the scale (never like seeing those numbers!), THEN sit you down and slap that BP cuff on. The brochure for home machines as well as the do-it-yourself instructions on the ones at the drugstore describe a relaxation period of several minutes. You're also not supposed to talk or cross your legs. If you have a big arm, you may get an erroneous result. Ask for a larger size.

On the other hand, we are getting older and there is a good chance many of us will develop hypertension, need to be treated and have dosage adjustments as our situations change.

coffeelatte

Jbug, you make a good point about the automatic cuffs.  That is what happened to me at Walgreens on Saturday.  The pharmacist put the automatic cuff on my non-sentinel node biopsy arm and it got so tight I was getting upset, then it released and had failed to get the blood pressure, so it pumped up again even tighter and I was angry it was doing it a second time.  I did think oh great I am going to get lymphedema on my good side now. I never thought how much stress that is bringing to my life. Anyway, today the nurse just wrapped the BP cuff around my arm and did it really quick.  It did not hurt and I did not panic, that really makes it so much easier (and probably results in a better number).

Jeannie, to have a reading a full 30 points higher is just amazing.  I am sure you are calm and relaxed in your home and that must be the reason for the better readings.  I had no idea this white coat syndrome could have such an effect on us.  Cancer is mean.

208sandy

Yup, it's white coat - dh  had it for years and yes I have it too (since bc diagnoses) I have a home bp machine now (calibrated with my drs. office) and my bp is easily 20 points higher when at drs. office - btw I take half an Ativan before onc. appointments and scans - I still freak out from time to time but don't have to take when visiting PCP because those appointments don't usually freak me out.

vlnrph

Better living thru chemistry! The machines for public use that I have seen usually have an "emergency" button you can use to deflate the thing if it seems like too much pressure.

loggerhead2017

Mine has been higher also since my double mastectomy and I have been worried about it. The last one was 143/90 and I am normally 110/70. The original post was from 2014. Did your blood pressure eventually go back to normal?

Robin1234

Hi loggerhead2017 I had my double mastectomy in December 27 and mine was a little higher too but its back to normal now.