BP readings

[Vt Big Rig]

I now have a fistula in both arms.

So no BP in the arm. We have been trying to take readings on my ankle. WE are constantly adjusting the cuff and taking additional readings till I get something that sounds like it might be right.

Yesterday I had clinic. First nurse asks if I am taking my BP medicine. Neph wants me to take some if BP is over 140. I said, "how can I tell. This cuff is always around 200. I can correlate to the arm cuff". She laughs

Neph comes in and asks what my BP is. She tells him what it was on my ankle and he says, "Well we know that's not right". But nothing else.
If they do not care why should I? Last night I got readings of 210/150 with a pulse of 130. And 80/50 with a pulse of 30. I am tired of my wife constantly trying to adjust this cuff to get a reading that MIGHT be correct.

I just sent an email that if they wont give me a cuff that works, I will just stop taking reading all together.

Yes, I know I need to take them for Me.

Does anybody out there have an ankle cuff that seems to work. I know readings will be different than my arm but if they were at least consistent I could work with it.

[Michael Murphy]

In 2012 I had surgery on my non fistula arm, since the could no place the cuff on my left arm due to the fistula. Instead they put on on my right arm that had my rotor cuff in my shoulder.  Every time the cuff inflated it felt like my arm was Boeing ripped off.  My BP kept going higher and higher.  Finally a nurse came on duty and I explained to her why my pressure was going up.  She went and got a large cuff and put it on my thigh. Then she took my pressure one last time on my arm.  Then she took it on my leg, adjusted the results to make them even.  From then on they relied on the leg cuff. With out the pain my pressure dropped to normal.

[Vt Big Rig]

The beat goes on  ..............

I get an email response from the nurse manager that she talked to the neph, who told her I should to use a wrist cuff on the arm with the maturing fistula (which is in upper arm).

I respond with , funny the vascular surgeon told me I could do that "occasionally" , certainly not every half hour.

She basically replies with she has nothing else for me.

I love it when they are so helpful

[Vt Big Rig]

UPDATE

Finally got permission from vascular guy to use a wrist cuff on the arm that has the new fistula up high ........ I swear readings are great just because of the lack of aggravation in taking them....

[PrimeTimer]

Putting things in writing or in your case, an email, seems to get their attention. Sad that the very people who are to help you are sometimes the ones creating hurdles. Glad you stayed on them.