Yesterday I went to family doctor for a medication check. Having been sober for 2 snd 1/2 months,I was very excited to hear my BP was down and possibly even come off some BP meds. Well in fact - he said it was a little high. I was flabbergasted. I said no your wrong. I’ve been alcohol free and I take BP at home sometimes. So he did a physical and asked I come back in a couple months and check the BP cuff I own with his. So unhappy 
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Cathy, it’s normal for a lot of patients to have a high blood pressure reading at the doctors office. Sometimes it’s just nerves. Did they take your BP right away or did they let you sit for at least 5 min resting first? Did they take again later to double-check?
Maybe you can compare with other BP monitors outside of yours and theirs just as another source of data? Like at a pharmacy or grocery store they sometimes have them?
Resting BP readings mean you should be at rest when it’s taken. No exercise beforehand, not after a hot shower, etc.
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Yes. I’ve taken at a pharmacy and the nurse took as well st least 20 minutes prior to my doctor. The nurse was 112 over 80 - doc was 148 over 100. Big difference. I experience nervousness or white coat syndrome I think. I just want to be sober AND healthy
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And thank you Liz
Lol white coat syndrome
Hitting the gym helps keep blood pressure down.
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I know for a fact sometimes being in a doctor's office can wind you up and cause a falsely elevated BP. Keep up the good work positive results take time.
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Give it some time. It took years of drinking to damage my body. It didn’t repair itself in 60 days.
Just my experience.
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Sometimes for me it’s the white coat syndrome. Usually high when I first come in and they take it later on and it goes down.
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Cathy - sounds like the high reading was an anomaly! So maybe don’t worry - the first reading was really awesome! Keep that in mind.
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I drank every day for the longest time. I had blood pressure so high I couldn't pass my DOT physical. It took a little bit longer than a couple of months for my blood pressure to come all the way down. I would give time, time.
The food that we put into our bodies can have a big affect on our blood pressure also.
We all get a little bit nervous without realizing it when we pay a trip to the doctor, too.
That has a tendency to raise our blood pressure just a little.
Incidentally, if you can get out there and start getting some cardio going on in your life, that will have positive effects on lowering your blood pressure.
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Quitting drinking also ended my high BP. For the record I always take a right arm and left arm at home w my cheap store bought device. We don't need a Dr to tell us what our BP is especially given white coat syndrome. Dr offices make people nervous. Period. Take it at home. Our BP will be normal without booze and a healthy diet.
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