Second eye cancelled on the day because my blood pressure was too high. How long will they make me wait now?

I am so cross I could spit. First eye done in August, all fine, lovely and bright. Went in this morning for the second, gown on, drops in, and the nurse took my blood pressure and it was 190 something over 100 something. She did it again twenty minutes later, still high, and the surgeon came and said very kindly that they would not go ahead today and that I should see my GP.

I have NEVER had high blood pressure. I was nervous, of course I was nervous, I had been sat there for an hour and a half watching people go in. My husband had taken a day off to drive me. Now I am back home with one good eye and one cloudy eye and no new date.

Has this happened to anyone else? Do they put you to the back of the list? And is it the nerves or should I actually be worried about my blood pressure?

Oh Glenys, that is miserable. Not happened to me but it happened to the lady before me on my second eye, and she was rebooked within a month I think. They were very apologetic about it.

I would be the same with the waiting around, mine was nearly two hours and I could feel my heart going.

My GP once told me my blood pressure is always 20 points higher in her surgery than at home. She calls it white coat. Worth getting a home monitor and doing a week of readings before you see the GP, that is what they asked me to do.

Glenys, I am sorry, that is a horrible morning and the frustration is completely understandable. I cannot tell you whether your blood pressure is nerves or something that needs treating; only your GP can, and Harold's suggestion of a week of home readings beforehand is exactly what many surgeries ask for. What I can say from my own experience and from readers here is that being stood down on the day for blood pressure is not unusual, and as I understand it the concern is that a very high reading can make problems such as bleeding during surgery more likely; it is not a judgement on you.

On the waiting, in most units you are not put to the back of the list. Ring the unit's booking office, not just the GP, tell them you were cancelled on the day, and ask what they need from you to rebook: often a letter or a set of readings from the GP showing your blood pressure is under control. Ask them to tell you what number they are looking for, so you know when you are ready.

In the meantime, the in-between weeks can be harder than people expect, and the guide to having the second eye done has the practical tricks readers use for the mismatch. And when you do go back, it may be worth telling the nurse you were stood down last time for blood pressure. Some units will check it earlier, let you sit somewhere quieter, or let your husband sit with you, which can make a real difference to a nervous reading.

Thank you, that has calmed me down a bit. I did not realise I could ring the unit directly, I had assumed the GP had to do it. Have bought a monitor from the chemist.

Harold T. said:

Worth getting a home monitor and doing a week of readings

Update. Home readings were a bit high but nowhere near the hospital number, GP says mild high blood pressure and has started me on a tablet, which I suppose I should be grateful they caught. Unit wanted a letter from her, which she sent last week, and I have a new date for the 11th of November.

Told them about the waiting room and they have put me first on the list that morning. Harold you were right about white coat, my husband says he can watch it go up when I walk into the GP surgery.