I didn't reverse-engineer the protocol for my blood pressure monitor in 24 hours

I have three blood pressure cuffs

They all give me different numbers, by a lot sometimes

btw you think they ever clean those devices?

you think healthy people go to pharmacies?

I won't even touch the signature pen, imagine what's on that

I had my blood pressure tested several times over the course of the month and each time it was high, weirdly high, like 160/100. If I drove in, weirdly high. If I cycled in, weirdly high. If I got another reading after sitting quietly in the waiting room reading my book for half an hour, weirdly high.

They wanted me to start on all sorts of medications immediately.

The second-last time, they got a reading of 220/130, and were going to get an ambulance to take me into hospital immediately.

Er, hang on a minute, folks.

That's beyond "hypertension crisis" and well into "incompatible with life" levels. That's the kind of pressure I see in hydraulic servo feedback channels, not living things.

They grudgingly agreed that someone with high blood pressure probably ought not to be making as much sense as I was, although what would I know about it, they're the professionals, etc etc.

The next time I noticed the automatic blood pressure cuff had a fresh new calibration sticker on it.

130/90. Not bad, for a reading taken at the doctor's surgery.

I wonder how many people are on medication they just plain don't need because of a plainly faulty sphyg though?

Agree with all of the rest of your points, but a legitimate 220/130 is something that a typical doctor's office does observe* on occasion, so that (by itself) wouldn't have made them think their instrument was faulty. Some of those people would even be outwardly asymptomatic, as strange as that seems.

* those people would be considered to be in a hypertensive crisis, and sending you for emergency care would be the right thing to do, normally.

Can confirm; had a 210/110 legit BP reading. Multiple cuffs and sensors confirmed. I felt it too.

Walked into the ER because my Dr forced me too. After walking into and chilling for a bit. 130/70. $3000 later no answers.

So, it does happen to people.

I love those visits. I've occasionally had sharp chest pains which go away after a number of seconds. They've never been accompanied by typical heart attack symptoms, so I usually ignore it (not smart, I get it).

After one such episode, I decided to schedule an appointment with my general practitioner. They refused to see me if I didn't go to the ER first. I was pretty certain I didn't need an ER visit, but went anyway.

I waited hours, a doctor eventually saw me in the waiting room, and was never admitted. I think it cost $2500 or so, with insurance covering only part.

(For what its worth, I probably have this: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Precordial_catch_syndrome)