I've been Resperating for almost 2 weeks now. My primary problem was white coat hypertension which would extend to panic even whenever I took my bp at home. If I was feeling panicked my reading would be maybe 145/95, if I was distracted enough not to be panicked, or if I sat quietly for awhile and took repeat readings, would be about 135/87.

Enter the Resperate. After 2 weeks I'm happy that all my readings are under 140/90, even if I feel quite nervous. But I had a sort of "tease" because, the third day I used Resperate, I took a before and after bp reading with a dramatic fall from 140/96 to 135/78. A couple days later my "regular" reading (i.e. not after Resperate) was again about 130/75, and a couple of days later, the same thing. That got me thinking and hoping that a diastolic in the 70s would be my new "normal".

After another week, though, I haven't gotten another such low reading, and I did a before and after Resperate reading a couple of days ago that barely showed a change - the systolic was up by 8 points and the diastolic was down by 5 points after using Resperate. I called Customer Service and was advised to wait the 3-4 weeks before I made a judgment.

But I'm worried that I'm doing something wrong - I don't feel very relaxed during the sessions, I feel impatient, the melodies are getting boring, I know now that you're supposed to "breathe normally" to speed it up a little when it tries to take the BPM too low but I'm always wondering whether I'm at that point, and sneaking looks at the screen to see what the BPM is and then wondering "should I speed up the breathing now?". The breathing never feels totally comfortable to me - I feel a little yawny and breathless even thought I try just to do a light inhale and light exhale and not hold my breath. While I'm Resperating I just sit and close my eyes and focus on the breathing, but in my case I'm wondering if I might be better off looking through a magazine or something so that I'm not "trying" so hard. Does anyone else keep their eyes open and read or look out the window?

If anyone has any advice I'd appreciate it. I do a 15-minute session once a day, and I'm thinking maybe I should switch to a 10-minute session? I've read on some of the posts that any increase in bp after a session (like with my systolic) is a sign that you're putting too much effort into it - is that always the case or does it just vary sometimes?

Thanks!

I think you've nailed it right there. You're like me, anxious and nervous, and you are giving too much attention to the figures and the instructions, especially the BPM figure.

Sit down, switch on the machine, and COMPLETLY IGNORE THE BPM FIGURE ON THE MACHINE until the session has ended.

You'll find the session a lot easier, and as long as the machine is saying you are in the TPZ you are benefitting from it. You may also want to limit your BP measuring too, as you are likely to be doing it more than a couple of times a day and putting too much importance into the results.

Too much focus on the BPM figure, too much measuring of the BP, trying too hard to match exactly the machine tones and so-called "ideal" breathing rates - all of these things will detract from the beneficial effects of the machine so make a note to minimize all three and then come back and tell us how you get on... 8~)

Again, I agree with Gordon. Just close your eyes and relax. It sometimes helps me if I imagine that I am some place that I enjoy, like a beach for example. Then let your mind wander and enjoy the experience. Don't give up! Keep using it. The benefits are well worth it.

Thank you, Gordon and JBC! I will take your advice and keep on with it - I like the idea of picturing a beach scene or some other relaxing place. I'll keep you posted, and thanks for your responses.

I just posted in another blog suggesting the same. Try to think of somewhere serene such as a beach scene with the waves gently crashing into the beach, or a trickling clear stream where you can see the bottom or a grassy hill with the wind gently blowing the flowers that are growing. Just allowing your mind to "wander" like that is a magnificent treat in itself.
Breathe Easy!
Marguerite (IMG:http://forum.resperate.com/style_emoticons/default/cool.gif)

I am a fairly new user - 3 and a half weeks. I have been struggling with "breathing easy" and following the guiding tones for the whole time. Last night I changed from tune #3 (which I love and have been using since starting) to tune #1 (which is more boring). Using tune #1, I found for the first time that my breathing with the guiding tones was effortless. This morning my systolic BP was down a little, but my diastolic was down 15 points from my last 2 months average! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) I will continue to use Tune #1 for a while and see what longer term results I have.

Wow, that's actually an excellent tip which I haven't offered in a while. If you are having a difficult time "breathing easy" perhaps the background music actually causes confusion. It could be a good idea to switch to #1, which has no background, just so your body can understand what it's supposed to be doing. Once you find your body is responding to those simple tones, then you may switch back to the more pleasant #3!
Breathe Easy!
Marguerite (IMG:style_emoticons/default/cool.gif)

Just a tip here .... expect a lot of variability in your blood pressure values. Even healthy folks that don't have hypertension have up and down days. The situation that becomes of concern is if your blood pressure goes very high, or if you have high readings more often than low ones over extended period of time like 3 days. For example if over 3 days reading, all reading are above 140/80 and average something like 155/90 ... then it a a concern. Lots of things affect blood pressure such as pain, infections, colds, flu, stress, how well you slept, your particular diet on those days, and so on. So, even a day or two at higher values if you have good values for several days before and after isn't that unusual. Of course ideally you want to have all your values within ideal rangers.

Even on medication, I still have a couple of days a month, when my blood pressure would suddenly be 160/100 or something. I also have a couple of days when it be 100/65. So, it all balances out. What should be a concern if it up and consistently up. My doctor likes look at the 7 day averages. he likes to see the 7 day average below 120/80 level. He also suggests that once a day reading is probably good enough .... and once you get you blood pressure under control, you can take your readings every second day sort of thing, as long as the readings you get are fairly good ones.

I'm new to this forum. Feeling discouraged? I have a BPM rate of 5 or lower when starting. Usually ending at about 4.4 or so. What should I do to correct this? I do look at the reading my entire time (15 Min). Is this bad? I usually have a diastolic pressure that is fine, but can has a systolic of 180 at times.

[quote name='donby' date='Oct 30 2008, 09:03 AM' post='2504']
I'm new to this forum. Feeling discouraged? I have a BPM rate of 5 or lower when starting. Usually ending at about 4.4 or so. What should I do to correct this? I do look at the reading my entire time (15 Min). Is this bad? I usually have a diastolic pressure that is fine, but can has a systolic of 180 at times.
[/quote]


Hi Donby: Please - do not look at the reading while you are doing your fifteen minutes. Just close your eyes and continue to breathe in and out as directed and you will find yourself just sort of drifting off.

Also, do not be concerned about your BPM reading. I have been using Respeate since March and my final BPM always averages between 4.5 and 4.9

The only number that is of any importance to you should be your blood pressure reading. Contine to use Resperate and you will see your blood pressure drop. It sure works for me. I use the Resperate twice a day for 15 minutes each time. I probably don't need two sessions a day but to tell you the truth, I look forward to my sessions. It completely relaxes me and that is important because I was born an A-type personality and have always been a high-anxiety person all my life.

If you have any questions, feel free to email me and I would be happy to answer them.[size="5"][/size]

The beginning breathing rate is too low. You are probably taking deep breaths during the recognition phase which are being registered as a lower breathing rate. I would probably suggest taking quick breaths so that you beginning rate will be registered much higher. It's usually better to start off at a higher rate and work your way down. Beginning at 5bpm and maintaining that rate comfortably for 15 minutes is quick a difficult task and is probably making you put an effort. Cutting back to 10 minute sessions might help also.
Breathe Easy!
Marguerite (IMG:style_emoticons/default/cool.gif)

Thanks for your reply. What prompted my concern over the low BPM reading I found articles on the internet that indicated a low respiration rate would raise a persons blood pressure.

Hi Donby: Please do not worry about your low BPM reading. As I've said, my reading is always between 4.5 and 4.9 (since March 2008) and my blood pressure remains just fine since I've started using Resperate. Don't believe everything you read on the Internet. Believe us, the users of Resperate. It works!!

I finally see slight decrease after session. I've been using resperate for six months with no change untill recently. I diet exercise and try to do whats right bp medicines give me terrible side effects.

I had a similar experience in that within a week of using the Resperate my BP dropped from 145/80 to 132/78. In the past when I took my BP before I started using the Resperate my pulse would usually start racing (way over 100 BPM) as soon as I started to put on the BP cuff. My resting pulse is normally about 66! After using the Resperate for a few weeks my pulse would usually around 70 BPM when taking a BP reading. So I knew it was having a positive effect. This was very encouraging.

After my initial success I started doing multiple sessions a day. After about 3 weeks I started taking my BP again. I had now gone up to about 150/80. This rattled me to say the least. But I believe in the Resperate. I also believe that what is called isolated systolic hypertension (which is what I have) is in many cases cause by stress and anxiety. I was sure the problem was me and not the Resperate.

I went back to one 15 minute session a day and started to focus on very smooth fluid breathing and a deep state of relaxation with my eyes closed and no distractions. I am now back to readings in the low 130/<80. It appears that the state one is in during the session is critical to the result.

You definitely understand. It sounds like you saw results & thought if you did more that you would see even more results! Sometimes people put too much pressure on themselves to make the RESPeRATE work. The results WILL come! Patience & relaxation are key. I am glad that you figured this out & returned to your original routine, which was working just fine!
Breathe Easy!
Marguerite (IMG:style_emoticons/default/cool.gif)

I was wondering why after months of using resperate my results weren't better. I'm on bp meds I exercise watch my diet still bp high. My Dr finally ordered a renal artery exam which found my right renal artery had blockadge which puts stress on the kidneys which then raises blood pressure. Drs put stent in to open artery after healing process I'm hoping bp gets to better level.