Don't be afraid....
Jim,
I am not a doctor, nor do I attempt to play one on TV, but......coming from a family with a history of hypertension, I knew that I was going to have to deal with the high blood-presssure deal. And since I was always getting checked out before hazardous testing (presssure chambers, suit runs, dives) at work, I was always having to tap dance around the truth by claiming that I had "white coat syndrom", or that I was just excited about getting to do something fun that day. I was deathly afraid that when the Docs diagnosed me as having high blood pressure, my flying days would be numbered (along with my console job, which also requires a medical!).
A couple of years ago, I had reached a frustration point with several parts of my life such that I was having minor chest pains, and finally decided "the heck with it!" I didn't want to have a stroke, and the FAA was making (certified) airplane ownership less and less enjoyable all the time. I went to a doctor (not my surgeon), and said "Treat me for high blood pressure!" A week later, with proper medication, I was right where I needed to be.
At that point, I went to my favorite "off the record" flight surgeon, and told him the story. His response?
"Paul, you IDIOT!!! We don't care if you are hypertensive, as long as it is controlled!!! You shoudl have come to us years ago, gotten on medication, and stopped tyring to fool us and shorten your life in the process...."
I know that for many of you, this story is irrelivent. But I'll tell you what, if I convince just one or two people to go take care of themselves, I don't mind telling everyone how foolish I was....
(Oh... I still get a bit elevated on "test days" - but now I KNOW it's just because I am excited about getting out of the office!).
Paul