If you’re new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed
I just realized I probably didn’t say much, here on the ol’ blog, about my recent near death experience. Shocked yet? Just wait.
It all started at the dentists office, which is where all good stories start. I went to the dentist to start the whole process of getting my teeth pulled and getting the dentures blah blah blah. The dentist sent me to the oral surgeon, who did a mini-physical. Including taking my blood pressure with a portable, desk-top model of a vitals machine. Ate you ready to be shocked and amazed? That little tiny blood pressure machine registered 262/155. My first thought was, “Wow! What a crappy blood pressure monitor. They REALLY need to have that thing calibrated!” So the doc took it again… Unbefortunately he got a very similar number. At which time everybody in the room started to become a bit alarmed about just how much longer I’d live. Including the doc, the nurse, my hubs, and me. I didn’t have any idea that blood pressure could go that high. So, off we went to the ER.
Long story short, I’m now on the highest dose of Lisinopril that they make, and I bet my blood pressure is lower than yours! (Excluding Kim, of course.)
But, we DON’T know how long my blood pressure was that high. We do know that it was that high for a couple of weeks while the docs figured out just what to give me. Oh, and I also had to severely restrict my salt intake. That helped a bunch.
What we DO know is that I had been feeling like death warmed over for a long time.
It’s been a long road back to reasonably good health. I found out along the way that I don’t have breast cancer, or diabetes or bad kidneys or a toxic liver. I’m happy for all those good things.
Then with the added complications that my recent surgery and severe illness provided, I’ve been still feeling like something the cat dragged in. Until very recently.
Now I’m really feeling like a human being again. I’m trying very hard to give up my afternoon naps. I don’t need them anymore, but it’s a very ingrained habit now. And stamina is still rather low, so you see how that would make it even harder to stay outta that easy chair. But I’m trying.
I promised John that I’d make beans and rice AND cornbread for supper tonight, so that’ll keep me off my duff for a while this afternoon. Staying busy without spending all my energy is a real challenge, but I’m a big girl. I oughtta get over this hurdle before long.
Just thought you might wanna know.
No related posts.
Feeling stronger every day!
Goodness! You have really been through the wringer! I’m so sorry! Glad to hear that you are feeling better now. Take care of you…
Wow, Becky, I had no idea. I’ll add your husband to our prayer list.
Whoa – I’m glad you got that diagnosed. And I’m glad you’re feeling better now too.
Gotta admit, I’m very familiar with excessively high blood pressure readings. Hubby is an incomplete quadriplegic and occasionally suffers from autonomic dysreflexia, which can cause sharp spikes in his blood pressure. He has been prescribed oral medication to try and help regulate it a couple of times, but so far he seems to suffer even worse spikes while on the meds, so he won’t take them. We just try to manage the problems that tend to set off the dysreflexia and then treat the occasional spike with nitrobid. Not a foolproof plan, but we tend to think that having a spike 3 or 4 times a month, which usually only lasts about 1-3 hours, is much better than 3 or 4 times a week, lasting all night.