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Friday, January 6, 2012

After only 1 week of steady exercise, dieting, and taking supplements....

...my blood pressure has already come down to normal...and stayed there! About a year and a half ago, I noticed that I was feeling really "off". It seemed like my heart was pounding hard at random times. I kept getting headaches and feeling dizzy. As I look back, I am thankful to God for the signs. There is a reason it's called the "silent killer" because it is rare to exhibit symptoms. That voice told me to check my blood pressure. 180/110!!! I was freaked out. I just knew I was about to have a stroke at any minute. I tried calming techniques like mental imagery, deep breathing, etc. My bottom number refused to dip below 100. Sometimes the top number got down to like 145. The members of my family tree that have high BP all have high numbers on top, but mine was the most dangerous kind. You don't want that diastolic pressure to stay above 90. The consequences can be devastating. So my doctor ordered all sorts of expensive tests, especially the echo cardiogram. Those a**holes who call themselves my medical insurance company tried to deny coverage for that fun test because they stated it was, and I quote, "not medically necessary". Hmm...really??? Then why did my doctor order it? Have they had a rash of  clients trying to swindle them out of free echo cardiograms just for grins? Greed is one of the seven Deadly Sins, but yet that is the principle around which this company operates. But I digress...

I was prescribed medication, which worked like a charm. As far as I can tell, there were no side effects. However, when my meds run out, I have an unfortunate tendency to forget to refill it for several days. This has always resulted in high BP readings in the past. My doctor was not very happy with me when I went to see her during one of those "off times". How stupid can I be going to the doctor while off my BP meds?! So, I was busted. It was high, and had to admit why so she wouldn't freak out and try to order more tests or up my dosage. That was embarrassing.

Several days ago, I ran out of my medication again. After 3 days without it, I checked my BP. It was perfect! Usually it would take only missing one dose for it to go back up. That's how dependent my body was. I checked it the next day...great reading. Next day, same story. I wondered how on earth it could suddenly be normal again on its own. The only thing that had changed was that I had lost about 8 pounds, but the biggest change was my eating habits and all the supplements I was taking. I can't even name them all right now, but one of them is an omega fatty acid complex (about 4 capsules a day). I don't know if it is any single factor or just all of it combined. I went ahead and started taking my BP pill again just in case and guess what? Last night after two days back on the medication, my blood pressure was LOW. 107/60! I was afraid I would pass out. Now I sit here wondering, do I stop taking it? Cut it in half? Just now it was 104/71. That isn't low but then again, it is nearly time for another dose.

All I know is TGIF!!!!! Have a great weekend, readers! :D

3 comments:

Dollie said...

I'm so proud of you! Just keeping trekking forward and don't let anything stand in your way!

Stacie said...

Thanks, Dollie-moo! I am checking to see if Blogger's new "threaded comments" feature is working. hmmm

Stacie said...

ok well I can see it is NOT working for me. But thank you for the comment. :D

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