Chit Chat in VOLTVILLE Thread #2 :)

[SandySu]

That seems fairly high, SandySu.

It sounds like Bill has had an issue with this for awhile?

Yes, about 2 years ago he went to the doctor for something else -- I forget what -- and they discovered his blood pressure was high then. They suggested he take medication, but he said he didn't want to. I researched what's good to eat to lower blood pressure, and he eats a fairly healthy diet. But it went up anyway, I guess, because today, that's how high it was. The reason he went to the doctor was that for about 2 weeks, his fingers have been tingling like when your arm goes to sleep, and his lips felt numb. I thought maybe it was a small stroke, but the doctor said the symptoms wouldn't persist for a couple of weeks like that if it was. So they still want to look into that. He goes back to the doctor's office tomorrow morning for some blood to be drawn. He had an EKG today, and that's normal.

The reason he waited so long about the tingling was that he mentioned it to his guitar teacher, who said he had the same thing, went to the doctor and had all sorts of tests, and they couldn't find out what was causing it. The guitar teacher said it went away on its own. So Bill was waiting for it to just go away, but it hasn't, though he said it's less now than at first.

 

[Renolizzie]

Yes, about 2 years ago he went to the doctor for something else -- I forget what -- and they discovered his blood pressure was high then. They suggested he take medication, but he said he didn't want to. I researched what's good to eat to lower blood pressure, and he eats a fairly healthy diet. But it went up anyway, I guess, because today, that's how high it was. The reason he went to the doctor was that for about 2 weeks, his fingers have been tingling like when your arm goes to sleep, and his lips felt numb. I thought maybe it was a small stroke, but the doctor said the symptoms wouldn't persist for a couple of weeks like that if it was. So they still want to look into that. He goes back to the doctor's office tomorrow morning for some blood to be drawn. He had an EKG today, and that's normal.

The reason he waited so long about the tingling was that he mentioned it to his guitar teacher, who said he had the same thing, went to the doctor and had all sorts of tests, and they couldn't find out what was causing it. The guitar teacher said it went away on its own. So Bill was waiting for it to just go away, but it hasn't, though he said it's less now than at first.

I think the tingling thing could be something or it could be nothing but the high blood pressure needs to come down.

 

[SandySu]

I think the tingling thing could be something or it could be nothing but the high blood pressure needs to come down.

Right. I think that's what the doctor thinks, too. They gave him a prescription, which he picked up this evening after the doctor, and he took his first pill tonight.

He went to work, but they sent him home to get some rest, and they suggested he take a day off each week. He works 12-hour days, 7 days a week now. That's outrageous by our standards, but he works for Chinese people, and they all do the same, so it's normal for them. But I think they realize Bill is getting older, and maybe he can't work so hard now. I've been saying for a while that he should ask them for 2 days off a week, but he hasn't. I think he's proud that he can keep up the pace and is reluctant to take even one day off. Crazy, I know. He likes his job and feels like one of the family there, too, so I think that enters into it.

 

[Wuzznt Me]

Wow Sandy. Doesn't sound like it's a matter of whether he wants to take medication or not. If that doesn't come down he's headed for real problems. Sure hope they get it down quick. A healthy diet and exercise are important but often it's hereditary as well. Hbp runs in my wife's family and she's been on meds for it for years. She feels a lot better taking it. I've got cholesterol issues but I can control mine with diet and exercise. When I get into bad habits they put me back on a statin. That gets me back in the groove pretty quick and my next blood draw gets me off it. My bp is always excellent though.

 

[cindycated]

Yep, that's high and urgent ("Hypertensive Crisis," if that isn't scary enough). Normal used to be 120/80, but I think they've raised that to 138/90. Do what the doc says and get one of those monitors to use at home to check it regularly. You need to check it regularly (like once or twice a day for awhile), because those pills work really well and you don't want it to get too low. If the first number drops below 90 or the second number drops below 60, that is also a crisis, in the other direction. Aim for normal. There's the White Coat Syndrome too - dunno about you, but my blood pressure is always higher at the doc's than it is at home. But that's definitely crisis high.

Meanwhile, start thinking about how he's gonna change his lifestyle. salt is your enemy now - Fast food, Chinese and Mexican foods are particularly high in sodium. Morton Lite salt has about 1/2 the sodium, which you should switch to as you start weaning him from regular salt (you get used to less salt, then in time "normal food" becomes too salty). Mrs. Dash has no sodium - helps, but not quite the same - you would still miss salt. Lots of other tips out there for dietary changes for HBP. Lots of foods are really good at naturally keeping it in check. Homeopathic remedies are good, but share everything you do with doc, cuz some of them don't play nice with certain meds. Daily walks would be great as a lifestyle thing, but like Awsum said, check with the doc before adding too much physical activity at this point - he could be very vulnerable right now.

One more: look up the meds (read the little pamphlets that they give you with them) and be diligent with them. Docs don't always take the time to tell you what you need to do when you take them - be nice to know, right? Watch out for the side effects too. There are a lot of different pills - doc can easily switch him to a different one.

People get past this all the time. He'd just have to change things up a little bit, so it doesn't happen again. Be glad it got caught before something really bad happened. Good luck.

 

[SandySu]

On a happier note than Bill's blood pressure, today an old friend -- actually a friend of my daughter since about 6th grade -- moved back up this way, and she has a little girl who she wants me to give riding lessons to. So on Saturday morning, we'll do the first lesson and see how it goes. Penny is not sound enough for much, but she is gentle. When the little girl gets good enough that she'll want to do trotting, I think I can set up an arrangement with Deb so they can lease a pony Deb just bought for her grandson, who isn't yet a year old. The pony probably needs exercise, since most adults would be too big, and it might work out well. And Deb has an instructor who is excellent who I can recommend. Deb also has an indoor ring, and when the weather gets bad, they can ride anyway, but where Penny lives, there's not even a ring. So I figure to give the girl lessons till winter, and then she can go to Deb's and part-lease the pony. At least that's my plan off the top of my head.We'd have to ask Deb about all this, of course. First, some lessons and see if the girl stays interested.

And it's time to say good night with another sunset. I'm just going through my Photobucket shots and posting the sunsets as I come to them, oldest first.

 

[awsum140]

Sandy, I second the home blood pressure monitor and check it every day at the same time, like when Bill gets up in the morning. Maybe add a second one, before dinner. And track the readings so you, and the doctor, can make sense of it.

I'm just guessing here, but that tingling could be a sign of glucose problems, as in high or low glucose levels. When I was diabetic I had that tingling quite often. Now that I am no longer diabetic it happens when my blood sugar drops too low, tingling finger tips and especially lips.

Getting older ain't all it's cracked up to be!

 

[rave]

YEP - It was . . .

JUST AN FYI:


I'm sure "Terry" would have so enjoyed looking at that Moon with ya' too . . .

Much Better The This One . . .

Yer so funny, Uncle. But actually, the company that I had in mind for romantic moon worship is not the same gender as myself.

We just got back from Bill's doctor's appointment. He has extremely high blood pressure, and they put him on medication. I think they thought it was urgent, and finally, he's taking it seriously! Whew! I'm glad he isn't in denial anymore, but I sure hope he doesn't have a stroke or heart attack, which are apparently immanent if remote possibilities.

Does anyone here have high blood pressure? Is there anything I should know?

His blood pressure was 200/110. The doctor seemed to think that was urgent, so it has us concerned.

That is extremely high blood pressure!! Before I quit smoking, the doc had a terrible time trying to stabilize my BP. They eventually got it down with a med that contains a diuretic as well. My doc wanted for me to use 125/75 as the perfect goal to aim for. As Cindy said - salt and fast foods are an enemy, but I never did those anyhow. It was smoking that was causing mine to go so high in addition to hereditary factors and caffeine. Some Nsaid medications can raise your BP as well, and I was taking them to alleviate the headaches caused by the high BP. Not good. My BP is lowest right after I eat or when I first get up in the morning before moving around. Taking readings at those times can give you a false sense of security. The tingling is most likely a sign of the circulatory system having a difficult time servicing his limbs. Nerve endings react as they would when your arms or legs go to sleep.

 

[rave]

Morning Everyone!!

I didn't say "Good Morning" because we're on track to have severe storms here today along with flooding. We're supposed to get dumped on for the next 19 hours or so. This should be interesting.

On the note of severe stormage, this is one of the most amazing videos that I have ever seen. It was shot just a couple of days ago in Russia. The date on the dash cam is wrong. The guy backs his car out of his garage right into a tornado! Talk about having a bad day! Or actually, a lucky day when it all comes down to it ...

 

[SandySu]

Sandy, I second the home blood pressure monitor and check it every day at the same time, like when Bill gets up in the morning. Maybe add a second one, before dinner. And track the readings so you, and the doctor, can make sense of it.

I'm just guessing here, but that tingling could be a sign of glucose problems, as in high or low glucose levels. When I was diabetic I had that tingling quite often. Now that I am no longer diabetic it happens when my blood sugar drops too low, tingling finger tips and especially lips.

Getting older ain't all it's cracked up to be!

Interesting. Bill's mom had a serious case of diabetes. I should mention to him that they should check for diabetes when they take the blood today.

 

[SandySu]

That is extremely high blood pressure!! Before I quit smoking, the doc had a terrible time trying to stabilize my BP. They eventually got it down with a med that contains a diuretic as well. My doc wanted for me to use 125/75 as the perfect goal to aim for. As Cindy said - salt and fast foods are an enemy, but I never did those anyhow. It was smoking that was causing mine to go so high in addition to hereditary factors and caffeine. Some Nsaid medications can raise your BP as well, and I was taking them to alleviate the headaches caused by the high BP. Not good. My BP is lowest right after I eat or when I first get up in the morning before moving around. Taking readings at those times can give you a false sense of security. The tingling is most likely a sign of the circulatory system having a difficult time servicing his limbs. Nerve endings react as they would when your arms or legs go to sleep.

Caffeine? Does that mean Bill should give up coffee? That'll be hard for him. And he smokes. Quitting isn't an option at the moment, but I'll keep working on him.

 

[3mg Meniere]

Caffeine? Does that mean Bill should give up coffee? That'll be hard for him. And he smokes. Quitting isn't an option at the moment, but I'll keep working on him.

Yes, some have to give up caffeine. My mother had to. She struggled with cardio problems for years. Cardio problems are deeply implanted in my genes. Luckily, most of it is old-age cardio.

 

[SandySu]

Morning Everyone!!

I didn't say "Good Morning" because we're on track to have severe storms here today along with flooding. We're supposed to get dumped on for the next 19 hours or so. This should be interesting.

On the note of severe stormage, this is one of the most amazing videos that I have ever seen. It was shot just a couple of days ago in Russia. The date on the dash cam is wrong. The guy backs his car out of his garage right into a tornado! Talk about having a bad day! Or actually, a lucky day when it all comes down to it ...

Wow! Talk about luck and perfect timing!

 

[Renolizzie]

Wow - that video was amazing. Poor guy!

Smoky here although nothing like the three weeks of hell we had last year with that Yosemite fire.

Mostly resting up today so I can do that job tonight!

 

[rave]

Caffeine? Does that mean Bill should give up coffee? That'll be hard for him. And he smokes. Quitting isn't an option at the moment, but I'll keep working on him.

He could cut it down gradually like I did. But what really drives up the BP is smoking. I went from three intensely strong BP meds a day down to the lowest dosage available on the market. That was in a span of five years though. I still drink coffee and refuse to touch the decaf stuff. The only change has been the smoking. Just sayin'.

 

[SandySu]

Bill just phoned me. He went in for blood tests this morning, and they stuck him in both arms and couldn't find a vein! He got fed up with being stuck for nothing and left, so he has to go back Friday morning and try again. Groan! I'm so happy I have "good veins"! Whenever I need a blood test, they tell me that. He hates needles as much as I do, so this is really, really discouraging.

 

[Renolizzie]

Bill just phoned me. He went in for blood tests this morning, and they stuck him in both arms and couldn't find a vein! He got fed up with being stuck for nothing and left, so he has to go back Friday morning and try again. Groan! I'm so happy I have "good veins"! Whenever I need a blood test, they tell me that. He hates needles as much as I do, so this is really, really discouraging.

Which makes me wonder if Bill is drinking enough water.

Hope it goes better for him on Friday.

Sent from my Venue 8 3830 using Tapatalk

 

[Evie Luv]

Sandy, Bill with that high of a blood pressure, he is at great risk of a stroke or heart attack. If his goes from normal to spiking that high he is at even a greater risk. He really needs to stop smoking for sure and the caffeine. Smoking constricts the blood vessels increasing blood pressure and the risk of blood clots or blockages is greatly increased. Caffeine increases the heart rate speeding up the damage from smoking. I sure hope he gets his blood pressure under control.

 

[Evie Luv]

Good morning Voltpeeps.

 

[rave]

Sandy, Bill with that high of a blood pressure, he is at great risk of a stroke or heart attack. If his goes from normal to spiking that high he is at even a greater risk. He really needs to stop smoking for sure and the caffeine. Smoking constricts the blood vessels increasing blood pressure and the risk of blood clots or blockages is greatly increased. Caffeine increases the heart rate speeding up the damage from smoking. I sure hope he gets his blood pressure under control.

Exactly! I'm not trying to be dramatic. This is a very serious situation.