Soaring BP

Unfortunately, I did more tossing and turning than I did sleeping. And as a result, I woke Monday morning still plenty tired. Had some weird dreams, too. I failed to prep coffee the night before so as soon as I was downstairs that was number one on the agenda.

The strong storms that started the night before carried on all through the night. I could see from the dining room window that the pond was up about as high as it ever gets. There was some ponding along the edges of our flower beds too. It was still raining too, though only lightly. Looked like a break in the clouds coming in time for my run.

After exercise I took Mindy some coffee then enjoyed some of my own. Given the break in the clouds, I timed the rest of my routine (stretching and meditation) accordingly so I could get out the door for my run before 7am. By the time I set out on the run the rain had all but stopped. It was just a matter of dodging large puddles. It was warm and muggy – 65 degrees with 90% humidity. I ran the full 4.1 miles.

Mindy was gone by the time I got back home. Both of our cans, the regular trash and then the recycling, still hadn’t been emptied. I saw both trucks near the back of the subdivision. It’s odd for them to start elsewhere when usually we’re one of the first picked up.

It was 738am when I got back. Inside, I leashed up the pug for our morning walk. Asked Bella to make sure that the pug was fed. Back inside by 745am, I woofed down the breakfast Mindy prepared. After Bella left, I took the time to cut up fruit, cantaloupe and pineapple and packed my lunch. I should also share that I was a tad nervous about my doctor’s appointment set for 4pm with a brand new doctor.

Left the house for work near 850am arriving about 15 minutes later. Always good to see my boss and peers. Hadn’t seen my boss since the Monday prior. He and I talked for a spell. Because I had a doctor’s appointment, I didn’t bother taking a lunch. I worked straight through choosing to eat my packed veggie and fruit at my desk. I joined our weekly team call at 3pm but bailed early (330pm) for my doctor’s appointment. It’s literally just around the corner from the office but they requested I be there early to complete a bunch of paperwork. Arrived by 340pm.

The office staff was very cordial. Handed me a number of forms to complete. All of that took about 15 minutes. One of the staff told me that her husband, Jim was seeing Dr. Bloch for the first time that day as well. Neato!

Vivian/Virginia called for me a minute or two later. She took me off to the side where they check height, weight, and blood pressure. I was shocked when I read the scale. I weighed 188 lbs. At home I weigh myself about once a week but always after a shower buck naked. Last weighed in at 181 lbs. I supposed by the time you add in shoes, pants, shirt, belt, wallet you’ve easily got 7 lbs. But even the 181 lbs frustrates me because my eating drinking, and exercising habits really haven’t changed much if at all in the last 10 years yet I’ve gained a good 10 lbs in the last year or so.

What the weight was just a small blip on the stress scale. What really got me was when the nurse went, WOW! When she read my blood pressure. Her reaction scared me. It was 167 / 98. She asked if my blood pressure is always that high. Uh, no! She proceeded to check it again only on my right arm. Pretty close though a few spots lower. I told her that while I haven’t checked it in the last couple weeks, I do check it at home and it’s usually around 132/75.

She took me back to the doctor’s observation room and shared that Dr Bloch was running a little behind. I joked that he must be a Braggart. I still don’t think she got the joke.  I glanced over a couple magazines trying to divert my attention away from my apparently soaring BP. I couldn’t hide it. I was distraught over such a high number. Suddenly I was overcome with feelings of despair. I am getting old and falling apart despite exercising vigorously, eating a healthy, and minimizing bad behaviors such as drinking. Realistically, what else could I do and sustain? And I know that they have meds for high BP but I don’t want to ride that spiral if I can avoid it. In my mind, taking ongoing meds means one is succumbing to having no control over one’s self. Slippery slope!

The doctor came in around 415-420pm. He was nice fellow and certainly didn’t come across as arrogant or egotistical by any means. In fact, he was a little milquetoast and somewhat reminds me of Portland friend, Tom Shepherd. The first thing we addressed was my soaring BP readings. He wanted to put my mind at ease sharing that it’s fairly common for especially new patients to have readings 10-20 points higher at the doctor’s office. Insisted I not be alarmed and that if we determine after careful study that it’s high we’ll discuss remedies. For starters, I shared my usual resting numbers and the fact that we have a decent machine at home. Good!. He asked that I take my BP and chart it a few times each week and bring those numbers in with me next visit, which he joked that he would normally say 3 months but could tell that I would stew over it for 2 months and 28 days. We agreed to meet again in about a month for a complete physical.

He asked numerous questions, mostly about medical history and lifestyle. Shared that I am a runner/exerciser. He retorted that while if he were recommending running to anyone he would advise to do so every other day, but also said he was smart enough to never tell an existing daily runner to stop.
(Chuckle)! Talked about my being diagnosed with a very mild hiatal hernia as well as a minor Schatzky’s ring. What I didn’t know was that the Schatzky’s ring is often brought on by low iron. He asked about colonoscopy. Yep, had one two years ago. Came back clean but she did advise my prep was poor so insisted I have another in five years instead of the usual 10 for clean. Dang it!

Wanted to know if I was sick. Nope, just wanted to get what has been my every other year physical. He strongly suggested I consider the shingles vaccine, and then shared that he would get my existing medical records from Riverview Family Care. Cool! Turned me over to the nurse again, who moved some things around on the calendar to get me in on June 16th for an AM physical. Once again, I was very impressed with the staff, nurse and doctor. All done in a non-condescending manor. I was still a little torqued with my BP. About the only thing I know I could do is reduce salt intake.

Before heading home, I made two pit stops, one directly across the street at Home Depot and then another down the street at Lowes hoping to find an improved flower inventory. But neither had anything that I wanted. Really disappointed in what they’re carrying this year. Figured I might stop at deMonye’s on the way into work again on Tuesday.

Arrived home to Mindy in the kitchen. She said we were on our own for dinner and that she and Jacob were soon heading out to do some clothes shopping for him. I was already snacking on nuts while sharing the details surrounding my doctor’s appointment. Bella was staying home with me. Mindy shared that Bella was grounded for playing with her Surface during the overnight which is a no-no in our house, and that was even after Mindy asked for it before bed, but Bella insisted it was already downstairs and out of reach. At the time Mindy still didn’t know that I found her downstairs after bedtime playing on her phone. Yikes! To clarify, Bella was only grounded from screens. Soon after Mindy and Jacob left, Bella asked if she could go out and ride scooters with Makayla. Yes.

It did a little reading from my Kindle and around 7pm I decided that I would be a whole lot more comfortable in bed. Already I was crazy sleepy after a poor night of sleep Sunday. And even though it was mid-day bright in the room, I managed to dose while using the TV like a lullaby.

I woke and hour or so later when Mindy and Jacob got home. Mindy came up about 10 minutes later to shared that she brought home Chipotle for me. Though, there wasn’t any way I was getting up and out of bed. I was determined to get as much sleep as possible. She said she would save the barbacoa burrito for me for another time, but good money says Jacob will try to find and eat it after school.

Mindy joined me in bed around 915pm. I asked if she would take my BP since the machine was under her side of the bed. She took it. It was 138/78, or something very close to that. While still high, a number closer to what it usually is. We watched a little more TV and were eventually joined by Bella for some snuggling. TV was off by 10pm and we were both off to sleep.