I hadn’t posted about any of this because I didn’t want to freak people out, but since word is already getting around … here it is.
My last few doctor visits (basically over the last 2-3 years), I’d been told that my blood pressure levels were getting “too high.” Yeah, I know. I’m almost to the age when my mother had to be medicated for blood pressure among a host of other ailments that I thankfully have not yet had to endure.
When I was sick a couple of months ago, I had to go in for a shot. She checked my blood pressure again and told me it was “sky high.” Without thinking I asked, “How high is the sky?” (it’s a Chinese saying I’m told, but I always think of the English dub of ‘Kung Fu Hustle’ when I hear it, LOL) She was not amused. :s
Anyways, she levels with me, telling me that my blood pressure is “at stroke levels” and that I had to make more changes — effectively immediately. No more decongestants. Suck. I’d grown dependent on those over the years. OK, done. Salt and processed foods. Well, I’d already cut out sodas, and as much salt and processed foods as possible. But all that wasn’t enough. Didn’t help that I was under a lot of stress due to ongoing family drama, death in the family, and the near-death of my best friend. Bleh.
Two weeks later, my blood pressure had spiked super high, then bottomed out. I passed out, waking up and having no idea where I was much less what happened. Luckily I was out with friends when it happened, and not at home, alone. I was rushed to the ER. Long story short: I have no explanation of what happened, but blood pressure was most likely suspect. At one point, I’m told by someone that it was possible that I WAS having a stroke, but was determined later that wasn’t the case. Yikes. I did not take that well.
And I am not ashamed to admit that I was scared shitless!
All this time later, I’ve been doing better. Another doctor visit comes and goes. More diet changes, more time for then-current meds to get out of my system. I went back this week and my blood pressure was lower, but still too high. They took what felt like gallons of blood in order to run various tests: cholesterol, thyroid, and Lord knows what else. My doctor tells me, “We’re checking EVERYTHING.”
Yep, ok. They’ll let me know what they find. I have to go back in a month to have my blood pressure re-checked, and will likely keep having to do so until it’s out of “the danger zone.”
Fun. What fun? Where fun? It’s SO not here. :P
Hope y’all are all doing better than I am!
John
Watch yourself Nicki. I was also told I didn’t have a stroke when I went to the ER with the same symptoms (except for the SUPER high blood pressure). They told me I had Bell’s Palsey. Guess what? I DID have a stroke. An extremely minor one, but a stroke. The CT scan they did in the hospital didn’t find it, but the MRI the neurologist ordered later did. Let me and Miranda know if you need anything.