Success thanks to a New Happy Place

Well I went to see my doc yesterday after a full 2 weeks of monitoring my blood pressure (bp).  It was high in the beginning of the two weeks, but when I measured the bp the 2nd week, I noticed that the numbers, while still high, were only borderline high and even then on high half of the time I took them.  Well my do was really pleased.  He let me out of there (his office) with no new drugs and no increase of drugs.  Needless to say, I’m a happy camper.

Special thanks goes to Tiffany Foster for helping me fine tune my happy thought that I focus on for 3-5 minutes before every bp check.  It really has made a difference.  My doc noticed that my pressures were better during the 2nd week and that’s about the time I talked to Tiffany and modified my happy place.  So a very big THANX to Tiffany for your help.  You’re the best!

I had another little health scare the night before the doc appointment that I choose not to go into details here about, but lets just say it was frightening.  Unfortunately (or fortunately, I guess) it had cleared itself up by the time the doc was able to see me just 15 short hours later.  I’ve no more problems with it yet.  P.S.  Here is a picture of my lovely wife.  She has lost nearly 70 lbs in a one year time and wanted to show off her new figure.  Doesn’t she look great?  She is doing weight watchers and it really has worked miracles for her.  She is now smaller than when we got married and she has plans and desires to lose another 30 lbs.  She has the discipline to pull something like this off.  If you have any questions regarding weight watchers, you can message me here through the comments section and I’ll get back to you as soon as possible.  If Melinda can do this, anyone can do it.  She has had a weight problem all her life and this is the first program she has tried that actually did what it promised.  The proof is in the pudding. 

Going to my Happy Place

My doc gave me some pointers to practice before attempting to take my blood pressure.  1st he suggested that I try to take it at the same 2 times every day.  2nd he suggested that for several minutes before taking the pressure that I take a moment to go to my happy place.  Close my eyes and imagine something that makes me happy.  So I do.  I close my eyes and picture myself driving through the open desert in the Jeep with the top down and doors off and some cool nighttime music playing on the radio.  What is nighttime music?  Well it’s music that just sounds better when listened to at night—especially in the desert with the top down on the Jeep.  So how does it work?  Unfortunately it doesn’t work.  Every single blood pressure measurement has been high for the last week.  I guess that just means that my pressure is high and needs further adjustment.  My doc threatened me with a third medication if the pressures didn’t come down.  Oh well, what’s another pill among 1,800 per month?

A Closer Look

Upon closer examination I have found that exactly half of my blood pressure measurements show that my pressure is still high.  Not as high as it was before the ER visit, but still high.  So I’m fully expecting to be told to double up on my new meds that I was given last week.  It seems to be doing a find job for the most part, it just needs a little fine tuning.  In all my measurements the pressure has never been above 150/100 and the pulse has never risen above 88.  So there’s been a lot of improvement.  No complaints from me.  The pill I have to double up on is tiny so it’s not going to be an issue.  I’d rather double up on a tiny little pill than have my heart burst…or some other equally gruesome event that I dare not dwell on.  :)

Yipee!

Hey, it’s been over a week and I haven’t had any near catastrophes to report.  My blood pressure is down and holding in the normal range.  I only experience a couple of hours of high blood pressure a day and it goes back down by itself…sort of.  Of course I’m taking 2 different blood pressure meds, but that’s the way it has to be.  Even my pulse has been in the normal range and that hasn’t been the case for years.  It’s kind of nice not feeling like my heart is about to beat its way out of my chest any second. 

I go back to my doc in about a week to see how things are going.  I’ll have to tell him that my pressure is still up for a couple of hours a day, but I don’t suspect that that will be a problem.  I also go to see my pain doc.  He’ll probably be interested in my bp and pulse.  They did a EKG about a month ago and found that my heart is at rest for too long between beats.  Apparently it’s not at a scary point yet, but it’s something that they’re keeping a close eye on.  I can’t remember exactly what it’s called or what the values are supposed to be, but mine was on the edge.  Maybe some of you medical-types out there could enlighten me. 

So that’s about it.  Keep an eye here for updates on anything exciting.  I’ll try to keep this as accurate as possible.  And thank, thank you, thank you for the positive thoughts and unending prayers for my  health and well being.  You’re great!