Hi,
I've been watching a documentary video on Youtube that was produced by the BBC and stars Michael Mosley. It is called, "BBC Horizon 2012: Eat, Fast and Live Longer." It appears that Michael is one of those guys who makes a living trying out bizarre things and filming it for the BBC. What he had on his mind when he did this one was his own health.
Here is a link in case you would like to see it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&NR=1&v=Pfna7nV7WaM
There were two approaches to weight loss and improving health that he presented that I am interested in. One of them is very similar to what I am already doing which is to fast for one day a week, but Michael is fasting for two days a week (not in a row) and eating normally the rest of the time with no actual dietary restrictions. It seems that when you start fasting in this manner your body gets used to eating smaller meals and you don't actually overeat to compensate on the days in between. Also the fast day actually includes one meal of about five hundred to six hundred calories depending on whether you are male or female, so it is not actually a total abstinence of food on the fasting days. (Right now I am actually fasting for 24 hours one day a week with no food for the duration.)
The other approach involves alternating fast and feast days. With this approach, you also eat one five to six-hundred calorie meal every other day. In between you eat what you want. I suppose if you simply did not count Sunday as one of the days, you could always fast on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, and Feast on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday -- leaving Sunday as simply a day off which will obviously be a feasting day for the normal human being. This then works out to be three fasting days per week on alternating days. I like the idea of managing it this way because it turns into a regular schedule that is easier to remember and manage if you always do the same thing on the same day of the week.
One of the things that attracts me to the alternating day fast is that I might be able to lose weight faster and also will not have to stress about what I eat on the feasting days. I could simply eat normally for me.
Another thing that attracts me to the fasting protocols is the idea that your health actually improves because you are eating less. Blood sugar levels normalize. Fat begins to disappear. Cholesterol gets into good ranges and IGF-1 levels reduce so your chances of getting cancer and heart disease drastically drop down to much lower levels. According to more than one of the researchers in the film there really is no better or faster way to improve your health than with fasting.
I dropped off a lot of water weight a couple of weeks ago and do not seem to be putting it back on. Yet. I did notice today that I seem to be a bit swollen. I believe it may be due to what I think is a yeast infection as a result of having taken an antibiotic. It is quite uncomfortable and I've been doubling up on probiotics to try to get past it. I'm beginning to think I might call my doctor to see if she might give me some fluconazole to speed up the process and reduce the discomfort. It not only affects me in the normal female way, but in my sinuses and my eyes, too. I have one more thing I'm going to try tonight and if that does not work, I'll definitely call my doctor tomorrow.
I am considering trying out the three days of fasting per week to see if I can (or will) comply with it, and if I do, wondering if it will take some more of this weight off at a faster pace. I'm not in a hurry, I'm just tired of wasting time. I've been at this for going onto two years and have only lost 45 pounds. I want more and I don't want to be held back any more. I see others who lose twice and three times that much in a third of the time, so surely, I should be able to move along at a better rate than what I've been doing. I'm not interested in fad diets, I want something I can maintain for the long haul -- perhaps the rest of my life.
I suppose if I cannot do the three days per week, surely I could do the two. Perhaps I could alternate weeks and do two fast days one week and three the next, making sure to eat healthy in between. That is just me thinking. I seem to get carried away some times. Since I just completed a twenty-four hour fast, perhaps this is a good time to start. I will have to give it some more thought and preparation.
I need to iron out the details like when do the fasts start and when do they finish. I have the idea that what they are talking about is
Monday: sleep/one meal/sleep (all fasting days)
Tuesday: sleep/ eat normally / sleep (all normal days including Sunday)
Right now, with the one-day fast, I time it from the last meal on one day to the same time the next day. It seems that no matter how you calculate it you never really go an entire day without actually eating something. It is just a matter of deciding when you are going to eat your one meal on the fast day because there will be a few hours between eating and sleeping that will need to be managed consciously in order to make it work.
On the fasting days you can drink water or plain tea with no sugar or milk. I suppose for those who drink coffee they could probably do coffee without much trouble, too. I'm not a coffee drinker so I'll stick to water and tea. Hot tea seems to satisfy my tummy. I also chew Xylitol gum on my fast days, too. So it boils down to water, tea, and gum for me during the hours I'm not eating. Having one meal a day seems, from this perspective of not having yet tried it, to be perhaps easier than the twenty-four hours. But on second thought, perhaps it is not, because the twenty-four hours start on a day when food was eaten and end on a day that food will be eaten so doing the sleep/one meal/sleep may actually turn into more hours of not eating. It just seems more doable because you can eat that one meal -- and you can have your one meal at any time you choose.
So how do you plan the exercise? I usually exercise on the days I've listed as fasting days, so I suppose I would want to eat my one meal after I exercise. From the reading I've been doing I find that most experts advise that it is best to exercise during a fast and then eat right after the exercise. I guess I won't know how it will go until I try it.
Another thing. There were no discussions of what kind of food to eat, except for one man who suggested moving to more of a plant based diet, but not advocating vegetarianism or veganism. Eating meat is OK -- just a little less of it, and a few more plants. I have some of my own ideas about that, as you may well know, so I will continue to eat what I believe is healthy for me.
I know what my body reacts to: starchy carbs, wheat and grains, fruit, dairy, and mixed nuts, basically, so I will continue to limit those things. This still leaves an entire array of things I can eat from salad veggies to beef, pork and eggs. I can have fish, but I don't like fish, so "fish" means tuna to me. Occasionally I have some sardines. Chicken is good. I like to make chicken/vegetable soup.
I wanted to buy some more curry powder from Sams and discovered that they don't carry it anymore. I guess I'll have to search for the Tones brand on the internet and get it shipped to my house.
Anyway. As you can see I'm still open for new diet adventures and always have the weight loss goal in mind. My next target is 299. I want to be under 300.
My blood pressure seems to be settling down at a lower level than I had been experiencing and I'm happy with that.
Check out that video. I thought it was really interesting. (see link above)
Love you,
Be back soon,
Marcia
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
I Hate Being Obese
Hi,
I was looking for something else when I opened up an old workbook today and started to read through the first few pages. The workbook was a free download called "Fat Brain Lies" from Carlene Jones of http://www.rawfoodbootcamp.com/ that I had printed out and put in a three-ring binder.
I had remembered that I had only done part of the workbook because it took me so long to finally get "before" pictures of me -- the instructions were strict to not go ahead in the workbook until you had your pictures. It is obviously a serious book and if you ain't ready, you ain't ready. But if you are ready, I think it could help a person get on the right track.
As I was reading, this statement from near the front of the book set me to thinking:
"Oh you may be saying, I don't deceive myself about this, I hate being obese. Well then, my question is, if you hate it so much and you know how horrible it is for you, why have you not done something about it? Hold that thought, I am sure you have many reasons, and we will talk about most of them in this workbook."
I pictured myself being the leader of a group talking about losing weight and how I might borrow the same thought but give it a different approach. I wanted to record what had occurred to me as a reminder and encouragement to myself so here is what I came up with:
You may be saying, "I don't deceive myself about hating being obese. I do hate it. My question for you is this: "If you hate it so much and you know how horrible it is for you, why have you not done something about it?" Stop. Don't answer that question. The reason I don't want you to answer that question is that what you will come up with will be the same old story you've been telling yourself forever. Your current answer to that question is simply a distraction.
Continue thinking about the question. It is called "holding the question." Again, Don't come up with all your excuses and reasons and hurt feelings. Just think about the question: If you hate being obese so much and you know it is a horrible situation for you, why have you not done something about it?
Now, let's change the question into a statement:
I hate being obese and I'm doing something about it, right now.
Now write down all the things you are currently doing to combat obesity in your own life. If there are things that you are currently doing, write them down as a way to remember that you are already working towards your goal and you are moving right along. This is what I am doing and why:
1. Journaling every day -- I make a record of my BP, my BG, and my weight every morning. I write down what I have eaten during the day at the end of the day. I often write down what I've eaten at the time I ate it. I write down my feelings or experiences on some days as needed. I record my exercise activities (time and duration). I write down what my current weight loss goal is every morning as a reminder of where I am currently headed. Why: this keeps me focused and on track more than anything else I have ever tried. Without it, I wander around getting into trouble.
2. Exercise three times a week -- Even though last week I did not exercise due to illness, I am resuming my three-times a week aquatic routine. Why: because it helps me to strengthen my muscles and also reduces pain.
3. Fasting once a week -- Why: it helps me to have an actual calorie reduction for the week and also gives my body a rest and time to recuperate from always eating. It has also moved my weight loss into active gear. It helps me to continue to lose weight.
4. Eat sensibly the rest of the week: -- Why: I have to eat sensibly or I either start putting weight on (even though I am fasting) or, I injure my health in some way. Too many carbs not only causes weight gain, it fouls up my kidneys and my blood glucose levels.
5. Visit my doctor -- Why: I visit my doctor because having to report to someone else who is going to actually put me on a scale and check my weight, take some blood and measure my blood sugar and kidneys plus what ever else needs to be checked is a very real incentive to me. My doctor is my accountability person. If I know I will be seeing my doctor in a few weeks it forces me to actively do what I should do in order to have good results there. I don't like to not have good results in front of my doctor.
Those five things are the things that I am currently doing. Your list may be entirely different. In fact if you are only just beginning to do something about your obesity, today, you might list things such as:
1. investigate programs until I find the one that works for me or that I am willing to try.
2. Ask self: What do I already know how to do that will help me lose weight in a sensible manner?
3. What can I do today to begin going in the right direction?
4. Do number 3 until you are finished with number 1.
Even these may not be right for you. You must address the statement (I hate being obese and I'm doing something about it, now.) with what is real for you.
In the end what you must come up with is:
1. A way for you to reduce the number of calories you eat per week.
I have the following statement in a small banner highlighted in yellow on my journaling page: TO LOSE WEIGHT, YOU HAVE TO EAT LESS. This is the simplest, most basic truth about losing weight that there is.
You must come up with a system of calorie reduction that you can live with. It can be done by eating smaller portions. It can be done by eliminating your "hot button" foods (foods that make you gorge, like junk food or candy and sweets). It probably should include eating more vegetables and protein and eliminating as much food as possible that is made of wheat and sugar or other starchy carbs. It might also include fasting one day a week. It might be easiest for you to join a weight loss company (like Jennie Craig or Weight Watchers) or group (like starting one in your living room). You decide what you are willing and able to do. Then do it.
2. A way to get your body moving and make it a ritual or habit in your own life.
In the beginning you must start out small or slow and not overdo it. If you are not fit, then walking for one or two minutes inside the house may be all you are able to do. But if you do it every day, and embrace the goal of "improvement at your own pace," you will soon be able to go for five minutes at a time. Then you can think about moving on to longer durations -- up to about 30 minutes, or more as you are able. Begin where you are today but get going.
Exercise will not actually help you lose weight to the degree that eating less will. But you cannot leave out some form of exercise that you are able to do. Everyone always talks about walking as the simplest form of exercise because all you have to do is put on your walking shoes, open up the front door, go outside, and walk.
I agree with that statement but I hate walking in the Georgia heat so I exercise in the pool and if I have to miss the pool, and am able, I get on my Aerofit (or treadmill) at home and go.
3. A support system that actually helps you to maintain your sanity and reach your goal.
Eating less and moving more are the only ways a human can lose weight, but if you don't also set up some kind of self supporting sanity and motivational activities, too, then you will be much less likely to accomplish the first two. Notice that all three of these things are ACTIVITIES. Eating. Moving. Relating.
My best self supporting activities are my journaling and visiting my doctor. My journaling lets me record my own statistics and also share my own feelings and thoughts as the days go by. My blogging helps keep me sane and also attempt to encourage and support others who may be in a similar boat. They both keep me on track and sane. They help me make corrections where corrections are needed by letting me see when and where corrections are needed.
Seeing my doctor makes me accountable to another human being -- one with authority to make accurate judgements and statements about my health, and prescribe changes that need to be incorporated as needed. My doctor is my coach.
The support system my cousin Julianna has been successful with was to join Weight Watchers. She goes every week for her accountability weigh in. She learns tips, tricks, and strategies for eating fewer calories and losing weight. The most important thing is that she actually incorporates what she learns there into her daily life. She participates with her program on a daily basis -- she does what they tell her to do. She is now about 10 pounds from goal weight and I say, "here, here, way to go, Julianna!"
You need to support yourself and your sanity. If you are obese you will not become thin over night. Embrace the journey and simply do today what you can do, according to your own, ideas, beliefs and strategies. You are in charge of your life and body and reactions. Just like you have your own system to accomplish other chores in a timely manner, you also need to set up your own system for accomplishing the goal of conquering obesity.
Do what you are able to do, right now, and then repeat it day by day. Today is the only day you can participate in any activity. Today is the Only Day There Is. If you're not doing anything about it today, then you've succombed to your own distracting stories and emotional reasons. You can move beyond it by "holding the question" ("If you hate obesity so much and you know how horrible it is for you, why have you not done something about it?") and changing it to the statement: "I hate being obese and I'm doing something about it, now."
Your body is capable of improving. You can make your body stronger and more fit by letting go of all those old ideas and start living in your own new statement, today.
I hate being obese and I'm doing something about it, now.
Go for it!
Be encouraged!!
Love you much,
Be back soon,
Marcia
I was looking for something else when I opened up an old workbook today and started to read through the first few pages. The workbook was a free download called "Fat Brain Lies" from Carlene Jones of http://www.rawfoodbootcamp.com/ that I had printed out and put in a three-ring binder.
I had remembered that I had only done part of the workbook because it took me so long to finally get "before" pictures of me -- the instructions were strict to not go ahead in the workbook until you had your pictures. It is obviously a serious book and if you ain't ready, you ain't ready. But if you are ready, I think it could help a person get on the right track.
As I was reading, this statement from near the front of the book set me to thinking:
"Oh you may be saying, I don't deceive myself about this, I hate being obese. Well then, my question is, if you hate it so much and you know how horrible it is for you, why have you not done something about it? Hold that thought, I am sure you have many reasons, and we will talk about most of them in this workbook."
I pictured myself being the leader of a group talking about losing weight and how I might borrow the same thought but give it a different approach. I wanted to record what had occurred to me as a reminder and encouragement to myself so here is what I came up with:
You may be saying, "I don't deceive myself about hating being obese. I do hate it. My question for you is this: "If you hate it so much and you know how horrible it is for you, why have you not done something about it?" Stop. Don't answer that question. The reason I don't want you to answer that question is that what you will come up with will be the same old story you've been telling yourself forever. Your current answer to that question is simply a distraction.
Continue thinking about the question. It is called "holding the question." Again, Don't come up with all your excuses and reasons and hurt feelings. Just think about the question: If you hate being obese so much and you know it is a horrible situation for you, why have you not done something about it?
Now, let's change the question into a statement:
I hate being obese and I'm doing something about it, right now.
Now write down all the things you are currently doing to combat obesity in your own life. If there are things that you are currently doing, write them down as a way to remember that you are already working towards your goal and you are moving right along. This is what I am doing and why:
1. Journaling every day -- I make a record of my BP, my BG, and my weight every morning. I write down what I have eaten during the day at the end of the day. I often write down what I've eaten at the time I ate it. I write down my feelings or experiences on some days as needed. I record my exercise activities (time and duration). I write down what my current weight loss goal is every morning as a reminder of where I am currently headed. Why: this keeps me focused and on track more than anything else I have ever tried. Without it, I wander around getting into trouble.
2. Exercise three times a week -- Even though last week I did not exercise due to illness, I am resuming my three-times a week aquatic routine. Why: because it helps me to strengthen my muscles and also reduces pain.
3. Fasting once a week -- Why: it helps me to have an actual calorie reduction for the week and also gives my body a rest and time to recuperate from always eating. It has also moved my weight loss into active gear. It helps me to continue to lose weight.
4. Eat sensibly the rest of the week: -- Why: I have to eat sensibly or I either start putting weight on (even though I am fasting) or, I injure my health in some way. Too many carbs not only causes weight gain, it fouls up my kidneys and my blood glucose levels.
5. Visit my doctor -- Why: I visit my doctor because having to report to someone else who is going to actually put me on a scale and check my weight, take some blood and measure my blood sugar and kidneys plus what ever else needs to be checked is a very real incentive to me. My doctor is my accountability person. If I know I will be seeing my doctor in a few weeks it forces me to actively do what I should do in order to have good results there. I don't like to not have good results in front of my doctor.
Those five things are the things that I am currently doing. Your list may be entirely different. In fact if you are only just beginning to do something about your obesity, today, you might list things such as:
1. investigate programs until I find the one that works for me or that I am willing to try.
2. Ask self: What do I already know how to do that will help me lose weight in a sensible manner?
3. What can I do today to begin going in the right direction?
4. Do number 3 until you are finished with number 1.
Even these may not be right for you. You must address the statement (I hate being obese and I'm doing something about it, now.) with what is real for you.
In the end what you must come up with is:
1. A way for you to reduce the number of calories you eat per week.
I have the following statement in a small banner highlighted in yellow on my journaling page: TO LOSE WEIGHT, YOU HAVE TO EAT LESS. This is the simplest, most basic truth about losing weight that there is.
You must come up with a system of calorie reduction that you can live with. It can be done by eating smaller portions. It can be done by eliminating your "hot button" foods (foods that make you gorge, like junk food or candy and sweets). It probably should include eating more vegetables and protein and eliminating as much food as possible that is made of wheat and sugar or other starchy carbs. It might also include fasting one day a week. It might be easiest for you to join a weight loss company (like Jennie Craig or Weight Watchers) or group (like starting one in your living room). You decide what you are willing and able to do. Then do it.
2. A way to get your body moving and make it a ritual or habit in your own life.
In the beginning you must start out small or slow and not overdo it. If you are not fit, then walking for one or two minutes inside the house may be all you are able to do. But if you do it every day, and embrace the goal of "improvement at your own pace," you will soon be able to go for five minutes at a time. Then you can think about moving on to longer durations -- up to about 30 minutes, or more as you are able. Begin where you are today but get going.
Exercise will not actually help you lose weight to the degree that eating less will. But you cannot leave out some form of exercise that you are able to do. Everyone always talks about walking as the simplest form of exercise because all you have to do is put on your walking shoes, open up the front door, go outside, and walk.
I agree with that statement but I hate walking in the Georgia heat so I exercise in the pool and if I have to miss the pool, and am able, I get on my Aerofit (or treadmill) at home and go.
3. A support system that actually helps you to maintain your sanity and reach your goal.
Eating less and moving more are the only ways a human can lose weight, but if you don't also set up some kind of self supporting sanity and motivational activities, too, then you will be much less likely to accomplish the first two. Notice that all three of these things are ACTIVITIES. Eating. Moving. Relating.
My best self supporting activities are my journaling and visiting my doctor. My journaling lets me record my own statistics and also share my own feelings and thoughts as the days go by. My blogging helps keep me sane and also attempt to encourage and support others who may be in a similar boat. They both keep me on track and sane. They help me make corrections where corrections are needed by letting me see when and where corrections are needed.
Seeing my doctor makes me accountable to another human being -- one with authority to make accurate judgements and statements about my health, and prescribe changes that need to be incorporated as needed. My doctor is my coach.
The support system my cousin Julianna has been successful with was to join Weight Watchers. She goes every week for her accountability weigh in. She learns tips, tricks, and strategies for eating fewer calories and losing weight. The most important thing is that she actually incorporates what she learns there into her daily life. She participates with her program on a daily basis -- she does what they tell her to do. She is now about 10 pounds from goal weight and I say, "here, here, way to go, Julianna!"
You need to support yourself and your sanity. If you are obese you will not become thin over night. Embrace the journey and simply do today what you can do, according to your own, ideas, beliefs and strategies. You are in charge of your life and body and reactions. Just like you have your own system to accomplish other chores in a timely manner, you also need to set up your own system for accomplishing the goal of conquering obesity.
Do what you are able to do, right now, and then repeat it day by day. Today is the only day you can participate in any activity. Today is the Only Day There Is. If you're not doing anything about it today, then you've succombed to your own distracting stories and emotional reasons. You can move beyond it by "holding the question" ("If you hate obesity so much and you know how horrible it is for you, why have you not done something about it?") and changing it to the statement: "I hate being obese and I'm doing something about it, now."
Your body is capable of improving. You can make your body stronger and more fit by letting go of all those old ideas and start living in your own new statement, today.
I hate being obese and I'm doing something about it, now.
Go for it!
Be encouraged!!
Love you much,
Be back soon,
Marcia
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Blood Pressure Normalizing
Hi,
I am quite amazed at how my blood pressure has actually come down to a much more normal range. I think it is because of the many prayers from friends that God has answered and helped me. Even though I have made some physical changes, I think that the only real explanation is God's healing hand. Thank you, Lord.
I have not seen BP this low for.... well, I don't actually ever remember having BP in the 130/70 range. Of course, over the years, I only had BP readings when I went to the doctor's office a couple of times a year, but now I have my own wrist cuff and it seems to report accurately. My BP fluctuates up and down a little and I am still shocked when I see one in the normal range show up -- but I am getting more and more of them.
I did make a few changes. I cast about in my brain to discover if I had made any changes that could have affected my BP. The first thing I decided to change were two supplements that I had been taking for a rather short time. One was Lutein with Zeaxanthan -- meant to help prevent further macular degeneration. I had figured it might be OK to take Zeaxanthan even though I know I must not take Astaxanthan which affects my female hormones. Come to find out they both do, on me, so I stopped taking the Z, too.
I had also switched from simple taurine and theanine by themselves to a proprietary blend that had both of them in it, plus some other herbs and such. I stopped taking that too, and went back to my simple doses of the individual amino acids with nothing else in them.
I reduced the number of holes that my salt shaker can pour through to cut down on my salt intake. I had always pooh-poohed the idea that salt holds water and causes blood pressure increases because every research article to test the mantra, that I had ever read, concluded that it was an old wives tale. But this time, just in case, I cut the holes down from about 7 to about 2.5 which automatically reduces my salt intake. I don't eat many processed or canned and packaged foods at home so adjusting the pour on my salt shaker should do it. I do plan on reading labels for sodium content, too.
And there was one very major thing that I changed. I knew I was eating a few more carbs than normal over the space of the previous week or two, so I decided to examine my record to get an idea of what I was really doing.
It was actually hard to find a time in the last entire month when I had not eaten a carb of some kind. I even had a couple of candy binges. I was eating at least one starchy carb a day and some days two. It had gotten way out of hand without my consciousness of it. Wow. It had sneaked in again and I did not notice it. So I immediately when on a "carb fast" for three days in which I consumed no starchy carbs at all. The only carbs I had were vegetables and some xylitol sugar free gum.
So with all those changes it is very hard to say one or the other thing made the blood pressure come down. I'm just glad it did. I still feel a bit tired most of the time but I attribute that to the antibiotic I'm taking which ends with my last pill tomorrow morning. I think I shall be very disappointed if after stopping the antibiotic my BP goes back up again. I hope that does not happen. I will monitor that situation.
I also took a break from my exercise routines because I kept being distracted and interrupted. I miss them. I have about decided not to examine the Dekalb Medical Wellness Center pool to which I have a free membership (Silver Sneakers) because I checked their schedule and it is so tightly packed I don't seem to be able to fit in my one hour of time in the pool three times a week without a secretary to remind when I can go and when I can't. I like to go when I decide to go. Having to match their schedule seems nerve wracking to me.
Also my home pool seems to be closed for repairs nearly every day and I'm also taking some medicines that have "stay out of the sunshine" warnings on them. It is nearing September so I will probably just purchase a season pass for the indoor aquatic center near my home. Can't do it now because the funds are low, but maybe when September gets here I can manage it.
I had outlays for the co-pays on the two lazer eye procedures (which were both successful), plus glasses (which I'm patiently waiting for), plus car maintenance (it runs a lot better) and purchasing some help with facebook advertising of my www.bestluggagecarts.com web site (I'll be in the new facebook Mall). All in all, the month is half over and I think I have just enough to get through without too much trouble if, Lord willing, I don't have any more large expenses.
God is so good to me. I am grateful.
I may even be starting a new women's Bible study at a friend's house -- in a few weeks. Looking forward and praying that the Lord will lead me -- I know He will -- He is so good!!
Love you,
Be back soon,
Marcia
I am quite amazed at how my blood pressure has actually come down to a much more normal range. I think it is because of the many prayers from friends that God has answered and helped me. Even though I have made some physical changes, I think that the only real explanation is God's healing hand. Thank you, Lord.
I have not seen BP this low for.... well, I don't actually ever remember having BP in the 130/70 range. Of course, over the years, I only had BP readings when I went to the doctor's office a couple of times a year, but now I have my own wrist cuff and it seems to report accurately. My BP fluctuates up and down a little and I am still shocked when I see one in the normal range show up -- but I am getting more and more of them.
I did make a few changes. I cast about in my brain to discover if I had made any changes that could have affected my BP. The first thing I decided to change were two supplements that I had been taking for a rather short time. One was Lutein with Zeaxanthan -- meant to help prevent further macular degeneration. I had figured it might be OK to take Zeaxanthan even though I know I must not take Astaxanthan which affects my female hormones. Come to find out they both do, on me, so I stopped taking the Z, too.
I had also switched from simple taurine and theanine by themselves to a proprietary blend that had both of them in it, plus some other herbs and such. I stopped taking that too, and went back to my simple doses of the individual amino acids with nothing else in them.
I reduced the number of holes that my salt shaker can pour through to cut down on my salt intake. I had always pooh-poohed the idea that salt holds water and causes blood pressure increases because every research article to test the mantra, that I had ever read, concluded that it was an old wives tale. But this time, just in case, I cut the holes down from about 7 to about 2.5 which automatically reduces my salt intake. I don't eat many processed or canned and packaged foods at home so adjusting the pour on my salt shaker should do it. I do plan on reading labels for sodium content, too.
And there was one very major thing that I changed. I knew I was eating a few more carbs than normal over the space of the previous week or two, so I decided to examine my record to get an idea of what I was really doing.
It was actually hard to find a time in the last entire month when I had not eaten a carb of some kind. I even had a couple of candy binges. I was eating at least one starchy carb a day and some days two. It had gotten way out of hand without my consciousness of it. Wow. It had sneaked in again and I did not notice it. So I immediately when on a "carb fast" for three days in which I consumed no starchy carbs at all. The only carbs I had were vegetables and some xylitol sugar free gum.
So with all those changes it is very hard to say one or the other thing made the blood pressure come down. I'm just glad it did. I still feel a bit tired most of the time but I attribute that to the antibiotic I'm taking which ends with my last pill tomorrow morning. I think I shall be very disappointed if after stopping the antibiotic my BP goes back up again. I hope that does not happen. I will monitor that situation.
I also took a break from my exercise routines because I kept being distracted and interrupted. I miss them. I have about decided not to examine the Dekalb Medical Wellness Center pool to which I have a free membership (Silver Sneakers) because I checked their schedule and it is so tightly packed I don't seem to be able to fit in my one hour of time in the pool three times a week without a secretary to remind when I can go and when I can't. I like to go when I decide to go. Having to match their schedule seems nerve wracking to me.
Also my home pool seems to be closed for repairs nearly every day and I'm also taking some medicines that have "stay out of the sunshine" warnings on them. It is nearing September so I will probably just purchase a season pass for the indoor aquatic center near my home. Can't do it now because the funds are low, but maybe when September gets here I can manage it.
I had outlays for the co-pays on the two lazer eye procedures (which were both successful), plus glasses (which I'm patiently waiting for), plus car maintenance (it runs a lot better) and purchasing some help with facebook advertising of my www.bestluggagecarts.com web site (I'll be in the new facebook Mall). All in all, the month is half over and I think I have just enough to get through without too much trouble if, Lord willing, I don't have any more large expenses.
God is so good to me. I am grateful.
I may even be starting a new women's Bible study at a friend's house -- in a few weeks. Looking forward and praying that the Lord will lead me -- I know He will -- He is so good!!
Love you,
Be back soon,
Marcia
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Wipe Your Face With Your Own Dog!
Hi,
My title today is just a little funny that I thought was hilarious. It is a line from the movie "The Boys are Back" where the film is winding up and everything that went wrong during the story is now resolved and we are approaching the happy ending. In the scene the father is at the kitchen table and his two sons (from different mothers) are sitting on the couch with the dogs between them as they watch TV. Casually, the older boy takes the dogs long ear and wipes his face with it. The father, shocked, says, "Did you just wipe your face with the dog?" and the little brother looks over and orders him to "Wipe your face with your own dog!" What can I say? I'm still chuckling over the common place absurdity.
In my own life, I've been dealing with an unusual bout of very high blood pressure. I'm not going to tell you the numbers for fear that you will be in shock but the numbers were very very very high for one reading and then only very very high for most of them afterward. This began on Saturday and by the time Sunday happened I was pretty worried so I went to an urgent care facility. I really liked the PA that treated me. He talked fast and had a New Jersey accent but he was very kind, attentive, and knowledgeable. He suggested that I take one of the water pills I had in the house as a temporary stop gap and then go to see my primary care physician in the next day or two.
Problem: On Thursday I had decided not to go back to my primary care physician's office and to begin the search for a new one. I thought I had some time to complete that task, but, not so. I'm not sure what word would describe what happened or how I felt about it, except for maybe "upset" which is not really a description at all. (I shared the story in my last blog post.)
My old doctor (that does not take Medicare) had told me that the BP medicine I was taking was at the highest dose she thought was safe for me, and the NP told me that that was wrong and we could double the size of it. So my next prescription was for 100 mg instead of 50 mg, and I was afraid to take it. I took the 100 mg at night and 50 mg in the day and it seemed to be fine until I noticed that my BP was creeping up. When the BP got really high on Saturday I took the 100 mg morning and night but it made no difference. I took an additional one on Sunday morning and it did not help. I told the PA at the urgent care center and he said he thought it had been a good idea.
Then what happened? On Monday I called my insurance company to change my PCP after searching the insurance web site for someone with the criteria and hospital affiliations I wanted. I was told that since I had been to see the old doc during the month of August they could only make the change effective on September 1st and they would not budge from that position. She did suggest that I call the old PCP and get a referral to the new one. That sounded good until I called the old office and was told they do not refer people to other PCPs.
I realized I might have to go back to the hell hole after all, but, I called the new doctor's office and told them my predicament and they said that I should come in, anyway, and gave me an appointment for today (Tuesday). I also realized that I had two insurance companies and surely one of them would cover this doctor's visit.
I'm so glad! I think I found the right doctor. Her staff was not only friendly, they were kind and respectful, too. When I gave them my paper work from the urgent care facility, they actually read it. And they heard the answers I gave to their questions. I was floored that they then knew so much about me and treated me according to the information. That was completely unusual. A doctor's staff who actually heard what I was saying to them, remembered it, and took it into consideration while treating me. Praise the Lord for bringing me here!
My new doctor was exactly the same way. She took her time to try to find a medicine that I could take without harming me. I so appreciated that she was concerned about the same things I was concerned about. She finally decided to give me a very low dose of another diuretic to try over the next three weeks to see if it works. If that does not work, she will send me to a kidney doctor so they could examine me from their point of view and expertise.
They also gave me an aorta scan right there in the office. I had never had one before but it was a way to check if there were any aneurysms in my abdomen which they told me sometimes happen when BP gets to be too high. There was none, so I was good there. I'll be going back in three weeks for a BP test and in about four weeks I'll have a heart scan, also done in their office which makes it cheaper to do. I really like this doctor and feel much better about going to see her. I don't know if my insurance will cover the visit, but I needed to do it. If they don't then the other one should. I guess I'll cross that bridge when I get to it.
By the way: After I took the water pill on Sunday, I discovered the next morning that I had lost five pounds over night. I did not take another one on Monday because it raises my blood sugar and causes inflammation. Tuesday morning I had severe leg cramps and had gone down another three pounds but I had also become dehydrated and shaky. I actually hit 310.5 which was nearly 5 pounds below my first goal. Since it was water, I have no idea how long it may stay off, or if it will. But since I'll be taking a very small dose diuretic for the next 30 days, perhaps some of it will. It was not my preferred method of weight loss, because it could just be temporary, but it was kind of surreal to see the drop in numbers on my scale. I had not really been expecting to see 310 so soon. It has been a long time since I saw it on the way up.
Well anyway. I'm feeling much more relaxed now and hoping my BP begins to go to a better range. If you believe in Jesus, please pray for me.
Thanks.
Be back soon,
Lord willing,
Marcia
My title today is just a little funny that I thought was hilarious. It is a line from the movie "The Boys are Back" where the film is winding up and everything that went wrong during the story is now resolved and we are approaching the happy ending. In the scene the father is at the kitchen table and his two sons (from different mothers) are sitting on the couch with the dogs between them as they watch TV. Casually, the older boy takes the dogs long ear and wipes his face with it. The father, shocked, says, "Did you just wipe your face with the dog?" and the little brother looks over and orders him to "Wipe your face with your own dog!" What can I say? I'm still chuckling over the common place absurdity.
In my own life, I've been dealing with an unusual bout of very high blood pressure. I'm not going to tell you the numbers for fear that you will be in shock but the numbers were very very very high for one reading and then only very very high for most of them afterward. This began on Saturday and by the time Sunday happened I was pretty worried so I went to an urgent care facility. I really liked the PA that treated me. He talked fast and had a New Jersey accent but he was very kind, attentive, and knowledgeable. He suggested that I take one of the water pills I had in the house as a temporary stop gap and then go to see my primary care physician in the next day or two.
Problem: On Thursday I had decided not to go back to my primary care physician's office and to begin the search for a new one. I thought I had some time to complete that task, but, not so. I'm not sure what word would describe what happened or how I felt about it, except for maybe "upset" which is not really a description at all. (I shared the story in my last blog post.)
My old doctor (that does not take Medicare) had told me that the BP medicine I was taking was at the highest dose she thought was safe for me, and the NP told me that that was wrong and we could double the size of it. So my next prescription was for 100 mg instead of 50 mg, and I was afraid to take it. I took the 100 mg at night and 50 mg in the day and it seemed to be fine until I noticed that my BP was creeping up. When the BP got really high on Saturday I took the 100 mg morning and night but it made no difference. I took an additional one on Sunday morning and it did not help. I told the PA at the urgent care center and he said he thought it had been a good idea.
Then what happened? On Monday I called my insurance company to change my PCP after searching the insurance web site for someone with the criteria and hospital affiliations I wanted. I was told that since I had been to see the old doc during the month of August they could only make the change effective on September 1st and they would not budge from that position. She did suggest that I call the old PCP and get a referral to the new one. That sounded good until I called the old office and was told they do not refer people to other PCPs.
I realized I might have to go back to the hell hole after all, but, I called the new doctor's office and told them my predicament and they said that I should come in, anyway, and gave me an appointment for today (Tuesday). I also realized that I had two insurance companies and surely one of them would cover this doctor's visit.
I'm so glad! I think I found the right doctor. Her staff was not only friendly, they were kind and respectful, too. When I gave them my paper work from the urgent care facility, they actually read it. And they heard the answers I gave to their questions. I was floored that they then knew so much about me and treated me according to the information. That was completely unusual. A doctor's staff who actually heard what I was saying to them, remembered it, and took it into consideration while treating me. Praise the Lord for bringing me here!
My new doctor was exactly the same way. She took her time to try to find a medicine that I could take without harming me. I so appreciated that she was concerned about the same things I was concerned about. She finally decided to give me a very low dose of another diuretic to try over the next three weeks to see if it works. If that does not work, she will send me to a kidney doctor so they could examine me from their point of view and expertise.
They also gave me an aorta scan right there in the office. I had never had one before but it was a way to check if there were any aneurysms in my abdomen which they told me sometimes happen when BP gets to be too high. There was none, so I was good there. I'll be going back in three weeks for a BP test and in about four weeks I'll have a heart scan, also done in their office which makes it cheaper to do. I really like this doctor and feel much better about going to see her. I don't know if my insurance will cover the visit, but I needed to do it. If they don't then the other one should. I guess I'll cross that bridge when I get to it.
By the way: After I took the water pill on Sunday, I discovered the next morning that I had lost five pounds over night. I did not take another one on Monday because it raises my blood sugar and causes inflammation. Tuesday morning I had severe leg cramps and had gone down another three pounds but I had also become dehydrated and shaky. I actually hit 310.5 which was nearly 5 pounds below my first goal. Since it was water, I have no idea how long it may stay off, or if it will. But since I'll be taking a very small dose diuretic for the next 30 days, perhaps some of it will. It was not my preferred method of weight loss, because it could just be temporary, but it was kind of surreal to see the drop in numbers on my scale. I had not really been expecting to see 310 so soon. It has been a long time since I saw it on the way up.
Well anyway. I'm feeling much more relaxed now and hoping my BP begins to go to a better range. If you believe in Jesus, please pray for me.
Thanks.
Be back soon,
Lord willing,
Marcia
Saturday, August 4, 2012
Olive Oil Fraud?
Hi,
It seems that olive oil fraud has been around since day 0001 but it only came to my attention today in an e-mail from a guy who wants to sell me real extra virgin olive oil. I get so many e-mails from websites that are trying to sell me something that I don't often pay attention to them anymore, but this one caught my eye. I did not want to read the advertising for his expensive product so I searched out the source of information in an article that he referred to which was written in 2007 in The New Yorker magazine. (Here is a link if you are interested: http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2007/08/13/070813fa_fact_mueller )
After reading about all the corruption and mislabeling I am about to go off of extra virgin olive oil. There is no guarantee that what I am buying at my local grocery store, whether it be Kroger or Whole Foods, is even olive oil. It could be anything from soy bean oil to hazelnut oil. I only started using extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) because it was supposed to be so healthy for my body -- if I cannot be sure that what I am buying is actually EVOO, then why bother?
I can use extra virgin coconut oil (EVCO) instead. I tried using it in the salad dressing that I make myself and it actually tasted better than the EVOO from the plastic bottle under my counter. Plastic Bottle. That should be a dead give away that what is inside could be anything and the longer it sits (even if it actually is EVOO) the more rancid it gets. I don't need it. Out she goes.
The only problem I foresee with using EVCO for salad dressing is that in the winter time it tends to harden while sitting on the counter in my kitchen. It needs to be above about 75 degrees in order for it to be liquid form which works well in the pourable salad dressing. I've been considering placing my bottle of dressing near the pilot light on my gas stove to keep it at a liquid temperature but I have no idea what that will do to my dressing. Perhaps I should put it in a different shaped container so I can spoon it out. I really don't know and will have to wait for winter time to experiment with that.
In the mean time, it is summer and it works fine as a good replacement. So there you have it. My personal workaround for the corruption in the olive oil industry.
You know what this reminds me of? The Mormon church which I grew up in. They actually tell their people not to trust the Bible because parts of it have been changed over the years. They only read the King James Version (at least when I was a member that's what they did) and they believed that parts of it were corrupt. To me, even at the time, that meant that since I had no way of knowing which parts were supposedly corrupt and which parts were accurate I could trust none of it. What a mess.
I'm glad I found out the truth and became a Christian who can read and trust all of the Bible from cover to cover. I have found the evidence that I needed to ease and clear my mind concerning the Bible. The Dead Sea Scrolls give strong evidence that the Books in the Bible we are reading now are nearly identical to the ones stored away for three thousand years and hidden in a cave. There are other proofs that I've read about too, so I don't worry about it anymore. I know the Bible is the word of God, and that is what I stand on. It is so much more "clean" to trust what I have investigated and found to be authentic. It actually eases my mind and assuages my soul.
My best source of information about the authenticity of the Bible came from a book written by Simon Greenleaf -- here is a link to Amazon.com where you can look inside http://www.amazon.com/The-Testimony-Evangelists-Examined-Evidence/dp/0825427479.
It's only about eight dollars so it won't break the bank. But I must warn you, it is probably not for the casual reader. It is quite interesting to me and very well written in my opinion, but some people don't like technical nor precise reading matter. I like it, expressly for that reason. When I was done looking through his eyes, I no longer had questions about whether the New Testament was authentic or whether I could trust the words of the Apostles which were written there.
Back to the typical fodder of this blog: I went to see my doctor on Thursday but ended up not seeing her at all. I ended up simply walking out of the office and not one person even noticed it or said a thing to me. Not even a friendly "Goodbye." I'll be choosing a new primary care physician from my insurance list, soon. It was an experience that I probably won't forget.
Before I went I knew that my only current health problem that needed to be addressed was my high blood pressure. When I measured it on the morning of the appointment it was about twenty points higher on the upper number than usual so I already knew it was going to be sky high in the office. Of course dreading that, makes it worse, but I did not want to miss the appointment, so I went. As I waited for them to call me, I tried to do deep breathing and relaxation to lower it. It is hard for me to relax in the doctor's office but I did my best.
When the perky little girl came and got me and lead me back to the room to wait for the nurse practitioner (I had never really seen the doctor there.) I tried to continue to relax myself, but she wanted to chit chat so I was polite and cheerful. She walked me into the room, sat me down, tore the paper off of the examination table and pulled the blood pressure machine over to me. It all happened so fast I had no chance to breath and the number she got was pretty outrageous. She cheerfully said she would measure it again later and left the room. I got no chance to try to get anything under control and simply sat and waited to see my NP.
As I waited I got out my journal which I always take with me and was reading some things to relax me and the door opened up and another young nurse came in. She too rushed about and wanted to take my BP by hand this time. I know that the cuffs that they have don't work on my upper arm which is really oversized. They not only won't measure me, it is often extremely painful for me to undergo their trying to get it to work over and over, again, so I asked that she take it on my forearm instead of my upper arm. She said she did not know how to do that, so I was stuck. I rolled up my sleeve and asked for an arm support knowing that if they leave my arm in the air and I have to hold it up, that raises my blood pressure, too.
She pulled out the doctor's stool and sat down so I could rest my arm on her knee and quickly put the cuff on my arm and started to pump. As she pumped the pain just got worse and worse until I said that I could not take any more pressure and she immediately stopped pumping and let it go. This begins to ease the pain but it does not stop until they take the cuff off. So she let it down and said she got the lower number but did not get the upper one and started to pump it up again. Of course my arm was already in pain and she started pumping it up again harder and harder. At a certain point, I could not take the pain any more and saw that she was oblivious to my torture so I simply reached over with my other hand and undid the cuff as I explained that it was simply way too painful for me.
She actually jumped up off of the stool, leaving it in front of me, and ran out of the room, leaving the door open. The next thing I heard was her talking about me to someone in the hallway as if I had committed a crime. She seemed very shocked. I suppose she never ran into someone before who believes that they are in charge of their own body and not the nurse or the doctor. Well, when I heard her talking about me, I realized that I needed to get out of there before they wanted to torture me some more -- but I really wanted to talk to the NP, so when I made the decision to leave, I did it slowly. I carefully put my gloves and glasses on and got out my keys and waited. I sat there a few moments waiting but no one came in to talk to me.
I slowly stood up, fully expecting to see my NP coming into the room, but when I got to the door way and looked out, all I could see was the shocked nurse still talking to some other nurse farther down the corridor. So I got my walking stick and started to move slowly down the hall, fully expecting someone to approach me. No one even noticed me. I walked past the check out desk which was empty and pushed the green button to open the door and walked out. I did it all slowly in case someone wanted to say anything to me but no one came after me, and I just left. I then knew I would need to find another doctor.
I'm not asking for agreement that I did the right thing. Perhaps it was the wrong thing. As I've been thinking about it, I've come up with reasons to justify finding another doctor. For one thing, I really have never once even seen the doctor there, I don't even know what he looks like. I'd rather go to a doctor that I can see and talk to.
Their BP equipment is faulty and even from the comments of the nurses using it, it seems that they have a hard time using it. I've also never liked having to carry my urine specimen in an open container -- my previous doctor had cups with caps that prevented spillage or contamination. And when they take blood from me, it is in the middle of the nurses station rather than in a private place.
Those things may not seem like much, but I had been putting up with all that because I liked my NP, but I really don't like being treated like I am "cattle." I really do think that, all things together, I will just find another doctor.
And about the HBP. I know how to lower my BP. It is with walking. So I shall manage it with walking. The only time in my entire life that I had normal blood pressure was after I had started walking a long time ago. I also saw how my BP came down when I did a stress test a few years ago so I know that walking will make the difference. It makes me wonder why my water arerobics has done nothing for the problem. I had been hoping it would, but my BP seems to be staying particularly high, so I will start the walking thing and see if that still helps.
In the mean time, I want to find a doctor with his eye on his patients and not on his bottom line or the elegance of his office. I really did not like the "factory" format they had so maybe I can find a more personal doctor. I'd really like to go back to my old one, but she does not take medicare, so I'll keep looking.
BTW I was surprised to see a weight loss this morning. I'm below 318 today. Still losing weight. Thank you Lord Jesus!!
Be back soon,
Marcia
It seems that olive oil fraud has been around since day 0001 but it only came to my attention today in an e-mail from a guy who wants to sell me real extra virgin olive oil. I get so many e-mails from websites that are trying to sell me something that I don't often pay attention to them anymore, but this one caught my eye. I did not want to read the advertising for his expensive product so I searched out the source of information in an article that he referred to which was written in 2007 in The New Yorker magazine. (Here is a link if you are interested: http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2007/08/13/070813fa_fact_mueller )
After reading about all the corruption and mislabeling I am about to go off of extra virgin olive oil. There is no guarantee that what I am buying at my local grocery store, whether it be Kroger or Whole Foods, is even olive oil. It could be anything from soy bean oil to hazelnut oil. I only started using extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) because it was supposed to be so healthy for my body -- if I cannot be sure that what I am buying is actually EVOO, then why bother?
I can use extra virgin coconut oil (EVCO) instead. I tried using it in the salad dressing that I make myself and it actually tasted better than the EVOO from the plastic bottle under my counter. Plastic Bottle. That should be a dead give away that what is inside could be anything and the longer it sits (even if it actually is EVOO) the more rancid it gets. I don't need it. Out she goes.
The only problem I foresee with using EVCO for salad dressing is that in the winter time it tends to harden while sitting on the counter in my kitchen. It needs to be above about 75 degrees in order for it to be liquid form which works well in the pourable salad dressing. I've been considering placing my bottle of dressing near the pilot light on my gas stove to keep it at a liquid temperature but I have no idea what that will do to my dressing. Perhaps I should put it in a different shaped container so I can spoon it out. I really don't know and will have to wait for winter time to experiment with that.
In the mean time, it is summer and it works fine as a good replacement. So there you have it. My personal workaround for the corruption in the olive oil industry.
You know what this reminds me of? The Mormon church which I grew up in. They actually tell their people not to trust the Bible because parts of it have been changed over the years. They only read the King James Version (at least when I was a member that's what they did) and they believed that parts of it were corrupt. To me, even at the time, that meant that since I had no way of knowing which parts were supposedly corrupt and which parts were accurate I could trust none of it. What a mess.
I'm glad I found out the truth and became a Christian who can read and trust all of the Bible from cover to cover. I have found the evidence that I needed to ease and clear my mind concerning the Bible. The Dead Sea Scrolls give strong evidence that the Books in the Bible we are reading now are nearly identical to the ones stored away for three thousand years and hidden in a cave. There are other proofs that I've read about too, so I don't worry about it anymore. I know the Bible is the word of God, and that is what I stand on. It is so much more "clean" to trust what I have investigated and found to be authentic. It actually eases my mind and assuages my soul.
My best source of information about the authenticity of the Bible came from a book written by Simon Greenleaf -- here is a link to Amazon.com where you can look inside http://www.amazon.com/The-Testimony-Evangelists-Examined-Evidence/dp/0825427479.
It's only about eight dollars so it won't break the bank. But I must warn you, it is probably not for the casual reader. It is quite interesting to me and very well written in my opinion, but some people don't like technical nor precise reading matter. I like it, expressly for that reason. When I was done looking through his eyes, I no longer had questions about whether the New Testament was authentic or whether I could trust the words of the Apostles which were written there.
Back to the typical fodder of this blog: I went to see my doctor on Thursday but ended up not seeing her at all. I ended up simply walking out of the office and not one person even noticed it or said a thing to me. Not even a friendly "Goodbye." I'll be choosing a new primary care physician from my insurance list, soon. It was an experience that I probably won't forget.
Before I went I knew that my only current health problem that needed to be addressed was my high blood pressure. When I measured it on the morning of the appointment it was about twenty points higher on the upper number than usual so I already knew it was going to be sky high in the office. Of course dreading that, makes it worse, but I did not want to miss the appointment, so I went. As I waited for them to call me, I tried to do deep breathing and relaxation to lower it. It is hard for me to relax in the doctor's office but I did my best.
When the perky little girl came and got me and lead me back to the room to wait for the nurse practitioner (I had never really seen the doctor there.) I tried to continue to relax myself, but she wanted to chit chat so I was polite and cheerful. She walked me into the room, sat me down, tore the paper off of the examination table and pulled the blood pressure machine over to me. It all happened so fast I had no chance to breath and the number she got was pretty outrageous. She cheerfully said she would measure it again later and left the room. I got no chance to try to get anything under control and simply sat and waited to see my NP.
As I waited I got out my journal which I always take with me and was reading some things to relax me and the door opened up and another young nurse came in. She too rushed about and wanted to take my BP by hand this time. I know that the cuffs that they have don't work on my upper arm which is really oversized. They not only won't measure me, it is often extremely painful for me to undergo their trying to get it to work over and over, again, so I asked that she take it on my forearm instead of my upper arm. She said she did not know how to do that, so I was stuck. I rolled up my sleeve and asked for an arm support knowing that if they leave my arm in the air and I have to hold it up, that raises my blood pressure, too.
She pulled out the doctor's stool and sat down so I could rest my arm on her knee and quickly put the cuff on my arm and started to pump. As she pumped the pain just got worse and worse until I said that I could not take any more pressure and she immediately stopped pumping and let it go. This begins to ease the pain but it does not stop until they take the cuff off. So she let it down and said she got the lower number but did not get the upper one and started to pump it up again. Of course my arm was already in pain and she started pumping it up again harder and harder. At a certain point, I could not take the pain any more and saw that she was oblivious to my torture so I simply reached over with my other hand and undid the cuff as I explained that it was simply way too painful for me.
She actually jumped up off of the stool, leaving it in front of me, and ran out of the room, leaving the door open. The next thing I heard was her talking about me to someone in the hallway as if I had committed a crime. She seemed very shocked. I suppose she never ran into someone before who believes that they are in charge of their own body and not the nurse or the doctor. Well, when I heard her talking about me, I realized that I needed to get out of there before they wanted to torture me some more -- but I really wanted to talk to the NP, so when I made the decision to leave, I did it slowly. I carefully put my gloves and glasses on and got out my keys and waited. I sat there a few moments waiting but no one came in to talk to me.
I slowly stood up, fully expecting to see my NP coming into the room, but when I got to the door way and looked out, all I could see was the shocked nurse still talking to some other nurse farther down the corridor. So I got my walking stick and started to move slowly down the hall, fully expecting someone to approach me. No one even noticed me. I walked past the check out desk which was empty and pushed the green button to open the door and walked out. I did it all slowly in case someone wanted to say anything to me but no one came after me, and I just left. I then knew I would need to find another doctor.
I'm not asking for agreement that I did the right thing. Perhaps it was the wrong thing. As I've been thinking about it, I've come up with reasons to justify finding another doctor. For one thing, I really have never once even seen the doctor there, I don't even know what he looks like. I'd rather go to a doctor that I can see and talk to.
Their BP equipment is faulty and even from the comments of the nurses using it, it seems that they have a hard time using it. I've also never liked having to carry my urine specimen in an open container -- my previous doctor had cups with caps that prevented spillage or contamination. And when they take blood from me, it is in the middle of the nurses station rather than in a private place.
Those things may not seem like much, but I had been putting up with all that because I liked my NP, but I really don't like being treated like I am "cattle." I really do think that, all things together, I will just find another doctor.
And about the HBP. I know how to lower my BP. It is with walking. So I shall manage it with walking. The only time in my entire life that I had normal blood pressure was after I had started walking a long time ago. I also saw how my BP came down when I did a stress test a few years ago so I know that walking will make the difference. It makes me wonder why my water arerobics has done nothing for the problem. I had been hoping it would, but my BP seems to be staying particularly high, so I will start the walking thing and see if that still helps.
In the mean time, I want to find a doctor with his eye on his patients and not on his bottom line or the elegance of his office. I really did not like the "factory" format they had so maybe I can find a more personal doctor. I'd really like to go back to my old one, but she does not take medicare, so I'll keep looking.
BTW I was surprised to see a weight loss this morning. I'm below 318 today. Still losing weight. Thank you Lord Jesus!!
Be back soon,
Marcia
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