Got my ass chewed good today...

[davkatreb]

Went in for my semiannual checkup. Weight's good; blood pressure high again. Doctor wanted to up my meds, but I remember the last time that happened. No fun, so I tried to talk him out of it.

Doctor asked me if I'd been riding. Wasn't about to bullshit him; I've been in a slump. And yeah, I've been into the 90 proof more than usual.

The man gave me a THOROUGH ass-chewing. Didn't want to hear about it being winter. Said he went out jogging every day and blahblahblah. Good for him. He don't come home wrung out from doing commercial electrical work all day, either. Phukkin' whitecoats don't know what work is. But I digress.

So anyway, he wants to see me in a month. Guess the booze will have to wait and the miles will have to be ridden. Okayfine, I'd rather ride than drink anyway. F*ckin' shame I can't do both, but whatever.

So I've spent the afternoon getting the bike shed (better) organized and setting my fixie up with two brakes for long road rides. I'll drop it off at the LBS for ye olde onceover, and then we shall see what we shall see.

[tryandgetme]

just think dave, we're on the downside of the winter hump, it'll be all over before you know it, we'll all have beautiful riding weather, it won't take any extra motivation to get out and ride. then none of that will matter anymore!

few more weeks...

[phlatlander]

Hell, Dave, you could've saved yourself the co-pay. Don't need no steenkin' framed calligraphied parchment sign on the wall to be smart. Those are only to make them feel more divine. Don't quit drinking completely because your mind will associate riding your bicycle as its nemesis, taking a little fun out of the ride. Drink a little, ride a LOT, pet your kitties and tell the Doc to F.O.

Now send me $25 co-pay for this visit. ;)

[2dumb4gears]

No offense, but the arse-chewing is intended to save your life, reduce dependence on medications, and make you a happier, better functioning person. Not that you necessarily needed a yelling at, but I wish more Physicians had the stones to do this (especially when it comes to parents of fat kids).

[robcycle]

Dave, how's your diet?

You've said before that the Beautiful Miss Kathy is quite the cook, and makes miracles. How's the sodium content of these miracles? What do you have for breakfast and lunch while you're out being a professional electrician?

I only ask because diet can play a big role in hypertension. I imagine Senor White Coat already covered this with you, but diets low in sodium are generally better for your blood pressure. Again, I imagine you have modified your lifestyle before you got the drugs, but this isn't always the case.

... and booze doesn't cause hypertension :p

-Rob.

[Teamfubar]

The man gave me a THOROUGH ass-chewing. Didn't want to hear about it being winter. Said he went out jogging every day and blahblahblah. Good for him. He don't come home wrung out from doing commercial electrical work all day, either. Phukkin' whitecoats don't know what work is. But I digress.

D-

I agree...whitecoats suck. They are all high and mighty about what a person should do...wonder if they remember how hard they worked and how many workouts they got done when they were doin' their residency? That might be the last time in their lives they had a job like the common man. (I realize they put in a ton of hours, but I am talking the physical part.) And as for the ass chewin' goes...if a doctor wants to make me NEVER come back, chew me out like a little kid. If they want to discuss it like an adult on an equal playing field, than I'll listen, otherwise they can stick it.

[robcycle]

If they want to discuss it like an adult on an equal playing field, than I'll listen, otherwise they can stick it.Working in the health field, I know it is not the most therapeutic thing to point out how someone's lifestyle is directly contributing to their poor health, but I also know, and have seen, that when "speaking to someone like an adult", they are quite likely to agree with you and continue with the same behaviors (though I am speaking in generalities here, not anyone in specific).

Sometimes what someone needs is to be told the hard facts about their situation. If you continue doing what you have been doing, these will be the consequences for you, and the effects on those you love. I'm not saying tough love is the only way to get the point across, but sometimes, it's what people need to hear.

If the white coat said "If you don't change your lifestyle, this will continue happening", its quite possible that you will continue doing exactly what you are doing. Perhaps if he said "If you keep doing this, your wife will grow old as a widow because you were too stubborn to change your ways", well that might make some people reconsider :rolleyes:


Again, I come from the more therapeutic side of health care, but sometimes things need to be put bluntly.

-Rob.

[rockhound]

No offense, but the arse-chewing is intended to save your life, reduce dependence on medications, and make you a happier, better functioning person. Not that you necessarily needed a yelling at, but I wish more Physicians had the stones to do this (especially when it comes to parents of fat kids).

What's your point, you heartless finger pointer. :D

[jerman]

^^^^^^^^^^
Rock, is that pic for real? That kid looks like a pumped up action figure!

Oh, and Davka, it is hard to imagine you have high-blood pressure.:p

[davkatreb]

Yeah, I know. Go figure.

[S. cerevisiae]

Nobody asked, but...

Alcohol, especially when concentrated a la distilled spirits, can contribute to hypertension in one already afflicted by screwing with ones stress hormones and their regulatory processes.

Not all physicians have the patience to deal with endless patients that need scolded and not scold them (Dave-I'm truly not pointing fingers hear as I've been scolded by them). Very few of them are quacks either.

Hypertension, uncontrolled, can kill without warning. My hunting partner and best friend outside my marriage dropped stone dead about four months after going off his meds for no other reason than impotence. Impotence! Can you believe that? He'll not be using his unit now, eh? (R.I.P. Bennie)

Get thee on thy bike, damnit. You really want to miss the chance to dance with your daughter at her wedding?

[davkatreb]

Hell, I'm already thinking about grandkids.:D The fixie is getting brakes (yep, there are times when I DO need them:eek:) and I'm taking the Monocog out later for the first good thrashing it's had in way too long.

[NJ Jess]

Sucks to be dying a slow death til you POP! Then it's all over, heart attack. Hope you get back doing the fun stuff,...like riding, It's a better high anyhow. Try including more magnesium in your diet for your Hypertension. And perhaps 5 gms of L-Glutamine per day to reduce your cravings for alcohol. It also helps to recover from long rides. Good Luck.

[davkatreb]

Just to update-I've recorded my bp the [past two mornings. Close enough to 120/80. I think I stress like a mofo when I see a white coat.

Rode yesterday after work. Grocery run with a side trip to check out the C&O. It ain't much, but it snowed enough today that we're standing down at work. Clearly a God-given opportunity to ride something. Maybe later I'll drag my singleated old steel HooKoo into the shed and throw on my studded tires.:D

As to the booze, it's not so much craving as inertia. Had one lager last night at supper and it was plenty.

I think winter is the real culprit. The older I get, the more I want to just hibernate for a couple months. Meh, March is just around the corner.

[mimbresman]

Dav,
I bought myself one of those home BP kits. I pull it out from time to time out of curiosity more than anything. My wife is always on me for my BP med. I always forget.
Eat right, exercise, blah, blah, blah...
MM

[davkatreb]

'Splain me this, mims-I've been checking my bp all week, and it's been good. I'm sitting in a comfy chair surrounded by my kittycats, first thing in the morning.

When I get checked at the doctor's, I read high. Think stress might have a little something to do with it?

[mimbresman]

Need to take your cats with you next time. :rolleyes: I am always nervous going to the doctor. I think it spikes the BP.
My condition is probably genetic from my dad. He eventually died from heart disease but he never exercised.
I think we are doing better than most BP patients. :confused:

[hophead]

Just to update-I've recorded my bp the [past two mornings. Close enough to 120/80. I think I stress like a mofo when I see a white coat.

I had a high reading for a life insurance exam. The nurse told me that I should see a doctor immediately. I went in and saw my doctor the following week and my BP registered in at around 110/60.

Glad to hear that your high reading was a fluke. Cheers!

[tryandgetme]

'Splain me this, mims-I've been checking my bp all week, and it's been good. I'm sitting in a comfy chair surrounded by my kittycats, first thing in the morning.

When I get checked at the doctor's, I read high. Think stress might have a little something to do with it?

yeah dave. me being a diabetic, I need to go for yearly physicals for my drivers liscense. last year, it was a new doc. I was kinda nervous of failing, I needed glasses. at the start of the exam, my blood pressure was in the good range, but high, and definitely high for me. then she started chatting me up about my hobbies, mountain biking, did the reset of the exam, then suprised me by slapping the cuff back on and doing another check...what-a-ya know, a runner's blood pressure.

stress definitely does it. doctors offices definitely does it too.

[PutAwayWet]

No offense, but the arse-chewing is intended to save your life, reduce dependence on medications, and make you a happier, better functioning person. Not that you necessarily needed a yelling at, but I wish more Physicians had the stones to do this (especially when it comes to parents of fat kids).

My sister is a dietitian in a children's hospital in a rural southern city. Man, the stories she tells me about the seriously overweight kids she has to deal with.

Her: "Tell me what you usually have for dinner."
Them: "Chicken."
Her: "Good, chicken can be good for you. How much do you have?"
Them: "A chicken."
Her: "No, what's your portion size - how much chicken to you eat for one dinner?"
Them: "A whole chicken."

Seriously. I think she's had that conversation more than once, too. The sad part is it's learned from the parents most of the time, and she has to walk the fine line between telling the parents how it really is and them being offended and not coming back, and really screwing the kids out of a chance.

Dav - I've heard being angry raises your blood pressure. You should tell your doc to prescribe a new job, or at least a new boss. Or maybe massages -- that seems to work wonders for my crotchety old working stiff father. Insurance might even cover most of it :)

[robcycle]

'Splain me this, mims-I've been checking my bp all week, and it's been good. I'm sitting in a comfy chair surrounded by my kittycats, first thing in the morning.

When I get checked at the doctor's, I read high. Think stress might have a little something to do with it?
Dave, stress certainly affects blood pressure, so does anxiety. Going to the doctor at the end of a trying day (stress) coupled with the anxiety of going to see a doctor could well raise your blood pressure.

Also, what is your average caffiene intake? Consuming several cups of coffee a day is certainly something that can contribute to hypertension. So, if you're on the (coffee) juice, maybe you should cut back ;)

-Rob.

[S. cerevisiae]

'Splain me this, mims-I've been checking my bp all week, and it's been good. I'm sitting in a comfy chair surrounded by my kittycats, first thing in the morning.

When I get checked at the doctor's, I read high. Think stress might have a little something to do with it?


A guy I work with has a documented case of "White Coat Syndrome". He was able to show our physician that his BP is in the normal range under ordinary circumstances, but nearly always reads high at the office or hospital. It's vital for he and I insofar as we have commercial driver's licenses. High BP means medication or no license. What's more, the meds have to have a positive effect prior to license renewall.

See if your physician can show you how to check it and document it for a few weeks at home. It's what my co-worker has to do.

[davkatreb]

A guy I work with has a documented case of "White Coat Syndrome". He was able to show our physician that his BP is in the normal range under ordinary circumstances, but nearly always reads high at the office or hospital. It's vital for he and I insofar as we have commercial driver's licenses. High BP means medication or no license. What's more, the meds have to have a positive effect prior to license renewall.

See if your physician can show you how to check it and document it for a few weeks at home. It's what my co-worker has to do.
Been checking it for the past week or so and it's been good. I f*cking hate going to the doctor's office. I totally hate f*cking EVERYTHING about it. It's ALWAYS high when a whitecoat takes it, and it's ALWAYS good when I take it at home.

And don't tell me it's because I don't know what I'm doing. My wife was a CNA, and she gets the same reading I do.

[real_ss_budgie]

just dont go...i dont.

ass chewer

[tryandgetme]

I just got chewed out too. "you're going to go blind if you don't take better care of your diabetes. we're doing laser eye surgery tomorrow to close a blood vessel or you'll go blind. sign here". Just the wakeup call I needed. no more cheating!

There goes my night vision in the right eye...

[S. cerevisiae]

Been checking it for the past week or so and it's been good. I f*cking hate going to the doctor's office. I totally hate f*cking EVERYTHING about it. It's ALWAYS high when a whitecoat takes it, and it's ALWAYS good when I take it at home.

And don't tell me it's because I don't know what I'm doing. My wife was a CNA, and she gets the same reading I do.

Wouldn't claim you didn't. I would claim that you are a prime candidate for "White Coat Syndrome" accreditation. Could be the ticket. Document the readings with time and date. Take that to your quack and see what he thinks.

Insurance physical, ol' man?

[mscotch]

gettin' in here kinda late. I'm going in for a colonoscopy in 2 weeks, anyone wanna talk about that?????::eek:

didn't think so. :D

It's my 2nd one (had one about 8 yrs. ago due to some "issues") so know what to expect.:o

[davkatreb]

gettin' in here kinda late. I'm going in for a colonoscopy in 2 weeks, anyone wanna talk about that?????::eek:

didn't think so. :D

It's my 2nd one (had one about 8 yrs. ago due to some "issues") so know what to expect.:o
Been there. Done that. No big deal.