OT: May Chit Chat

[Sunshine]

What a hellish day Howie. I wear a lanyard around my neck with my car key and my house key on it. I always wear it when I leave home and hang it up by the door as soon as I get back home.

[agate]

Sunshine, I'm so glad I'm not the only mother hen around here.

The lanyard is a great idea.

Years ago the building manager gave out little curly plastic wristlets for people to wear their keys on. I still have mine and take it with me when I go out with the trash. Wearing it keeps me from accidentally tossing my keys into the trash.

Being locked out can be scary around here. The managers are gone at least 2/3 of the time, and then the only way to get back into the building is to ask another tenant to let you in.

Last night my next door neighbor buzzed me because she was locked out, and I let her in.

Not everyone lives in a situation where neighbors can easily be called on though.

[Cherie]

I, for one, am totally frustrated with guidelines and folks telling me how I should change diet and lifestyle because they HAVE been changed for more than 10 years according to recommendations and I still run high. I exercise,eat right, take my meds , yet my BP remains well above recommended guidelines. And I feel shamed and judged when I am doing nothing wrong by the recommendations.
FACT: My father and his father and his grandmother ran blood pressures over 200/100 ALL of the time. None of them had cardiac or stroke complications. All died in their late 80s or 90s. I am the oldest of 7 children. ALL of us have blood pressures well above recommended guidelines that medication is not bringing into recommended levels.

So...I monitor. I keep a record of what I eat and how I exercise. One doc says that my pressures reflect autonomic changes due to MS , another says it is genetics and another still says I am saying what I think they want to hear to take the pressure off me because, ultimately, it is my responsibility to eat correctly, exercise and take my medication.

Yes...if you have something you can change then do it and do so honestly. If you are doing EVERYthing you are told and it is not coming under control and there is a strong family history...let the docs know and let them figure how to help you but be honest about the burden of treatment it may present.

Howie,
I care for you but I do not blame you for the high BP nor do I judge that you are misrepresenting. I trust you to be honest with your doc and do what they tell you till the treatment becomes worse than the condition. I am here for you.

[Cherie]

Howie, I was one of those hens Ann posted!

Now about Uber. I am glad this conversation was started because I have also wanted to know about them. Since my cell phone is a flip phone (which I love) can I still use Uber. I probably could not track them on it, but could I call them? Is there a way I could put an app on a flip phone so they would have my credit card number?

I have spent much time in libraries, so therefore I think we have solved the problem of cancer. Now if we can all collect our money for this discovery, we could put it to use by finding a cure for MS.

Yes, you can still use Uber and know when they will arrive and know the make , model and license plate of the car picking you up as well as the name of the driver!

[Howie]

Cherie, I'm beginning to think my BP just runs high. I've got a doc visit Thursday. The blood pressure doesn't bother me, but after I came in today, I had two "seizures" for lack of a better word, and I'm beginning to think they aren't related to the BP, but something else. That's what I want to control, not the BP.

I have so much to try to tell my doc, and hope he can understand my concerns. The seizures have been happening for a while.

[Earth Mother 2 Angels]

((((((Hugs to All)))))) ~

Cherie and Howie ~

I apologize for upsetting you. I am certainly not judging you or anyone. I would hope that after knowing me here for all of these years, you know that I try to be supportive and helpful to everyone.

I understand the genetics of high blood pressure, as it runs in my family. Unfortunately, my family members did not eat properly, did not exercise, did not watch their sodium and sugar intake. Both of my parents died in their mid 60s.

The Mayo Clinic link I posted lists what everyone should do to be as healthy as possible, not just people with high BP. But it isn’t always easy for people to implement those lifestyle changes, so we do the best we can do.

I am recommending to you, Howie, trying to establish a routine sleeping pattern to follow every day. I live with sleep deprivation, and my son deals with insomnia. Lack of sleep takes a huge toll on our bodies, and it is a common trigger for seizures.

I share my experiences here, as we all do, to help others. That’s the purpose of our forums to me.

Please forgive me for overstepping. The last thing I ever want to do is add stress to anyone’s life.

I love and pray for each one of you everyday.

Love & Light,



Rose

[Howie]

Rose, you didn't upset me at all. On the contrary, I appreciate your opinions and experience with these things. I need all the info and support I can get to help me get through these tough times. Thank you for being here!

[Virginia]

Cherie, thanks for letting me know that I don't have to get rid of my beloved flip phone.

My thoughts go out to Peg tomorrow. I am hoping for easy surgery and fast recovery.

Howie, not doing my hen "bit" here just wishing your Doctor's appointment will come soon. I think the seizures puts a different light on things, but I am not a medical professional in any way. I also hope you get rested after just a frustrating day. The key bit happened to me twice. The first time must not have taught me a lot, but after the second time I found a place to put a key so I can get back in to get my spare.

It is fairly cool here this evening. Already in the 60s. Only got up into the low 70s today. I like it.

[Pegakafarmgirl]

I am .going tol try to type without messing up the words t omorrow is surgery at 8 am,,we will see if this helps,,,oh also to take staples out of my head,, so catch ya later

[Howie]

Virginia, I have one of those key holders that are metal, with a magnetic base. Now I just need to think of a safe place to put it.

...............................................
Peg, sneaking in on me again? Good luck with your surgery. I hope they can work their magic on you and you'll be back in the saddle again soon.

[Cherie]

Peg,
Holding you tonight (for decent sleep) and tomorrow for resolution of the injury with steady competent hands and eyes on the job. I also pray that pain is tolerable throughout.

Rose,
No offense at all! My family also ate poorly and did not exercise beyond what the farm work demanded (which was a lot!). But I exercise and eat well and watch sodium. It is a genetic issue for me and probably for most of my family as we tend to live well into late 80s or 90s.

Howie,
I am happy to spend some time on the phone with you or send you the rewritable form I use for my visits to help you get it all on paper in a condensed form so nothing gets missed for the appointment. I am doing a program tomorrow afternoon so will be out of the house from 11-3:30 or 4 but here before and after if you need to talk. I think you have my # but if you don't , PM me and I will give it to you.

David is out in the garage putting together a new wheelbarrow. He got one today at Job Lot for $40. My last one was a Mother's Day gift about 20 years ago and the wood frame holding the wheel is rotting as are the base of the handles. He has also been filling the garden with loam (2 trailer loads so far) and will roll and seed it once we get past this next week of off and on rain.

[Earth Mother 2 Angels]

((((((Hugs to All)))))) ~

Howie ~

Thank you. I'm so glad that you are seeing your doctor. It can be so difficult to keep things straight and remember stuff when you're with your doctor. What helps me (and now Jim) is to write down the questions, and description of symptoms, and take the list along to the doctor's appointment.

You might want to ask your doctor about having an EEG to detect seizure activity. And you may need to see a neuro.

I'm glad you're here too!

Peg ~

Many prayers on their way for you now and tomorrow during your surgery. I think I missed the part about your head injury. That's too many owies! May it all go smoothly for you.

Love & Light,



Rose

[stillstANNding]

Cherie, about Uber, how does it work without the App and GPS?

Peg, I hope this is a quick and fix for your wrist. Be well, come back soon.

ANN

[SuzE-Q]

Hope all goes smoothly in surgery, Peg and you'll be raring to go soon!

Be nice to the docs!

[Sunshine]

I hope surgery goes well dear Peg. Am so glad you are letting us know how you are doing.