OnePhatMan
As my shoulder still hurts like hell from my weightlifting on Friday, I’m officially getting back off the weights for a bit.
This is getting old.
Today was annual physical day, the one day every year that I don’t particularly look forward to. Mostly because of the intimacy of it all, what with the prodding and squeezing of certain body parts and the insertion of fingers into others. All in all, not an experience I’d call pleasant.
The nurse took my blood pressure when she got me back to the examining room, and the results were unsatisfying, to say the least: 144 / 90.
Damn high.
I nodded at the rubber glove and tube of K-Y jelly she’d laid out for Dr. Judy, and glibly commented that those were the reason for my elevated blood pressure. We had a good laugh, and she continued what she was doing. My pulse was 72 beats per minute, also considerably higher than I expected. Or liked.
I laughed, but inside I freaked. 144 / 90 is high — medication high. I think my feelings about medication are well known. A close relative recently went on blood pressure medication and says they’re sucking all the get-up-and-go out of him. I don’t want to feel lethargic all the time; I spent too many years feeling that way.
Then there’s the fact that I’m not even 40. Far too young to have high blood pressure. Far too healthy. Far too in shape.
Dr. Judy did the physical. We talked about my blood pressure. Of particular concern was my memory that it had been high the last couple of times I’d been in to see her. She consulted my records.
“It was high last time,” she said. “But you were under a lot of stress then. Remember why you were here?”
Boy, did I. And I was definitely under a lot of stress over what turned out to be nothing.
“And the time before was when you hurt your shoulder,” she said. “If that’s not stressful, I don’t know what is. I just don’t believe you really have high blood pressure.”
Which, let me point out, was good to hear. I didn’t think I had high blood pressure either. I refused to believe I had high blood pressure.
Dr. Judy thought I really might just be stressed about the whole buttfinger thing, and wanted me to hang around for a few minutes after the physical was over so they could get another reading. I waited, and when the nurse took it again—this time using the other arm, just to see what it would yield—quite the surprise was waiting.
It had gone up to 150 / 90.
Dr. Judy got a little concerned, but stood by her statement that she didn’t think I really had high blood pressure. I was starting to have my own doubts. Sure, I’ve felt fine, but they don’t call high blood pressure “the silent killer” for nothing.
“Get a blood pressure cuff,” Dr. Judy said. “Start taking your blood pressure every day for 30 days. Do it at different times of day, not just when you first get up. Check it when you’re working, check it after workouts, check it right before bed. All different times so we can see what it’s doing. Come back then and we’ll talk about it.”
As soon as I got into the car, it started. The voice. The damnable, evil voice all fat or ex-fat people have living inside them. Don’t think you kill that voice when you get your weight down. I’m starting to wonder if it’s even possible to kill it.
Just give up, it said. Screw it. Don’t you understand yet that no matter what you do your body’s going to fail you? Sure, you got rid of diabetes and apnea. But look what you traded them for: a bum shoulder, a bum knee, and now this. Pick up some ice cream on the way home, eat it tonight, and you’ll feel better. You can deal with the high blood pressure tomorrow. Why don’t you just stop trying and eat?
I looked at myself in the rearview mirror. Thought about the last five years, and what they’ve been like compared to the previous five.
Because I don’t quit, I told it, and turned the key.
On the way home, I stopped at a drug store and bought a high-end sphygmomanometer, one of the really good ones that does everything for you. My logic was that if I had the fully automated one I couldn’t screw it up. I raced upstairs with it and perched on the edge of the bed, shirtless, while I hooked everything up.
My blood pressure was 123 / 79, and my pulse was 54 beats per minute. That’s more like what I’m used to. I checked on the other arm ten minutes later, just for grins. 119 / 73, with a pulse of 52 beats per minute.
I tell you all this to lead up to one point: even if you sometimes can’t control that little evil voice in you, you can certainly control what effect you let it have on you. I could’ve stopped for ice cream, buried my worries about my blood pressure in a half-gallon of frozen sugar, but what would it have bought me? Not a damn thing.
Don’t let the voice beat you. Face it down, and beat it, and you’ll be better for it.
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Hooray! I’m so glad to hear your pressure went down. I HATE going to the Dr. and always ask them to do a read after the appointment, too. Sounds like you were just nervous and freaked yourself out as the appointment went on. Good job on denying the bad voice. You’re an inspiration.
My BP was something like 180/100 in the Dr.’s ofc. so they made me do a blood pressure study where I wore this cuff thingy for 24 hours and every 15 minutes it took my blood pressure. After the 24 hours (yes you sleep in it too) you return it to them and they analyze the results. Mine were 118/78 which is where is usually is. I’m 52 so that’s good for my age.
Fred,
I know you used to smoke…did you stop cold turkey or use patches etc…? Also, have you ever had any lapses and lit up since?
Bonnie, I went cold turkey. I haven’t had any cigarettes since the day I put them down (Jan or Feb 2001, I think), but certain things trigger something in me and make me crave one: standing outside on a crisp fall day, being outdoors on a cool fall evening, the beach, and after a good meal at a nice restaurant. I’d say I have those cravings 2 or 3 times a year, maybe.
Also, post bath BP, just now: 122 / 75, heart rate 52 bpm again. This all sounds more like the Fred I’m used to.
Fred, most dr’s will wait and see over a period of time what your BP is before prescribing medication. A dr should not be prescribing medication based on a couple of readings.
Fred - when I was pregnant I alledgedly had high BP. It was 115/65 when I first got pg and then when I went in one day with a racey heart at 36weeks pregnant, it went to 155/85. They checked my other arm and it was lower on that arm (it’s thinner 13.5″) and then the nurse said that maybe I needed the larger cuff as my arm is over 14″ round and she was getting inaccurate readings. The correct size cuff gave the correct lower reading (not low enough!), which matched the reading given by the “modern” digital BP system with only one cuff.
Maybe your docs cuff was too small for your arm? When you go in next maybe take your own monitor in and compare.
Elsje
UK
Hi Fred,
First off, glad to hear the BP is under control. What I wanted to comment on though is the way you talked yourself down from the ice cream. As a former fatty myself (240 to 140) I can so relate. I’ve been “slimmed down” for over 2 years now, and still have to battle the voices. I’ve come to realize that I always will. The difference is that I win much more often now (though not always)! Yes, those heavy years leave more behind than loose skin and bad knees! Thanks for the reminder that it’s always about choice.
Chris
Jen: Dr. Judy never suggested medicine. That was my neurotic inner voice, worrying that my BP was getting to medication levels.
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Post workout this morning: 119 / 55, with a HR of 67
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Also, I forgot to mention it in the entry, but I continue to be 100% knee-pain free. I also continue to be 100% elliptical free, which I think is the biggest reason.
Glad she suggested buying a blood pressure cuff! I really think a lot of people have higher blood pressure at the doctor’s office than they normally do. I know I do–with me it’s because when I end up seeing the doctor it’s because I’ve thrown my back out and am in a lot of pain (apparently that’ll jack your pressure up, too, just another form of stress, I guess). But I have a cuff and check myself periodically when I’m not in tremendous pain, and it’s always perfectly normal then.
My husband has “white coat syndrome.” While he does have hypertension under normal circumstances, his bp shoots up to stroke/seizure levels only when he’s in a dr office/emergency room. It’s been as high at 210/190 (the bottom is NOT a type-o) and then goes back down to 140+/90+ after the appt. I bought a high-end cuff for him to monitor at home. Using it was the only way the doc was willing to diagnose the severe high bp as white coat syndrome. He is now taking medication w/a bp around 112/70, but whenever he goes in (about 2x a month) it spikes back up to 190+/100+, even while on medication. Just something to consider.
hi fred,
so youv’e given up the ellipitcal for a bit,
are you still walking outside everyday? if you are, do you know at what pace your’e going at? i’m sure that is incorrect grammar, but you know what i mean.
also, i am currently 280 pounds and miserable, if i can walk 30 minutes a day five days out of the week, do you think that will be enough to jumpstart this weight loss in addition to trying to not eat sugar and fried stuff?
Whoo hoo, you’re down 10 lbs.! You’re only 5 lbs. away from your goal. I’m impressed!!!!!
Enjoyed this site! I am in the middle of “liberating” (hopefully)78 pounds, and your book has been a real inspiration!
They call it “white coat hypertension”–B/P goes up in the doctor’s office. It *is* stress-related. (I’m a doctor.)
I’m really glad your very good doc suggested home readings, and even more glad you’ve got such nice numbers.
I know that voice from personal experience, and cheers to you for resisting the seduction.
Susan
Good for you! I wish my husband could do what you’ve done. He’s almost at the point of no return. He weighs over 500 lbs. He seems to be so depressed that he just does nothing. I wish I knew what would get him motivated to do something about it. He has the whole list - diabetes, high BP, gout, sleep apnea, hernias, gallstones, etc, etc.
Is there a reason you stopped putting entries on this site??
Julia: Is there a reason you stopped putting entries on this site??
Yes.
What’s the reason, if you don’t mind me asking? I miss reading your updates.
Liz: What’s the reason, if you don’t mind me asking? I miss reading your updates.
I explained it all in my last message to the notify list.
Ah, yes. I didn’t renew once you switched to the new system. Just wondered where you’d got to. Hope you’re well.
Oops! I’m not on the notify list…anybody want to clue me in?
Fred, I would also like to know the reason you are not posting updates. I just stumbled upon your book “From Chunk To Hunk” on the Amazon website and immediately went looking for your website to see how you have progressed since the book. I hope you will be willing to share your current successes/failures/struggles with those of us who are coming late to the party. I currently weigh over 400 lbs and need all the encouragement I can get from others who have achieved your tremendous level of success. Thanks, from a fellow traveler on the weight-loss journey. Dan