My tunnel.
On 1-25-13, I first became aware that I had a severe hypertension (high blood pressure) issue going when I almost stroked out right here at Schloss Rivrdog, and the EMTs had to haul my butt to the ER.
Since then, with the help of my doc, I've been trying to regain control over the chronic hypertension, and bring it down with pharma help. That effort has been hit and miss:
- First, the doc advised I double my dosage of Lisinopril, a secondary medicine I was on a small dose of. That made no dent in the raging readings at all. I was still averaging 170/106 or so.
- The doc recommended I change my Propranol to Propranolol Slow Release, but neither the Government nor the vast Kroger Pharmacy chain could find me any.
- Next, I bumped up my own dosage of regular Propranolol by 50%, and that seemed to be having an effect, but the Doc decided my 20+ years on that drug were done, so he ordered MetoToprol.
- I had to wait almost ten days for the MetoToprol to be issued by Express Scripts, the Medicare pharmacy. In the meanwhile, I DID achieve re-control with the regular Propranolol, albeit at near the max dose of 320 mg/day.
- Finally, the MetoToprol arrives, about ten days ago, and I start all over again when I dropped the Propranolol. The blood pressure shot back up to the 170/105 range. After 4 days, the Doc said double the MetoToprol, and I did, but to little discernable effect. I'm damn near an invalid now, afraid to do anything physical because the slightest activity would run my diastolic blood pressure over 105, so I mope around the house, taking a lot of naps and cutting my salt intake to almost zero.
- A week goes by, and finally the numbers start to come down, sort of: I start running the mid 150s over the high 90's, still not acceptable, but getting farther from the danger level.
- Finally, in the past 24 hours, I've achieved 3 readings in the mid-120s over the mid/high 80's, more or less normal. Looks like the Metotoprol is finally getting the upper hand. I'm hopeful to have at least a week of decent BP before I go see the cardiologist in the first week of March.
Of additional note in this struggle: no cause has been identified for this spike in my previously-controlled BP. At the cardiologist, I will have a high-contrast CAT scan of my heart and it's arteries to see if I've any occlusions that need stenting or bypassing. I wanted to just go get a stress test, but my doc said I was too fragile for one, I needed to demonstrate total medical control of the BP. Meanwhile, DMV tells me I have to prove up my medical suitability to have a CDL by the end of this month, or they will rip off my Class Two rating, so I guess that's history. Driving bus or heavy straight truck to keep body and soul together is no longer an option. I can still operate my M35A2 as a private vehicle, but not as a commercial truck, which it is licensed for. There are some states I couldn't operate the M35 in at all, I'll have to study up on that.
The other thing that I'm sure you've noticed is that I've reduced my blogging presence by about half. This was deliberate in order to relieve the BP crisis. Yes, I do, in fact, get jacked up some when I blog, it's probably why the mind is still clear after all the toil I have put it through. I might have to re-open the bar at BlogStation Alpha, because decent booze is a reliable way to lower BP.
That is all, now you are updated on your blogger's blogging condition.
I concur with Patriot Padre on the choice of radio stations. We now have an all-classical, all the time radio station here, and I leave the set tuned to that, the talk radio having seriously gotten on my nerves lately. There is nothing which soothes the mind as much as listening to Mozart, and Telemann, and Bach, and Haydn, and their ilk. Of course, sometimes they offer to play some Ravel, and then I just have to turn the radio off until I figure it's over. I had to play the clarinet part to Ravel's "Bolero" when I was in high school. I swear it left scars on my neurons.
Posted by: Justthisguy | March 05, 2013 at 00:25
Well, damn, Sir, just damn! You try real hard to stay alive, please? I say that for selfish reasons, as I like reading what you write. You do have my prayers, of course, as always. We grumpy old farts need to stick together, too.
Posted by: Justthisguy | March 03, 2013 at 00:01
I read the Padre's advice, and you should take it to heart (literally)!
Posted by: Rivrsis | February 27, 2013 at 19:13
Sorry to hear all this, but remember... they didn't call you "Mad Dog" on the streets for nothing... time to get tough soldier! I've tried most all the BP meds over the past 10 years and usually after a few months, I'd have one problem or another. I've been taking Verapamil 180MG once a day and it's kept things in check without adverse side affects. I know since I've cut back on watching news and listening to talk show radio and started listening to classical music, my heart palpitations have greatly subsided. Guess I better take you off my news "alert" pass along list for a while. Be keep'in ya in my prayers bro... if ya need ANYTHING, let me know... AND keep look'n up!
Posted by: Patriot Padre | February 26, 2013 at 18:37
You collected some nice info.....
Posted by: Aamir Ilyas | February 25, 2013 at 08:55
Been on Metroprolol since first diagnosed 'round '04 or thereabouts. Just last month, increased dose from 25mg 2x/day, to 3x/day.
So, I'm lucky as hell, a fairly low dose knocks down what was 210/110 danger range of numbers, to 135/90 zones.
A good side effect of the Metro...... my MD says I can take an additional 25mg if necessary. I'm double blessed, cause I can very accurately FEEL my own BP, no cuff needed to know when it's high.
That extra 25 mg allowance also comes in handy 90 min before precision rifle shooting. Lower BP = less bouncing in the scope.
They've got you on what is for me, a good med. Hope you get similar results in the long run!
Jim
Sunk New Dawn
Galveston, TX
Posted by: Jim | February 25, 2013 at 07:26
Have you taken any OTC meds in the past couple months? It's possible you may have had an adverse side effect.
A year ago, I took a cough control pill containing the drug that is contained in most OTC cough syrups, which I was never able to take due to the syrup giving me the heaves. Caused a heart arrhythmia that lasted for months.
Your doc is correct about that stress test. Google it. Bad history. They wanted me to do that. Told them no way, not the way I was feeling.
Can you do a temporary hold on the Class2 DL? Yeah, I know, that sounds too logical for DMV!
Posted by: Will | February 25, 2013 at 00:24
Watch out for that Lisinopril. One of the side affects is a nasty chronic cough. (all day & night) Beam & I both had to go off of it. Also, walking helps bring down the blood pressure. Take care of yourself.
Posted by: donna | February 24, 2013 at 22:42
Hang in there, bro. We need you back in good shape. Hope the metoprolol (or whatever it is) continues kicking in more.
Posted by: Rivrsis | February 24, 2013 at 20:46