Wednesday 4 May 2011

Lifelong learning

Things I learned today when seeing the GP practice nurse:

  • Rush hour traffic has worsened markedly since I stopped work.
  • The automatically-inflating cuff on the blood pressure machine strangles one's arm most painfully and could usefully double as a tourniquet. And being temperamental, had to be tried three times.
  • My blood pressure is higher than it should be. Maybe because of the rush hour traffic, maybe because of selling a house, maybe because of the painful arm-strangling, maybe because it has never been anywhere near the 'normal' reading anyway. But most probably because I need to lose a couple of stones, a mission on which I embarked several days ago.
  • The scales at the GP practice added 3 lbs. onto the weight recorded on my bathroom scales 40 minutes earlier. That was more painful than the arm cuff business.
  • I have to see the doctor next week for results of blood tests, and I'm prepared to bet that I will be leaned on gently regarding medication. And I will most probably gently resist, trusting to eventual weight loss to improve matters. My doctor will sigh, but knows me well enough to give it a go my way.
  • "These are very thin veins..."


Yes they are. And that was a very thick needle.....

16 comments:

Sherri B. said...

Ouch! A trip to the Dr. Office is, in itself, enough to cause a rise in BP.

jabblog said...

My sympathies! I'd rather trust to diet than medication, too . . . and I really should lose a couple of stone - at least :-(

Lucille said...

Aargh! Vein and needle warning please. Also all doctor's scales are calibrated to humiliate. Hope you have thawed out.

Anonymous said...

Oh dear, that's never fun... Best of luck with the test results!

the veg artist said...

I hope there's nothing serious going on. Feel free to place part of the weight blame on us - we've been encouraging you to have cake at times of stress!

Anonymous said...

I'm in the same boat too. I'm off to the Docs tomorrow to be weighed and poked at! I should be watching my weight as well because I need to lose a couple of stones. But at the moment I just seem to be WATCHING it creep up further!

BumbleVee said...

owww.....

I have big, blue, easy-to-see veins. Usually.... I am lucky and get great techs who do wonderful jabs...ahahha...or should that be jobs....but, every so often...they still puncture the thing and there is bleeding into the area then swelling and, of course, some pain. Once was a huge disaster... seems I always remember that one when I do have to go back.......I should dwell on the many good visits....

judy in ky said...

The last time they took my blood they had to stick my vein three times...and the whole time that tourniquet they had on my arm to make the veins pop up was strangling my arm! I was biting my lip, trying to be patient.

Anonymous said...

How I hate having y BP measured too. I tried to resist medication but as I had no weight to lose, I had to accept it. For life, apparently. I hope you can do without it.

Maggie Christie said...

Oh blimey, much sympathy for that last picture. Stroking cats and walking dogs are said to be good medicine so I think you're in safe hands (paws?) Good luck with the test results.

SmitoniusAndSonata said...

I think the medical profession won't be happy till we're all on medication .
I now have the longer blood pressure measurement done .... taken continuously over twenty minutes .... and it does go down after ten minutes or so . "White coat syndrome" , then ?
Doctor blithely suggested a low salt diet , and then saw my face . I'm already sugar free and low fat . Perhaps I could just exist on hay ?
Anyone have any good recipes ?

Sweet Virginia Breeze said...

I have to go for my annual physical Friday and I'm dreading it. I know exactly what you mean about the blood pressure cuff strangling your arm. My whole arm is usually numb by the time they finish. Hope all your test results are good.

Juanita said...

Ouch :-(

janicebotterill said...

I have thin veins and a need to lose some weight - good for you for being brave and going to the docs. my usual solution is to read about healthy eating whilst eating cake!

flwrjane said...

I had a reading from an automatic machine yesterday morning. My BP was 175/80, highly alarming.

i went to the doctor's office at 6:00pm, 3 readings with a regular cuff. my BP was its usual 120/80.

Makes you wonder doesn't it???

xo jane

Unknown said...

I have just been talking about the same thing. You and I must have passed each other in the hall! I know where you're coming from......are we related? Haha! Maa

Related Posts with Thumbnails