Beware the Silent Killer

Mountain Man

Active Member
You're right on that count. They keep you waiting and isolated on a hard gurney for so long that all you can think of is going home. We weren't out of the hospital parking lot when it became obvious what my problem was, although I didn't connect the dots until a few days later when I did some research on the Net. And even then, I can't find an "official" connection between stomach virus, high B/P and heart palpitations, just a whole lot of folks that had the same problems.

ERs are notoriously understaffed and crowded. Ours is in the middle of retirement communities and usually have patients lying in the hallways. To their credit though, they are building a new wing in which the whole first floor will be nothing but a new ER.

Anyone here remember the George C. Scott movie Hospital?

"Why leave the victim in Xray?"

"Because where else could they leave a body on a gurney unattended for hours and nobody even looked at him?!"
 

Pitchwife

Dreamer
my blood pressure was very high (237/110)!! (240/137)!!
MM, those numbers are crazy! I am so happy that you have been able to receive the care that will (hopefully) speed your way to a fast recovery.
I had sprained my ankle when I tripped and went it to get it checked. The hospital as part of their normal triage procedure checked my blood pressure to see if they could 'fast track' me and get me outta there a lot sooner. No luck there.
Sometimes life trips you up for a reason. :yep:

I am one of those medical anomalies that have been frustrating the medical profession for the last ten years or more. My BP usually runs in the 120/80 range. However occasionally it will spike to 180/130, but then it is just as likely to drop to 80/40. Neither extreme lasts long, and the kicker is, is that physically I feel no difference from one extreme to the other.
One Home Health Worker told me that if I were brought into the ER with the lower BP I could easily be pronounced as dead, regardless of sitting up talking to them. :cry: :cry:
I have had some very frantic medical personal around me until someone who is familiar with me (I live in a small rural town) comes by and tells them to "Give him a few minutes before you start panicking." ;) ;)
 
Wow Pitchwife! That is a scary situation! Definitely not a good situation. And as for life tripping me up, my wife and a couple of friends said that maybe the dog was coached in leaving her toy out.

Fortunately the meds I'm taking, along with the diet and exercise are having an effect. The doctor is very impressed with my progress and advised me that we appear to have found the right mix.:thumb:

I'm not as tired as I was earlier and overall am feeling better. One of my co-workers commented that my temper has improved considerably and I'm not as short fused and agitated as I was earlier this year.

BP is hanging around 134/75 and yesterday it was around 125/80. The higher reading was after the walk and the lower reading was just before going to bed. Funny part is that the dog is starting to wait at the door now prior to the walk which got my wife and I laughing. Very pleasant walking at night too.:)
 

Mountain Man

Active Member
MM, those numbers are crazy! I am so happy that you have been able to receive the care that will (hopefully) speed your way to a fast recovery.
Sometimes life trips you up for a reason. :yep:

I am one of those medical anomalies that have been frustrating the medical profession for the last ten years or more. My BP usually runs in the 120/80 range. However occasionally it will spike to 180/130, but then it is just as likely to drop to 80/40. Neither extreme lasts long, and the kicker is, is that physically I feel no difference from one extreme to the other.
One Home Health Worker told me that if I were brought into the ER with the lower BP I could easily be pronounced as dead, regardless of sitting up talking to them. :cry: :cry:
I have had some very frantic medical personal around me until someone who is familiar with me (I live in a small rural town) comes by and tells them to "Give him a few minutes before you start panicking." ;) ;)

That "Home Health Worker" isn't qualified to hold that position if that statement is true. Same thing for the "panicking" part. You need to find an adequately trained and properly certified and licensed source of health care. What you appear to be getting now doesn't meed that criteria.
 

Pitchwife

Dreamer
That "Home Health Worker" isn't qualified to hold that position if that statement is true. Same thing for the "panicking" part. You need to find an adequately trained and properly certified and licensed source of health care. What you appear to be getting now doesn't meed that criteria.
Actually he is quite competent at his job. I know this because he has worked with me for several years. The only reason that he made a comment like that was that he did know me so well and was fully aware of my unusual condition and that I knew it was in jest. Plus I may have been paraphrasing a bit. :eek:ops: :eek:ops:
There have been a few situations in hospitals when I would "bottom out". Usually from the time that the abnormal reading was taken and a course of action decided on I would be back in the normal range leaving everyone scratching their heads. Only one time did it get down to using drugs to bring my BP back and even then if they would have waited another 10 minutes it would have come back up on it's own.
And don't forget, I do not feel any physical difference from one extreme to the other.
 

roch

Member
Sorry to hear about the bad health. :-(

I have never been in the best or the worste myself.

My Dad had a heart attack awhile back and is lucky to still be alive and and in good health now. :thumb:

He actually outlived my Mom. At least she is no longer suffering. :cool:

Love to all.

:wave:
 
Sorry to hear about the bad health. :-(

I have never been in the best or the worste myself.

My Dad had a heart attack awhile back and is lucky to still be alive and and in good health now. :thumb:

He actually outlived my Mom. At least she is no longer suffering. :cool:

Love to all.

:wave:

Thanks roch. This is quite the experience for me. Sorry to hear about your Mom. Losing a parent is rough. My Dad's been dead more than 20 years and I still miss him.:cry:

On a really good note, my BP is holding steady for me. The right mix has been found so this means, no more dosage changes!!!:thumb:

I'm losing weight and overall feeling better. A couple of readings have me in the normal range.

Doing better, one day at a time.
 

roch

Member
Thanks roch. This is quite the experience for me. Sorry to hear about your Mom. Losing a parent is rough. My Dad's been dead more than 20 years and I still miss him.:cry:

On a really good note, my BP is holding steady for me. The right mix has been found so this means, no more dosage changes!!!:thumb:

I'm losing weight and overall feeling better. A couple of readings have me in the normal range.

Doing better, one day at a time.

Glad to hear you are doing better. :thumb:

I just had a check up and am in good health and told that I may live another 30 years. :eek: In my opinion I have lived long enough. :wave:
 

Pitchwife

Dreamer
On a really good note, my BP is holding steady for me. The right mix has been found so this means, no more dosage changes!!!:thumb:

I'm losing weight and overall feeling better. A couple of readings have me in the normal range.

Doing better, one day at a time.
Glad to hear it MM. Keep getting better every day.
This last week or so I've had a series of medical problems. Was admitted to the hospital with fevers and a few other problems. Was diagnosed with a bevy of infections, antibiotic-resistant being one of the terms going around. They decided to transfer me to a bigger hospital in Bend, OR that would be better suited to handle my situation. Spent several days there with some really nasty antibiotics and just got home a day or so ago. The worst part was that they couldn't get me over 85% O2 on room air, so now I've got tubes all over the place so I can breath. Hope it's not permanent, but we shall see. Gettin' old SUCKS! wall1 wall1 wall1
 

ukon30fan

0n30 Rail Baron of Leeds
How strange - last week in the UK my GP checked my BP at 150/80 - that's fine he says.
This morning at the Endicrinologists, they check the BP and it's 187/80 -That's fine they say!
So who's right, your GPs or Mine?
 

abutt

Member
I never thought I'd run into so many medical posts on a MRR site. Interesting. While I was having over a litre of fluid drained out of my right lung cavity this morning, the doctor and I were discussing a hidden problem that many of us have and don't know it: Sleep Apnea! My GP suspected I was having this problem and I went through several "sleep testing" sessions. They discovered I was waking up over 40 times an hour and didn't know it! Obviously this kind of sleeping can lead to serious problems. The waking is caused by lack of oxygen. If this condition continues -- lack of oxygen, the heart starts over working and you get into big trouble. And you guys with BPs over 140/60, your hearts are going into overdrive soon. There's plenty of meds out for that. I've been taking them for years. It's beginning to sound like this is a dangerous hobby!:thumb:
 
I never thought I'd run into so many medical posts on a MRR site. Interesting. While I was having over a litre of fluid drained out of my right lung cavity this morning, the doctor and I were discussing a hidden problem that many of us have and don't know it: Sleep Apnea! My GP suspected I was having this problem and I went through several "sleep testing" sessions. They discovered I was waking up over 40 times an hour and didn't know it! Obviously this kind of sleeping can lead to serious problems. The waking is caused by lack of oxygen. If this condition continues -- lack of oxygen, the heart starts over working and you get into big trouble. And you guys with BPs over 140/60, your hearts are going into overdrive soon. There's plenty of meds out for that. I've been taking them for years. It's beginning to sound like this is a dangerous hobby!:thumb:

I know people with sleep apnea. Not pleasant either. I was asked if I snore but apparently I don't. (At least my wife hasn't complained about it... yet!:wink:). The doc warned me about that and told me if there are symptoms, to let him know immediately. Darned glad I don't need to be on a machine at night!

BP is holding at a normal level now. The highest it was at during the week was 135/82 and the last reading shows 109/58. The doctor is confident that I will be able to get rid of most if not all the meds by next year and with further weight loss, (about 80 - 90 pounds), says I should have the body of an 18yr old again. Also, with that weight loss, (as long as I maintain the lower weight), I should have no further problems with my BP. My clothes are already starting to get looser and I have my belt at the last notch.:thumb:
Wife and I were looking at some photos taken and she commented on the changes. Very encouraging to say the least.

And also, the doctor encouraged me to continue with my hobbies. These dangerous hobbies can keep us quite healthy.:p:wink:
 
How strange - last week in the UK my GP checked my BP at 150/80 - that's fine he says.
This morning at the Endicrinologists, they check the BP and it's 187/80 -That's fine they say!
So who's right, your GPs or Mine?

Good question.

I was checking the website for the Heart and Stroke foundation and to quote their section on Blood Pressure:

Normal blood pressure is below 120 / 80 mm Hg.

Their link is: Heart Disease, Stroke and Healthy Living - NEW - Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario
 
Glad to hear it MM. Keep getting better every day.
This last week or so I've had a series of medical problems. Was admitted to the hospital with fevers and a few other problems. Was diagnosed with a bevy of infections, antibiotic-resistant being one of the terms going around. They decided to transfer me to a bigger hospital in Bend, OR that would be better suited to handle my situation. Spent several days there with some really nasty antibiotics and just got home a day or so ago. The worst part was that they couldn't get me over 85% O2 on room air, so now I've got tubes all over the place so I can breath. Hope it's not permanent, but we shall see. Gettin' old SUCKS! wall1 wall1 wall1

Hi Pitchwife, how are you doing now? Hope you're doing better.
 
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