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(A) New Direction(S)
Sep. 11th, 2018 09:06 pmAs a result of the yearly physical, which I had on Monday, I've now embarked on a major lifestyle change. Among other things, I'm having to confront an issue with high blood pressure which I've managed to weasel my way around in the past.
This was my first appointment with the doc who took over when mine retired earlier this year. And he didn't want to hear it, that my BP was always elevated when I came into the doctor's office.
Which has been true, historically speaking, but it's been reaching levels recently which he deems unacceptable.
So, when he asked me if I was a "salty guy," I said, "Yup!" and he said, "At least you're honest."
The thing that spurred me into action, today, was that I received a phone text from my pharmacy that said my BP med was ready for pick up. And that was NOT my understanding of our conversation.
I'm NOT a pill guy and I've long been of the opinion that doctors are too inclined to whip out the prescription pad when other better, cheaper, safer remedies may be available.
You know that disclaimer that always accompanies your prescription, these days? The one that says, "You have been prescribed [such-and-such a drug] because your physician has determined that its potential benefits outweigh its potential risks? And then they list the risks?
You oughta see the list that comes with these blood pressure meds. Besides which, it was my understanding that we were going to try a change in diet before resorting to the effing nuclear option.
So, when I got the pharmacy's text, I said screw that and began reading labels and emptying out my cupboards and refrigerator. And was in fact successful today at reducing my sodium intake by, I kid you not, about 90%.
The question now is, how to maintain that level in whatever days lie ahead. Because it is a major change in lifestyle. One which dismantles one of the major underpinnings of my life as a single, aging adult--how to maintain adequate daily nutrition.
Doesn't sound like much of a challenge? Read some labels and start thinking about what you would eat in the event that you suddenly had to revert to a SALT-FREE diet. Not a reduced-salt or low-salt diet, but a salt-free one. Which is what I figure I've gotta do to prove to this guy that, in my case, there's an effective alternative to the GD pills.
So, wish me luck. I'm probably gonna need it this week because I also have 2 surgical consults coming up, one of them the day after tomorrow, which could send me in yet another direction or directions
Which I'm now hoping can happen, if it has to, without propelling the rest of my life completely out of control...
LPK
Dreamwidth
9.11.2018
This was my first appointment with the doc who took over when mine retired earlier this year. And he didn't want to hear it, that my BP was always elevated when I came into the doctor's office.
Which has been true, historically speaking, but it's been reaching levels recently which he deems unacceptable.
So, when he asked me if I was a "salty guy," I said, "Yup!" and he said, "At least you're honest."
The thing that spurred me into action, today, was that I received a phone text from my pharmacy that said my BP med was ready for pick up. And that was NOT my understanding of our conversation.
I'm NOT a pill guy and I've long been of the opinion that doctors are too inclined to whip out the prescription pad when other better, cheaper, safer remedies may be available.
You know that disclaimer that always accompanies your prescription, these days? The one that says, "You have been prescribed [such-and-such a drug] because your physician has determined that its potential benefits outweigh its potential risks? And then they list the risks?
You oughta see the list that comes with these blood pressure meds. Besides which, it was my understanding that we were going to try a change in diet before resorting to the effing nuclear option.
So, when I got the pharmacy's text, I said screw that and began reading labels and emptying out my cupboards and refrigerator. And was in fact successful today at reducing my sodium intake by, I kid you not, about 90%.
The question now is, how to maintain that level in whatever days lie ahead. Because it is a major change in lifestyle. One which dismantles one of the major underpinnings of my life as a single, aging adult--how to maintain adequate daily nutrition.
Doesn't sound like much of a challenge? Read some labels and start thinking about what you would eat in the event that you suddenly had to revert to a SALT-FREE diet. Not a reduced-salt or low-salt diet, but a salt-free one. Which is what I figure I've gotta do to prove to this guy that, in my case, there's an effective alternative to the GD pills.
So, wish me luck. I'm probably gonna need it this week because I also have 2 surgical consults coming up, one of them the day after tomorrow, which could send me in yet another direction or directions
Which I'm now hoping can happen, if it has to, without propelling the rest of my life completely out of control...
LPK
Dreamwidth
9.11.2018
