Sunday, January 10, 2010

Loving my doctor

Good news! I finally went to the doctor for hypertension. My blood pressure was very high back in June. I kind of ignored the problem, stayed low carb, and basically have been living in denial ever since. Well, it was a new year's resolution of mine to get back to the doctor and put my health at the top of my list. I do have health insurance, but it's the kind that covers a catastrophe, not the kind that covers regular office visits, well women exams and prescriptions. I know it sounds lame, but one of the biggest reasons that I was ignoring getting myself checked was financial. It's sad, but I think that is quite common in this country. I think that everybody deserves health care, so I just bit the bullet and went to the doctor. I also have this strange phobia about going to the doctor, but that is a whole 'nother blog.

Well, last week, I went to a clinic in a nearby town. I had gone to the place before, back when I was in college and had my dad's awesome health insurance, so I was familiar with it. This already made me feel at ease. Well, my old doc, who I really didn't love anyway, went to work at the prison!

To get on with it, I met my new doctor and I love her already! She took my blood pressure and it was only 110/64! This was amazing. I do not remember my what my blood pressure was back in June of 09, but I know that the bottom number was in the 90's. They checked me three times with multiple cuffs and could not figure out why my blood pressure was so high.

My new, cute doctor told me that it was due to me losing over 40 pounds eating low carb that my blood pressure went down. Anyway, she has me going back for fasting blood work this week because she wants to get my blood sugar and cholesterol tested. I actually excited about it! Before, I was kind of not in the driver's seat (at all) with my health, and it finally feels like I'm getting there.

I have a complete physical scheduled for the end of the month and I will get the results of my bloodwork then. I will definitely be posting the results here!
  • Supplements:
  • Alesse
  • Triple Flex (glucosamine plus chondritin with MSM)*
  • 5 HTP
  • Fish Oil*
  • Naproxen Sodium*
  • Women's Multivitamin
  • Calcium-Magnesium-Zinc plus Vitamin D
Wow! I'm on seven supplements/meds!! The ones with a star by it are the ones that I take for my degenerative arthritis in my knee.

She gave me an Rx for a higher dose of Aleve than is available over the counter, which is nice for my knee. It will also be amazing for cramps. I'm just so thrilled that I love my doctor. I think we should all get a doctor that we are comfortable with. After all, they are LUCKY to have us as a patient and they should treat us that way. In the past, I have had doctors that seemed in a hurry. I may have read forty pages of my new book when I was in the examination room, but at least I could tell that she gave a crap about me by the end of our time together.

4 comments:

  1. thats great Angie! I bet all your blood tests will have good results!

    Well its hard to get good insurance. We are on cobra for an indefinite amount of time which is worrisome, at least at the end. So anyway we have to wait and see.

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  2. Excellent news, Angie! Way to take charge of your health.

    Talk about fantastic BP figures! Couldn't be better! Well done!

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  3. Yeah, I'm so excited about the blood pressure going down on its own!!!

    I can't wait to get the results of my blood work.

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  4. That is really good news about your BP. Low carb and losing weight helped lower my BP too, but not to such a healthy figure as yours. I still have to take BP meds, but the dose is much less than it was a year ago. I'm glad you've found a compatible doctor, it makes such a difference.

    Thanks for the comment on my blog with the meatloaf recipe links. Looks like a very useful recipe site.

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