WOMEN AGES 50+ FOR FEBRUARY 2022

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  • Machka9
    Machka9 Posts: 25,597 Member
    edited February 2022
    GodMomKim wrote: »
    Hi Gals,
    I’ve had an adventure this morning and hope one of you with more medical knowledge can help me… I can google it but I know there is a lot of bizarre stuff on the internet…

    I am basically healthy, and rarely go to the doctor, but I do go in for a mammogram and a pap smear at the recommended times. Today I went in for a pap and had some questions for my OBGYN who I had not seen for 3 years. (any only one time before that – so not really a relationship) The nurse sat me down and took my blood pressure, I am short but the “bed” was high so I jumped up and sat there – feet not touching the floor, and took the blood pressure on an arm that she set up on a bar so my hand was above my head and stretch back, super uncomfortable – I mentioned both of these to her and she said it wasn’t a problem (with my mom her health providers are super careful her feet are flat on the floor and her arm is in a comfortable position) it came back “high” 155 over 79 so she decided I should have it taken again at the end of the appointment. Ok? After a pap in a room that was cold, still in a ½ gown (just a paper thing over the front top of me) and I am uncomfortably cold and a bit uncomfortable from the pap itself. The nurse takes my blood pressure again, this time standing but same arm configuration. 177 over 79. Time for freak out. Makes me an appointment to have it taken in a different department in 2 minutes – I need to get dressed quickly and run down the back 3 flights of stairs in the door and to the first door on the right. Ok, do that – sit waiting for 5 minutes, while I deep breath and try to relax. This nice male nurse? LVN? takes it again standing this time with my arm on a table at a very comfortable angle 144/79 he tells me it is considered elevated, not high and I need to have an appointment with my regular doc, which is scheduled for 2 weeks from now.

    So my question is what types of things make blood pressure high, and is this potentially a ridiculous run around?
    Thinking of you all, and hoping for a happy healthy day
    Smiles Kim in N. California

    Google 'white coat syndrome'.

    Most Drs here know that people's BPs will likely be high when they are in the Drs office, so when I come in with 144/79 they tell me I'm likely normal.

    We have a blood pressure cuff at home although I can usually tell when my BP is up a bit by the ringing in my ears - it gets louder.

    That BP cuff helped my husband and me detect his heart attack last May. 3 weeks before the heart attack, he took his BP and it was way high ... like 200/110. I told him to sit and relax and "box breathe" for 5 minutes and then take it again. Still high. So I drove him into ED and it was still high when they took it. We spent the night in ED ... him on the bed and me sitting in a hard chair until it finally came down.

    3 weeks later he had the heart attack and we were back in ED ... but they had all his notes from the previous episode and that helped his diagnosis.

    200/110 is high.

    144/79 is not overly high.

    Because of 'white coat syndrome', I usually do a little "box breathing" while my doctor is getting the equipment ready which helps calm things down. :)



    M in Oz
  • barbiecat
    barbiecat Posts: 17,195 Member
    :)Kim I've heard of "white coat syndrome " which is that just being at the doctor's office may raise your blood pressure significantly. Finding a way to take your blood pressure in a more neutral setting is a good idea 💡
  • OregonMother
    OregonMother Posts: 1,664 Member
    barbiecat wrote: »
    :)Kim I've heard of "white coat syndrome " which is that just being at the doctor's office may raise your blood pressure significantly. Finding a way to take your blood pressure in a more neutral setting is a good idea 💡

    Yes. I have white coat syndrome. And then I developed a new "Oncology" syndrome. My blood pressure at oncology appointments is 30-40 points higher than even at my regular GP.

    You've been given good advice, Kim. If you can, I would invest in a home monitor. I think you will get more accurate readings.

    Flea
    Willamette Valley, OR
  • GodMomKim
    GodMomKim Posts: 3,703 Member
    B) thanks everyone!
  • Snowflake1968
    Snowflake1968 Posts: 6,946 Member
    Kim - I have been having to monitor my BP daily since October when it was high at my physical. She had me monitor 3 times a day for two weeks. She told me to sit with my arm at ease. She said you have to sit still and you should do it three times in succession and note the last one.

    I did have to go on a BP med, but she has already cut the dose in half.

    Tracey in Edmonton
  • dlfk202000
    dlfk202000 Posts: 3,185 Member
    Enjoying some Sweet and Spicy cinnamon tea(herbal), watched the Opening ceremonies of the winter Olympics and now going to read a bit- I have been reading some trilogies by Beverly Lewis- a Christian Amish writer. Nice relaxing stuff.
    Week was ok for the most part, except Wed. right before leaving for Zumba my son comes in the house and says he was just hit(his truck) as he was pulling into our driveway. He was turning in and the girl tried to pass him on the LEFT- hit his back driverside with her front passenger side. There was an ice cream truck and we think she was trying to pass that and wasn't paying attention to my son turning in. She was so far over in the other lane that she almost hit our van and my car that were parked on the street on our side of the street.Her mom jumped out of the car and was going off- crazy- her daughter just sat in the car, shaken but calm, my son was calm, I was calm, then grandma came down the street- I guess she lives down there, she was very calm. My husband came home and I was proud of him for staying well, pretty calm. We don't know if the mom was on the phone to someone or just recording everything(she kept saying she was recording it). We finally just had the "kids" exchange info and turned it into their insurances- we felt bad for the girl- 18 and mom wouldn't stop rant-that made the girl feel even worse. The mom kept saying it was my son's fault because he turned in our driveway.

    Going up to see Charlotte(MsBeadle) and her husband again tomorrow- Dh wants to look at more of Michael's meteorite jewelry. I made more cracker toffee( she loved the last batch I made them) and made caramel corn and maple pecan fudge to take up for them- Early birthday treat for her and for Michael.
    No idea what else we will do this weekend.

    I should start getting the roses and raspberries pruned- the roses already have new buds/growth starting- never did stop blooming completely

    Good night ladies- Have a wonderful weekend.

    Debbie
    Napa Valley,CA
  • Katla49
    Katla49 Posts: 10,385 Member
    edited February 2022
    We had a lovely face-time visit with our son. He is house hunting and has found a good possibility. We’re hoping for a happy outcome. I’m keeping my fingers crossed for this one. ❤️

    Here, at home, we are getting ready to visit the woman who’s poodle might be the mother of future poodle puppies. I hope one of those new puppies will be just right for us.

    Katla
  • skuehn48
    skuehn48 Posts: 3,042 Member
    <3
  • Katla49
    Katla49 Posts: 10,385 Member
    edited February 2022
    B)
  • auntiebk
    auntiebk Posts: 2,611 Member
    Accountability:
    Chose well: Joe, readings, BP, dogs to powerline, steps >7400, CI<CO, CI<250<CO, active :
    Bonus: call : Postmaster about stolen mail, asked and emailed re: informed delivery to PO Box, changed credit card expiry with JPR, BiMart, Post Office, Grocery Outlet, Freddie’s
    Workin’ on it: 141.9, H20x6,
    Friendly February 2022
    4: Organize a virtual ‘tea break’ with a colleague or a friend. Asked C if interested in un-birthday at BTB.
    5: Make time to have a friendly chat with a neighbor. OK if I see the Foxes when picking up the mail, I’ll stop and chat.

    Penny in your father’s dream was your mother young? In my dreams Mama and Papa are.
    Barbie :love: the pic of Sasha and Brandy.
    Pip likewise :love: the zonked out Yogi pic.
    Lisa [brr] saw Arkansas on the Weather channel last evening and thought of you.
    Annie congrats on continuing your elliptical and yoga. Good advice about playing with the puppy and seeing what motivates him/her. What did the nice young cardiologist tell your mom about that 220/90 BP?
    Vicki thankful for more time with Jake and for your roomie’s sense of smell. Brava for continuing with the gym.
    Kim sorry for your discomfort at your appointment today, not to mention the BP panic. Sounds like mentioning your discomfort was not enough to get through to the nurse. Sometimes it takes a little more oomph. Agree with Carol, Tina, Penny, Kay, Katla, Evelyn, Sue, Allie, Machka, Barbie, Flea and Tracey. I find the automatic BP machines downright painful, so I insist the nurse take manually. Same with home devices, the arm one hurt too much to use, but the wrist one is tolerable. PA pooh poohed the wrist style ‘til she tested it in the office after taking with her manual set up. Accuracy was fine.
    Welcome @four__db ! Would you let us know what you’d like to be called and your general locale?
    Rita whooshing healing to your DS and energy to you and your DD.
    Allie thanks for the oximeter recommendation, I should get one of those too.
    Debbie Brava for staying calm in the face of that woman’s ranting.

    Struggling a little to get back to activity routine but managing to make step and CI<CO goals. Zooming tomorrow with god daughter and her 6(!) children for the first time. Hope to keep it short but to do it frequently. Want to get to know them better and this seems like the best way. Suggestions welcome.

    Cocoa and biscotti are gone, time to turn in.

    Lighter, lovelies!
    Barbara, the Southern Oregon Coastie AHMOD
    2022: Be still and listen.
    hnv8r1kfzbmh.gif
  • Machka9
    Machka9 Posts: 25,597 Member
    Bicycle ride today ...

    6ixqcq6r5000.png


    Machka in Oz
  • LisaInArkansas
    LisaInArkansas Posts: 2,882 Member
    Up for hopefully just a little while, back to bed soon.

    Kim - Good advice from all and sundry - more than once I've told them I'll sit in the chair while they take my BP, and they often try to take it while I'm sitting on the table with my legs a-dangle.

    Vicki -     Pleased you're sticking to the gym. It's not always the easiest resolution, but the results are so gratifying.

    Barbara AHMOD - Corey thought it was hilarious when the Arkansas governor declared a state of emergency over 4-6 inches of snow. But then, Alaskans like him tend to think that 4-6 inches of snow just means that it's Thursday.

    Later, y'all,
    Love,
    Lisa
  • Machka9
    Machka9 Posts: 25,597 Member
    edited February 2022
    Week Review

    Expensive! 2 new tyres. Fixed brakes on van. Dentist.

    Dentist - I'm getting a custom mouthguard made. Apparently I'm grinding like mad and that's taking its toll on my mouth.

    Worked from home! :heart: I got to work from home all week and that was fantastic!! I am hoping to be able to do it again.

    Exercise - a decent amount this week. I've especially enjoyed walking around my neighbourhood. :)


    Not having a long commute was also beneficial for getting a few things done. I was even able to get an extra load of laundry in.

    I have a long Things To Do list and it's a mess. I really need to organise my List. :anguished: But it just keeps growing and growing rather than shrinking. I do a couple things, and then I add about half a dozen. I'd like to start feeling on top of things one day.

    Watching the Winter Olympics now while doing some of my cycling club "work".


    Machka in Oz
  • bananasandoranges
    bananasandoranges Posts: 2,410 Member
    Hi just lost a post when writing on cell phone when sms came in. :) shout out to all !
  • cityjaneLondon
    cityjaneLondon Posts: 12,698 Member
    edited February 2022
    Hi! The day dawned frosty, clear and wind-free, so I went for my run. Here is the usual selection of crazy older women. :p<3

    zx4qqkbs1t85.jpg
    Quite a few bobbing around in the sea! :o

    Here are the yummy mummies doing their yoga and weights on the café terrace. ;)

    3a9bybcelx95.jpg

    I narrowly avoided being run down by the Saturday Parkrun folks. Managed to turn around five minutes ahead of them. B)

    Love to all, Heather UK xxxxxx

  • ginnytez
    ginnytez Posts: 1,400 Member
    Good morning all:

    Caught up for the week and moved into the new month. Work busy this week and crazy weather didn't help. We closed offices Thursday and went in on a two hour delay on Friday. We still have people working from home, but staff in office on regular basis. The powers that be decided if some people would get off with pay if offices closed, no one should work. Everyone made it through safely.

    Cold here today as aftermath of storm. Was supposed to have a delivery yesterday that was delayed due to weather-will be just as happy if it comes today with me at home.

    I agree with the blood pressure discussion. I keep a cuff at home and check mine once a week or so. Never been a problem but easy enough to keep an eye on. Do the same with blood sugar. It could come from my husband having issues with both so I know how quietly both can creep up on you.

    Not planning on going out with this cold weather. May run to store tomorrow if a bit warmer. Had a small pork loin in freezer so will put that in over today with some sauerkraut-that will give me several days worth of meals. I like it and its easy.

    Off to fix breakfast and get ready for SIL weekly call at 8 am (every Saturday for years!).

    Enjoy the weekend.

    Stay safe all,

    Ginny in Ohio
  • cityjaneLondon
    cityjaneLondon Posts: 12,698 Member
    edited February 2022
    Just spent an hour updating my website,. I am technically challenged, so it's a frustrating struggle. Right now I am baffled as to how to shrink a photo. ;) Anyway, I got the info up to date. Somehow. Wish I lived nearer my elder son.

    Love Heather UK xxxxxxxx
  • LisaInArkansas
    LisaInArkansas Posts: 2,882 Member
    Heather - do you have Paint 3D? It replaced the old Paint program that is standard with Windows here. If so, I can post up a quick way to shrink an image.

    Machka - do you think it's the two-job thing that's got you pushed into grinding again? When you were in school as well as working, you were quite stressed as well.

    Ginny - Good to see you. It's down to 7 degrees this morning here, too, so everything that was slushy yesterday is frozen hard and icy. Yuck.

    Back up again, in the middle of my first cup of tea. Sun's coming up, supposed to be a sunny day and get above freezing by noon. If we go out, we'll probably take Corey's work truck - it's 4-wheel drive. It's unusual weather here - the very cold days here usually only come along one or two at a time, not for a week at a time.

    Onward and upward...

    Love,
    Lisa in AR
  • Anniesquats100
    Anniesquats100 Posts: 3,288 Member
    My laundry day pants are so loose! Yay! It makes laundry day fun!

    Annie in Delaware
  • grandmallie
    grandmallie Posts: 10,088 Member
    Morning ladies
    Still feeling lousy i got up and fed Alfie and put mealworms out for the birds and made some toast.. so i have to do my meds for the pill box and will just lay low for today..
    Today is my DD 33rd birthday 🎂 im hoping her husband does something nice for her...they arent big mushy card flower people.. more practical people which i guess is good..
    I did send a picture of Miles to Kelly in messenger if she can figure out how to post it here i give my permission because ill be darned if i can get them downloaded on here.
  • pipcd34
    pipcd34 Posts: 17,252 Member
    ks1xvjvicoq7.jpeg
  • spikeyhair
    spikeyhair Posts: 2,078 Member
    GodMomKim wrote: »
    Hi Gals,
    I’ve had an adventure this morning and hope one of you with more medical knowledge can help me… I can google it but I know there is a lot of bizarre stuff on the internet…

    I am basically healthy, and rarely go to the doctor, but I do go in for a mammogram and a pap smear at the recommended times. Today I went in for a pap and had some questions for my OBGYN who I had not seen for 3 years. (any only one time before that – so not really a relationship) The nurse sat me down and took my blood pressure, I am short but the “bed” was high so I jumped up and sat there – feet not touching the floor, and took the blood pressure on an arm that she set up on a bar so my hand was above my head and stretch back, super uncomfortable – I mentioned both of these to her and she said it wasn’t a problem (with my mom her health providers are super careful her feet are flat on the floor and her arm is in a comfortable position) it came back “high” 155 over 79 so she decided I should have it taken again at the end of the appointment. Ok? After a pap in a room that was cold, still in a ½ gown (just a paper thing over the front top of me) and I am uncomfortably cold and a bit uncomfortable from the pap itself. The nurse takes my blood pressure again, this time standing but same arm configuration. 177 over 79. Time for freak out. Makes me an appointment to have it taken in a different department in 2 minutes – I need to get dressed quickly and run down the back 3 flights of stairs in the door and to the first door on the right. Ok, do that – sit waiting for 5 minutes, while I deep breath and try to relax. This nice male nurse? LVN? takes it again standing this time with my arm on a table at a very comfortable angle 144/79 he tells me it is considered elevated, not high and I need to have an appointment with my regular doc, which is scheduled for 2 weeks from now.

    So my question is what types of things make blood pressure high, and is this potentially a ridiculous run around?
    Thinking of you all, and hoping for a happy healthy day
    Smiles Kim in N. California

    I monitor mine at home, I took my monitor to GP and we compared readings between hers and mine. Mine was comparable. Was asked last week to go to surgery for BP check I refused, said I would do it myself and send reading, GP accepted it. Always told to relax before, sit with legs at 90deg feet flat on floor and arm resting on table at same level as heart. Usually take an average of 3 readings taken at 4 or 5 min intervals.

    Kate UK ❤️
  • cityjaneLondon
    cityjaneLondon Posts: 12,698 Member
    edited February 2022
    No Lisa, I haven't seen Paint. I'm doing it on my tablet anyway. There should be the facility to shrink it on the app (WordPress) but nothing I did was effective. I know how to shrink things on Word.
    I originally got the website so that I had a contact facility if people wanted to get in touch. At that time I did not do Instagram. I'm not sure if people look at websites much any more, but I do like having a domain name.

    Going to have fritatta for dinner. Extra feta and fries for DH. Me arugula. It's weigh day tomorrow. 😱

    Love Heather UK xxxxxx
  • TerriRichardson112
    TerriRichardson112 Posts: 19,007 Member
    edited February 2022
    Kim: I agree with the others. You should be calm and comfortable seated with feet flat on the floor. Your arm should be relaxed, and resting on a flat surface.

    Of course your BP was elevated after all that palaver.

    The home testing kit is very useful and quite easy to use. I monitor mine for a week before medical appointments.
  • margaretturk
    margaretturk Posts: 5,254 Member
    edited February 2022
    Karen I would also add use the restroom before checking your blood pressure. In addition to what Terri said.
  • 1948CWB
    1948CWB Posts: 1,595 Member
    KJ ~ Great happy photos! :)

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