I'm going to be writing a lot of posts about my BlogHer 2011 experience over the coming week or so, but this is the one that's topmost in my thoughts right now.
It all started with a tweet I saw from Queen of Spain about a blood drive at the conference. I've been an enthusiastic blood donor since college, so I was happy to sign up even though I've been turned down a few times recently due to low hemoglobin. However, my last blood test at the doctor's office showed normal iron levels, so I figured I'd give it a shot.
Well, I almost got turned down, but not due to anemia. Instead, it was because my blood pressure was sky-high.
Now, I've always had blood pressure on the low side of normal. If I stood up too fast in yoga class, I'd often get dizzy. High blood pressure is definitely something new. The tech took my blood pressure twice and I squeaked down into the acceptable range the second time, but she thought it was concerning enough that she wrote down both readings so I could share them with my doctor when I got home.
I then donated blood without incident and got the phlebotomist to take a picture of me and my blood so I could share it on my blog and Twitter, because otherwise what kind of blogger would I be?
I had a pretty good idea that the sudden change in blood pressure was related to one of my medications. It didn't take much research to figure out which one, so I left a message for my doctor, who had her nurse call and tell me to stop taking that one (duh).
I'm actually rather irritated at her for prescribing it in the first place and also irritated at myself for not being a more proactive healthcare consumer when I started taking it. It really wasn't particularly appropriate for the condition for which it was prescribed and it's apparently well known for causing hypertension. Thanks, doc.
So now I'm assuming that my blood pressure will go back to normal. I've been stepping up my exercise and changing my diet quite a bit, so those things alone should help, especially now that I'm not being poisoned by that stupid drug.
I'm very inspired of late to take charge of my health and, ideally, get off most or all of the various medications I'm taking. It may not be a quick process, but it's worth starting immediately. I'd love to get to a point where I feel like a fully healthy person instead of a walking collection of symptoms.
So my post title may be a little hyperbolic, but I'm glad I got the heads-up that something was wrong. I'll talk about the less life-or-death aspects of BlogHer in the rest of my upcoming posts.
Glad it was an easy fix!
Posted by: Spyder | August 08, 2011 at 07:56 PM
I used to be a regular blood donor until I lived in England for 3 years. Ever since, I haven't been allowed to. Granted, now I have diabetes, so I'm not allowed to because of that, but it still irks me that living overseas prohibits people from donating...permanently. Glad you got your blood pressure under control. Still jealous. Wish I could have made it this year.
Posted by: Karl | August 08, 2011 at 08:38 PM
isn't it weird the bad stuff that meds can cause, My Mom dealt with a chronic cough for 2 years, the doctors thought she was asthmatic and prescribed inhalers (none which seemed to help the cough) she went to a new doctor who pointed out the blood pressure meds she was on was well known to cause chronic cough, yet what was she given MORE meds instead of a new bp med to try! UGH..... (the cough and the need for inhalers is now gone)
I am about to have a serious talk with my doc about my current meds.... I just feel like sometimes they are not "playing" nice with either other
Posted by: Melanie | August 08, 2011 at 08:57 PM
hurray for giving blood! even better for being proactive with your own health. it was so nice to meet you.
Posted by: Laura Scarborough | August 08, 2011 at 11:00 PM
Indeed AJ get your blood pressure under control fast. That's where all my troubles began some years ago... Definitely a silent killer through strokes.
Posted by: Keith | August 09, 2011 at 07:15 AM
Glad you caught that :) who says blogging does not save live! :)
Smoothies and taking in more fruits is an awesome step! I think you are doing fantastic.
Posted by: Logtar | August 09, 2011 at 11:07 AM
Holy crap! Glad they caught that!
Posted by: kcyogachick | August 09, 2011 at 09:04 PM
xoxoxoxx and way to take charge of your health!
Posted by: Erin | August 10, 2011 at 12:10 AM
Glad to hear that you got this in check. And yes, always be proactive with doctors. It's scary, because you know they have this... degree or something.
But they also aren't you, and if you approach it as, "Well, I'm reluctant about X because I have these concerns..." most doctors will actually make it a conversation. And if they won't, dump that one and get a new one!
Personally, I try to go to ARNPs because they tend to listen more than doctors and can still prescribe medications as necessary.
It was great to (briefly) meet you at BlogHer!
Posted by: Abigail | August 13, 2011 at 02:16 AM
You were at BlogHer!? Too bad we didn't get to meet.
Posted by: Wendi | August 14, 2011 at 01:22 PM