As my readers know my family doctor retired. Today was my appointment with the replacement doctor. I am transitioning to an all women care team, because I thought I worked better with them. It's been my experience that they appear to be more open to natural or alternative choices. I'm not interested in a pill pusher.
The one thing I was worried about—my weight. I did get rid of that 10 pounds. My weight was similar to my weight the last time so there was no 'you're fat, lose weight' conversation.
The doctor was nice enough but was all business. First no introductions. Which didn't seem odd until I was driving home. They read the computer and asked questions. The opening observation — I see you had surgery for endometrial cancer. What? There was no cancer. Oh, sorry, I read that wrong. I should have left then.
When I went in my BP was 145/101 for the intake nurse. That is not a typo. When the doctor took it it was 145/82. That's about normal for me. And I realized I never took my meds this morning. Plus I ran out of the Lisinopril March 2. (Yes, I tried to get a refill. But at some point it became ridiculous to continue.)
Then the doctor looked at the horrible test results from last year when I was eating my way thru Covid.
Before talking with me, all the old biases were immediately established. What's worse, they didn't have the benefit of history to know they might be a one-off. And that pissed me off.
I wasn't 100% sure until I saw my printout. Vitamin D deficiency. Where the hell did that come from? I have NEVER had an issue with my D. My A1C has traditionally been around 5.5, 5.6. That single time it was 6.1 The pre-diabetes word gets batted around. Look, it says increased fasting blood sugar. The numbers that were being looked at are a year old.
The doctor read that in the last set of blood work I had great good cholesterol, and my bad was slightly high. So what appears on the printout? Hyperlipidema. High Cholesterol. Fuck it. And what the hell does screen for cardiovascular condition mean? I have ZERO heart issues.
Note high blood pressure disorder is listed TWICE. Why not hypertension like in previous lists. So now I have this 20 minute routine that I have to do to take my blood pressure twice a week. Then in one month send them in for evaluation. Like I have time for this shit.
Sit down, feet on the floor, arm about heart height. Wait five minutes. Take the BP. Throw it away. Wait five minutes again, repeat. Keep that one. Wait another five minutes and take it the third time. Then take a average of the last two and write them down.
The nurse doing the intake never asked if I was taking my meds as instructed, nor did the doctor. I asked for a refill of the Lisinopril and it was ordered. I hadn't taken it since early March. Could that be why my BP was high? Maybe I should have volunteered the information. But I didn't. I only answer the questions I'm asked. I don't volunteer information. Solution for high BP—adding a pill—Amlodipine. I was told it was 2.5 mg, but the chart says on my phone says 5 mg. (Pat takes 5.) I had the balls to ask what it was and was told a "Calcium channel blocker". Why would I want to block calcium? I was given a detailed scientific answer ... might as well have been talking Klingon. According to Wikipedia "Amlodipine works partly by increasing the size of arteries." I think I don't like this. I sent a message about the dosage. I also suggested that I wasn't comfortable taking it at all.
In addition I was also offered a water pill. I said HELL NO—loud and proud. I followed it by saying I tried that before and I got tired of being dehydrated and constipated. I will not take it again.
I have a shit load of blood work to do, including an A1C, but not till after the month of blood pressure checks is over.
I have minimal, if any, trust in the medical profession with the exception of the two gyno's. Damn they were great. I have two more appointments with this doctor. Hope the next one is better or they will be out.
As for me, I will continue to eat better, exercise daily, and try to lose weight.
My exercise so far this week has been Milly on Monday and chair yoga today. I kept getting distracted by the gold finches outside.
On the way home I stopped at CVS to pick up my RX. While the pharmacist was ringing it up they asked me if I had Medicare Part B. I said yes. Apparently I qualify then for free at home Covid Tests—eight a month. I said yes. Sure beats trying to find a testing site. And they are good for a whole year. It took about five minutes to put the info into the computer and I had to find my Medicare card.
Update:
I heard back from the Doctor this morning. "I am concerned with stroke risk and controlling blood pressure—If you don't want to take the medication that is up to you." So I'm not taking it. Even though I already spent $40 on it. I'm going to wait the month now that I'm taking the Lisinopril again, let's see what happens. And if I have a stroke it's my own damn fault. I'm okay with that.
On the home front Pat should be going to rehab today. I'll be walking up there shortly.
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