I had a doctor’s appointment this morning for my yearly exam. All of you ladies know that is bad enough in itself. I must have looked rather nervous because the doctor asked me if I was ok, and I said, “well it’s not exactly fun!” and she said they don’t get many requests from patients to have 2 or 3 exams a year. lol. But I came away from the appointment the way that I seem to always come away from the doctor—feeling depressed and upset.
I don’t really have a problem with this doctor. She is kind and has always commented on my weight loss, although I was the one who brought it up this time, not any of the staff there. I wasn’t even told how much weight I had lost this year, although I know it was at least 20 lbs.—which is very significant! For once, I was not told I needed to lose weight or anything like that, which was nice.
But I came away upset because my blood pressure is still high. Although looking back, it looks like last year they thought it was normal—but I remember them still mentioning that they didn’t want me on my birth control pill because of my blood pressure. As of this morning, I have lost 87 lbs. and my blood pressure is STILL high. Going in to the doctor, I had images of my blood pressure being just perfect and her taking me off of the medications. Instead, I heard warnings of having a stroke, of recommending me not to have a baby, and that I was only 26 years old and need to get this under control and make sure I don’t have a disease. That is NOT something I want to hear at 26 years old.
It’s not that I don’t care about my health. I have turned my life around. I eat healthy, I exercise, and I take care of myself. Granted, none of us are 100% perfect. I started this journey because I was told I was at risk for having a stroke—and to find that it hasn’t helped at all, is really frustrating to me.
I know that some people have high blood pressure because it’s in their genes and that could be the case with me. For the past four years I have been told if my blood pressure doesn’t go down and if I don’t lose weight, they don’t want me on a birth control pill. This time, she said she would not put me back on the pill I’ve been on. She’s switching me to an estrogen birth control pill to see if that works. If it doesn’t lower my blood pressure, I am to see a family doctor and figure out what is wrong with me. She also recommended seeing a family doctor for my asthma/allergy issues because she says there are medicines out there that could get my issues under control and if I am using my inhaler more than twice a week, I need to see someone about that.
So basically, it’s time to start tracking. I’m going to get a small calendar and track everything. I’m going to track my blood pressure, inhaler use, headaches, pain in my side (which she thought could be a pulled muscle (huh?) or my gallbladder), and anything else that I notice. I also requested to have blood work done to test cholesterol and blood sugar because for the first time, she never asked me to have it tested—I usually don’t have it done. She also wants me to have my liver enzymes tested because of my blood pressure issue. All I can do is keep taking care of myself and take control of my health.
I am 26 years old and I don’t want to die of a stroke. I want to be able to have children with my wonderful hubby. But it’s amazing to me to think that my weight might not be the issue…And also a little scary. I think that doctors try to scare you into action. You come away thinking you are going to die, that you have heart disease, that you will never have children, etc. We all know this is a serious issue—but they really know how to hit it home.
I KNOW I am healthier. I know I am 1000 times more fit than I was 87 lbs. ago. I’m sure losing weight HELPS but it may not be the only key.
So I just wanted to get this off my chest. Thanks for listening, my bloggy buddies!
And I also want to thank my wonderful mother for being there to listen to my frustration and my tears. You really are the best.
