Slight delay to start off the new year guys.

STR

STR

Knifemaker/Moderator
Moderator
Joined
Aug 27, 2004
Messages
12,955
I wasn't going to post anything about this but I'm finding out today that I'm probably going to have to now because there is no getting around it.

Not that anything is wrong, I appear to be fine, just that I have to give my body time to get used to a new blood pressure medicine the doc just started me on today. Depending on how that goes I could end up on another one if this one doesn't pan out. At present it has me feeling mighty weak.

I had some interesting experiences last evening. I spent several hours in the ER because for some reason starting last Wed. my heart decided to skip beats and flutter in my chest a couple times every now and then. No pain or anything, just a general nuisance but by last night (Mon) I knew something was wrong and for all I knew seriously because my heart went hog wild kind of beating very eratic and a whole lot of times in a row, non stop pretty much for the entire evening! Scared me a bit I must say. I didn't know what to make of it but when I got the ER, something my wife had to drag me out of the house to do by the way, they found my BP was really really high so apparently my old BP meds just quit working between June of 08 and now. Last physical June of 08 I was fine across the board with the exception of my sodium and potassium being low which is typical for those on Hyzaar for BP control. I probably spent upwards of $1200 bucks last night to find everything including my EKG, xrays, and blood work was fine but my BP had to be brought down and fast so I sat there watching a rerun of the Closer in a crowded ER with and IV going until that took place. Real exciting let me tell you. :rolleyes: I hate hospitals! Can't say I was very happy about being there but I do feel better.

In fact I knew as soon as the drug was given to me that it was making some changes because it was like my chest went relaxed and I was more comfortable than I've been in a long while. Amazing really. Anyway, this beta blocker experience is new to me. I must say that I hope my body adjusts to it soon if I'm going to be using it for a while. Its really taken the wind out of my sails I can tell you that. My pulse went from a normal rate at rest of about 65 to 53 to 57 beats per minute and from 180 over 115 to 123 over 76 so something changed. Problem is I get dizzy a bit by standing too quick which the doc tells me to be patient with. She also advised me, no make that sicked the wife on me to keep me out of the shop for another week until I'm sure I am not going to hurt myself from falling on something. Honestly if my pulse gets below 50 I'm calling it on this one I think. Thats pretty slow and if I see that I think its time to start again.

Anyway, thats the scoop. I'm already behind. Some of you guys have already graciously put your projects on hold for me and consented to give me some time to catch up. I assure you when I'm myself I'll get after it but right now I'm going to follow the docs orders and just take it easy. I'm not even driving my car for a few days until I know this is going to work out.

Be patient. I'll get your stuff done just not going to start up again on the 1st as planned, but maybe a week later than that.

Thanks for listening.

STR
 
One thing about is the work will be there when you get back and healthy. All that matters is to recover and heal. Make sure everything is all good before getting around power tools!;)
 
Steve,
I'm happy to hear that you were able to get your BP under control (or at least lower) before anything serious happened. My wife has high BP and she bought a gadget to measure her pressure so that she could be sure her meds were working OK. Get some rest, get your strength back. Wishing you a good year.
Fred
 
I think sometimes I was born with high blood pressure. Its always been what they termed borderline even when I could outrun a horse in my youth. I was thinking about those times during this whole thing believe me.

If I feel like I'm fine in a few days great, but the doc told me advance of taking it that it was likely to knock me for a loop for a bit. She was spot on I'd say based on my fatigue at the moment. I guess due to the fact that I have asthma as well as high BP that it makes treatment a bit tricky. Normally they don't prescribe a beta blocker to someone with asthma but I guess this new class of drugs that is coming out is cardio specific or something and doesn't focus as much on the lungs, liver and other things allowing them to use them in some cases. Even with this knowledge she only gave me enough to try it and see how it goes.

Not over yet though. Stress test next week. "Oh boy!" Yeah that should be good. :barf:

STR
 
Hope the new BP meds work well for you Steve and that you feel better soon. Stuff I'm on now (Benicar HCT) works great for me. Been on it close to three years with zero side effects - other than making me have to pee like a racehorse every hour or so. Beta blockers, when I use to take one, left me feeling washed out all the time, to the point where I just stopped taking them for a few years. Dumb move probably, but I survived it.

Have already told you there's absolutely no rush on the R2 project, but will repeat it just in case. That said, I do hope you can get back to the shop soon, only because I think that working on knives is probably almost as therapeutic for you as the meds.
 
Man I hate to here that steve. I'm praying for you man. Hope you get back to normal soon, just so you can feel normal again. Thank the Lord I dont get sick very often, but when I do I just hate it. Because you just dont feel normal you cant do what you want to do. You feel bored all the time just sitting there. Regards, Chet
 
Prayers for you are being sent Steve. Take care of yourself and don't push it until you're truly feeling in the clear, a lot of us want to have you around for a long time to come!

Cheers,
Joe
 
Steve - had a similar experience when they first put me on BP med. Didn't realize it was the meds that had me laying on the floor in the hardware store - so ended up getting a ambulance ride out of it.
You do adapt to them - which is good and bad . Good that you don't "feel" 'em after awhile - bad in that you need to make sure they are still doing their job for you over time.
Be careful - you work with too many things that'll cut or grind you even more effectively than they do steel.
You and the Mrs. have a happy and healthier New year!
 
Thanks folks. Its been a rough week. I was back at the ER today unfortunately. Same deal but different in some ways with my fatique and soreness plus being weak feeling which was odd but the same in my heart going nuts again like before though. Getting old really sucks! They bumped my stress test and IV dye scan up to Friday 9 am. So I'll know more then I guess, or be on my way to a cardio specialist. The new doc I saw today also doubled my dose for the new BP meds which seemed to help and he gave me something for the headaches I've been suffering from here in the last week since this started, one which tylenol, motrin or anything else I tried didn't put a stop to as I'd hoped. I feel pretty good right now but have to sleep tonight with one of those monitors on. Shouldn't be much trouble since I stayed up late for new years just to make it easier to dose off wearing this thing.

Anyway, I want you to know I appreciate the concern and the prayers guys. It means a lot.This is my own fault, pay back for all the abuses this poor body took during my so called 'invincible years' as a youth. Between that and all those junk food lunches and table dances in unsavory places entertaining potential clients I guess its come back full circle. Actually I rather liked the table dances other than the smoke but we'll save that for another time. ;)

I'll just have to either get it figured out, get used to an irregular beat or get a pace maker. Last thing I want is anyone worrying about their knives here. I have them labeled in the original boxes, and my wife has all the info to get them back to folks if I'm down for a while or something although folks tell me that they've made great progress in these things in medicine in recent years. We can do it later if need be but even if I have to go in for a stent or something else I expect to be back up and working in a week or so from what they tell me.

Thanks

STR
 
Hang in there Steve.
First n' foremost.......don't rush it, take care of yourself first.... work can wait.
Best wishes....... ;)
 
I agree with you - hate hopsitals. But thank God for 'em.

Unfortunately I've been there about three times. In the end everything was always explainable and not very significant after all. But you don't know that untill all the tests have been run.

The second to the last time (first time found out my BP meds were robbing too much Potassium) I had quit taking my Nexium because I felt better and didn't want to add another med to my repitoire. The doc had just put me on Atenenol too, which slows the heart rate to control BP.

The ER folks hooked me up to several monitors, one of which has an alarm when your heart rate drops. I had just come off a graveyard shift and was tired. First I dosed off to have the alarm go off when my heart rate went to like, 65. They reset the machine. Then it went off when I went to 60. They reset the machine. Then it went off when I went to 55. etc. etc. etc. Now mind you, this is the ER. EVERY time that monitor went off everyone jumped and started running for a crash cart. I'm just lucky I didn't get "paddled". They'd start running in, I'd open my eyes and ask, "what's wrong?" They'd relax. Someone finally started making derogatory comments about the Atenenol and turned off the alert on the monitor...
 
Hang in there Steve, they will get it sorted out..
When I first went on B/P meds, the doc told me that there are so many different drugs, that sometimes it takes a while to find one that works best for each person.....
They can over time become less effective too. I had been taking the same thing for about 3 years and one day I got a real killer of a headache..
So I went to the doc. From the meds not working anymore and a huge amount of stress, my B/P was IIRC 170/120, in that ball park anyway. He said I was right on the line for havin a stroke...

Gave me a shot of somethin for the b/p and a shot of Dilaudid for the headache.
5 minutes later, I was at peace with the world...

Anyway, get ya a home monitor to use. They are fairly cheap and a lot more accurate than the ones in the stores. Hope ya get to feelin better soon.
 
Off to Nuclear Cardiology. I'll be out of reach for a bit at least for today I think based on what they've told me.

Thanks

STR
 
Wish you much luck with the testing/diagnosis. The only thing worse than feeling down is not knowing why. Hang in there, and I hope you get back to 100% soon:thumbup:
 
Well, I'm home at least. Just waiting now to hear now what the ultra sound pics shows going on in my heart before and after stress. From my perspective no news is good news. I got to monitor my BP and pulse while using the treadmill. It was apparent the new BP med is doing what its supposed to so at least I can say thats all good. Doubling the amount didn't knock me out like I thought either so that too isn't bad. I just wish my heart would stop fluttering in my chest. Anyway, I appreciate the replies. Thanks and I'll let you know. In the mean time I'll try to get some things here done as I can but right now I'm just going to do what they tell me and relax. I appreciate your patience for those of you with work here. :thumbup:

STR
 
Steve,
Hope you start feeling better really soon:thumbup: Sorry you've had a rough couple of days:(
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top