A word about Frank.

[franksolich]

I got back from the big city about 3:00 p.m. central time, 2:00 p.m. mountain time.

I'm just sitting around, being bored and frustrated.

The physician, who has to wait a couple of days yet to get the stuff from the hospital, and so can't really do anything at the moment, did however confirm something that couldn't be confirmed at the hospital. 

He stuck all sorts of things through the nose and down the thoat and said, uh-huh, that's exactly what happened, a spontaneous bursting-open of major and minor blood veins in there; he said "the dam broke," and big time.

He was not satisfied with the "mild" prescription the physician at the hospital had given me, at my request, and so added a second one.  I'm not sure; I'm going to watch this closely.  The peak blood-pressure (at the hospital) had been 412/264, at which point I was given that stupid nitroglycerin and needles inserted for transfusions (which were never needed).  When this physician checked the blood-pressure today, it registered 185/100 (my "average" the past several years has been 170-175/70-74).

That's still of course too high, especially the lower number, but that's way down from the peak, and at the time I had taken only one of the pills prescribed by the physician at the hospital.  I am not supposed to start these new pills until the morning, but I'm going to watch really closely, to see what the first pills do, after I take a second one tonight, and a third one in the morning.

If that bottom number gets down to 70-75 after three pills, I don't see any point in taking this second one.  We'll see how it goes.  And as usual, if a medical professional (in real life, not here on the internet) disagrees, I guess I shall acquiesce with as good graces as possible, and take both.

There was something left on the front porch when I got home.

I had taken, on the ambulance and into the hospital, several blood-drenched large bath towels, for whatever reasons, like Linus with his security blanket.  There were seven of them, and I hung onto them for dear life.

Near the end, while the blood-pressure was still declining, a nurse picked them up off the floor and suggested they be tossed.  The neighbor said yeah, sure, throw them away.  At which I protested.  They were perfectly good towels and just needed washed.  It would be a waste just to toss them.  But the nurse threw them away anyway.

When I got home, there was a stack of brand new large bath towels on the front porch, put there by only God knows.

[Airwolf]

Wow Frank that had to have been scary as hell. Glad that things have worked out for the better. Just rest and follow the orders as best you can.

[mamacags]

According to what I have found I think you set the world record for highest blood pressure ever recorded!   Seriously get your medical records and send them to Guinness Book of World Records!  You could be even more world famous than you already are!

[debk]

Looks like your Guardian Angel didn't want you to stress over the bath towels!

As much as I hate to admit it....doctors do ...for the most part....prescribe necessary medicine - particularly with that kind of blood pressure. I seriously doubt that it was prescribed  just to make sure they didn't get sued.

Please, please consider taking it the way you are supposed to.....at least until the results are back and the doctor tells you why this happened.

Cats are very sensitive to our "ills"....it's like they are able to sense that there is a problem. They might be your best health barometer until the results are in.

You continue to be on my prayer list....<<<<hugs>>>>to you.

[franksolich]

According to what I have found I think you set the world record for highest blood pressure ever recorded!   Seriously get your medical records and send them to Guinness Book of World Records!  You could be even more world famous than you already are!

I am NOT 100% sure that was the reading.

It looked like the reading, but I was hazy when seeing it, among other numbers on a computer screen (it was the only number with a "/" on it).  That was when the nitroglycerin pill was suddenly jammed into me before I was told what it was about.

I'm pretty sure it said "412/264," but not 100% sure.  Just pretty sure.

It's probably on the medical records, but the medical records are real new at the moment, and it might take some days to learn what it was.

[GOBUCKS]

Coach, don't be a DUmbass regarding pharmaceuticals. As used by the DUmmies, they destroy lives. As prescribed by competent physicians, they save lives.

I've had two close friends who suffered from high blood pressure, both of whom were never conscientious about taking medication as prescribed. They both died suddenly in their sixties, one with a heart attack, the other a stroke. And that is not a bouncy story. They don't call high blood pressure the silent killer without reason. But it's a killer that can be defeated by medication.

With the kind of blood pressure you describe, that soil scientist could literally be a femme fatale.

Take all the medication they offer, being philosophically opposed to it isn't worth dying for.

[Eupher]

Coach, don't be a DUmbass regarding pharmaceuticals. As used by the DUmmies, they destroy lives. As prescribed by competent physicians, they save lives.

I've had two close friends who suffered from high blood pressure, both of whom were never conscientious about taking medication as prescribed. They both died suddenly in their sixties, one with a heart attack, the other a stroke. And that is not a bouncy story. They don't call high blood pressure the silent killer without reason. But it's a killer that can be defeated by medication.

With the kind of blood pressure you describe, that soil scientist could literally be a femme fatale.

Take all the medication they offer, being philosophically opposed to it isn't worth dying for.

    Well said, GOBUCKS.

[debk]

  Well said, GOBUCKS.

I wholeheartedly agree (no pun intended)...

[MrsSmith]

Frank, I'd like to say one thing as a former Nebraskan...we tend to be "too tough" to get really sick.   Then, when it turns out we are really sick, we tend to shrug off most of the warnings.  In fact, when we get terribly sick, we sometimes don't listen to our own bodies and acknowledge just how bad we feel. 

Bottom line, if your cats, your neighbors and your EMT say you are really, really sick...believe them.  Do what your doctor(s) say, take your meds, actually rest when you're supposed to rest. 

(The last time I ignored "not feeling just right" and went on with things, shrugged off my husband's worries, and tried to talk him out of taking me to the ER, I ended up in the hospital for 4 days, and sicker than a dog for another 3 weeks.  There really, truly is such a thing as being "too tough.) 

Take care, man.  We'd all miss you terribly if you didn't.  So would your cats, and a lot of good Nebraskans.

[Lord Undies]

Frank, I know my BP was OK/acceptable as short a time ago as late February when I had my major dental work done.  I have never been on pills or under serious observation.  That all changed for me in a twinkle of an eye.

My BP today was 116/43.  (And BTW, now I've lost 42 pounds)

[Chris_]

Blood pressure meds don't just reduce your BP and then it stays there on it's own.  Those meds must continue to be taken to keep it down.  Sometimes it takes a while to get the dosage correct.  It's best if you follow the doc's instructions to the letter even if you don't want to.

[Flame]

Coach, don't be a DUmbass regarding pharmaceuticals. As used by the DUmmies, they destroy lives. As prescribed by competent physicians, they save lives.

I've had two close friends who suffered from high blood pressure, both of whom were never conscientious about taking medication as prescribed. They both died suddenly in their sixties, one with a heart attack, the other a stroke. And that is not a bouncy story. They don't call high blood pressure the silent killer without reason. But it's a killer that can be defeated by medication.

With the kind of blood pressure you describe, that soil scientist could literally be a femme fatale.

Take all the medication they offer, being philosophically opposed to it isn't worth dying for.

+1

[RobJohnson]

When I got home, there was a stack of brand new large bath towels on the front porch, put there by only God knows.

God Bless your neighbors & friends.

We are richly Blessed that you are still with us Frank, I will be saying many prayers for your quick, full recovery.

[vesta111]

God Bless your neighbors & friends.

We are richly Blessed that you are still with us Frank, I will be saying many prayers for your quick, full recovery.

I don't know if you are a dog man Frank, if not, go with the cats.

There is much study on dogs today that can alert their owner to a seizure, low blood sager, epileptic problems and much more.

I believe they go by smell, when our body's produce something that changes our smell dogs and cats can be trained to pick it up.

I myself had a very odd experience with my Rottie.  For a couple of weeks he kept licking my shin, one day the just head butted me so hard I thought he had broken the bone.

X-rays showed a huge tumor that was eating away at my leg and darn that started the nightmare.

MRI sent me to a cancer doctor in Boston who was ready to amputate the limb.  All came out well, biopsy's showed the tumor was benign but I needed a human bone implanted into my leg.   Gross.

The dog had saved my life, just a pet that smelled something wrong.

In the works one may find a dog that can tell when blood pressure rises too high, when a stroke is on the way.

My neighbor was awakened by his cat one night, he in his min-fiftys got up to see what was bothering the cat and found the bed sheets bloody.

A vain in his his leg had broken big time,  He would have bleed to death in his sleep had the cat not bothered him.


Then there was my daughter 10 years ago that had Hep C and the veins in her throat and stomach exploded.   We put on the flashers in the car, could not wait for an ambulance to get her and drove 90 mph to the hospital.   The car looked looked like a carnal house, blood dripping from the ceiling.

With drugs, blood infusions and banding the ruptured veins, she is still alive--even the doctors don't know why.

She was told to stop smoking, drinking and follow some healthy plan.  She did neither, still smokes, drinks and takes her medication every day.---and is still alive and functioning.

Every one of us is an individual, no Doctor can use the same treatment on everyone.

You have had a very big wake up call Frank, if diet and exercise does not help, remember a spoon full of sugar makes the medicine go down.   Take your pills, the way you are told to, don't skip a dose and never stop taking them until the Doctor says you can.

Carry your bottle of Nitro in your pocket at all times, first one don't work take a second, if that don't work call an ambulance.


Whatever you have to do, do it, God for some odd reason gave us guardians in the animal world, pay attention to your cats and if along the way you can find a small dog that will alert you to a coming problem, thank God for sending them to you.

[The Village Idiot]

OMG!!!!!! Thank you for posting and letting us know. That is scary!

Frank, feel better and take it easy okay? We are worried about you!

I missed all that?? Wow. This is a bummer! Frank keeps this place together, he is important to the future of this nation! Okay, this website!

[The Village Idiot]

did anyone else notice the Blood Pressure Cure ad at the top of this page?

[Randy]

Blood pressure meds don't just reduce your BP and then it stays there on it's own.  Those meds must continue to be taken to keep it down.  Sometimes it takes a while to get the dosage correct.  It's best if you follow the doc's instructions to the letter even if you don't want to.

Exactly right. BP meds are not a cure-all they are maintenance drugs. I've had to take my dailies now for several years. I can tell when I missed a day. It sucks but it has to be done to live longer. Luckily both of mine are on the $4 list at WalMart, $10 if you get a 3 month supply.

Take your meds, we need you here for a long long time Frank

[franksolich]

By coincidence, your coment was the first thing I saw on the queque when I logged on, Randy, sir.

Contrary to all of my bitching and whining, in real life I have in fact been doing exactly as ordered.  Not happily, but as ordered, to a "t".

The bottom number of the blood pressue is now down into the 80s, having been in three digits for the last two days (at least).  That was at 10 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. tonight.

Since this was something that happened out of thin air, and so quickly, there's probably something else involved, but those tests won't be known for a few days yet.

I am following instructions.  I am yelling and screaming, but only internally.

At some point, I'll get control of my own body back, but for the moment--it's only been 48 hours, after all--just best to let somebody else be the boss.

Temporarily.

[BadCat]

Are you allergic to fish, frank?

[vesta111]

Are you allergic to fish, frank?

Very good question here Badcat, allergies can crop up unexpectially from things you have been around for years.

What are allergies, where do they come from.  Some are born with intolerance to cows milk, others suddenly get ill from milk after 40 years.

What sets off an allergy in an adult to something that has given them no problem for their life time.

Phemphagus [ sp?]  causes the skin to become allergic to the flesh.  out of no where people develop boils to the soft tissue that are a kin to 3rd. degree burns.

Some doctors say a gene is to blame, but why would that gene wait 50 years to bring on this catastrophic disease.?

Your question Badcat was very good, but I find that we often ignore the beginning signs of a disease, the doctors if you bring it to their attention will ignore the problem as there are worse things then having leg cramps at night. 

[Wineslob]

Are you allergic to fish cats, frank?

I hope not!   

[franksolich]

Carry your bottle of Nitro in your pocket at all times.....

I don't have any pills that I have to carry at all times, madam; just two pharmaceuticals that I was assured are mild, not heavy-duty, one taken two times a day, the second taken once a day, and as already noted, the pressure has gone down.

I haven't gone into town yet today to have it checked, though.  I have it checked at the local nursing home, by an L.P.N. or R.N. there, the nearest hospital being quite a distance away, in the big city.

I'm curious as to what the highest reading actually was--the figured I initially quoted might have been the serial number of the machine, for all I know.  But I'll find that out when I see my regular physician, a dermatologist, who for obvious reasons has "farmed" me out to others until everything's been analyzed and sent his way.

We'll see how this all goes; this is the first time I'm going to hit the maximum of the deductible on the medical insurance for the year.  That's never happened before.

I'm just still very tired.  The neighbor theorizes it's not from whatever this is, or the medicines, but that I tend to live a tougher, more arduous, life, than do most, and so am drained from that.  We'll see.  But for the record, thus far I've outlasted most in the family into which I was born.

[GOBUCKS]

I haven't gone into town yet today to have it checked, though.  I have it checked at the local nursing home, by an L.P.N. or R.N. there, the nearest hospital being quite a distance away, in the big city.

For about $40 or so, you can buy a very accurate blood pressure monitor at Walgreen's, or CVS, or WalMart, or nearly anywhere. The only expertise it requires is wrapping a velcro sleeve around your arm, pressing one button, and reading the result off a small screen. We've had ours checked at the doctor's office several times, and it's always been perfectly accurate. Anyone with unstable blood pressure should have one, and it's a lot simpler than driving into town.

[Randy]

For about $40 or so, you can buy a very accurate blood pressure monitor at Walgreen's, or CVS, or WalMart, or nearly anywhere. The only expertise it requires is wrapping a velcro sleeve around your arm, pressing one button, and reading the result off a small screen. We've had ours checked at the doctor's office several times, and it's always been perfectly accurate. Anyone with unstable blood pressure should have one, and it's a lot simpler than driving into town.

I was going to say the same thing when I read the go-to-town post. I have one that I bought when I had to do a 30 day monitoring back when they first noted mine was higher than it shhould be. It has a memory in it so I didn't have to write down my readings. I just handed the Doc the machine and he scrolled through the stored info.

[Mr Mannn]

Lifting you and Undies up in my prayers.