Go see a doctor.

[Curt Luther]

So I go to the doctor yesterday for the first time, for a non-urgent reason, in 11 years. I've lost 210 lbs., I feel great, but I have vericose veins in my legs that have always caused some discomfort and haven't really got any better with the weight loss. So I wanna have that checked out and just get a physical. Nurse comes in and takes my blood pressure.

"Uhhh. Is it normally high?"
"Dunno. Haven't had it checked in years. Wasn't high then. What is it?"
"170 over 82."
"Wow. That sounds like a record for a living man."

She leaves and the doc comes in. I explain my weight loss and my veins. Show him the veins and he says as long as they're not dibilitating, to try support hose and shorts. Yeah, those'll make me look cool. Then we come to the high blood pressure. He tells me he wants me to eat a low fat, low sodium, healthy diet and exercise regularly for two weeks and come back. I say, "OK, I've done that for two YEARS, now what?" We then talk about me getting full blood work and examining that for all the other fun numbers before we start any medication which is probable, at least for the high blood pressure. We then go through the rest of the physical which includes the hernia check ("Turn your head and cough. Again.") but luckily, since I'm not 40 yet, no prostate exam. I tell him that I'll have the wife check that later...

The moral of the story is, when they say see a doctor BEFORE starting a weight loss plan, they are giving pretty good advice. Also, in general, if you haven't been in awhile, and you have insurance, go and get checked out. You might be feeling well, but it's good to know for sure.

[Steve Ekstrand]

That's kinda of an interesting number. My cardiologist along time ago said something about big spreads like that in relation to improper taking of the pressure on large people, but I forget now the details. Maybe David knows. But you're almost skinny now, so I'd think you'd be okay with a normal large cuff.

The lower number is the more important one I believe and 82 probably isn't going to kill you tomorrow. My pressures go up and down with weight. And also pretty dramatically with fluid balance (or should I say imbalance?). Losing less than half your loss, I still had to change my meds pretty dramatically because my pressure dropped to a more manageable level. Its a little scary to think what your health might have been like 200lbs ago. Even as young as you are, you're probably into the house's money now having survived that period in your life.

[Curt Luther]

In doing some research and talking to others this morning, most are saying similar things that you are, Steve. The second number is actually OK and that the first number could just be that I was a little freaked out by being at the doctor's office. My heart rate of 75 at the time also kinda says that. It's normally 55-60 (right now it's 56 according to my Mio heart rate watch) and I mentioned that as well to the nurse.

As far as the "almost skinny" comment, thanks, but the doc was also kind enough to point out that I was "still obese". Paul also weighs less than me right now, so that's also a bit of a kick in the ass. So, it's time to get serious about those last 40 lbs.

I do go back to right before I started losing weight. We went to Vegas the weekend before. It was my last hurrah before Weight Watchers started. After the first day, I felt so awful. I didn't even wanna go to buffets. I was beyond tired, my back hurt, my head hurt, my feet hurt and I didn't even wanna eat. The difference in how I feel between now and then is so vast it's scarry/funny. That's why yesterday's news was a bit of a shock.

[Steve Ekstrand]

You have a great attitude with all this. Truthfully dude, you are my hero.

[Bob Beamesderfer]

You might have what's called "white-coat hypertension," in other words, you were a little uncomfortable being in a doctor's office.

55-60 is a good resting pulse rate. Better than mine is these days.

I used to have insanely low blood pressure when I was in my late teens, early 20s, despite smoking a pack a day. 90 over 60 wasn't uncommon. Now it's 125 over 70 or so.

[Bob Florey]

Curt-

In 1968 Lyndon Baines Johnson (may he roast in hell) decided he needed additional warm bodies for a certain adventure in SE Asia, so he signed an Executive Order activating my National Guard unit. We duly report to Fort Lewis, Wash., and of course one of our first tasks is to take a physical. They take my blood pressure and all is good. Then they take my buddy John Frey's blood pressure (the Army is big on alphabetical) and John, who was 23 and maybe 20# overweight, shows 210/100!

If he had been a civilian taking the draft physical, he would have been 4F (physically unfit for military service for the younger folk). Since he was already in uniform, he was told he would be fine and move on to the next test station. No 4F, no M.D., no meds. Well, somehow John made it through 2 years of service. I haven't seen him since, but I have wondered from time to time how he was doing.

Anyway, have it re-checked and treated as necessary. I'd rather not add you to the list of people I wonder about.

[Steve Ekstrand]

I picked up a cheap blood pressure monitor at Costco that I can use to check pressure under different circumstances and situations. Its been helpful to my doctor in making adjustments to treatment.

Nice to know a resting none stressed pressure, versus what it is when I feel like I have a pressure related headache.... Like now.

[Tom Tanquary]

170/82 isn't that bad, not good, but not that bad. Mine has been higher on both numbers. It's border line pre-hypertension and hypertension. I'm now on Lisinopril 10mg. I've never had that high a blood pressure until this year. Maybe the lack of work and the rising price of just about everything has something to do with it.

[Curt Luther]

So I go to the lab this morning for a blood draw. I've only had blood drawn twice and both have been fun experiences. First time was when I needed the blood test before I got married, 14 years ago. They worked on both arms for a half hour before they could get a vein. When they finally did, it hurt like hell, it bled for 4 hours afterward and I was bruised for 3 weeks after. The second time was even more of a treat.

I had a 10:00 appointment and they told me not to eat or drink ANYTHING after 6PM the night before. Oh, yeah, I also had a cold. Anyway, they get me in promptly at 10:45 and we go through the 30 minute ordeal of finding a vein. Finally get it, hurts like hell, then as I'm about to get up, I pass out. So here's this little lab tech guy trying to hold up this 400+lbs guy in that stupid little chair you sit in. He's calling for help, so the other tech is finishing the draw on the other patient (I find out later she ran out with the tournaquet still on her arm in fear...). So now I got two people trying to hold me up and "revive" me. As this is happening, they bring two kids around the corner for their blood draws. They see what's happening and they freak out and go running away crying. I finally come around and they get me a cup of juice and a cookie. Tech guy is talking to me, waiting for me to come around completely and asks me when was the last time I had any food or drink, including water. "Last night", I tell him. "No water? You have a cold, you should be drinking tons of water." I tell him, "I was told NOTHING and I believed them." So after 20 minutes, they let me get up, go "fill the cup", and I'm on my way, with bruised arms for the next three weeks...

No issues, this morning. NONE. Took 2 minutes and I didn't feel a thing. Took longer to tell the tech the above story which he found funny because he remembered, about 10-12 years ago, about when this happened, there being a memo going around to everyone to remind patients that water was OK and RECOMMENDED during a blood draw fast. He did tell me that he can usually count on a "50/50 pass out rate" on a certain patient - those with "sleeve" tats. He always has juice ready for them. "Yeah, it's funny when some big 'ol biker dude passes out on a blood draw. I had one even cry."

[Steve Ekstrand]

Dehydration can make the veins harder to find.

[Curt Luther]

Dehydration can make the veins harder to find.

I wasn't dehydrated for the marriage blood test, just fat ;)

My arms look waaaay different now than then. The veins really "pop" out without all that fat.

[Bob Beamesderfer]

Always ask them to use a "butterfly" needle. Finer gauge and then they're not holding the end of kind with the tube trying to find a vein. :barf:

[Ashley Armstrong]

Always ask them to use a "butterfly" needle. Finer gauge and then they're not holding the end of kind with the tube trying to find a vein. :barf:

I swear by the butterfly. Half the time they still butcher my veins, tho.

[Curt Luther]

Always ask them to use a "butterfly" needle. Finer gauge and then they're not holding the end of kind with the tube trying to find a vein. :barf:

I swear by the butterfly. Half the time they still butcher my veins, tho.

I don't know what the guy used today 'cause I had my eyes shut, but alls I know is it's been 5 hours and all I can see is a microscopic dot on my arm where he drew. I didn't feel anything then or now. Not even the prick...of the needle...