I know you said when you went for your cholesterol test you were told to take that suppliment, have you been retested yet? Hopefully things are going better and there is an improvement.

Hey JJ, you and me must be running on the same wavelength! As a matter of fact, I just saw the doctor tonight! He said that my vitamin D level is now well up into the normal range, about 5 times higher than it was before! He said to cut back the vitamin D to 1,000 I.U. per day, and that should maintain it.

However, he also told me that my blood pressure has been a little on the high side, and that he wants me to check it every so often, and let him know what the readings are when I see him again in April. He suggested that maybe I can check it at WalMart, but I'm not comfortable with that. Maybe I'll just buy one of those things and test it myself. Hey, I don't need this! I'm already under enough stress!

Yes we do seem to run on the same page alot!! Glad to hear the D is up and doing good and you can cut back...great!!! I'm sure all the stress of the holidays etc. are playing havoc with your BP, so maybe it will be fine when you see him again. Yes, I don't rely on store BP monitors, it is worth the money to buy a decent one, I think Wal Mart has one called Reli, made by Omron which is fairly cheap. I have the Omron from 2000, so far, so good.

Have a good thursday, and TTYS.....:wave:

Hey JJ, you and me must be running on the same wavelength! As a matter of fact, I just saw the doctor tonight! He said that my vitamin D level is now well up into the normal range, about 5 times higher than it was before! He said to cut back the vitamin D to 1,000 I.U. per day, and that should maintain it.

However, he also told me that my blood pressure has been a little on the high side, and that he wants me to check it every so often, and let him know what the readings are when I see him again in April. He suggested that maybe I can check it at WalMart, but I'm not comfortable with that. Maybe I'll just buy one of those things and test it myself. Hey, I don't need this! I'm already under enough stress!

Hi Arizona, so glad your Vit. D problem is better, thought I'd mention that I had bought a blood pressure monitor with a cuff and I never could get it right and found it difficult to do so I went back to Walmart and bought a wrist type. The one I bought is the "ReliOn" and I have been very satisfied. It is so easy to use and very accurate. I have "white coat blood pressure" when I go to the doctor and so it is always high but at home it is normal. My husband is the same, he always has high numbers at the office but in reality he has low pressure. :wave:

Arizona,

I don't recall ever seeing a vitamin-d blood-level reading in any of my blood tests.

Is this something you have to specially request your doctor to do?

HubbleRules
:cool:

Arizona,

I don't recall ever seeing a vitamin-d blood-level reading in any of my blood tests.

Is this something you have to specially request your doctor to do?

HubbleRules
:cool:

Well, this is the first time I ever had my vitamin D level included as part of my bloodwork. But I didn't request it. I guess it must depend on the doctor. I think he routinely checks his patients' vitamin D levels. He said that he sees low levels of vitamin D in many, if not most of his patients. Of course, this doctor is not your typical mainstream physician. On his card it says "Internal Medicine/Integrative Medicine." I guess he must be pretty good, since he had been named by New York Magazine as being one of the best doctors in the New York Metro area.

Well, this is the first time I ever had my vitamin D level included as part of my bloodwork. But I didn't request it. I guess it must depend on the doctor. I think he routinely checks his patients' vitamin D levels. He said that he sees low levels of vitamin D in many, if not most of his patients. Of course, this doctor is not your typical mainstream physician. On his card it says "Internal Medicine/Integrative Medicine." I guess he must be pretty good, since he had been named by New York Magazine as being one of the best doctors in the New York Metro area.

Arizona, you are lucky to find a good doctor like you have. I had one that I liked so much and don't you know the Mayo Clinic grabbed him and I had to work my way through two more doctor's until I found the one I have now. He is such a good doctor, with a terrific record and when he walks into the room he may be wearing a plaid flannel shirt, he sits down and takes lots of time to research your complaint and is willing to try other ways first before he get out the prescription pad. His warm personality makes it easy to talk to him. I hope Mayo doesn't get wind of him.:)

Arizona, you are lucky to find a good doctor like you have. I had one that I liked so much and don't you know the Mayo Clinic grabbed him and I had to work my way through two more doctor's until I found the one I have now. He is such a good doctor, with a terrific record and when he walks into the room he may be wearing a plaid flannel shirt, he sits down and takes lots of time to research your complaint and is willing to try other ways first before he get out the prescription pad. His warm personality makes it easy to talk to him. I hope Mayo doesn't get wind of him.:)

Well, I've just started going to this doctor, so he is still new to me. I really don't know what to expect from him. I guess what I'm really worried about right now is this blood pressure issue. He expects me to take some readings, and then report my results to him. You know, that white coat syndrome and all that. Well, I just hope that whatever readings I get are good enough, and that he won't end up prescribing some drug! I've heard some pretty bad things about those drugs, and I'm not sure if I would take them, even if they were prescribed!:wave:

Arizona, I have white coat blood pressure and so when my top number started to climb I worried about it. I checked in my "Good pills-Bad pill " book and they said if you have elevated pressure start with Hydrochlorothiazide a water pill because this has the least side effects of all the pills. You can always go to a stronger one if needed but if you start with the other you will never know if something less would have worked. I requested this pill and it has worked so well and I am not aware of any side effects. My top number would climb to 150 and now when I check my pressure it is 110 -120 on an average. I have really liked having that book because it tell you which ones work and which ones harm. :)

:blob_fire Arizona, I have white coat blood pressure and so when my top number started to climb I worried about it. I checked in my "Good pills-Bad pill " book and they said if you have elevated pressure start with Hydrochlorothiazide a water pill because this has the least side effects of all the pills. You can always go to a stronger one if needed but if you start with the other you will never know if something less would have worked. I requested this pill and it has worked so well and I am not aware of any side effects. My top number would climb to 150 and now when I check my pressure it is 110 -120 on an average. I have really liked having that book because it tell you which ones work and which ones harm. :)

:blob_fire Where on earth are you 2 finding these wonderful, great doctors! My mom is deseparate to find such a dr. She is about to change doctors again. Her new dr. told her he do not want to treat her if she doesn't take the prescribed meds. She said she didn't care bcuz he gives her alot of pills and don't do the necessary tests for six months. He never listens to her complaints. So what questions did you two ask before hiring these doctors?;)

Well, I bought one of those monitors, and now I'm half scared to death! I get a reading of 170/100!! I've been under so much stress lately, and this certainly doesn't help.:(

Well, we'll see you on the HIGH & LOW BLOOD PRESSURE BOARD! :jester:

What kind of monitor did you buy, and do you know what the reading was your dr. got? I know when I first got my monitor I took it to the dr. and had it checked, it was reading about 5 pt. higher then his, but he said it was fine. I also was getting around 160/102. To be honest, I was scared taking my own BP, as I feared high numbers, but once I got the hang of it, it started to read better numbers. One thing we did notice, if it wasn't in the right spot we would get wacky reading, so you have to fiddle with it a bit. Don't get freaked out by it just yet, and definitely have it checked against your drs..

Good luck.....:wave:

Hi JJ,

I got one of those ReliOn automatic wrist monitors. To tell you the truth, right now I feel like bringing it back. And maybe I will. I've always been a rather tense person, but since August the stress and tension have increased (I think you know the story behind that, right?). And I just can't bring myself to mess around taking more readings under these circumstances. Ever since I got that high reading I've been feeling even more stressed! Even that Xanax doesn't seem to do much good. I don't know what kind of readings the doctor got. He didn't say, and I really didn't feel like asking. All I know is that right now I'm beginning to feel like a nervous wreck. If I can only calm down and feel nice and relaxed, maybe I'd take another reading. But not now. Not the way I'm feeling. Even the palms of my hands are sweating! I don't know what's more dangerous, having a blood pressure monitor in the house or a gun!

I have not heard good things about those wrist monitors. Reli from Wal Mart is suppose to be made by Omron, same as I have, but I was told to get a cuff one. You also have to remember to get one that the cuff fits your arm properly, or you will get high readings. Like I said, we had a few problems to iron out with ours, but it seems fine now, and I bought it in 2000, probably need a new one, but forget it for now.

No, if you are getting upset over the readings I also wouldn't take anymore, that is how I was getting, so my dr. told me to takeit less often. In plain English, I was making myself a basket case and only driving it up higher.

Yes, I know you are under alot of stress, and God knows you don't need anymore. For now I would just leave it be, call the dr. in the a.m. if possible to see how far off you are with your readings, and it might be a good idea to take it back and get a cuff type. This is not the way you want to spend your weekend. I know when hubby took ours to the cardio guy, they just couldn't position it properly on him and he was getting ridiculous readings, some way too high and some way too low. Like anything new, you have to fiddle with it, but for today, forget it and just try and relax. I know how upsetting it is too see those numbers, I have gotten a few, NOT fun!!

Hope your evening goes better, and TTYL.....:wave:

Thanks, JJ. I'm really in no mood to take blood pressure readings, especially when I'm tense. I'd not only get some crazy readings, but I'd probably drive myself crazy and turn myself into a basket case! I've always felt nervous having my blood pressure taken, even when I wasn't under stress. If this doctor really wants to do me a favor, he should give me some Valium to help me deal with stress and anxiety. Never mind Xanax. That stuff's for babies!

I don't blame you, just forget about it for now. Years ago my old dr. had me on Valium, as I was trying to take care of 3 kids, work, and with hubby working nights, 90% of the responsibility was mine. I never took time to eat right or sleep more then 3 hrs. a night, so I was losing weight left and right, to the point I went to 82 lbs. Even though I am petite, that was way too skinny even for me, plus I would get so tense my muscles would knot up.

He had me on 5 mgs. twice dailey, and it did help me to relax so I could eat more and sleep better. It took about 4 months, but I finally got to my normal 100 lbs, and felt 100 % better. I still take it when I am feeling uptight. Drs. today get a little uptight about giving it to you, yet they will give you these new things on the market that cost a fortune, go figure.....:rolleyes:

They have my son on Xanax the last few months, as trying to finish up nursing school plus working long hrs. at the hospital has him abit uptight, and he said it does nothing for him. I told him to ask for Diazapaem, generic for Valium, it would save him money as well as probably help more. Try to get some rest, and keep us posted how it goes.

Take care.......:wave:

Hi JJ!

Thank you SO VERY MUCH for your response! So I guess it's not just me, is it? Valium really is BETTER!

I've spent the whole weekend WORRYING, and feeling plain MISERABLE! So what's the big deal about Valium? If anyone needs it, I do! What do I have to do to get it? Threaten to jump off a bridge? What the heck is wrong with these doctors?

As far as I am concerned, the only good thing that happened this weekend is that the Bears won! I'm calling in sick tomorrow. I've had it. I need a rest.

Talk to you later.:wave:

If this doctor really wants to do me a favor, he should give me some Valium to help me deal with stress and anxiety. Never mind Xanax. That stuff's for babies!

THat's EXACTLY correct. If your doctor won;t give you an Rx for diazapam 10 mg., find a new doctor and tell you current doctor WHY you are leaving his practice.


Return the wrist monitor and get an upper arm cuff. Most wrists are too incompressibly bony to get an accurate enough reading. IMHO (humble, yeah; that'll be the day! :D)

TAKE your BP; ignoring a problem will NOT make it go away.

THat's EXACTLY correct. If your doctor won;t give you an Rx for diazapam 10 mg., find a new doctor and tell you current doctor WHY you are leaving his practice.

It's been quite a while since I had Valium, but I do remember that it definitely relaxed me. I really felt good. But with this Xanax, I hardly feel a thing.


Return the wrist monitor and get an upper arm cuff. Most wrists are too incompressibly bony to get an accurate enough reading. IMHO (humble, yeah; that'll be the day! :D)

The monitor went back to Walmart today, but I didn't get another one yet. I hope you and JJ are right about them being not very accurate. I've got a small wrist, only about six and a half inches in circumference.


TAKE your BP; ignoring a problem will NOT make it go away.

I'd be more inclined to take it if only I can relax. But after fooling around with that monitor, now I feel even more stressed.

Arizona, I know you are upset and digusted right about now, but either go to Wal Mart pharmacy or another pharmacy and talk to the pharmacist. That is what I did before I bought mine at Rite Aid. They are usually very helpful in helping you to pick out something that will be right for you. My former Dr. actually use to give some of his patients an Omron cuff one, he really thought highly of them.

As Lenin said, you can't ignore it, but for now, I would just try and relax then when you are calm make the purchase. Did you call the dr. and explain what you bought and ask what reading he got? I think it would be wise to explain what is going on, and also tell him the other med. is NOT helping you to relax at all. Feeling like this is not going to help your BP or anything else.

Good luck, keep us posted......:wave:

No JJ, I did not call the doctor. I only wish that I had enough time to TALK to a doctor. But as you know, doctors never give patients enough time to EXPLAIN their problems. I would probably need about a half hour to explain everything that is bothering me. What a crazy world we live in. Nobody has time to listen!

You know, all this started when I met that woman online via the high school reunion website. A widow, no less! Ever since then, I haven't been the same. I feel like a total wreck. It's been so stressful. If it hadn't been for this chance encounter, I'd probably be perfectly fine. But now I'm beginning to feel like I got one foot in the grave.

Well you should at least call and explain to the nurse that you bought a wrist thing and it seemed to be giving you very high numbers, and see what number the dr. got. Geez, he owes you at least that much, but like you said, sometimes they want to wait till another appt.

I thought things were going ok with the lady friend, now it sounds like it went down hill, sheesh, no wonder your all wound up. I'm assuming she never got around to giving a day for that second dinner. I thought by now you two would have gone out again.

Oh well, for now you just worry about your health and let the rest fall into place, but I definitely think you need something stronger for those nerves, your getting way out of character for you. Definitely think your worrying about everything, no wonder your BP is going up.

Hope things simmer down, and keep us posted....:wave:

Arizona, sorry to read that you have been going through some hard times, I am sure you realize that your body will reflect that in blood pressure and all kinds of other unpleasant things. I think you are a very caring and gentle person who feels things very deeply. Would that there were more people like you, but it is that very reason that your pressure goes up when you are unhappy. I can relate to that. I also have what they call "white coat blood pressure" and you should see how high my top number goes up when ever I am in a clinic. I am so bad that when I had the arm blood pressure machine here at home my pressure would also go up. My doctor said lots of people have that and for that reason alone medication should not be the first thing. Once while in the clinic I told the nurse to take a second reading and it was already coming down and even a third reading and each time it came down more and more. Here at home I use my wrist one because I don't react so much when I take my pressure and I have found that I take it on one arm and the second reading on the other arm and it will come down as I relax. Right now I wonder what my reading is because we are selling our home and the people who are interested are coming to make an offer. talk about pressure! God's very best to you Arizona and hope you will be feeling better real soon.:)

Arizona, sorry to read that you have been going through some hard times, I am sure you realize that your body will reflect that in blood pressure and all kinds of other unpleasant things. I think you are a very caring and gentle person who feels things very deeply.

Thank you so very much for those very kind words, Gardeninggal! Actually, people have told me that throughout the years. There was a time when I used to just shrug it off. But now I'm beginning to wonder. Maybe it's true what they have been saying all along. Nice guys really do finish last. May God bless you too, Gardeninggal!

I thought things were going ok with the lady friend, now it sounds like it went down hill, sheesh, no wonder your all wound up. I'm assuming she never got around to giving a day for that second dinner. I thought by now you two would have gone out again.

Yeah, me too! I don't know whether it went downhill or not. We were supposed to have dinner again pretty soon, but I haven't heard from her in about a week. Nothing has gone wrong that I know of. She had said that we would have dinner again soon. I do know that it was her late husband's birthday this week, so maybe that's got her rattled a bit. Who knows?

Well I hope it didn't go downhill, and it could be due to her late husband's birthday, although I do hope you hear something soon, one way or the other. Keeping you dangling is not good either, no wonder your a physical and mental wreck. I know it isn't all her fault, but it certainly isn't helping things, as you have enough on your plate right now.

Sure hope you are feeling a little better, you sounded really VERY upset and discouraged the other nite. Try and take care of yourself, nothing is more important then your health.

Keep us posted, relax PLEASE, and will TTYL.....:wave:

Keeping you dangling is not good either, no wonder your a physical and mental wreck. I know it isn't all her fault, but it certainly isn't helping things, as you have enough on your plate right now.

Your are SO right! I think that is what's MOST stressful....not KNOWING where I stand, not only with dinner, but with everything overall! All I can say is that it's very stressful, and I find it very hard to relax. I know I should get my mind off it, and try to focus on other things, but it's very difficult. I wish that something would happen, so that I would know one way or another just where I stand here. The worst part is simply not knowing. It's like running a race without a finish line!

Well here I go being my good old blunt self. I have watched you go down hill for almost a month now, and it bothers me as I consider you a friend, even if we have never met. My advice is to e-mail her and politely ask.."Would you care to make plans for dinner?", and if she still hems and haws, then I would just tell her to give you a call sometimes when she is free, and maybe you will get together then. I know your trying not to be pushy, but you can't wait forever for someone to make their mind up what they want at your expense.

To me this is almost a case of dangling a carrot in front of a horse just so it will keep on plugging along. In plain English, I hope she isn't just keeping you wondering while she makes up her mind what, if anything she wishes to do. Yes, I know it has been hectic for her, with the holidays, her cold, and late hubby's birthday, but honestly, enough already! In my honest opinion this not knowing is making you physically and mentally sick, you even said your a total wreck, and I have heard the depression in your posts..NOT good.

You also have had plenty to deal with the last 2 months, and now your having a BP problem, ok, like I said, enough is enough. Without being crude, she either has to come clean and either commit to another dinner, or be honest and say she might not be interested. Yes I know it will hurt you if she isn't interested, but this waiting routine is getting just a tad out of hand.

Sorry if I am being too blunt, but you need to focus on your health and also your mental state, and I do not see this helping one bit. Please take care of yourself, I would like to "see" the old Arizona back on the site.

Take care, and my very best wishes......:wave:

My advice is to e-mail her and politely ask.."Would you care to make plans for dinner?", and if she still hems and haws, then I would just tell her to give you a call sometimes when she is free, and maybe you will get together then.

Hi JJ,

Actually, she had already told me that she would call me about dinner. So, I'm waiting. But, if this falls through, I'm done. I'm finished. I quit!

Yes, you said she was going to call, but that seems to be quite awhile ago, and you said you have heard nothing, not even an e-mail for over a week. If I'm not mistaken last dinner was just before Xmas. I would definitely say the ball is in her court now, as she is suppose to call you.

As I said before, you did all you can do, so now it is up to her to make some plans. If it falls through, then it wasn't meant to be, just please don't get yourself all upset if the call doesn't come. You have enough going on with your health issues, you don't need more stress.

Have you purchased another type of BP monitor? I know you didn't like the wrist one, but I don't think not paying attention to your BP is any good either, as you have to know if it is still reading high or maybe it was just that machine. Hope you feel better, and maybe you will get a call.

Keep us posted how things are going, and don't get yourself too upset. I know, easier said then done, but you need to take care of you.....:wave: