My blood pressure is always massively high at the docs but seems to also be elevated at home now, despite the meds I take. White coat blood pressure, yes, because now I'm constantly anxious the reading will be high and the doc will flip.
Trying to get my doc to maybe add another medication.
The first one I took was amazing (losartan) but then got discontinued due to causing cancer or something.
― stank viola (Neanderthal), Wednesday, 2 November 2022 12:41 (one year ago) link
Let's just say my dad's stroke has me more worried than I should be so I'm gonna contact the doc today to ask at next months visit to consider giving me new BP meds
― stank viola (Neanderthal), Wednesday, 2 November 2022 12:48 (one year ago) link
(his stroke of five years ago I mean)
My blood pressure has rocketed up this last year or so as well -- I'm reasonably confident it's the combination of my SNRI and not really quitting alcohol. So I'm tapering off the former and basically cutting out the latter for the next month or so to see if that has a measurable effect.
If not, I regret I might have to stop eating macaroni and cheese.
― Eric H., Wednesday, 2 November 2022 13:43 (one year ago) link
I don't have any nutritional or dietary issues myself (thank goodness), but sorting donations at the food pantry in accordance to their requirements has made me acutely aware of things like sodium and added sugars, their two biggest bugaboos. It's kind of amazing how much stuff does not pass muster as "healthy."
― Josh in Chicago, Wednesday, 2 November 2022 13:50 (one year ago) link
Had a colonoscopy once, they sedate you, but you are semi conscious - they let you watch if you want, I declined.
Upside - got diagnosed with IBD, so worth the test! Luckily, not really had a bad IBD flare for a while.
― jel--, Wednesday, 2 November 2022 14:05 (one year ago) link
Sedation during colonoscopies -- I don't know what the deal is. I've had, like five of 'em, and have been knocked out cold each time. My wife has had the experience jel describes, awake but not in pain.
And listen to table -- colorectal cancer is completely treatable, if caught early. There aren't always signs that something's wrong which is why regular screenings are recommended. If the cancer is localized, still in one place, you've got a 90% recovery rate.
Seems like they keep dropping the age where you can be screened without too much hassle. Used to be 50, now it's 45. Within the next ten years, colorectal cancer may become the #1 cancer suffered by people between 20 and 50.
― pplains, Wednesday, 2 November 2022 14:24 (one year ago) link
I don't even want to know my bp, if I knew I might have to do something about it.
Did my stretches this morning, esp hip flexibility ones. As long as you can move easily enough to do what you want, that seems fine! But my life is measurably worse without hip flex and range of motion.
Topic shift away from physical selves: I'm so much happier and more comfortable in my 40s even though I'm financially/professionally precarious right now--it's not just because I have more money or security bc I do not--I'm still much happier with the person that I am and the relationships and networks I'm part of. Previous decades suggest that this is an upward-trending line overall so I'm psyched for line goes up future decades!
― Ima Gardener (in orbit), Wednesday, 2 November 2022 14:55 (one year ago) link
why do you get given an anaesthetic for a colonoscopy in the USA? they don't give you one in the UK. is it just so they can charge more to your insurance or something?
― poppin' debussy (the table is the table), Wednesday, 2 November 2022 15:36 (one year ago) link
Colorectal cancer rates among people 25-44 in the US have skyrocketed in the past 5-10 years— while the jury is out on causes, there is a great suspicion among medical professionals and dietitians that the preponderance of heavily processed food (including excess nitrite use) in our diets has something to do with it.That said, I just have a genetic marker making me more susceptible to colorectal cancer, tho the years of smoking and etc probably did not help.
― poppin' debussy (the table is the table), Wednesday, 2 November 2022 15:42 (one year ago) link
I'm so much happier and more comfortable in my 40s even though I'm financially/professionally precarious right now--it's not just because I have more money or security bc I do not--I'm still much happier with the person that I am and the relationships and networks I'm part of. Previous decades suggest that this is an upward-trending line overall so I'm psyched for line goes up future decades!
this is nice to hear, i'm happy for you.
i'm also generally happier than i have been at any point in my life. my story is shaped pretty foundationally by religious and family trauma and also financial precarity. the former hasn't gone away but it's less in control thanks to boundaries and stuff. the latter is still not amazing or anything but i've made significant progress. i'm also in a really loving relationship. could help to find a broader network but it's hard in this culturally awful place in which i live. i do rely on posters here a lot for more meaningful social interaction so thanks for putting up with my prickly ass.
― ꙮ (map), Wednesday, 2 November 2022 15:51 (one year ago) link
I'm also in a better place, as far as general happiness. I don't have much in the way of social interaction (beyond occasionally hanging out with other parents). My marriage is messy and a source of constant anxiety. I'm dealing with mental health issues. Money's better than it has been, but is still precarious - could use a lot more! But despite the challenges, I've been more comfortable with myself lately.
― peace, man, Wednesday, 2 November 2022 16:33 (one year ago) link
heavily processed food (including excess nitrite use)
This is interesting. I had 1 relative die of colon cancer and my mom was correspondingly cautious of feeding us any preserved meat products! We never ate ham, and if we had hot dogs one day, we had to have oatmeal the next day lol. Maybe she was onto something.
― Ima Gardener (in orbit), Wednesday, 2 November 2022 16:43 (one year ago) link
Hmm another point in favor of The Diet
― change display name (Jordan), Wednesday, 2 November 2022 16:45 (one year ago) link
I'm still much happier with the person that I am and the relationships and networks I'm part of. Previous decades suggest that this is an upward-trending line overall so I'm psyched for line goes up future decades
yay! For me it's often two steps forward, one step back ... but there is a forward motion. I'm doing the thing right now that is realizing which people in my life I value the most and trying to maintain/build on those relationships and letting go of the ones that are better off as friendly acquaintances. A bunch of it has to do with doing a lot less drinking than I used to, and the associated activities and stupidity that goes with drank. I still have that feeling of being in a prolonged adolescence because I am not married and don't have kids.
― sarahell, Wednesday, 2 November 2022 18:20 (one year ago) link
wrong age group thread for me personally, but need to ask UK'rs on this thread.have any of you been offered a colonoscopy on NHS as part of a regular check up thing, as opposed to an investigation for relevant problems ?i am 54 and have never once been offered such a procedurein fact, i suspect even if i asked, i would be end of the very long queue due to not having any major relevant issues.
― mark e, Wednesday, 2 November 2022 18:38 (one year ago) link
just an update i rescheduled the scope for a monday in december because fuck going to work on mondays in december
― ꙮ (map), Wednesday, 2 November 2022 18:40 (one year ago) link
Enjoy!
(Not being sarcastic--the prep is painless, the procedure is painless--the drugs make it even somewhat pleasant--day off from work, sense of satisfaction at having done a Good Thing for Health, interesting experience, and later, color pictures of your own rectum!!! What is not to love about a colonoscopy???)
― mom tossed in kimchee (quincie), Wednesday, 2 November 2022 18:43 (one year ago) link
The prep is technically painless but highly distasteful, in quantity. But yeah definitely a good thing for everybody to do. Maybe I won't put off my next one.
― change display name (Jordan), Wednesday, 2 November 2022 19:09 (one year ago) link
quincie otm
― calstars, Wednesday, 2 November 2022 19:26 (one year ago) link
They even upped my dose of anesthesia cause I told them I drink and smoke the ganja
― calstars, Wednesday, 2 November 2022 19:27 (one year ago) link
as opposed to ... sensimilla?
― sarahell, Wednesday, 2 November 2022 19:34 (one year ago) link
doc was like "give them the good stuff"
― Muad'Doob (Moodles), Wednesday, 2 November 2022 19:34 (one year ago) link
I always say something like, "You can't knock me out, I'm too strong!" to make them step harder on the gas.
― pplains, Wednesday, 2 November 2022 19:52 (one year ago) link
At one point mid-procedure I went “oof” and the tech was immediately like “I GIVE U MORE DON’T WORRIES!”
― mom tossed in kimchee (quincie), Wednesday, 2 November 2022 19:56 (one year ago) link
"was that a good oof or a bad oof?"
― Muad'Doob (Moodles), Wednesday, 2 November 2022 19:57 (one year ago) link
It didn’t really hurt, I just felt some pressure and doc was like yeah that’s a tight turn right there
― mom tossed in kimchee (quincie), Wednesday, 2 November 2022 19:57 (one year ago) link
xps to markno never been advised to have one by a doctor. but then again I've never known anyone in UK go to the docs for a general check up or 'physical' which if I go by us tv is apparently a thing.
― oscar bravo, Wednesday, 2 November 2022 20:07 (one year ago) link
oscar - once i hit the big 50 i got summoned for a general MOT : blood pressure, Cholesterol, weight, chat re booze etc.got summoned back a few weeks later for a discussion re my Cholesterol.
this week i had to have my covid/flu boosters and at the same time they were checking records and asking people for blood pressure/weight measurements for those they had not seen for a while.
but when it comes to the ££ stuff, then yeah, i guess its a case wait until things become visible.
― mark e, Wednesday, 2 November 2022 20:14 (one year ago) link
I turned 50 last year, all I got was an invitation to get a flu jab which I took them up on. no other questions or tests.
― oscar bravo, Wednesday, 2 November 2022 20:27 (one year ago) link
at least this digression has reminded me to get this winters flu jab so that's something.
― oscar bravo, Wednesday, 2 November 2022 20:29 (one year ago) link
Yeah, flu is definitely going around right now - much more than covid.
― peace, man, Thursday, 3 November 2022 01:57 (one year ago) link
The c scopy fasting makes it easier to fast at any given time
― calstars, Saturday, 5 November 2022 04:50 (one year ago) link
miralax, dulcolax, apple juice, lacroix, gatorades, bone broths, fentiman's. might get gum later if can stir myself from my fainting couch, without food i am lost *sobs* only slightly kidding
― ꙮ (map), Sunday, 11 December 2022 21:47 (one year ago) link
I didn’t think gum was allowed. Don’t swallow it by accident
― calstars, Sunday, 11 December 2022 22:08 (one year ago) link
two day hangovers ...
― sarahell, Monday, 12 December 2022 18:52 (one year ago) link
hope it went okay, map
― Goose Bigelow, Fowl Gigolo (the table is the table), Monday, 12 December 2022 19:13 (one year ago) link
a camera up the ass - what is life
― | (Latham Green), Monday, 12 December 2022 19:31 (one year ago) link
thanks table, it went fine, clean as a whistle thank god!
― ꙮ (map), Monday, 12 December 2022 22:46 (one year ago) link
the anethesia they used is good shit, which i will "possibly" be getting a separate bill for
― ꙮ (map), Monday, 12 December 2022 22:47 (one year ago) link
worst part of the whole thing, including the prep, was sitting in that godawful waiting room for 45 minutes
― ꙮ (map), Monday, 12 December 2022 23:03 (one year ago) link
The first time they did me, they gave me a small amount of fent, which was extremely surprising. Of course, that was when they found the cancer, so it was probably good that I emerged all groggy from getting dosed with opioids.
― Goose Bigelow, Fowl Gigolo (the table is the table), Tuesday, 13 December 2022 00:31 (one year ago) link
i noticed a section on the anesthesia release form with two drugs listed. fentanyl was an option, but the other one was checked, i forget the name of it
― ꙮ (map), Tuesday, 13 December 2022 01:00 (one year ago) link
probs dilaudid
― Goose Bigelow, Fowl Gigolo (the table is the table), Tuesday, 13 December 2022 01:21 (one year ago) link
which is also great, tbh, and is perfect for colonoscopies— shorter duration that morphine, but deeper sedation.
I don't touch opioids in any recreational way despite ample use of most other drugs at some point in my life, but have had to have them for various medical reasons, and I think dilaudid is actually my favorite of them.
― Goose Bigelow, Fowl Gigolo (the table is the table), Tuesday, 13 December 2022 01:24 (one year ago) link
IIRC versed is a popular c-scopy benzo.
― mom tossed in kimchee (quincie), Tuesday, 13 December 2022 01:42 (one year ago) link
well it's a good thing i have no intention of ever touching opiates either or i'd be s.o.l.
― ꙮ (map), Tuesday, 13 December 2022 02:55 (one year ago) link
I guess this is a forties thing to have slept on my elbow in a weird way so I'm on a week of dealing with shoulder/elbow pain and tingling like I've hit my funny bone. Seeing a doctor on Thursday, but it's annoying as fuck and I keep hoping it will get better, but no luck.
― Maxmillion D. Boosted (jon /via/ chi 2.0), Tuesday, 13 December 2022 15:45 (one year ago) link
maybe its a neck vertebrae issue " Maxmillion D. Boosted (jon /via/ chi 2.0) "
― | (Latham Green), Tuesday, 13 December 2022 16:07 (one year ago) link
Oy, 3 years into my 40s have not been kind from a health perspective. Yeah yeah, pandemic etc. But just came back from my physical with significantly elevated blood pressure and sharply higher lipid panel than I've ever had in the past. Quite a wake-up call
― عباس کیارستمی (Eric H.), Tuesday, 13 December 2022 16:16 (one year ago) link