The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Community => Coffee Lounge => Topic started by: NormandyMary on July 20, 2012, 11:29:39 am
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Not been feeling too chipper these last few months, various ailments at different times, some I could identify, some I couldnt. Went to see the quack the other day to ask for a blood test. He gave me a prescription for one and I had it done at the lab this morning. He also took my blood pressure and I was astounded that it was borderline HIGH! Ive never suffered with high blood pressure in my life, infact its always been a bit on the low side. Ive got a BP monitor at home and have been doing it since the docs appointment and bummer of all bummers, its still quite high. I've just got to wait a couple of days for the results of the blood tests this morning, everything is being tested from sugar to cholesterol to thyroid. I then have a feeling that my life is about to change big time.(Feeling of doom and gloom creeping over me as I write!) I feel a song coming on.."If I could turn back time..!"
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NM I know exactly how you feel. My blood pressure is high and despite my atempts to resit I am now on tablets for it. They don't make me feel any different but the blood pressure has gone down to a more acceptable level.
I also seem to suffer from a lot of aches and pains, elbows, ankles, knees. I hate to mention it to OH as it would seem that I am always moaning about something but doing the daily chores is definitely more of an effort that it used to be.
I am hoping that I can get over whatever is causing all the problems but my fear is that this is the start of the downward slide.
Yes, turn back time. Mentally I think I am still in my twenties but my body thinks differently.
Sally
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I know exactly how you feel :)
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Well I suppose if I thought about it, yes bits of me ache more, take longer to mend and I'm not as fit or thin as I once was.
But I'm damned if I'm going to start thinking about 'this is the beginning or the end' or whatever, and I have every intention of enjoying every bit of life I'm given.
So I have to do things differently these days - I get someone to muck out the barn now, I'm just about to order a trolley for my canoe - let the youngsters laugh, at least I'll still be able to go canoeing like this - etc. I can't eat every cake I see and it not show, once I could stay up late and drink, then I could do one or the other, now I can't really manage either - but I still do it sometimes anyway :D
I know it gets us down at times but we definitely don't want to let that doom and gloom win :-*
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I just have to realise that the old bod' is trying to tell me something. I have got very lazy since giving up work 7 years ago, always putting off doing things..because I can! OH bought me a second hand treadmill a few months ago, Ive used it TWICE. Its just not good enough I know but I had that problem with my foot, then something else and so on, always an excuse. Well this wake-up call has brought it all home to me at long last. I will wait and see what the blood tests say before I decide which regime to follow, but Im certainly going to try and get some more exercise every day, starting with the treadmill, or OH will put it in the small ads!
By the way, please just call me Mary!!
Thanks.
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I am in the "age and weight" category and the variety of symptoms boat too and wish you a clear diagnosis with a treatment attached, whats worse is not knowing what is going on and writing it off to wear and tear while worrying that maybe it might not be.. ::)
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Mary,
I have been thinking the same thing about exercise. Before I was made redundant/took early retirement I had a personal trainer. I only saw him once a week but he used to put me through my paces. I think thats what I am missing now.
Its sort of catch 22. My joints ache so I don't want to do anything and my joints ache because I don't do anything. :(
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Hi Mary, I to have been feeling so tired and everything seems such an effort even to the point were I am beginning to think of down sizing my animals and I honestly though I would never think that. I have always been so positive and full on but now I just want to sleep. I am a bit old school and the common joke in our house is that if Mother is thinking of a visit to the Doctor then it must be a hospital case but I really am beginning to feel so bad that it seems the only thing to do. I hope your blood test comes back with a simple fix result, low Iron or whatever. Good luck and keep us posted
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Trying, that 'permanently tired' sounds like it could be low thyroid or anaemia - have you been tested?
I hear you both Sally and Mary on the lack of exercise. My aim over the next six weeks is to shift some of this stone-and-a-half that needs to disappear ::) and get fitter.
I started yesterday by going to meet some friends who said they were camping by the castle, on my pushbike. No-one at the castle, I peddled on two miles to see if they were on the common. No, peddled back to the castle. Then spied them, on the little single track way above the castle. Ooof, had to walk a lot of that uphill. And though that bit was excitingly downhill in the dark later, most of the road was a slow slope upwards. Kept going cos there wasn't much alternative ;) Anyway, I am impressed with myself, if I have sore sitbones today :thumbsup:
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Jaykay, WOW you have every right to be pleased with yourself, but maybe a softer more padded seat next time ;D
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Well done Jaykay. What are you going to do for an encore?
Sally
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Lol, I have sat about and knitted all day today, to recover :)
You'd think (to see it ::)) that my own rear-end was padded enough, but not in critical places it seems :D
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Got the blood test results in the post today..24hours, not bad eh?
Everything is in range except one. Im not diabetic, I dont have high cholesterol and my thryroid is working well.
There is one called C protein reactive which was very high indeed and can be an indicator for many things, from infections to heart disease, but Im not going to worry too much about it until I have a word with the doctor. From memory, every time Ive had this particular test, its always been high. Meanwhile, Ive had a lot of exercise today, we were up at 6am to get to the DIY store for 7 to avoid the crowds and the heat. I was walking solidly for over 2 hours up and down the aisles fetching and carrying for OH who cant walk far. Tomorrow, Im starting on the treadmill again. Lovely!!
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My doctor diagnosed high blood pressure for me, I asked him if he was going to put me on tablets but he said
'No I just want you to stop reading the Daily Mail'
;D ;D
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Lol Moleskins, a doc with a sense of humour and perspective - priceless.
Mary, I'm glad most things are ok.
I would hate the treadmill, do you just hate it or exercise generally?
Are there not nice walks near you? Half to an hour's walk most days, 'stepping out' is what is generally recommended for us not-as-young-as-we-used-to-bes, trying to get fitter again :) Easy on the joints, good for the heart and lungs and the bone density :thumbsup: good for the soul too :)
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I am nearly 55 and had a heart attack about 5 years ago , and since then i have walked to my land everyday , 6 miles . 3 miles 45 minutes each way .
I am now as fit as a fiddle and could walk all day if need be . I only take 75mg aspirin a day , and will see about stopping that soon .
I have changed diet too now . Onions , carrots , cabbage , garlic , baked potato and oily fish and live yogurt , cranberry juice , apple juice , whole grain bread etc make up my basic diet . All good for the heart , cholesterol , bp and general good health .
My bp and heart rate are that of a 20 year old athlete , so the doc said .
I lost about 3 stone when i started walking too .
My auntie is 71 and was diagnosed with high bp and rather than go on statins , changed her diet too . Her bp went from 190+ to 120 ish , so it can be done .
Some things will need meds but good clean food and exersize can do a lot too .
With walking start with short distances and work up as you get fitter .
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Jk , your lucky it is just your bum that is sore . Last time i rode a bike ,it felt like i had been kicked in the goolies ! , not a good feeling lol .
Give it a good rub and all will be well soon .
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Most bp meds work as diuretics to lower the pressure , I have a friend who's doc put him on a daily celery diet ,a natural diuretic, not just a stick or two but a whole root every day, he went from 180 down to 120 in three months. :thumbsup:
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Mary have you considered selling the boring treadmill and investing in a Wii and balanceboard. It is so much fun whilst exercising and if you get hubby joining in the competative element spurs you on. Unfortunately it doesn't get you the fresh air and scenery though.
Hope the doc sorts out your C protein for you. Keep us posted.
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Let us all grow old disgracefully!!
I am lucky with the high blood pressure and my blood sugar gets quite low sometimes, but it is the sight thing that bothers me. I was always the sharp sighted one, now I have to wear glasses to cut the pups toe nails or get a splinter out of hubby's finger.Frustrating. Ccan't run as fast as I'd like, but get me on a horse and I can fly!! fortunately I have trained all my own horses so they don't pull and they don't need any effort from me to go forwards. I tried riding a friend's horse, it was exhausting. So I check the sheep on horseback whenever the weather allows, saves my old legs.
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Good news on your bloods, Mary. Hope you are feeling better soon.
I have recently been struck down (no other way to put it) with arthritis - the sort that usually comes on slowly but in my case galloped up in a matter of weeks. I've gone from being fittish to being disabled. I'm waalking short distances with a stick and OH has to help me out of chairs, in and out of bed and even off the toilet. Fortunately, I have very good friends who came today and cleaned out the goat shed (not done for a couple of months as I simply can't manage it). We've had to cancelled our much-looked-forward-to holiday as I can't drive far.
I'm finding it very hard and incredibly frustrated. The doctor has put me on Tramadol, which are VERY strong painkillers and which help a lot, together with anti-inflammatories. The Tramadol knock me out so I sleep a lot during the day as well as at night, although I can't sleep for long as I get too much pain and have to be moved.
On the plus side, I have discovered that pain is a marvellous appetite suppressant and I lost one stone eight pounds in nine weeks.
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Most bp meds work as diuretics to lower the pressure , I have a friend who's doc put him on a daily celery diet ,a natural diuretic, not just a stick or two but a whole root every day, he went from 180 down to 120 in three months. :thumbsup:
Which is good. But I expect he could give Bionic's Archie dog a run for his money in the whiffy bottom stakes...! :D
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Lesley - your description of suddenly being struck down with arthritis made me think about Lyme Disease. When jaykay comes on she'll know if it is a possibility, or may be able to think of other things which cause such a sudden onset.
I am so sorry to hear about this, I know what it's like to lose mobility and be in pain, although nothing like the extent you have by the sound of it. {{{{HUGS}}}} :bouquet:
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i fell apart at 37 first a nasty mole removed in its first stages then a couple of months later put on BP tablets was not over weight or in active so i decided to get really fit so i swam one and a quarter miles every morning until i had to have a hysterectomy then my gall blader removed then arthritis set in i now take 2 lots of BP tablets every day have regular bloods done i have bouts of anemia. been rushed in twice with suspected stroke.
sounds like a real mess up but i take it all in my stride now lord only knows what bits will fall of when i hit 50 :innocent: well what does not kill me will make me stronger ;D
in all honesty i think its more of a worry for oh than it is me
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Sally, thanks for the suggestion. I've been bitten by ticks many times. When I lived in Scotland, it was almost expected. I don't ever remember having a rash though although I did have some nasty reactions but those were mostly to horsefly bites and I was prescribed antihistmines. I've jsut looked up Limes and read that symptoms such as joint pain can appear years later.
However, my GP did do an extensive range of blood tests so I think something might have shown up. Also the site I looked at (NHS) said that joint pain usually goes away after about a week and mine has been going on for more than two months now. Xrays have shown arthritis in my knees, hips, neck and spine but not very severe.
My big dread is that I will have to part with my goats. I also can't do much in the garden. My wonderful friend has said she is going to help as much as she can. She loves goats and used to breed and show them in her previous marriage but her new husband won't agree to her having any although he loves mine. I think we might end up sharing mine. She is also a mad keen gardener and used to have a smallholding -would like one now but OH is a real townie. Bit like me and mine.
I'm not worrying too much until I have seen specialists.
I must say that my OH has been an absolute star. He willingly gets up several times a night to help me move - I have to get up and walk round to relieve the pain. It was six times one night. He gets very tired but is still having to do all the work in the house. I'm managing to cook but I can't put food in or get it out the oven so he has to do this. Not easy when you are totally blind. He's also doing a lot more than he wants to for the goats as I can't manage. I don't know what I'd do without him.