I am computer-less

I have been without a computer since Christmas Day. I should have it back this weekend. I'l start posting again then!

Day 9 - More Crap and another twist

Well, my doctor called me back on Thursday, and I am now on High Blood Pressure medication. He's thinking that perhaps this was NOT caused by the Venlafaxine, because it went right back up after being off it. So, I am now taking 10mg of Lisinopril. At least I'm supposed to be. I got the prescription filled Thursday night, but have not been able to bring myself to take it. Shit, I'm a 42-yr-old woman. I shouldn't have to be dealing with this yet! I suppose it was inevitable - my dad had severe hypertension for years before dying of a massive heart attack almost 3 years ago. My mom is on HBP meds. I just didn't think it would happen this early for me.
Back on one of my first posts, someone asked me if I ever smoke marijuana to relax myself. I replied that I had, but with a teenaged son in the the house and my addictive nature it wasn't the best thing to be doing. Well, I broke down Thursday thinking about having to take this medicine, and went to a friend and bought a bag of weed. I have to say that it really helps - I even did a "before" and "after" blood pressure reading and it went from 130/100 to 110/90. Still high for me, but at least I feel like I can buy some time to think more about this medicine. I called my doc and voiced my fears and his nurse said it was the safest ACE Inhibitor out there...but what does that really mean? Look at some of these personal stories
So, I like being relaxed, but I don't want to be high, per se. Is there something that can give you the beneficial, healing properties of cannabis without being stoned? Well, according to a friend of mine, hemp oil is the answer. He has used it first-hand, and knows it has healing powers. Watching the video about the man with Parkinson's was very powerful to me. My friend has agreed to make the oil for me if I will go off all meds for 90 days. So, this blog is taking a turn. Some people will decide not to follow, some will be more intrigued by the idea and will follow closely over my 90-day cure. I just know that if this works as well as these men claim, I will be a very vocal proponent for the legalization of marijuana and the production of the oil as a cure-all. The pharmaceutical companies have everyone so duped that their poison is good for us...only because they know they can't patent marijuana and its products.
So, if this twist has turned you away, I wish you luck and I will continue to follow your blogs. Just do me a favor, okay? Check back in about 90 days and see how I'm doing.
If you decide to follow my progress, I promise to report as often as possible (I will shoot for every day, but I can't promise!) and be as honest and detailed as I can. I'll let you know when I start.
Oh, and if you're concerned about me going off the meds, I will still be getting regular check-ups from my Doctor, and I'm currently looking for a Naturopath familiar with hemp oil in my area.
PS....I am also starting a diet and exercise program. I am telling you my starting information so I can keep a log. There's nothing like telling the world your weight and BMI to get you off your butt and doing something! I have turned from a mushroom on the couch to a fungus...my things have spread from the spot I'm planted, across the coffee table, the bookcase, the floor...everything within reach!
So..here goes...my current weight is..........170.4 (I've lost a couple!)
and my current BMI is......................... 35%!!!!!
Anyone willing to join me?

Day 7 - CRAP

OK, it's Day 7 on the Citalopram and my BP and heart rate are through the roof again. Dammit! I was really hoping this would be the med for me...
Awaiting a call back from the Doc. Meanwhile, my BP is 147/113 and my heart rate is 121.
Well, I'll let you know what happens next. Anyone else having this problem with their meds?

A true inspiration

What would happen if we all went off our meds? Would our lives turn out this well?



(Click on the title - A True Inspiration - for the link. I can't get it to post in the body).

Another new med

Wow, I didn't realize it had been so long since I last posted!

I spent the weekend after my little hospital tour relaxing and being taken care of. My husband was so good to me - my potassium was low, so he made sure I had a banana and a glass of OJ for breakfast every morning, and bought me a multi-vitamin at the store. On Mondays I babysit for a 3-yr-old girl that I absolutely adore. I've been taking care of her since she was 6 months old. The first year and a half were full-time, now I'm down to one day a week. She was in a lazy mood Monday, so I was thankful for that. We snuggled, watched TV, napped, read books, and went and picked out my Christmas tree. That night, I was able to get the house decorated for Christmas.
The next morning, my mom and I drove to McMinnville, OR, to stay at Mcmenamin's Old Oregon Hotel. For those of you not from the NW, McMenamin's is known for taking historical buildings, restoring them, and turning them into quirky hotels. They also brew their own beer, so each location has at least one or two or five bars in it. We went to The Kennedy School a few years ago, and drank a pint or four at the Detention Bar, and watched a movie in a big comfy recliner in the Theater. You can order a beer or a snack at the Theater Bar and take it back to your seat during the movie. Fun!
This McMenamin's property was located in the heart of Oregon's Willamette Valley wine country, and we wine-tasted our way back north on Wednesday after staying Tuesday night. It was a nice couple of days!

Thursday I had a follow-up appointment with my Doc. I was pleasantly surprised to find out that my BP was completely normal. We are both convinced that it was a reaction to the Venlafaxine that shot my blood pressure up so high. As far as my "abnormal" EKG that got me admitted to the hospital - it seems that 5% of the population has this "abnormal" reading as their "normal"...hmmm - I think those odds could be put to so much better use somewhere else...
My doc also thinks I've been on Effexor XR long enough, so he has now prescribed Citralopam. Let's hope I don't have the reaction I did to the Venlafaxine! And I'll be pissed if I gain 40 pounds!!
Awful side effects - here we go again!

Update...

Well, I went to my Dr. appt at 3:30 on Thursday. My BP and heart rate were still high, so he decided to do a quick EKG. I don't think it's a good sign when you're sitting IN your Dr's office, surrounded by millions of dollars worth of medical equipment, dozens of people with medical degrees, etc., and he tells you to "sit tight, because I'm calling the paramedics". AAAUUGHH!! WHAT?!
So, long story short, I spent 24 hours in the cardiac unit being poked, prodded, injected with who-knows-what that would probably set off national alarms if I weren't in the Nuclear Medicine unit...to find out that THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH MY HEART.
After telling my story to dozens of nurses and doctors, I can tell you at least two of them told me that they DO NOT LIKE EFFEXOR. Wow.
So, now what? I've been off the Venlafaxine since Tuesday. Last night, for the first time in weeks, I slept. Twelve hours. (I heart Ativan!) My arms look like I've been shooting up for a while. It took 5 tries to get an IV started, and the bruises and swelling are about the size of silver dollars at each injection site.
I'm supposedly fine, but having to lay down for 15 minutes after taking a shower and getting dressed is not fine to me. At 80, maybe, but not 42.
So, my little journey has taken a turn.
Hang on, folks, it's going to be an interesting ride.

and another...

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving! Ours was fine, mom and bro came Wednesday night and we had a lot of fun playing cards and board games. Cranium is one of our favorites. Unfortunately bro got a little drunk and we had to spend most of the time listening to him cry about his break-up earlier that day. But, just like the last 10 times this year, I'm sure they'll be back together before the week is out.
Other than burning my mashed potatoes, forgetting the cranberry sauce, under-cooking the pumpkin pies, and over-whipping the cream, everything was delicious, and I can call it a success.
Over the weekend, I started feeling worse (with the side-effects). It's been almost 6 weeks, and I thought I was through the worst part. Tuesday I felt worse - racing heart, shaky hands, shortness of breath, and yesterday only proved to be worse. Add to the fact that I hadn't slept at all those three nights, and I was not feeling well at all! Emotionally, I was a wreck. I live in Washington state, near Tacoma. We all woke up to the news Sunday morning that 4 policemen had been executed in a local coffeeshop. A family friend happens to be a sheriff's deputy from the same area, and we spent most of the day wondering if he was OK. It wasn't until later in the day that they announced that the officers were all from Lakewood - not his jurisdiction. It wasn't until after that announcement that I felt I could call him. He is a wreck - he knew all four officers very well. The Sheriff's deputies work very closely with these "city" cops, and this has been a huge blow to our entire community. Thank God they killed the bastard who did this. Details have come out that he boasted over Thanksgiving dinner that he was "going to kill a bunch of cops, a bunch of kids at a daycare, and as many people as he could at a major intersection." The fact that this murderer was even out of jail is an outrage. Google "Maurice Clemmons" and you can find out more about why Arkansas then-Governor Mike Huckabee commuted this man's 95-year sentence in Arkansas, leaving him free to come to our state to commit this heinous act. Whoo - sorry, I didn't mean to go all political on you. Obviously this is something very fresh in all our minds, and it will be a long time before it's forgotten.
So, back to my side effects. Yesterday, I decided to check my blood pressure because I didn't like how my body was feeling. I think you could have knocked me over with a whisper when I sat staring at the numbers 153 over 111. Yes, go back and read that again. Or here, let me just say it again. ONE FIFTY THREE OVER ONE ELEVEN. My heart rate was 96. I'm sure everything shot up another 10 points in the next 10 or 15 seconds. You see, I have one of THE most normal BP's of anyone I know. My baseline is 110/70, and it's been known to be even lower at times. I immediately called my Dr's office, and he told me to quit the Venlafaxine NOW. No gradual weaning of doses, COLD TURKEY. Aw, crap!!! Has anyone done that before? All I can say is, I am going to be very sick for the next few days. He did prescribe some Ativan for me, and I was able to get a little bit of sleep last night. I took my BP before I even sat up and it was 130/100. Now that I've been up and around and writing about Maurice Clemmons, I wouldn't be surprised if it's way up there again. Crap. I was right. 150/110. Well, I have an appointment at 3:30 this afternoon. I'll let you know how it ends up.
Oh, and another cherry on top? In August I got a speeding ticket, and I checked the box on the back asking for a hearing and mailed it in. Yesterday I got a letter saying I failed to appear and my license will be suspended effective 1-14-10. Oh, goody. After calling DOL, I was informed that they had mailed me my hearing date on the 20th of August. My court date was November 24. Since I missed the hearing, I have no choice but to pay the $206 fine. Right, like I HAVE $206. Fortunately they were nice enough to put me on a little payment plan. Yay.