Hypertension

It’s time to address some truths about Christianity and mental health.

1. Christians can and do struggle with mental illness. It is NOT a sign of secret sin, hidden shortcomings or lack of faith.

2. Many people in the Bible struggled with their mental health.

Hannah who struggled to have a baby.
Elijah was burnt out.
Job lost everything and everyone that he held dear.
David suffered the depths of depression.
Jonah was suicidal. Etc etc

3. No one is immune. Being in the ministry doesn’t make you immune, in fact, statistically speaking mental illness can be more prevalent in Pastors than many other professions.

4. It is NOT wrong to take medication, seek professional help or be hospitalised due to mental illness. It is no different to diabetes, high blood pressure etc.

5. Things are getting better, but we are way to go. My church knows that their Pastor, me, takes medication, has been hospitalised for treatment and still consults doctors to stay healthy.

Reject shame. Don’t let anyone look down on you. You are courageous, you matter and you are loved.

I've got a telehealth appointment tomorrow with my doctor to go over my lab results. They're pretty bad. She's gonna be cross that I haven't found an Endo yet. I'm on a really high dose of insulin. It's not helping. But it's making me gain weight really fast. It's kinda scary.

But I'm gonna talk to her about getting me a proper rescue inhaler. I've got dulera but that's just twice per day. When I go up and down the stairs or walk for more than 5 minutes I can't catch my breath.

I'm gonna get a refill of my Norco. I've been trying to contact my previous back surgeon but they haven't responded to my 2 emails and phone calls. As long as I am making an attempt, my doctor will refill my meds. I've only been taking maybe 5 per week. I'm trying to use my tramadol more often. I'm not addicted. And I intend on staying that way.

My doctor is concerned about my lymphedema and high blood pressure. I told her how my cardiologist is handling it and she's kinda pissed. The new meds aren't working. And I had a low symptoms day on Tuesday so my cardiologist thinks everything is fine. And even after emailing her pictures of my pitting lymphedema, I haven't heard back.

I'm so frustrated. And my anxiety is making me sick. I'll talk to my doctor about how bad my adjustment disorder is. Maybe she'll have an idea. She's a good doctor.

#COPD #Diabetes #ChronicPain #a1c #BackPain #Lymphedema #HighBP

My back hurts and my brain feels foggy. I was hungry so I made myself 2 hot dogs with honey mustard. It wasn't really that good but it was edible. I don't have much easy food. I was hoping to order groceries last night for delivery today but pauley has decided we're going to be looking at the nutrition label of everything to see how much salt is in it. Cuz I'm sodium sensitive. Fun times.

#Hypertension

I've been slacking on tracking my BG and my insulin usage on my app. I'm so burnt out on medical bullshit. Either I'm sick at home taking fistfuls of pills just to keep me functional when all I do is stay home all day or I go to doctors appointments and get orders for more useless testing and they prescribe more medicine. I don't know if my doctor realizes I'm back to being polypharmacolegic.

Tomorrow I see my cardiologist. I really like her. She's super nice. I'm gonna talk to her about getting a script for compression socks. My right foot is huge. The pitting lymphedema goes all the way up to my knee.

I'm really worried about my hypertension. My BP and HR are really high. They didn't respond to the new meds. I'm getting some nosalt on Wednesday so I can cut a lot of salt out of my diet. I gotta start drinking more sugar free juice. I don't know what else to do.

One hour until pauley and I start making our tea party. I'm gonna make blueberry pancake bars. I know it's not the same as scones with clotted cream or biscuits and jelly or finger sandwiches. But I think it's going to be nice. The tea is gonna be delicious and the pancake bars will be warm and yummy.

I'm trying really hard to reduce the pitting lymphedema in my legs. I'm drinking more water, taking lasix 2x daily, and elevating my foot. Today I took 3 lasix. I woke up with my foot being 2x it's normal size and very stiff. I peed like a racehorse today. But the swelling never went down. I ate just a little bit of salt today. I'm trying to reduce my salt intake. I'm buying some nosalt this week.

I'm seeing my cardiologist on Monday. We're gonna go over the results of the ultrasound. It was normal except my heart rate was pounding out a rumba. My BP and HR have been high my entire adult life. I just thought it was normal.

The meds change didn't help. 2 and a half years ago I was diagnosed with sodium sensitive hypertension. Like for real. I never add salt to my food unless it's in a seasoning blend. I thought the garlic Parmesan seasoning was low sodium and pauley told me it's 1 third salt. Shit.

I gotta go back to using more lemon juice and garlic.

#sodiumsensitivehypertension #Hypertension #Lymphedema #pittingedema

So for the last 2 weeks I was averaging 135 over 95 with a pulse of 105. I've been on the decreased dose of losartan and starting the new meds for 2 days. Tonight my BP 115 over 69 with a pulse of 90. I didn't think it would be so quick.

#Hypertension #sodiumsensitivehypertension

I definitely need to work on how often I vent frustration with the body I have been given. Every so often I have to stop and readjust my thoughts for the better, thanking my body for all it does to try to do what I want.
It does the best it can and I need to appreciate what it can offer.

#AmplifiedMusculoskeletalPainSyndrome #Arthritis #Asthma #Anxiety #AmplifiedMusculoskeletalPainSyndrome #bedbound #BoneSplints #ChronicFatigueSyndrome #CheckInWithMe #ChronicPain #ChronicIllness #ComplexRegionalPainSyndrome #Depression #Disability #DistractMe #EhlersDanlosSyndrome #Endometriosis #Fibromyalgia #GastroesophagealRefluxDisease #gallstones #HypothyroidismUnderactiveThyroidDisease #Eczema #Grief #Hypersomnia #HighBloodPressure #JuvenileRheumatoidArthritis #Insomnia #Lymphedema #PosturalOrthostaticTachycardiaSyndrome #PTSD #Psoriasis #PsoriaticArthritis #Psychosis #PanicAttack #PanicAttacks #plantarfasciitis #MentalHealth #MightyTogether #MajorDepressiveDisorder #MemoryLoss #Migraine #musclespasms #MultipleAutoimmuneSyndrome #RareDisease #RheumatoidArthritis #SuicidalThoughts #Scoliosis #ShinSplints

I definitely need to work on how often I vent frustration with the body I have been given. Every so often I have to stop and readjust my thoughts for the better, thanking my body for all it does to try to do what I want.
It does the best it can and I need to appreciate what it can offer.

#AmplifiedMusculoskeletalPainSyndrome #Arthritis #Asthma #Anxiety #AmplifiedMusculoskeletalPainSyndrome #bedbound #BoneSplints #ChronicFatigueSyndrome #CheckInWithMe #ChronicPain #ChronicIllness #ComplexRegionalPainSyndrome #Depression #Disability #DistractMe #EhlersDanlosSyndrome #Endometriosis #Fibromyalgia #GastroesophagealRefluxDisease #gallstones #HypothyroidismUnderactiveThyroidDisease #Eczema #Grief #Hypersomnia #HighBloodPressure #JuvenileRheumatoidArthritis #Insomnia #Lymphedema #PosturalOrthostaticTachycardiaSyndrome #PTSD #Psoriasis #PsoriaticArthritis #Psychosis #PanicAttack #PanicAttacks #plantarfasciitis #MentalHealth #MightyTogether #MajorDepressiveDisorder #MemoryLoss #Migraine #musclespasms #MultipleAutoimmuneSyndrome #RareDisease #RheumatoidArthritis #SuicidalThoughts #Scoliosis #ShinSplints

I got the new meds that my cardiologist wrote. It's called diltiazem. Tomorrow I drop my losartan to 25mg for one month. I am really hopeful.

I have the ultrasound of my heart next Wednesday. The follow-up appointment is on Valentine's Day. I'll get the US results before the appointment so I can do research if I need to.

I really like my cardiologist. She's very nice. On the paperwork I filled out there was a section for preferred pronouns. I told them right away I'm trans and go by the name Nox. They were so accommodating and considerate.

#Hypertension #sodiumsensitivity #Newmeds