Saturday, April 17, 2021

The day after

I slept in the recliner again last night, and woke up pain-free!  I thought I was back to normal, but washing dishes this morning wore me out, so I'll take it easy for awhile.  

It's strange about the low potassium, because I was at our regular doctor Tuesday and potassium was normal.  At the hospital they told me it wasn't terribly low.  I believe the doctor said "a little low".  he nurse mixed some up in a foul-tasting sports drink in a cup and gave it to me.  I did feel more energetic afterward; when I first got to the hospital, I was afraid to walk to the bathroom by myself.

One part of the problem is that my blood pressure prescription is a water pill; I take one in the morning, one at night.  My mother started feeling bad on the same med, went to the doctor, and he told her she was low in potassium because of her blood pressure prescription, the same one I take.  He prescribed  potassium for her to take each day; it was a liquid, and she complained about how awful it tasted.  I recall her saying she had been so weak and tired, she could hardly walk.  My father asked the doctor if he was low on potassium, since he took the same B/P pill as mother.  The doctor told him, "If the time comes that you need it, you will know something's wrong."

I should add that the first B/P med I was prescribed years ago was an ACE inhibitor and gave me a dry hacking cough that wouldn't let me sleep at night.  That happens in 1/3 of the people who take it.

I normally have lots of fruit and vegetables in my diet, but with the pain of acid reflux, I was afraid to eat fruit, and I wasn't really feeling well enough to fix a decent meal; poor Cliff was very understanding, but he he can't even cook an egg properly, and I have tried to teach him.  I think the height of his cooking abilities would be baking a potato in the microwave; when I first told him how... poke it all over with a fork and put it in the microwave... and explained how long to cook it, he had a baked potato for three nights straight.  I should explain that he's on his own in the evening.  I try to make a decent meal at noon and he makes a sandwich or heats up something leftover for supper.

I'm still sitting here thinking how wonderful it is to have no stomach pain.  I don't know if it will last, but it's a treat, for sure.  

I hope for now this issue is over.  Whether it is or isn't, I promise that unless something really terrible happens, the next blog entry I do will not be me whining about my problems.

Have a great day!  I intend to. 

16 comments:

  1. You "whine" all you want to, honey. I take a diuretic as well as an ACE inhibitor and a beta-blocker for my hypertension. A banana a day will keep your potassium in check but just to be sure, a check of your potassium level should be done twice yearly, when you see your doctor. My doctor requires me to see him every 12 weeks but some don't. Most of what I had to say is in the comment section of the previous post. I'm praying for you, honey. ~Andrea xoxo

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    1. I had my yearly tests last Tuesday. I checked the numbers online. All was perfect, and my BP was 128. Go figure.

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  2. Absolutely!! I think you do very well an are usually very stoic about your health problems.

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  3. We are allowed to whine on our blogs, and others can read or comment or not. I'm certainly glad that you're feeling better. Medication seems to always put something else out of whack. :(

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  4. Donna, you have every right to voice complaints about your health (I do it all the time). I'm glad you're feeling better. Take care, rest, and keep us updated on your condition.

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  5. Magnesium at night has really helped me. Try the pill. I’m hoping you will feel better soon.

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    1. I actually take a magnesium pill every day; prevents constipation.

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  6. You mean we aren't allowed to whine in our blogs? Gee I thought that was the purpose of a blog. I know I sure do and sometimes I get good advice throwing my symptoms out there. At least I learn I am not alone. I so hope you find the right combination of meds to help you.

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    1. My blood pressure is still wacky. I'll go to my doctor Monday. But I'm in no pain today anywhere, just crazy dizzy.

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  7. We never realize how much we appreciate good health until we don't have it. Hopefully you will continue getting better. Men who don't cook do have a hard time of it. Better to stock up on some frozen dinners for them to heat up in the mice was. There are some good dinners out there. I enjoy frozen pot pies when I don't feel like cooking.

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  8. That is meant to read heat up in the micro wave. Sorry, I should proof read before I hit publish.

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  9. The worst part about getting old (in my middle aged eyes) is finding the right balance in medications. My grandfather battled potassium and my grandmother is fighting her magnesium levels right now. It seems like it is hard to get both dialed in.

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  10. How interesting that you mentioned potassium. The doctor just told my husband to avoid potassium (salads, beans, fruits) because he had too high a level. We eat almost the same thing and I'm a little low. I've read that too much potassium can cause some cardiac problems.

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  11. You're not whining, you're sharing.... there is a difference. Get better, please.

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  12. Hope you're feeling OK and that your appointment went well.

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  13. Oh dear I didn't know you weren't feeling well. I take magnesium gummies. They taste great. something to look into. also on potasium. Acid refux is the worst. only thing that keeps mine in check is Pepcid. When you start feeling the way you do, your body is saying Whoa Nellie. Got to slow down and rest. cliff will muddle through. my hubby learned to slice the potato up in slices and he puts different seasoning on them and zaps them in the microwave. a great meal with raw carrots and a banana. for breakfast a hardboiled egg and half an avocado. easy things. he can do it . you have to take care of you right now. saying prayers that you will feel better soon.

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