Well, that's done

I have to remind myself that the doctor I see is fundamentally a nice, caring person who understands that "yelling at" someone like me is counterproductive. (And that's why I keep going to her). And that I'm really probably far more obsessive about my health than most of her patients - I comply with medication directions (apparently a lot of HBP patients don't take their meds, because of side effects), I exercise, I've never smoked or taken drugs, I don't drink alcohol or even coffee,  I pretty much watch what I eat, I get necessary vaccinations....

(I did, years ago, have a doctor who yelled. A podiatrist. He belittled me for being "fat" and told me I should be jogging every day. Um, dude? The reason I'm seeing you is I have a bone and tendon issue with my feet that make it painful to jog. But ever since then, I've been pretty much cowed into being the "good patient" so I don't have to risk that again)

I shouldn't have worried about the appointment. Yes, I hadn't got bloodwork, but she figured that if I did it before my next 6-month checkup, everything was fine. (And I asked her for a sheet listing the tests she wanted done, so I could remember the right ones).

Otherwise, it was all good news: heart and lungs still sound, no signs of edema (I guess they have to check that with hypertensive patients?). Weight down a tiny bit from the last checkup - really, an infinitesimal amount, but considering that over Christmas break the ONLY way I ate restrictively was to keep a limit on sodium intake, that's not too bad.

I have gone back, since I've returned home, hammer and tongs, at the DASH diet. And I'm trying a challenge to myself: to limit carbohydrates to 45 g per meal. Which is apparently what they recommend for women with type II diabetes. I'm doing that for a couple reasons: first, counting calories drives me up a tree but somehow counting carbohydrates - probably because the numbers are lower - is tolerable. And doing it on a meal-by-meal basis seems more tolerable than going "Wharrgarrblll, I only have 300 calories left for dinner!" Second, it forces me to eat more vegetables, because most of the ones I eat regularly are lower in carbohydrates. (Green beans, as sick as I get of them, are really pretty low). The diet does also sharply limit sweets, which I'm not wild about - that's really the hardest thing to give up for me - but maybe I can adapt to it. And finally, because I have that fear in the back of my head, given the fact that a great-grandfather had Type II and my own father has had to watch his blood numbers a bit, that I might someday develop it, and I want practice at how I'm supposed to eat. And anyway, it does force me to eat more healthfully. But I am going to allow for an occasional "free day" when I don't worry about it* and just eat like someone without health issues. (Well, except for the salt. I will, as much as practicible, continue to limit salt).

I am, however, reserving the right to go to the donut shop for breakfast the morning after I have the fasting bloodwork done.

My blood pressure and heart rate were elevated, but my doctor says she discounts those (then why subject me to having them taken? I might ask about that if I ever work up the guts) because I seem to be one of those who freak out over going to the doctor. (Yes, very much so). My readings at home are much more normal so I guess she figures the long term readings make more sense than one reading taken under what are, for me, fairly stressful circumstances. (There was also a small child with an ear infection - it seemed painful - waiting to be seen, and the child - really not more than a baby, so you have to understand that they can't help it - was crying quite a lot. And I get that they can't help it but it still makes me tense to listen to a crying baby)

Still, I wish I could get to the point where I DIDN'T freak out at the doctor. You'd think, at least, the sensation of the cuff squeezing my arm wouldn't be uncomfortable any more, given that I pretty much take my own blood pressure every day. But maybe for me it's like a you-can't-tickle-yourself thing - when I'm doing it, and I expect it, it's somehow different.

(*In fact, I am toying with the idea of a trip to McKinney Saturday, including lunch out at one of their restaurants. I'm still considering it - it is kind of a long drive - but I might still do it)