Changing Gears

I almost checked into the hospital this week. On Monday I could feel my blood pressure rising. There was no apparent stress then. I didn’t eat a handful of salt. No smoke, no drink but before noon it climbed over 165. I sat down, took it easy, drank some water and within two hours it was down to 135/80.

The next day it did it again. I had places to go and things to do. It rose again over 160 and I resorted to taking a nitroglycerine tablet (prescribed over a year ago). It dropped 20 points in four minutes, as it should. I called my primary care physician and set up an appointment to see him the next morning. But that afternoon it rose to 171/90. Again, I just sat back and drank some water. Then took a shower, packed the overnight bag and prepared to go the emergency room if it continued. Within two hours it was back down to 137/87. Stroke averted.

After a thorough examination and many questions my doctor gave me a simple diagnosis: I am overweight! Apparently during and after chemotherapy I was unable to do all the activities I used to. No strength, no energy, so just sit back in that recliner and chill. But I have not resumed the previous pace of gardening and woodworking. This spare tire is not the “covid 19 (pounds)” but the chemo 20. He ordered me to lose 6 pounds in 6 weeks, also tweaked my BP meds.

Coincidentally I went to the Florida Cancer Specialist this week and they re-confirmed that I am still cancer-free. Now I need to be fat-free.

So now, back to work. I enjoy my job but it is not consistently physically demanding. I’ll make a few deliveries here and there but the real sweat takes place after work and on weekends. Tonight I spent two hours in the back yard pruning some shrubs HARD. Then bundled the branches and dragged them to the street for pick up. My blood pressure is now 119/80. I’m built for work, not leisure.