My surgery went very well. The only glitch was that I was a bit anaemic going in and lost some blood during the process. My blood pressure, which is always low, plumetteted to 60/40. I asked how far down it could go before we needed to worry about my being dead. They didn't answer directly, but ordered a two pint transfusion for that evening.
This was not a great process because I had to wear a blood pressure cuff all night, and they had to check oxygen hourly, so I may have gotten 15 minutes of sleep the whole night. I was not a happy camper.
The anemia was a surprise. I eat lots of lentils, dark green vegetables and fruit, but I am down to eating mostly chicken and fish---beef maybe once a month. I thought that was a good thing and though it is, it was decided that I needed to eat beef/liver once a week, and that I needed to be on an iron supplement twice a day, so hopefully this plan will do the trick.
Regarding the low blood pressure, about which, by the way I was always so proud, it can be problematic. The average is 120 for systolic pressure and 70-80 for diastolic, so an average would be 120/75. Mine has been 110/60 consistently (so really just below average), but they get excited each time.
If your blood pressure drops below 90/60, then this can be considered low blood pressure. It can be also considered low if only one of the numbers is really low, for example 120/40. There are almost as many reasons for fluctuation as there are the differences among us, but some general factors include our level of fitness, the amount of our exercise, and whether we smoke. Are some of you out there still smoking...really?
If you are a very fit person, then sometimes your blood pressure can drop below the average, and you can be absolutely fine. Low blood pressure can be caused by hormonal changes, a side effect of medicine, anaemia or a widening of the blood vessels. Hypovolemia (reduced blood volume) is the most common cause of low blood pressure which can result from a haemorrhage or blood loss, not taking in enough fluids or an excessive loss of fluids.
One is diagnosed as having low blood pressure if they show other symptoms as well as a blood pressure below 90/60. Symptoms include: Chest pain, shortness of breath, irregular heartbeat, high fever, headache, stiff neck, severe upper back pain, coughing with phlegm, prolonged diarrhea or vomiting, dyspepsia (indigestion), dysuria (painful urination), foul smelling urine, seizures, loss of consciousness, fatigue, temporary blurring or loss of vision and in some cases loss of hair.
The important thing is to check your blood pressure routinely and consult with a doctor about fluctuations or associated symptoms.
Monday, May 28, 2012
Saturday, May 19, 2012
Want a Joint?
Monday is the day that a surgeon will cut a six inch incision into my body, remove my knee, and replace it with a brand new joint. After a fall down some stairs, I finally smashed a knee that bone on bone. It was riddled with arthritis as a result of another surgery twenty years ago when I tore a ligament dancing, a far more happy accident than falling down the stairs and a much simpler surgery than I am facing now.
The problem is that whenever they cut into your body, scar tissue and then arthritis is also a result. Now, I am convinced I need the surgery, and friends to whom I have spoken laud the wonder of not hurting when they walk or bend, but I am worried about the physical therapy.
My PT, whom I love, says I will hate her soon because she intends to work the new joint so hard that I will need to take vicodin to tolerate it. She says also that it could be several months of this torture, and that if I don't do all that is necessary, I face the possibility of a frozen knee, a knee that won't straighten all the way or a walk that looks more like a pirate with a peg leg. None of these prospects are attractive, obviously, but the remedy seems almost as awful.
The joint itself is a titanium prosthetic that they believe will last 15 to 30 years depending on how hard I am on it. Since I don't intend to jog or downhill ski, I believe I have a good shot at keeping it for a while, and now, if I do need another before moving onto to heaven, they are able to go in and just replace the plastic pad and not the whole prosthetic.
An oddity of having a metal prosthetic in my body besides setting off bells and whistles at the airport is that I will have to take antibiotics forever before any dental work including cleanings. Because the mouth is a breeding ground for bacteria, if any gets into the bloodstream, the area around the prosthetic could become horribly and dangerously infected.
Despite the difficulties associated with any surgical recovery, I am assured that I will feel like a new woman afterwards; that soon I won't even think about the knee as I go about my activities. I am focusing on that eventuality.
The problem is that whenever they cut into your body, scar tissue and then arthritis is also a result. Now, I am convinced I need the surgery, and friends to whom I have spoken laud the wonder of not hurting when they walk or bend, but I am worried about the physical therapy.
My PT, whom I love, says I will hate her soon because she intends to work the new joint so hard that I will need to take vicodin to tolerate it. She says also that it could be several months of this torture, and that if I don't do all that is necessary, I face the possibility of a frozen knee, a knee that won't straighten all the way or a walk that looks more like a pirate with a peg leg. None of these prospects are attractive, obviously, but the remedy seems almost as awful.
The joint itself is a titanium prosthetic that they believe will last 15 to 30 years depending on how hard I am on it. Since I don't intend to jog or downhill ski, I believe I have a good shot at keeping it for a while, and now, if I do need another before moving onto to heaven, they are able to go in and just replace the plastic pad and not the whole prosthetic.
An oddity of having a metal prosthetic in my body besides setting off bells and whistles at the airport is that I will have to take antibiotics forever before any dental work including cleanings. Because the mouth is a breeding ground for bacteria, if any gets into the bloodstream, the area around the prosthetic could become horribly and dangerously infected.
Despite the difficulties associated with any surgical recovery, I am assured that I will feel like a new woman afterwards; that soon I won't even think about the knee as I go about my activities. I am focusing on that eventuality.
Saturday, May 12, 2012
Make it a Happy Mother's Day
I love to run this reader letter on Mother's Day weekend. I think it speaks well about how the celebration should look. How are you honoring the woman who gave you your life then sacrificed hers to give you every opportunity?
Dear Linda:
I’m an avid reader of your special column. I’ve been particularly interested in your Mother’s Day columns. They’ve included lovely ideas for honoring mothers. I’ve been moved to tears, because it doesn’t occur to my children, who live close, to do anything for me besides a call. Perhaps I should be content, but it’s hurtful that they never include me in their celebrations.
It isn’t as though they don’t know better. When my husband and our mothers were alive, we made Mother’s Day a special time. In the morning, I’d be awakened to breakfast in bed. The tray was decorated with flowers, gifts and cards that expressed love. My husband involved the children in the preparation of the food, and though the toast was sometimes burned and the eggs runny, nothing ever tasted better.
Afterwards, we dressed-up and visited our moms. Though they didn’t need much, we gave them something that made their growing dependence easier, and my husband never neglected to buy “each of his gorgeous gals” a corsage.
Then we all attended church. The service addressed the importance of honoring mothers—that it was small repayment for their innumerable sacrifices made constantly for the betterment of the family. We’d be filled with an urgency to express gratitude, particularly with an aging mother.
After, we’d dine out—often in the next county so we could see the spring flowers. We’d tour the town and antiqued. We’d end the day at “our favorite” ice cream shop for banana splits. We all looked forward to the day with great excitement. I don’t know how my children have forgotten, and I worry that I’m selfish to expect more.
Signed a Sad Mom
Dear Sad Mom:
I don’t think you’re being selfish to desire more. You letter speaks beautifully to the spirit of the day. Please give them this column to read and discuss.
Dear Linda:
I’m an avid reader of your special column. I’ve been particularly interested in your Mother’s Day columns. They’ve included lovely ideas for honoring mothers. I’ve been moved to tears, because it doesn’t occur to my children, who live close, to do anything for me besides a call. Perhaps I should be content, but it’s hurtful that they never include me in their celebrations.
It isn’t as though they don’t know better. When my husband and our mothers were alive, we made Mother’s Day a special time. In the morning, I’d be awakened to breakfast in bed. The tray was decorated with flowers, gifts and cards that expressed love. My husband involved the children in the preparation of the food, and though the toast was sometimes burned and the eggs runny, nothing ever tasted better.
Afterwards, we dressed-up and visited our moms. Though they didn’t need much, we gave them something that made their growing dependence easier, and my husband never neglected to buy “each of his gorgeous gals” a corsage.
Then we all attended church. The service addressed the importance of honoring mothers—that it was small repayment for their innumerable sacrifices made constantly for the betterment of the family. We’d be filled with an urgency to express gratitude, particularly with an aging mother.
After, we’d dine out—often in the next county so we could see the spring flowers. We’d tour the town and antiqued. We’d end the day at “our favorite” ice cream shop for banana splits. We all looked forward to the day with great excitement. I don’t know how my children have forgotten, and I worry that I’m selfish to expect more.
Signed a Sad Mom
Dear Sad Mom:
I don’t think you’re being selfish to desire more. You letter speaks beautifully to the spirit of the day. Please give them this column to read and discuss.
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Exercise as Medicine
Sorry about missing Saturday. This injury is throwing me for a loop. Some days the pain is worse than others and writing is hard to do when all you want to do is chug vicodin and crawl into bed. Here's the delimna though. The more we hurt, the more we want to be immobile, but it's the worse thing we can do.
When someone referred to exercise as medicine, I laughed. Now, when I was young, working-out, dancing and even running was fun to do; I didn't think twice about doing whatever I wanted with my body.
In my thirties and forties, I was chasing children 24/7. That alone can keep you nimble. Teaching in my fifties kept me moving but a bit more slowly. Now that I'm in my sixties, I think first about whether my body can do what my brain wants.
A decision not to do something now has mostly to do with whether I am physically up to the task, and I am hating it! And now that I've fallen, I feel myself thinking even more about this new phase, but here's what I'm finding out fast; the less I move, the more I hurt. And if I do the right kind of exercise in the right way, I can actually relieve pain.
The ailments that accompany aging (including high blood pressure, arthritis, rheumatism and incontinence) can impact the intensity of physical activity but are the very reasons for staying fit, limber and active.
There are several forms of exercise that can be modified in intensity. Walking, jogging and swimming are all excellent for maintaining bone, joint and muscle strength and flexibility, reducing blood pressure and stress levels, and combating pain, but I'm going to talk about yoga as a remedy.
I have tendonitis from the fall and from all the limping. In fact, even though I have to have knee replacement, I'm having more pain in my shoulder and hip. So what does the physical therapist recommend for resolution? Long, slow stretches repeated over and over. Yoga is a form of exercise that embraces long, slow stretches and so much more.
According to the American Heart Association, heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women in the US, causing 1.5 million heart attacks each year. Recent research has shown that yoga reduces blood pressure, lowers pulse rate, improves artery elasticity, increases the heart's stroke volume and regulates heart rhythm. Yoga benefits the heart and overall health.
Originated in India and now considered a science, yoga has been practiced for over 5,000 years. What differentiates yoga from other exercise routines is its basic principal: that there’s a direct connection between the body, mind and spirit. The theory is that good health is dependent on the positive interrelationship of these three forces, and that balance between them must be achieved.
Yoga’s unique method for maintaining this balance is to combine physical movement with proper breathing and meditation techniques. The exercises are intended to increase flexibility, improve posture and put pressure on the glandular systems to increase efficiency. Deep breathing oxygenates the blood and induces a feeling of well-being. Meditation reduces stress and heart-harmful emotions like anxiety, hostility and hopelessness. Visit www.abc-of-yoga.com for information and products.
See your physician for a thorough examination. Discuss your level of physical fitness and appropriate exercise routines, including duration and frequency. Ask whether yoga will work for your exercise of choice or as an addition to another program. Modern medicine has certainly recognized its physiological, psychological and biochemical benefits.
When someone referred to exercise as medicine, I laughed. Now, when I was young, working-out, dancing and even running was fun to do; I didn't think twice about doing whatever I wanted with my body.
In my thirties and forties, I was chasing children 24/7. That alone can keep you nimble. Teaching in my fifties kept me moving but a bit more slowly. Now that I'm in my sixties, I think first about whether my body can do what my brain wants.
A decision not to do something now has mostly to do with whether I am physically up to the task, and I am hating it! And now that I've fallen, I feel myself thinking even more about this new phase, but here's what I'm finding out fast; the less I move, the more I hurt. And if I do the right kind of exercise in the right way, I can actually relieve pain.
The ailments that accompany aging (including high blood pressure, arthritis, rheumatism and incontinence) can impact the intensity of physical activity but are the very reasons for staying fit, limber and active.
There are several forms of exercise that can be modified in intensity. Walking, jogging and swimming are all excellent for maintaining bone, joint and muscle strength and flexibility, reducing blood pressure and stress levels, and combating pain, but I'm going to talk about yoga as a remedy.
I have tendonitis from the fall and from all the limping. In fact, even though I have to have knee replacement, I'm having more pain in my shoulder and hip. So what does the physical therapist recommend for resolution? Long, slow stretches repeated over and over. Yoga is a form of exercise that embraces long, slow stretches and so much more.
According to the American Heart Association, heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women in the US, causing 1.5 million heart attacks each year. Recent research has shown that yoga reduces blood pressure, lowers pulse rate, improves artery elasticity, increases the heart's stroke volume and regulates heart rhythm. Yoga benefits the heart and overall health.
Originated in India and now considered a science, yoga has been practiced for over 5,000 years. What differentiates yoga from other exercise routines is its basic principal: that there’s a direct connection between the body, mind and spirit. The theory is that good health is dependent on the positive interrelationship of these three forces, and that balance between them must be achieved.
Yoga’s unique method for maintaining this balance is to combine physical movement with proper breathing and meditation techniques. The exercises are intended to increase flexibility, improve posture and put pressure on the glandular systems to increase efficiency. Deep breathing oxygenates the blood and induces a feeling of well-being. Meditation reduces stress and heart-harmful emotions like anxiety, hostility and hopelessness. Visit www.abc-of-yoga.com for information and products.
See your physician for a thorough examination. Discuss your level of physical fitness and appropriate exercise routines, including duration and frequency. Ask whether yoga will work for your exercise of choice or as an addition to another program. Modern medicine has certainly recognized its physiological, psychological and biochemical benefits.
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