Your prompt for JusJoJan January 13th, 2022, is “protocol.” Use the word “protocol” any way you’d like. Enjoy!

Well, I am in such a state!
First, over my high blood pressure-more on that later-secondly, because I just took Whiskey to the vet to get checked out before he cleans her teeth, but they are so bad, his protocol is to go through a round or two of antibiotics first!
I feel like I dropped the ball on this one, we tried real hard for a while to brush her teeth and fix her bad breath…we tried everything from special drops in her water to food supplements to different food. The vet said that, like me, she might just be predisposition to have plaque and dental problems. I told him her breath was bad from almost the moment we bought her 71/2 yrs ago.
She is scheduled to have the cleaning and possible extractions on Feb 8th. Poor baby!!
Now, me, I don’t know what is causing my blood pressure to be sky high, but last night (if my cuff is to be believed) it was in near stroke range. I am keeping a diary because my nephrologist told me to. I discovered after looking it up last night that I am supposed to take it before meals, not after. It did not make that much of a difference and neither did exercise, but I will keep it all up. I almost had all my rings closed on my Apple Watch yesterday! That is because I did 40 minutes of exercise that morning and a walk in the afternoon, plus I stood for an hour to do my Diamond Art.
When I say high, I mean the systolic is over 150 and the dystolic is over 100. Last night it was 184/111. Of course, I had eaten and exercised, plus, I have to make a confession. I have been vaping again on and off because I figured maybe my heartburn was caused by trying to quit too many things at one time, and I was stressing myself out about it. I have no idea if that could contribute to high blood pressure because it is not the same as smoking. However, you do still get Nicotine. The info I read also said to cut back on alcohol and salt. Well, I don’t drink that much, and I never salt my food, but I haven’t been reading the labels on everything for the sodium content. UGH!! One more thing to have to worry about!
The doctor already increased my dose of Lisinopril to 5mg twice a day. I’m hoping that my blood pressure cuff (I have the wrist kind) is measuring wrong, so I am off to Kroger to see if their machine records a different reading. Did you know Walgreens doesn’t have one you can check your own blood pressure with anymore? They had no idea what I was talking about. They told me to go to Kroger.
Wish me luck, I really don’t want to have to make even more changes to my lifestyle, but I will if it’s a matter of life and death. I certainly don’t want to stroke out! So, I will do whatever is necessary to bring it down. I wonder if it is just another symptom of PKD and because I’m getting older, it is just now showing up?? Something to ponder.
Have a great day everyone!


protocol
the way to fall in lines
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Take care of yourself, Kim.
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Thank you, I will.
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Good grief Kim! I am so sorry that you are having to deal with any and that! Did you find a blood pressure cuff at Kroger? Maybe ask her kidney Doctor on my chart about your concerns? I wonder if there is a PKD support group and this area of people who could possibly have similar issues? No worries on the going back to vaping, I love you regardless. Hoping that things are figured out soon regarding your blood pressure
Poor Whiskey and her teeth! Thumper was the same way. She will be in my prayers!
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Oh, I’ll be quitting again because now I’m scared to death that it is what is making it bad. I don’t know about support groups, but I will talk to Dr Epstein when I go back and ask him if it’s a PKD symptom. The internet says it is, but I want him to tell me. And I need to ask if I have to also give up salt and
alcohol or just cut back. Love you, thanks for reading! You know it’s every day this month, right? Lol!
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And I will be reading them every day, a might not always reply and I may not always get send them on that day or get them read word for word. You are a good writing, a good poet, a good storyteller, and a good artist, and no matter what I am interested in YOU!!
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Aww, you are so sweet! I love to read your stories because you are such an inspiration! Please keep writing, no matter how long it takes! 💕😘
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I hope you can get your BP under control. As far as the mechanics, you get a better reading from a cuff that goes over the upper are. Sit with your arm elevated over your heart and with your feet flat on the floor. From my experience, don’t watch the number or think about it the process.
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Thanks, Dan. I do tend to have a hard time relaxing when I’m worrying what the number will be. I should go get a new cuff too, since I have to check it a few times a day.
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My doctor tells me to “think about a happy place, and take deep long breaths.”
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I tried that this morning, Dan. It worked, it was about 10 points lower!
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That’s great! The follow up to that is to remember (the breathing) throughout the day. I’ve been near those trouble points off and on for a long time. Last time I saw the Dr, she was happy with my journal.
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I hope you your BP normal. How you feels now. I send you one mail. Can you get it?
Beautiful written it. 🌷🙏
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Thank you, I’ve been getting your emails. I just need your street address if you’d like those Diamond Art supplies ☺️
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