Octopus Overlords

ImLawBoy wrote: ↑Mon Apr 26, 2021 10:42 am I now have high blood pressure, so new med for me.

So, as directed, I got a blood pressure cuff and have been taking my readings at about the same time every day since Monday. Here's what I've got:

M - 138/79
Tu - 126/80
W - 127/82
Th - 122/77
F - 123/78

Unless this medication works really fast, I'm guessing this is going to be a case of doctor's office induced high blood pressure. I've got a follow-up telemed appointment in a couple of weeks on this where I'm supposed to share my readings.

I had the same issue (white coat syndrome) and after I tried playing it down by showing him my home readings, my cardiologist said that's still a problem. The reason is that its suggesting that your baseline response to stress is a spike in BP, which for obvious reasons is not great.

Get on those meds and work on stress response!

My BP also always spikes when at the doctor. Often if they take it again a second time a few minutes later, it is a good bit lower. My dad has the same issue; just some involuntary reflex, I guess.

Ralph-Wiggum wrote: ↑Fri Apr 30, 2021 3:12 pm My BP also always spikes when at the doctor. Often if they take it again a second time a few minutes later, it is a good bit lower. My dad has the same issue; just some involuntary reflex, I guess.

White Coat Syndrome

EDIT oops late post.

Anyways I got me a cuff for home too. Its all over the place before or after meds. I used to always be low around 110/67 or 120/74 or so. These days it can be 120/74 - 140/110 .....Ive stopped taking all the time during the day and only take it once or so. Lately its been good at around 120/82

I have had white coat syndrome before in the past. I think part of it is they walk my fat ass back through a labyrinth, weigh me and then walk me back through the labyrinth again and then take my blood pressure. It's always lower when the doc comes in and takes it a second time vs. the helper who takes it the first time.

I showed their asses yesterday though at my appointment. They made me wait in the room for 15 minutes before they came in to take my BP. I meditated my ass off, when the helper girl came in I was in another place. BP was like 125/70. Joke's on y'all now...

The cancer cured me of that. Getting exams, blood work, BP, and everything else under the sun five days a week for months made it all pretty routine.

The white coat syndrome doesn't affect me too much as I'm agoraphobic.
A fear of ancient Greek market places.

dbt1949 wrote: ↑Fri Apr 30, 2021 8:15 pm The white coat syndrome doesn't affect me too much as I'm agoraphobic.
A fear of ancient Greek market places.

It's because the monkey was flinging taramasalata at you, wasn't it?

Over the past couple of years I've noticed myself more likely to make occasional silly errors when typing. E.g. I'll type "interesting" when I intended "interested", even though in my internal narrative I used the correct word. Or I'll subsitute something else I was thinking about at the time, or a similar sounding but completely unrelated word.

I'm 36. Is this "getting old", or is it time to see the brain doc? I catch all of these things when/if I proofread, but it's disconcerting. Some of it may be simple distractedness. I've also been on a steady stream of different anti-depressants and related medications over the past ten years, each of which has seemed to affect my faculties in minute ways. The last couple years have actually been my steadiest in that regard (lithium), and it's known to affect the memory.

I do that without meds. But Im old.

Sudy wrote: ↑Tue May 11, 2021 2:14 am Over the past couple of years I've noticed myself more likely to make occasional silly errors when typing. E.g. I'll type "interesting" when I intended "interested", even though in my internal narrative I used the correct word. Or I'll subsitute something else I was thinking about at the time, or a similar sounding but completely unrelated word.

I'm 36. Is this "getting old", or is it time to see the brain doc? I catch all of these things when/if I proofread, but it's disconcerting. Some of it may be simple distractedness. I've also been on a steady stream of different anti-depressants and related medications over the past ten years, each of which has seemed to affect my faculties in minute ways. The last couple years have actually been my steadiest in that regard (lithium), and it's known to affect the memory.

I recall when I worked with CRM databases, tables, data for 15+ years; I couldn’t type the word “Custom” without typing “Customer” first.

I think you’re just distracted and your fingers are also well programmed to type certain words and just do it with our you realizing.

Also, THC

Sudy wrote: ↑Tue May 11, 2021 2:14 am Over the past couple of years I've noticed myself more likely to make occasional silly errors when typing. E.g. I'll type "interesting" when I intended "interested", even though in my internal narrative I used the correct word. Or I'll subsitute something else I was thinking about at the time, or a similar sounding but completely unrelated word.

I'm 36. Is this "getting old", or is it time to see the brain doc? I catch all of these things when/if I proofread, but it's disconcerting. Some of it may be simple distractedness. I've also been on a steady stream of different anti-depressants and related medications over the past ten years, each of which has seemed to affect my faculties in minute ways. The last couple years have actually been my steadiest in that regard (lithium), and it's known to affect the memory.

This is pretty common for all writers, although I do think it gets worse as one gets older.

I commit a huge number of such errors in my OO posts. Usually they involve leaving out an insignificant word. This happens even when I review the text before hitting "submit." Sometimes the brain sees what you intended to write, not what you actually wrote.

It's all fun and games until you do it in an important job application. Don't ask me how I know.

So I thought I completely tore my ACL dodging a wasp. It flew at my face and I dodged right, pushing off my left leg and there was pop and my leg went numb and I could not walk on it. Limped into the doctor the next day, he gave me steroids and pain pills and said I'd need an MRI once the swelling goes down and if it does not feel any better. That was 3 weeks ago, and now I only have minor pain if I twist the wrong way, so maybe a small tear that just needs time. Irritating part is my right knee is the one that gives me so much problems and would probably need a surgery in the future; now I probably just added my left knee to the future surgery list.

Holman wrote: ↑Tue May 11, 2021 9:53 am

Sudy wrote: ↑Tue May 11, 2021 2:14 am Over the past couple of years I've noticed myself more likely to make occasional silly errors when typing. E.g. I'll type "interesting" when I intended "interested", even though in my internal narrative I used the correct word. Or I'll subsitute something else I was thinking about at the time, or a similar sounding but completely unrelated word.

I'm 36. Is this "getting old", or is it time to see the brain doc? I catch all of these things when/if I proofread, but it's disconcerting. Some of it may be simple distractedness. I've also been on a steady stream of different anti-depressants and related medications over the past ten years, each of which has seemed to affect my faculties in minute ways. The last couple years have actually been my steadiest in that regard (lithium), and it's known to affect the memory.

This is pretty common for all writers, although I do think it gets worse as one gets older.

I commit a huge number of such errors in my OO posts. Usually they involve leaving out an insignificant word. This happens even when I review the text before hitting "submit." Sometimes the brain sees what you intended to write, not what you actually wrote.

I do that constantly, too. And all of the errors are on things I know. I wonder sometimes if I've just become a lazy typist, and maybe taking an online course for a couple of months would whip me back into shape (the last time I actually practiced typing as opposed to just typing something would have been... 1989, I think, on an IBM Selectric. )

Sudy wrote: ↑Tue May 11, 2021 2:14 am Over the past couple of years I've noticed myself more likely to make occasional silly errors when typing. E.g. I'll type "interesting" when I intended "interested", even though in my internal narrative I used the correct word. Or I'll subsitute something else I was thinking about at the time, or a similar sounding but completely unrelated word.

I've always done this since I can remember. I attribute it to thinking ahead to the next sentence while typing the present one. The subconscious makes sure the word is usually spelled correctly so it makes it past spellcheck, which puts the onus on me to do some careful proofreading after any typing. Over the years I've developed the habit of proofreading as I go, and of course checking the preview version rather than the draft.

And in other "We're getting old" news, my associate OO member (the wife) has a new toy, a mobility scooter. We've talked about this for months but finally pulled the trigger once we decided on actually trips away from home. It is a Drive Phoenix HD4-20. We picked the HD version because it has more torque which might make the difference in more easily getting up an incline. Also, we don't like the idea of having a scooter than sits on a little tray behind the minivan, getting rained on and such, even with a cover. So this model breaks down into four parts, each of which can be carefully lifted into the van. She's over the moon with it. We just were in Naples, FL and visited the Zoo and a botanical garden and normally she'd be having to limit her visit to how much she could walk. Now with the scooter she could go all over. Of course now I'm the limiting factor, especially with the temps approaching ninety

If anyone has questions about these scooters please post them, we did a lot of research into this subject.

jztemple2 wrote: ↑Tue May 11, 2021 1:05 pm
I attribute it to thinking ahead to the next sentence while typing the present one.

That is part of the reason my handwriting is so terrible. I am not a fast writer (I'm a much faster typist), and I'd often be writing one word while my mind is a sentence ahead. Sometimes I'd even start writing one word, then the second half would be the end of a competently different word. Eventually I apparently developed my own version of shorthand, although it was never intentional. It used to make my elementary school teachers crazy. They tried every trick in the book to improve my handwriting, from special training to all sorts of contraptions that would attach to a pencil or my hand. Now I'm close to 50 and to this day even I can't read my handwriting. Half of the time I can't even read what I write on a shopping list. I make it a point to use typing over writing whenever humanly possible.

So I never had any problems with high blood pressure until a couple years ago every now and then I would get a high reading, then they would take a second one and everything would be cool. Then 2 years ago in my whenever I schedule it physical my regular doc heard something he didn't like and sent me to a cardiac guy. They quickly determined I had a blockage and I went in for an angiogram. However I was not deemed stint worthy, not enough of a blockage.

So I was put on drugs (generics for lipitor, plavix and metropol). Now it has been two years and I am off the plavix and apparently doing well.

The only caveat is the heart surgeon saying that I would probably have heart pain at some time and when that happened not to screw around and get to the doctor or a hospital. Scary shit to be honest. But I guess the modern theory is the longer you can medicate instead of use a stint the better you are in the long run.

Knew an old gentleman that had AT LEAST 12 stints over the years...at least. Im not even sure where they were stuffing the last ones.

So with my wife changing jobs yet again, I took the opportunity to go see the eye doc before insurance turns into a pumpkin. My old eye doc pawned me off on a retina specialist who diagnosed diabetic retinopathy about 10 years ago, but aside from a month worth of eye drops, he didn't really do much besides collect a pretty high co-pay over the next 3-4 years. I've lapsed since then.

The main symptom was something they probably can't do much about -- tiny aneurysms that formed in front of the retina and occlude my vision. This was worst in my right eye, and only affected when trying to read or focus on something tiny. The only recommendation was reading glasses, and I go through a 3-pack from Walgreens every other month.

Lately (like 6 months or so) my left eye has seemed to develop a sort of fog. It seems there's a bit of peripheral haze, enough that accentuates the sleepiness I already suffer from because of inadequate quality sleep. The eye doc yesterday took a look at it, said it looked like floaters, but it was in the center of my eye. Nothing like cataracts or glaucoma. She said I didn't have to go to a retina specialist, just an ophthalmologist (who I believe my original eye doc is, but while he was terrific, he's more than an hour a way and always started things out by dilating my eyes). So now I need to find one on very short notice...wife's last day at her job with the insurance is May 31.

When I left her office, one of the clerical people in the front office asked if we will be ordering eye glasses today. Eye doc said, "nope, he doesn't need any." I turned and said, "how often do you say that about someone my age?" "Not very often," she admitted.

About ten years ago I started getting flashes within my sight, off in one quadrant. The eye doc said this was due to hardening of the fluid of the eyeball (ick!) where the fluid would actually separate from a part of the retina if you moved suddenly or were bumped. He said the concerning part was if the retina was pulled away from the eyeball itself (detached retina). He then freaked me out by talking about how I would need to immediately call an eye surgery specialist (he gave me a card) since if not immediately corrected I could lose some part of my sight permanently. I worried about that for awhile I can tell you

Happily the the flashes soon went away and I haven't had any issues since then. But damn there are a lot of things that can go wrong with your eyes, and me with lots and lots of books still to read.

Jeff V wrote: ↑Tue May 18, 2021 2:54 pm When I left her office, one of the clerical people in the front office asked if we will be ordering eye glasses today. Eye doc said, "nope, he doesn't need any." I turned and said, "how often do you say that about someone my age?" "Not very often," she admitted.

My wife is wearing trifocals now and every year or two she has to up the power of the prescriptions. Thankfully with the glasses she can read and work the computer without problems, although her distance vision isn't as good as it once was.

I was somewhat nearsighted since high school, but after retirement I started a daily hour and a half walk wearing just sunglasses. My distance vision improved enough that a couple of years ago my eye doc told me I didn't need to bother with distance glasses at all. I now just use reading glasses which are a lot cheaper, so much so that I just leave pairs in each room I might need them plus the car. I do have a pair of computer glasses which are easier on my eyes than reading glasses since I tend to slouch when I'm playing video games

jztemple2 wrote: ↑Tue May 18, 2021 3:27 pm I was somewhat nearsighted since high school, but after retirement I started a daily hour and a half walk wearing just sunglasses. My distance vision improved enough that a couple of years ago my eye doc told me I didn't need to bother with distance glasses at all. I now just use reading glasses which are a lot cheaper, so much so that I just leave pairs in each room I might need them plus the car. I do have a pair of computer glasses which are easier on my eyes than reading glasses since I tend to slouch when I'm playing video games

As we get older, our sight naturally heads toward farsightedness - which would correct a slight nearsightedness. Studies have been done to see if people can improve their eyesight by avoiding glasses and strengthening their eyes naturally but they found no effect for near or farsightedness (nor any of the diseases of the eye). Not sure that it what you were suggesting, but people at work believe in the "natural strengthening" myth so I'm a bit sensitive.

stessier wrote: ↑Tue May 18, 2021 3:37 pm

jztemple2 wrote: ↑Tue May 18, 2021 3:27 pm I was somewhat nearsighted since high school, but after retirement I started a daily hour and a half walk wearing just sunglasses. My distance vision improved enough that a couple of years ago my eye doc told me I didn't need to bother with distance glasses at all. I now just use reading glasses which are a lot cheaper, so much so that I just leave pairs in each room I might need them plus the car. I do have a pair of computer glasses which are easier on my eyes than reading glasses since I tend to slouch when I'm playing video games

As we get older, our sight naturally heads toward farsightedness - which would correct a slight nearsightedness. Studies have been done to see if people can improve their eyesight by avoiding glasses and strengthening their eyes naturally but they found no effect for near or farsightedness (nor any of the diseases of the eye). Not sure that it what you were suggesting, but people at work believe in the "natural strengthening" myth so I'm a bit sensitive.

No problem. Whether it is due to the walking (maybe I'm just a freak of nature ) or just getting older, I'm glad to not have to wear glasses when I drive, watch TV or anything beyond arm's length. Actually when I was in high school, when my eye doc first diagnosed my nearsightedness, he gave me a bunch of eye exercises to do which he said would strengthen the eye muscles and possibly let me avoid needing glasses. Naturally being a teenager I let the exercises slide and ended up with glasses . I've never been very nearsighted and could get away without wearing the glasses at times, but I would get eye strain so I avoided it. Overall it hasn't been a life-changing alteration, just a switch on the type of glasses I need to keep handy.

My wife would love it if her distance vision would improve or at least stay the same as the years go by. It is of course very hard to know how someone else sees things, but I've been trying (surreptitiously) by saying to my wife as we drive, "Oh, check out that bumper sticker (or license plate or rear window decal)". I don't think she's caught on...yet

jztemple2 wrote: ↑Tue May 18, 2021 3:27 pm I do have a pair of computer glasses which are easier on my eyes than reading glasses since I tend to slouch when I'm playing video games

My son is nearsighted and needs glasses to see the front of the class in school. My wife, of course, blames video games. Once again I get to brag that I'm 59 years old, have been playing video games since the 70's, and still do not warrant glasses.

I did have an episode maybe 20 years ago that was diagnosed as corneal ulcers. Basically, I was not blinking enough while playing games, and this allowed natural bacteria on the surface of my eye to multiply and cause severe irritation. Pretty much the whites of my eyes were blood red, and I had to wear sunglasses inside. Once I became aware of the cause of the problem, I've not encountered it since.

Jeff V wrote: ↑Tue May 18, 2021 2:54 pm The only recommendation was reading glasses, and I go through a 3-pack from Walgreens every other month.

how do you 'go through a 3-pack... every other month'? do you keep breaking them?

hitbyambulance wrote: ↑Tue May 18, 2021 5:50 pm

Jeff V wrote: ↑Tue May 18, 2021 2:54 pm The only recommendation was reading glasses, and I go through a 3-pack from Walgreens every other month.

how do you 'go through a 3-pack... every other month'? do you keep breaking them?

Yep. Either me or the kids. Sometimes I just lose them. That's why it's best I never have real glasses. I get my sister's discount on the Walgreens ones and it costs less than $10 per 3.

Well, it finally happened; my new primary care doc put me on a statin. My cholesterol has been over 300 for the past few years. My old doc felt that that was only part of the story due to some mitigating factors -- my "good" cholesterol is also high, and I exercise regularly -- so a statin was optional in his opinion. Given a choice between medicating or not, I always go with not.

The new doc is a by-the-numbers guy who plugged me into an app that said I have a 19% shot at a heart attack or stroke within the next year. Bringing my cholesterol down would drop that under 10%. So, I have to take a daily pill now, like nearly everyone else my age.

Kraken wrote: ↑Tue May 18, 2021 10:27 pm Well, it finally happened; my new primary care doc put me on a statin. My cholesterol has been over 300 for the past few years. My old doc felt that that was only part of the story due to some mitigating factors -- my "good" cholesterol is also high, and I exercise regularly -- so a statin was optional in his opinion. Given a choice between medicating or not, I always go with not.

The new doc is a by-the-numbers guy who plugged me into an app that said I have a 19% shot at a heart attack or stroke within the next year. Bringing my cholesterol down would drop that under 10%. So, I have to take a daily pill now, like nearly everyone else my age.

I started taking a statin several years ago when my then doctor (my docs keep moving away, I get a new one every year or so) said that since I was taking a blood thinner for high blood pressure I should be taking a statin as well. My newest doctor also agrees (or doesn't want to stick her neck out). My cholesterol has always been good and I guess this is making it even better.

Every time I get a new doctor they see that I am taking Lisinopril and say "Oh, you have I blood pressure". And I always say no I don't, because I am taking Lisinopril. I actually experimented a couple of years ago by stopping my Lisinopril and just checking my blood pressure each day. It took three weeks to reach 140/90. I went back on the Lisinopril since I get it for free from my pharmacy and apparently (according to the doctors) there is no downside to keep taking it. The statin costs me $27 every three months, so I've opted not to get a Medicare Part D plan since it would be costing me a lot more than $108 a year

Kraken wrote: ↑Tue May 18, 2021 10:27 pm So, I have to take a daily pill now, like nearly everyone else my age.

Only one? Must be nice.

My cholesterol has always been good and I guess this is making it even better.

Unless Im mistaken there was a study that found too a low a cholesterol could be linked to strokes. I remember it because my wife died of a stroke and she once had high cholesterol and had lowered it with statins for a long time and it was actually below what is normal yet they kept her on them. Its one reason I think cholesterol and statins are a sorta gimmick. I take a statin though..skipped all last year but my doc keeps nagging me and wanting to toss in more so I started taking my 1 a day this year...I remember about 20 days a month.

Isgrimnur wrote: ↑Tue May 18, 2021 11:16 pm

Kraken wrote: ↑Tue May 18, 2021 10:27 pm So, I have to take a daily pill now, like nearly everyone else my age.

Only one? Must be nice.

I also take an antidepressant at half the prescribed dose, but I consider that one optional. So two pills a day, one of which I only really need after we set the clocks back. In the worst depths of winter I double it to the Rx dose. New doc says I can titrate that myself if that's what works, but advises against stopping/starting it. I think we had a moment when I knew what titrate means.

Also: This is the first physical in 30+ years that didn't include a digital prostate exam. New doc believes in the PSA more than old doc did. As glad as I was to not have a digit probe my prostate, I'm not sure the by-the-numbers approach is a good thing.

Im 52 and had exactly 2 physical prostate exams. One when I was 17 and the new job I was applying for required it. And the last was 2008 and a new urologist performed one when I began there for my stone stuff. That one still has me stumped as to why I needed that.

At least I could see both his hands so I knew no funny stuff went on.

Daehawk wrote: ↑Tue May 18, 2021 11:41 pm

My cholesterol has always been good and I guess this is making it even better.

Unless Im mistaken there was a study that found too a low a cholesterol could be linked to strokes. I remember it because my wife died of a stroke and she once had high cholesterol and had lowered it with statins for a long time and it was actually below what is normal yet they kept her on them. Its one reason I think cholesterol and statins are a sorta gimmick. I take a statin though..skipped all last year but my doc keeps nagging me and wanting to toss in more so I started taking my 1 a day this year...I remember about 20 days a month.

I was always borderline high cholesterol, but after I had a TIA about 8 years ago my doc put me on a statin. It actually lowered my cholesterol so much that he also put me on Co-Q10 for doctorly reasons.

For those of us 45 - 49, screening colonoscopy's are now officially recommended five years earlier.

https://www.npr.org/sections/health-sho ... -recommend

Since this is now official and published in JAMA, insurance plans should cover it (though there will probably be some lag as they catch up to the new guidelines). Guess I'll be having a conversation about this with my doc when I get an overdue physical later this year.

You know what they find usually from the results of a colonoscopy? Olde jobs.

Hamlet3145 wrote: ↑Wed May 19, 2021 10:44 am For those of us 45 - 49, screening colonoscopy's are now officially recommended five years earlier.

https://www.npr.org/sections/health-sho ... -recommend

Since this is now official and published in JAMA, insurance plans should cover it (though there will probably be some lag as they catch up to the new guidelines). Guess I'll be having a conversation about this with my doc when I get an overdue physical later this year.

I was not yet 50 when my dad got diagnosed with colon cancer. I was in the car listening to music when he summoned me into the hospital and said that I (and my 2-year younger brother) ought to get tested right away. I got around to it some years later and got a 10 year pass until the next one. My brother chose the wrong doctor and only got a 5 year pass.

ImLawBoy wrote: ↑Wed May 19, 2021 10:01 am I was always borderline high cholesterol, but after I had a TIA about 8 years ago my doc put me on a statin. It actually lowered my cholesterol so much that he also put me on Co-Q10 for doctorly reasons.

I never had high cholesterol (I credit my belief in an all-pizza diet), but when I became diabetic, doc put me on atorvastatin because he said as a diabetic, my chances of a grabber were the same risk group as people who already had one. As long as my liver doesn't object, fine by me. My good cholesterol has also been low -- but he said since my bad cholesterol is also so low, I don't have to worry about that. I take that as affirmation I should eat more pizza since it contains loads of the most delicious form of cholesterol. And that's the definition of "good cholesterol," right?

I visited my dermatologist today to get some skin tags removed. They'll be sent to a lab for routine biopsy, but the doc says they look normal to her. I also had her check out all manner of bumps, moles, etc that have been my friends for years.

One was a bump right inside my lower buttcrack. I was almost too embarrassed to mention it, but I persisted in the name of science and good health. You'll all be glad to know that it is merely an encysted follicle and nothing to worry about.

Also, I am advised that everyone should wear a big floppy hat that shades not only your nose but the back of your neck.

I'll sure be glad when I get my eyes fixed. These new glasses only give me 20/40 vision. So everything is blurry to one degree or another.

dbt1949 wrote: ↑Thu May 20, 2021 5:25 pm I'll sure be glad when I get my eyes fixed. These new glasses only give me 20/40 vision. So everything is blurry to one degree or another.

I have to have two pairs of glasses: one for everyday use (walking, socializing, driving) and one for reading/computers.

The latter aren't simply "reading glasses" because my eyes are way fucked-up with two very different astigmatisms.