Thread: Sorry I have been scarce

Howdy all,

Just wanted to let you all know why I've been kind of scarce lately. As a few know I've been given 2 months to get my Blood Pressure down to safe levels or end up taking medication for it. I've changed my eating habbits, not much of a change as I had already cut back on processed foods. Started riding my bike for excersize and awakened my long desire for touring by bicycle. I've been into bicycles for all my life but never really GOT INTO them so to say, well now I'm REALLY diving in and building my own touring bike from vintage parts. My other projects came from my youth and being broke and scavenging parts to repair what I broke on my Schwinn Stingray. The touring bike is alot more complicated than a stingray to say the least So I really have alot on my plate with this task...

Part two of this is that My BP is not getting better and in fact got ALLOT worse in the past few days. This week I have been in and out of the hospitol wth chest pain and general weakness. with my BP hitting 166/108 my wife dragged me to the VA and we are now trying to get things fixed. I have to get the meds but so far the ones the Doc's have tried only dropped my heart rate... yippy... I was given some painkillers that are sending me over the hedge so I don't get alot done as I can't focus on doodaly squat...

As things start to stableize around here I'll get back to posting regularly as I have alot on my mind when I can think straight, but that gets easaly derailed by my riding (currently not allowed to do sayish my Doc ) or the meds...

Post ya all asap...

Thanks for sharing. take care brother.
G.

All the best mate. I know what you mean about touring by bicycle. I've had a long term dream of doing just that too. I could think of nothing better than riding the back roads, camping were you like, pulling into a country town somewhere to partake of a the wares of a coffee shop for a break, no set time limits to be anywhere...Cloud nine...I wish you all the best in getting your health back on track and getting into a bit of short distance or weekend touring at the very least.


Mick

Hang in there DC. Hope things balance out soon for ya !

All the best DC! Hope all this clears up soon!

DC- My thoughts are with you. Here's hoping this passes quickly and you are back to your old self soon! Remember, what does not kill you only makes you stronger!

Originally Posted by DwarvenChef

Howdy all,

Just wanted to let you all know why I've been kind of scarce lately. As a few know I've been given 2 months to get my Blood Pressure down to safe levels or end up taking medication for it. I've changed my eating habbits, not much of a change as I had already cut back on processed foods. Started riding my bike for excersize and awakened my long desire for touring by bicycle. I've been into bicycles for all my life but never really GOT INTO them so to say, well now I'm REALLY diving in and building my own touring bike from vintage parts. My other projects came from my youth and being broke and scavenging parts to repair what I broke on my Schwinn Stingray. The touring bike is alot more complicated than a stingray to say the least So I really have alot on my plate with this task...

Part two of this is that My BP is not getting better and in fact got ALLOT worse in the past few days. This week I have been in and out of the hospitol wth chest pain and general weakness. with my BP hitting 166/108 my wife dragged me to the VA and we are now trying to get things fixed. I have to get the meds but so far the ones the Doc's have tried only dropped my heart rate... yippy... I was given some painkillers that are sending me over the hedge so I don't get alot done as I can't focus on doodaly squat...

As things start to stableize around here I'll get back to posting regularly as I have alot on my mind when I can think straight, but that gets easaly derailed by my riding (currently not allowed to do sayish my Doc ) or the meds...

Post ya all asap...

Hi maestro,
Man...that's quite a lot of stuff you have been dealing with. The biking tour sounds like a very interesting hobby to undertake.

Regarding your BP...Looks like you are stage 2 hypertension. I am sure you have considered "natural" remedies as well, like garlic, Hibiscus tea, fish oil (Omega-3...you probably get more than enough Omega 6 from diet), etc...a few BIG things that make a HUGE difference:

1) Weight
2) Smoking (quit if you are a smoker)
3) Sodium intake - this is bad
4) Potassium intake - this is good. Low potassium can result in elevated sodium in cells, because the two balance one another.
5) Alcohol

Just a few things you can control naturally.

We are 100% behind you in this fight

Not much for me to say except that I hope you feel better. You posts are always welcome and occasionally helpful. If you need any help on that bike let me know I've been restore bicycles since I was 12 with my father. I only quit as a bike mechanic about 3 years ago. My dad still owns the shop and my interest has changed to mods, but still into my japanese '70s touring bikes, my never ending project now is a Nishiki. My problem is figuring spoke length for a new type of lacing as my brother and I invented it there is no standardization.
Good luck and be well.

-G

Originally Posted by Silver2

Sorry to hear about your BP trouble. Do what it takes to get it under control.
I have to take BP meds myself.
The Doc's will scare the crap out of you.
Getting old is no problem, It is the falling apart that is getting me...
Keep a positive attitude and you will be fine.

PS. stay away from hard liquor. It really spikes your BP


Silver2

Talk about getting scared by your Dr.: 65 lbs later, 4-6 mile brisk walk/slow jog ( and I mean slow....) 4 times a week and cutting my daily calories in half has my BP back to 112/64. Resting pulse 60, and No more meds of any kind. I do have those old guy moobs we all hate so much but I am working on that now.
It can be done with some discipline and work. I still enjoy a little Scotch on the weekends but the Doc says that is OK now.

We have two choices: Get old or become fertilizer. I choose old so I work at staying healthy.

Stay focused, stay strong minded, you'll win. Take the Doc's advice and put it to good use.

PS: It took me a year to make my goals.

Best of health to you!!

If you plan on sticking around this planet normal blood pressure is one of the most important things to have. If you eat good and have normal wight and get some exercise and it's still high you need the meds. You have to keep experimenting until you find the one or ones to do the trick and make sure some other condition isn't causing it.