Getting "older" is often just a state of mind...until something happens to make you feel old.
Tuesday morning of this week, I had a doctor's appointment in Augusta GA. It was a two-month colonoscopy follow-up. I was a bit put out about driving 40 minutes for what was most likely to be a 5-minute talk that could have been more conveniently conducted over the telephone.
Still, it was an opportunity to get out and, possibly, make a visit to CostCo on my way home.
The drive there was uneventful, and I got there about 15 minutes early. I parked in a garage and began walking toward the building entrance. It's an unusual location in that it's off the street, has lots of shrubs and a long sidewalk and various entrances into the building where my doctor is.
As I made my way, I began feeling a bit light-headed. I looked for a bench where I might pause for a moment or two, but there were none. I plodded onward, nearly reaching the door. And I suddenly gave out. I thought the shrubs might break my fall, but they only cushioned it. I went down, didn't get hurt or torn clothing. I simply had nothing more in me to give.
I managed to roll into a position from which I could stand if my will to do so returned. Fortuitously, a few nurses emerged from the building, along with a young man, and they all helped me to my feet. I was told I had no color in my face and they were most concerned.
One of the nurses walked me into the building and to my doctor's office. There, I checked in and then waited more than an hour for my appointment to start. I told the nurse what had happened and she took my blood pressure. it was very low.
Before he would let me leave, the doctor had my BP checked again. It was back to a normal reading.
I had no difficulty walking back to my car, but took note that I had a rather acute pain in my lower right back...exactly where I had fallen.
Since that day, I have basically stopped all movement except the necessary things. I have been using veterinary liniment and it has helped immensely. Today is much better than the days before, and I think I will likely be back to "myself" by the weekend.
I have totally removed one of my blood pressure medications from my daily dosages, and my BP has remained consistently good. I don't know how it happened that my body began needing less medication for hypertension, but it did. Lesson learned: If you can measure something for which you take drugs, measure BEFORE taking them. You could save yourself a bad end result.
And so it goes...
