The little machine...

Sometimes I quite dislike this little machine...

It sometimes gives readings that I don't particularly like. But lately those times are rare :-)  The machine not only measures my blood pressure but more importantly for me, it also measures heart rate. Not long after DD2 was born in 1984, I experienced episodes of 'racing' heart beat eg 180 per minute. I had all sorts of tests then and the doctors in the public system concluded it was 'because I'd just had a baby'. But it didn't go away and eventually I had to take some medication for elevated blood pressure but which would also slow down the heart rate ; however the 'condition' didn't have a name. (shrugs shoulders lol!)

So life went on and I settled into life with a resting heartbeat at 100, for over 20 years and I gradually didn't notice the 'episodes' that much at all. That was, until I changed GPs. I was sent by her to a special clinic attached to a large private hospital where I met the Professor. Professor Gordon was quite elderly but so up to date with what was happening in the world of medical research. The tests he organised for me ruled out any thing sinister. But the condition that I had developed was called inappropriate sinus tachycardia. The professor likened the heart to a pump. If it works flat out all the time, a pump will wear out...so will a heart. So I was sent to a cardiologist who worked to get the right balance of medications.

I see this specialist every 6 months and he of course wants regular readings of BP and heart rate. I often forget...then realise that the appointment is only weeks away. I'm supposed to take readings 3 times a day in blocks of 10 days to 2 weeks throughout the 6 months.
It's 11pm at night and I remember; the readings of course are not so good then, because the morning dose is wearing off! But when I had my appointment last Thursday I did have some middle of the day readings and they were good :-) When he checked my BP last Thursday it was 110/70 with pulse 76...little dance here.... So Dr N was happy. The results of my blood tests showed cholesterol level was good, liver function etc was good, but... yes there is always a but when I go to see Dr N...usually it's the BP, once it was a 'sugar spike' (18months ago) with the resultant lecture from the doc, and again this time it was elevated sugar levels.

I explained that where DH and I had worked in recent months, the office was just a few doors away from a bakery...and we had indulged in treats for morning tea :-(  hadn't we? I guess I'd had a guilty conscience about that and 3 weeks ago I stopped eating anything that I knew contained sugar. At first it was easy as I substituted slices of apple for cake/slice/fruit loaf, or some nuts or a piece of cheese. But the last day or so I've been craving 'the evil stuff'. Dr N also pointed out that white rice and pastas should be avoided too .

As this 'sugar spike' happened to me before and tests a few weeks later showed I was fine, still  I guess I shouldn't just assume that that will happen this time. But I have to admit that this week I have had more energy so avoiding sugar could have a serious upside. Or it may have nothing whatsoever to do with improved energy levels :-)

When I go out for coffee with some of my old school friends, one friend Val, orders a pot of tea and then takes a banana out of her handbag. The rest of us order cakes and pastries to go with our tea and coffee. I think I might join Val next time with maybe a banana or apple in my bag. However I believe a sweet treat is ok, say once a week, but not every day which was the habit that I had got into.

My friend Val (in the corner) carries fruit in her handbag to avoid the cakes