Plog Number 186
When Patients Turn It Around
Hola Ploggers, Como esta usted? Happy Friday and on to the weekend. Last night there was big thunderstorms💧 in our area and actual💨 tornados in other parts of the state. Volatile weather is always a threat. At a minutes notice, any of us can be scared out of our skin by the forces of nature. Stay safe and watch the sky.
I saw two, count ‘em two very smart patients this week. Let me tell you my proud stories. The first patient was a 60 ish woman who had been diagnosed with hypertension several years ago. She was placed on the proper medication and did well. But at some point, she decided to treat her high blood pressure with her daughter who is an "herbalist🌿 doctor" and practices out of 🗻 Colorado. She said that the treatment was 💰 expensive and did not work for her. She came back to traditional Western medicine for some relief. She was having constant headaches causing her so much😬 pain in the back of her head and neck she could barely sleep. She and I talked about her current condition and blood pressure which was sky high. She said she was afraid she would have a stroke with blurry vision and all the classic symptoms. I commended her for coming back for effective, evidence based and less expensive treatment. Blood pressure pills are inexpensive even if you don’t have insurance. A 30 day supply of Chlorthalidone costs $2.53 at Walgreens. My patient acknowledged that the herbs don’t work for everybody and did not work for her. A smart 🍪 cookie indeed.
I saw another young lady today who was also a smart cookie. She was around 37 (a millennial) and provided me with a pleasant surprise. She had been to the dentist 2 weeks prior to our visit. At the dentist, her pressure was so high they were unable to work on her teeth. She took it upon herself to research and do the LIFESTYLE CHANGES that we talk about at every visit. On her own, she ate a low🍆 salt diet, got some 💃exercise and started drinking water instead of Pops. By the time she got to me, her blood pressure was totally normal. She had lost 10 pounds and looked great. I couldn’t even order blood pressure medication with the blood pressure she had. She is a total testament to the fact that the lifestyle changes do work. The very definition of lifestyle changes is that it is without medication. No 💊 pills, or side effects or lifelong pill regimen. This patient saw her circumstances and made the needed changes she needed to help herself.👏 BRAVO!!
I am thrilled to have seen two ladies with high blood pressure who were actively turning things around for themselves. They were both intelligent and realistic. I wish more patients were like these two. Everyone is different, with varying beliefs and responses. I take 💜 heart in these brave ladies. If they can do it, we all can do it. It really gives me hope ✨ RECLAIM!
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