Tuesday, September 19, 2017

Woke up this morning not feeling right. Took my blood pressure and it was 130/78 but my pulse was 40. I felt shaky and weak. I called my family doctor and spoke to the nurse. She had just had a cancellation so she told me to come in.

Kathy was teaching a yoga class. I told her I was going to go to the doctor and she stopped her class and drove me in.

My blood pressure was 179/84 at the doctor’s office. They put a finger pulse thing on me and my pulse dipped down to 40 again. The doctor changed my beta-blocker and then gave me another medication to take in case my heart rate goes too fast with the new medication.

I had already taken my beta-blocker this morning. He told me to take it easy today, drink extra fluids and let it ride itself out. I start the new medication tomorrow morning.

I am in a delicate balancing period. As the thyroid medication works and gets my levels down the need for the heart medication decreases.

The doctor indicated today that he thinks my thyroid over acted because it is cancer. When I had read the indications of both Grave’s and Hashimoto neither one seemed to fit. Luckily most thyroid cancer is treated with the removal of the thyroid and no other treatment is needed. The endocrinologist had said she thought it was Grave’s. I will find out for sure after they remove the thyroid and do the biopsy.

Kathy and I went and had biscuits and gravy at Commercial Street Diner as our reward for yet another doctor visit. After we ate we went and picked up the new meds and came home.

I knew yesterday I was starting to have too slow of a heart rate. I went for a mile walk and when I came in the house after the walk I checked my blood pressure and my heart rate was 52. It doesn’t seem to increase regardless of what I do.

While I was waiting for the doctor I saw a nurse that is in management at the hospital and she happens to work on the floor where I was. She used to work for me years ago when she was still in high school. I shared with her my impression of the nursing care I had received. Kathy got to chime in too. Not sure anything will come of it but it did feel good to share it with someone who might be able to improve the nursing care for other patients. She did tell me they staff many of the shifts with traveling nurses which makes it a challenge to train them the way they want.

On our way out of the clinic we ran into Keith. He had come in for some X-rays. It was good to see his wife can transport him by herself now. Keith looked better than he did a week ago but still has a lot of healing to do.

Sure will be glad when I can get this thyroid removed and not need the beta blocker any more. Trusting that my levels will have dropped enough next week that I can get referred and get this show on the road.

Thankful for Kathy’s help today. Grateful the Doctor had a cancellation so I could get in quickly. Trusting the new medication will work better. All is well on the warm, windy prairie today.