Hospital (Patreon)

I was admitted to the hospital last Friday Evening due to a hypertensive crisis. My blood pressure was 200/140. I don't know how long my blood pressure had been that high. It doesn't just happen overnight. It's multiple years of stress and not visiting doctors, using caffeine as a crutch for all of my ill feelings. My vision was sort of dark and blurry but I didn't notice how gradual the change was.

It was Friday evening I noticed how high it was by using an at-home blood pressure cuff. I took it four more times and it kept coming up around the same numbers (Avg 200/140) which is a hypertensive crisis. My mom told me to pack an overnight bag just in case and she drove me to the emergency room. She wanted to stay with me but couldn't because she had work.

Over the next three days the doctors and nurses worked on getting my blood pressure down via medication, blood tests, monitoring and screening.I got to see my heart on a sonogram and it terrified me. It was working so hard to keep me alive and I felt sorry for it. Watching it struggle really hit home that, however I was living previously, couldn't continue for another second.Under doctors orders I am:- Taking my medication as directed- Cutting my caffeine consumption by 50% or more- Eating healthier. More fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean meats. - Cutting or eliminating sodium, saturated fats , processed grains and processed meatsPersonally I am:- Trying not to raise my voice- Not getting mad at little things- Re-framing how I look at work and other tasks- Asking family and friends to be positive with meI was lucky to be in the ER I was in. The staff were amazing and kind, very informative and never hesitated to explain anything. I went home Sunday evening with a blood pressure ~150/90, not perfect by any means but substantially more stable than I had walked in and should continue to fall with medication.I'm home now, as of Sunday afternoon. I'm monitoring my blood pressure and taking my medication as directed, all at home.Please, take care of yourselves and keep an eye on yours and your family's blood pressure. Avoid excessive amounts of caffeine. Don't ignore your body. My $50 blood pressure cuff probably could have helped me had I gotten it sooner and caught this early. The hypertension seemed like it avalanched so suddenly but in reality it was always stacking silently for years. And apparently I'm not a special case. This isn't uncommon at all which is sad and scary.