If it’s not one thing….It’s three

I think I’m doing ok for almost 77. Never had too many problems except bad osteoarthritis. But now doctor has me on Rx for blood pressure ( for 2 years now), my BP used to be so low I was told don’t ever donate blood. Dr says I am pre diabetic ( just a tenth over what the count should be so I question that, too much dependence by doctors on charts & graphs). I quit reading obits because I saw too many people I know who have died, and they were mostly younger than me. As long as my name isn’t I’m the list I guess I’m doing ok .

It seems as if I have at least 2-3 appointments a week. If you add my husband it grows exponentially. What has happened in 2short years. Very depressing. Add another doctor

Don’t give up! I know you miss your active life! But we are resilient! You can come back and feel healthy in your body!!

You can do it!!

Hello @bluffton, I see you've been following Connect for quite awhile and this is your first post so I would like to welcome you to Connect. You are spot on about being able to relate. I'm sure many of us fit that category as we grow older and more experienced 🙃 I hope you have a fun and enjoyable 75th birthday. I recently celebrated my 81st birthday and am wondering what ailment will find me next.

There is some good news - It's easy to connect with others who have shared their experience on a condition. Just click on the search at the top of any Connect window and type in a few symptoms or words. Look what searching for PMR gets you - https://connect.mayoclinic.org/search/?search=PMR.

You are such a good motivator!! And you are so right - we can’t give up!!

You sound healthy to me. Ok, if we want to stay precisely between the lines of blood test or BP target numbers, we would need a procedure or a drug. But once you start that merry go round, it doesn't stop. I say hold off!!

Since there was heart disease in my family, thought I’d get a cardio workup. I’ve been a runner since I was 35, vegetarian since 35, then vegan for last five years. Also off and on cyclist. Was I knocked off my blocks when I was told I had an extremely high level of calcium buildup after the CT scan to check my arteries, plus my AlipoproteinB was high, plus left bundle branch block (which I’m still not sure what that is.) Wow. I was full of myself because my lifestyle was so good. Lifestyle didn’t beat out genetics

The disturbing thing is, my cholesterol totals were always very good, generally totals of 180, and I guess no docs saw the family history of heart disease in my chart and just said all was good. This is where self-advocacy really, really paid off. I’m not pleased to be on 2 cholesterol meds and 2 BP meds, but I am grateful I thought to get a cardio workup.

I’m trying to lose 10 lbs ( that’s all I need to lose) so my BP goes down lower so the doctor says I don’t need them :). I lost 8 lbs after Christmas but gained it back. Hard to eat right when there is a person here saying “what, no dessert? No cookies? Etc “. 😭

Ditto for me. There’s just no denying the influence of genes on cardiac health. But I would caution that there is reason to take a breath and keep a hold on common sense.
My Dad died of a heart attack at age 38. So knowing that history, any little unexpected blip and they are writing scripts for beta blockers. Im not taking that on the basis of a single minor variant on an ecg. Nope. But they are not accustomed to hearing ‘not today’. That said, time to take stock and see if decades of neglect left me vulnerable or outright impacted. .