Hypertension Blues

Pandora, thy middle name is contrary.

I suffer from low-level hypertension - or high blood pressure. It's in my family on my father's side of things. Thankfully, it's one of the few elements of myself that I've from his side of the family. The rest if it comes from Mum's side - thank goodness. My skinny ankles, curly hair, left-handed scissor usage, broad shoulders, big boobs and snub nose.

It's something I have to live with and manage.

On the other hand, I refuse outright to take medication from the Western Medicine doctor to control it - especially after the run in I had with their pills a few years ago. One set of dope made me cough, the other made me retain water so badly that I could feel the skin on my legs expanding - it felt the Harold Holt swimming pool had taken up residency in my legs - dreadful it was.

Anyway, after swearing at my doctor when she said with could try a third type of poison, I made a deal with her - I'd go see the naturopath and try bring it down with their stuff. I'd come back if I got symptomatic again (hot flushes, palpitations, headaches, sleeplessness) but I wanted to see what the hippy doctor would do for me.

Some potions and natural pills, three weeks later I could crow to the doctor that I was back to 120/80.

And I've been managing my blood pressure like this ever since. When I feel it going up, I go back to the naturopath for more "grass juice" and I reign myself in.

So the last few weeks, in the midst of a blood pressure spike.

I know when it's more than just the normal slightly high reading I give - this was something else. Hot flashes, headaches, lack of energy. Thankfully no palpitations this time round - I hate them.

All this means is getting back to the naturopath quick smart, start eating like a hippy and modify my exercise regime to a little less of the brutal stuff and more of the lower level endurance exercise that I like just as much (but I miss running)

Oh, and the latest trick from the naturopath - fish oil. I'm taking enough of the stuff to turn me into a salmon fillet.

But it's interesting to look at why my blood pressure is going up. What causes it to spike?

Okay - I've put on a bit of weight. Yes, I have to really start looking at this and bring it down to where it was. I've enlisted for the City to Surf in August - this is my goal to get my weight and my running back on track - it's the challenge and a great goal seeing that my running has fallen by the wayside in the last few months. (Interesting - running goes out the window, blood pressure goes up.... hmmm)

Stress - well, yeah. I have four working days left at my current job - a job that I've loved over the last nine months. Now my work is done there and its time to go on holiday and look for a new job. I have a few irons in the fire and I'm having coffee with lots of people offering my services. In some ways, contracting and prostitution are similar. You sell yourself and your talents for moment, putting yourself out there to get jobs.

There's also a bit of emotion that's been floating around the place. The last time I had a spike was when my aunt passed away eighteen months ago. Things started to go awry after my aunt's daughter got married. The naturopath and I have isolated that emotion is a big part of my I get hypertension. Thankfully dream group has helped to get this under control too.

So, yeah, I'm trying to take care of myself at the moment. And it's fine. It's boring. It's tedious. I might feel like I want to be battered and deep fried - but I will prevail.

And this time in a fortnight I will be in Bali....