Medical Clinic

Spicedwine

New member
Apr 25, 2006
568
19
0
This has probably been asked and answered so sorry for being a newbie once again. My blood pressure has been soaring out of sight and then back down for the past couple of weeks. I saw someone at a clinic in Cabarete and asked him for a letter explaining that this makes it unsafe for me to travel.
He did not want to do this..... because of so many variables etc etc... at that point it was 180/90 not very stable. I don't speak spanish but I am certain that his English was very good... is this an unusual thing to ask for here? I need this for my insurance company and work. Any suggestions?

Thanks again DR1 for your assistance.
 

Hillbilly

Moderator
Jan 1, 2002
18,948
514
113
Go to a better clinic in Santiago?

It seems to me that there should be medication that can control your BP.
If it goes up and down, something is wrong and should be looked at by specialists..

HB
 

Ken

Platinum
Jan 1, 2002
13,884
495
83
Spicedwine, you clearly need to talk with a specialist. I can refer you to an excellent, English speaking cardiologist in Santo Domingo, but Santiago is closer. I recommend you PM Hillbilly and ask him for a recommendation. He is the dr1 expert on all medical matters in Santiago.
 

Bob K

Silver
Aug 16, 2004
2,520
121
63
A blood pressure of 180/90 although high is not so his as it should hinder your travel, especially if traveling was not an ongoing proposition. If so it should take a very short time to bring it under control with meds.

Bob K
 

Spicedwine

New member
Apr 25, 2006
568
19
0
Once again thank you for all your responces and options.... will try another clinic and possible take someone who speaks spanish with me.... he has me on meds, but they maybe I just expect them to work faster. Thanks
 

Mirador

On Permanent Vacation!
Apr 15, 2004
3,563
0
0
This has probably been asked and answered so sorry for being a newbie once again. My blood pressure has been soaring out of sight and then back down for the past couple of weeks. I saw someone at a clinic in Cabarete and asked him for a letter explaining that this makes it unsafe for me to travel.
He did not want to do this..... because of so many variables etc etc... at that point it was 180/90 not very stable. I don't speak spanish but I am certain that his English was very good... is this an unusual thing to ask for here? I need this for my insurance company and work. Any suggestions?

Thanks again DR1 for your assistance.

Spicedwine, your systolic is OK, however your diastolic reading is slightly high, but quite normal for a man your age. Take it easy, except on the wine, keep drinking it!, and don't worry. From your writing style, it is obvious you are one nervous guy. Relax!
 

Spicedwine

New member
Apr 25, 2006
568
19
0
Thanks Mirador, I might need to relax, but it would be as a female person, not a man... sorry possibly I should have clarified my gender!!
 

Hillbilly

Moderator
Jan 1, 2002
18,948
514
113
Oh, come on Mirador: 180/90 is higher that it should be.

I am close to that magic year of 69 and maintain a 120-70 to 130-80 BP.

Active life style helps. As does watching what goes into the mouth!!

HB (Glad to see Dr. Bob is watching the board.....retired Dr. Bob, that is)
 

Mirador

On Permanent Vacation!
Apr 15, 2004
3,563
0
0
Oh, come on Mirador: 180/90 is higher that it should be.

I am close to that magic year of 69 and maintain a 120-70 to 130-80 BP.

Active life style helps. As does watching what goes into the mouth!!

HB (Glad to see Dr. Bob is watching the board.....retired Dr. Bob, that is)


HB, OK, I'm quite aware that the OP's blood pressure reading was high, but you have to factor in that he was highly-strung by being in a strange clinic, not speaking the language, etc., more than enough to skew the BP reading. Any MD who's worth his salt (including your ol' pal doc Bob) should know that the reading at the Cabarete clinic is not valid. I recommend the OP to buy one of those cheap BP units (like the ones sold at Wallgreen's) and take several readings during the day, for several days, and average them out. He can even learn to biofeedback his BP readings at will, like I do. At 60, my average BP reading is 110 systolic, 70 diastolic, and if it goes above that level, I can biofeedback, without the use of medication. The process is akin to meditation, and actually quite easy, but needs a few hours of assisted instruction to get the hang of it...
 

globalmike295

On Vacation
Jul 11, 2006
216
2
0
I have to say that every time the , internet/ tv shuts down at a crucial time is an elevator of ones bp..go to the wrong doctor and it goes up again.

Some days are good and some are not........that's the way this place is

Still voting ...undecided
 

Lambada

Gold
Mar 4, 2004
9,478
410
0
80
www.ginniebedggood.com
At 60, my average BP reading is 110 systolic, 70 diastolic

Ditto, 110/70 only I'm 64 in a couple of weeks. Weighing 110lbs helps too (at 5ft. 5 ins). Might not have dv8's DDDs but the rest of my figs. are pretty healthy. :) Can't you tell we're above the 60 year mark when we start comparing BPs.................

globalmike, you'll move beyond the stage of having your BP affected by internet/TV shutdown, really. You'll learn to convert the frustration productively. In my case it goes to gallows humour - when we were without internet for 36 hours a couple of weeks back, I just got on with writing. I noticed that the article was more acerbic than many of mine, but full of gallows humour. Just remember the AA serenity prayer 'grant us the serenity to accept the things we cannot change, the courage to change the things we can & the wisdom to know the difference'. It takes a while though, so don't berate yourself for not getting there immediately.
 

Mirador

On Permanent Vacation!
Apr 15, 2004
3,563
0
0
Totally agreed (except its a she not a he!!!)

HB (mind over matter, works!)


So she's a she and not a he!!! So, more power to her! Women in general are a hell-of-a-lot more resourceful than man. I'm jealous...;-)

HB, it's not a matter of mind over matter, what matters is the matter of awareness (consciousness).... (sorry foor the aliteration...;-). Can you wiggle your ears? No? well, maybe it's because you are not aware of the muscles that allow you to wiggle your ears. Are you aware of your heart rate? You are aware of your heart rate (without taking a pulse reading) only because your chest is pounding due to overexertion, overexcitement, indegestion, overmedication, or other. Biofeedback has nothing to do with mind over matter (levitation, psychokineses, ESP, ...;-). Biofeedback consists of basic techniques in concentration (focus) and visualization, and something that can be explained as an initial process of hit-or-miss using the techniques learned, until you can gain control of automatic bodily functions, like BP...
 

MommC

On Vacation!
Mar 2, 2002
4,056
7
0
dr1.com
I was always 100/60 until I had a heart attack (MI for Mirador) now it's a "normal for most" 120/70.
Yoga helps (both the physical exercise and the meditative aspect) as does watching ones salt intake and weight.
I now walk 2 miles a day (minimum) at a rate of 1 mile per 13 minutes to keep my ticker ticking and my BP in line (I do use meditation aka biofeedback to bring my BP down when I know it's gone up).
 
Last edited: