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Part of the Problem 12-December-2011
Today, I’m going to become part of the problem.
I’ve had high blood pressure for years. Stage 2. And then some. I used to take medications for it, many years ago. I used to take a lot of medications. I didn’t know what most of them were, I just took them because a doctor told me I needed to. That resulted in seizures, which eventually resulted in my heart stopping completely (twice), which resulted in… a whole mess of other bad stuff that was, sadly, far worse than death. I don’t make mistakes like that twice. I stopped following blindly many years ago. And I’m healthier, in every way, than I’ve been in 10 years.
I have two amazing children. I’m an awesome Father. My kids are still very young, and on top of them actually *needing* a Father for many years to come, I have very high hopes that we have many years of family fun together ahead of us, and you betcha, I’m hoping this big strong heart in my chest is beating long enough to see my Great Great Grandkids. I know it’s a big, strong, strong heart because it cranks out enough pressure to frighten people. And people want me to think that’s a bad thing… *sigh*
A couple of months ago, I started reading about high blood pressure, the possible causes, and talking to people about it. Immediately, I was read the riot act by everyone I spoke to (Yes I’m talking to YOU, Cathy Jean!) for being foolishly bullheaded about the stupid pills, why in the world wouldn’t I just take the damn pills so that I can avoid a heart attack? Just take the damn pills, Scott! That’s not why I was trying to talk to people. I was trying to actually figure out what *causes* the problem, so that I can make an educated decision about *how* to treat it. With my doctor’s guidance. Not with me following blindly. I finally stopped talking to people about it, because as far as I can tell, nobody on the planet ever actually tries to understand what the pills do or why they take or ‘need’ them. Just take the pill, a doctor said to. It’ll fix you.
I know high blood pressure is a serious condition (mine especially) and I have every intention of doing something about it. Following blindly is not the answer. Consulting with the doctor is supposed to be the beginning of a means to an end, not a complete solution. It is my/your/our responsibility to also understand our own illness and support the doctor in the treatment. Not just follow blindly. Your doctor doesn’t want you to follow blindly any more than I do, he’s probably just given up on getting people to be a part of the treatment.
I was talking to Sophie (The Oracle for those of you not familiar with her gifts) about it one day last week when she was home from school sick. I wasn’t asking her to decide for me, whether or not to take pills, I was just trying to get a hint from her as to just how much (not IF, but how much) my bullheadedness might be blinding me on the issue… she said, “Daddy, of all the things that have tried to kill you, do you really think this one will be the one that does? A dumb pill will make you stronger? You’re fine. Other people are just more scared of things than you are.” There you have it. Permission from The Oracle to ignore the issue completely. I’m off the hook.
Just the opposite. Can you imagine if I stroked out next week, how Sophie would feel forever, thinking she told me not to take the damn pills? Karma, you bitch, you played that well. But you still owe me big, so wipe that smug grin off your pretty face!!!
So this afternoon I’m going to become part of the problem. I will, for the first time in nearly 5 years, have a prescription. With refills. That’s right, I’m 41 years old and by some miracle I have somehow survived 5 whole years without any prescriptions. Unpossible? I like to think my strong heart and thick skull both had something to do with that. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to go get some pills that will ‘fix’ that for me… following blindly is a far more serious problem than high blood pressure…
Cheers from The ThreeFiveZero Problem
