I now know why Mom was always tired. I can remember having very little patience when she would answer my "How are you?" question by saying "Tired." I say "Fine" when asked, but frankly...I'm not. There are days when working for 5 hours leaves me with a need to crawl into bed for a long nap.
The first time it happened I thought I was going to have to crawl up the steps and into the house on my hands and knees. Someone pulled the plug on my generator and the lights went out. Seriously. That was the day I learned to take my pulse before taking the beta blocker I'm now on. Apparently I was so upset over having to take one that I totally missed her telling me that if my heart rate slowed to 60 or less beats a minute, skip the pill. I also missed the part where she told me it would take 10 to 16 weeks before my heart adapted to the beta blocker. This is week 7. After all this, if my BP goes down and stays down, she'll be taking me off of it, which, according to what I read could cause me to have a heart attack. One of the many reasons why I didn't want to take it to start out with.
Given what I do for a living, it's a good thing that I don't experience dizziness from it. I'd be falling head first into toilets and bathtubs if I did. I did have to rearrange my schedule to move clients requiring more traveling to the earlier morning time. I've never really thought about 30 miles being a long trip, but I have to say that it's as bad as a thousand miles when you are having trouble keeping your eyes open and your brain isn't processing where you are. Try that at 55 mph. I did, it wasn't fun. Trust me.
If having a reduction in the number of weekly fatigue spells is any indication, I'm going to have an adapted heart at 10 weeks. The one spell of fatigue that I did have only required a 15 minute sit down instead of the hour and a half nap. That is a welcomed improvement. Before I know it I'll be able to dance the night away just like I was...NOT!
Maybe you should get a second opinion. This could be one of those things where the cure is worse than the problem. Anyway, glad you're doing better. Hang in there.
ReplyDeleteMr. C,
ReplyDeleteI just happen to be among the 16% of people who have this problem with beta blockers. I have to be on it because my adrenal glands function on overdrive and my heart needs the protection. This is a case of the benefits outweighing the side affects. It will balance out shortly. I hope.
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ReplyDeleteSherry:
ReplyDeleteYou don't want to be driving when you are drowsy and unable to process information about the road.
Sherry,
ReplyDeleteMrs. O is on a cocktail of medications to control a spastic artery in her heart. Any one of her medications would put me to sleep for six hours yet she functions quite well. I guess the body does adapt.
as scary as 'modern medicine' is - it's all we have - but that doesn't mean we can't be an active participant in our own treatment - which you seem to be (which is necessary and good).
ReplyDeleteGood Luck to you and it sounds as if you're on the right track.
ice
Hiya Darlin'...hope all is well.
ReplyDeleteWhit,
ReplyDeleteIt's not really feeling drowsy so much as I feel like I'm in a fog when it happens. The family of one of my clients whose schedule was affected got upset. There are some times when taking care of me is more important.
Mr. O,
ReplyDeleteI am finding out that we do adapt to these things. It's been a long few weeks, but I can feel the difference.
ice,
ReplyDeleteI tried everything via natural means, lifestyle changes, food changes, etc., that I could, but I still spike blood pressures that are dangerous so I've had to resort to modern medicine. I'm heading in the right direction according to my doctor, I just need a little extra help.
TAZ,
ReplyDeleteEverything is as well as can be expected under the circumstances. It's going to get better, just takes a longer time than I had hoped.
Sherry, isn't there a surgical fix? A second opinion might not be a bad idea.
ReplyDeleteAnyway - best wishes: hang in ther.
The Ol'Buzzard