camels for EVERYONE!

WHAT I HAVE BEEN SAYING FOR YEARS.

I think something similar is true for lack of salting and snow plowing.

Although some places salt less for environmental reasons. Generally, they use more sand to make up for it.

right. sand or salt (treating roads in general)

Or in Wisconsin, cheese juice! [link]

Not really sure how I'm going to wrap that 15 lb. extension cord for my bro-in-law...

Like a garland! Hang sparkly ornaments from the thing! Go nuts with it!

Or in Wisconsin, cheese juice! [link]

Danny DIDN'T screw up! They were just in Wisconsin! IN THE FUTURE!!!! [link]

So, at the doctor today, I found out I've lost some weight (not a lot, maybe 3-7 pounds, depending on what I weighed last time I was there, which I can't remember), but my blood pressure is high. Which is weird, because it's usually supposed to work the other way, right? Lose weight and your BP goes *down*?

When I went to Urgent Care in November for a 3-day migraine, my blood pressure was high, but I wrote that off to the fact that I had been in pain for 3 days, and that's going to spike your BP. But apparently maybe my BP is actually elevated. So I'm going to see my primary-care doctor about it tomorrow (I have no idea how they managed to have an opening tomorrow, but I took it).

Anyway, I was consulting Dr. Google for symptoms/complications of hypertension (uh, I've been having random dizzy spells for a while now, and apparently that's a symptom of hypertension; whoops). And "high blood pressure" keeps getting abbreviated "HBP."

Even though *I* am the one who went looking for information about high blood pressure, I read "HBP" and thought, in this order: "Half-Blood Prince? ...no. Hit by pitch??? ...wait."

Me so smart.

I can confirm the dizzy spells, Steph. Also in my experience, losing weight may not improve your BP.

Rather than eating a stack of cookies, I'm eating a pile of fresh vegetables. I'm chewing them grumpily.

I can confirm the dizzy spells, Steph. Also in my experience, losing weight may not improve your BP.

Dang it. The dizzy spells kind of freaked me out, but I assumed they were stress-related. Or...something. (Okay, I kind of stuck my head in the sand about them.)

I've never noticed a real correlation between my weight and BP, but it's one of those parameters that medical professionals love to toss around. (Plus, I'm sure it *is* correlated for some people. Just not me. Or anyone related to my Dad.)

I don't exercise like a fanatic, but I walk the dog or go to the gym 3-5 days a week. I guess I could work out harder, but there's only so much I'm willing to do. Zumba will never happen. I will never be a runner.

Rather than eating a stack of cookies, I'm eating a pile of fresh vegetables. I'm chewing them grumpily.

Bah. Well, I need more veggies, because I need more fiber for my stupid IBS and cranky butt. ("Cranky butt" is not a euphemism in this case. My ass is being a jerk and fiber seems to be the answer.)

Boooooo. I'm already on BP meds; it's been the same low dose for years, and my BP has always been normal on it. Bah. I assume the dose will be increased. Although I know there's a BP med that's supposed to help with social anxiety symptoms; I should probably look that up and see about switching to it, if I need to tinker with my meds anyway.

Burrell, it's okay. Donate away because it's probably too complex make it happen.