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.

Lose weight and your BP goes *down*

Yeah, I am unsure of the causation on that. There's so much anti-fat pseudo science out there I don't even know what's what.

Yeah, I am unsure of the causation on that.

Me, too. But damn if it isn't bandied about like gospel.