Postcards from the Funny Farm

Because it’s time for a vasectomy, I looked up my doctor’s number and made an appointment. I just got back from my visit with him. He is truly awesome. I have so much respect for doctors. They know so much about the human body. I am trained to craft lessons for kids and meet standards on tests etc., but when it comes to the amazing temple of the human body, I’m basically just an internet surfer trying to separate the wheat from the chaff. No, I won’t be getting my vasectomy for a couple weeks, but I did learn things today and the “V” word worked well in the title.

Blood Pressure is Subborn

As it turns out, my HMO requires me to see another doctor to do a “consultation” for a vasectomy. That meant the doctor I was scheduled to see couldn’t really help get the vasectomy process along (and today with both girls screaming in the lobby and son bored out of his mind, I was thinking “NEED VASECTOMY YESTERDAY!!!”)  Nonetheless, I kept the appointment to check on an issue he saw me about a year or so ago: Blood Pressure.

My blood pressure has teetered above the normal 120/80 since as long as I can remember. I’m able to bring it down by doing certain things, but I don’t always follow those. It turned out that this appointment fell in a down slump where I’ve been eating all the baddies: salty foods, high fat, a lot of cheese, red meat, etc. In addition I haven’t been exercising much.

When the doctor told me my blood pressure was 140/100 today, I wasn’t surprised. You see a year and a half ago he had prescribed a blood pressure and cholesterol lowering medication. I’ve been stubborn and refused to take it. I thought 36 was too young for that. Well, as it turns out, my blood pressure is even more stubborn.

So, for the first time in my life, now at 38 years of age, I am taking my health seriously and filling the prescription. The doc says we’ll re-evaluate in 3 months and if the numbers all go way down, then maybe we can go off the meds. Dr. Toma said something to me that I’ve been thinking about and processing ever since. It was in response to me saying: “Let’s just say I don’t take the meds and try natural stuff, can I still get the vasectomy now?” After letting me know I could no problem he said this:

“In an ideal situation, you don’t need to take any medication, but it depends on how serious you are about radically changing your life and body and how serious you are about living a long healthy life.”

That one will be added to the unofficial collection of Riley’s favorite quotes. Since I know I don’t have the time or the drive to be as dedicated as I should be, I am taking the medicine.  Ah yet another of those life milestones passes me by!