halp (off topic)

"MLGCarGuy" (thejdmguy)
06/09/2015 at 17:35 • Filed to: None

S65 if you don’t want to halp.

So I have a doctor’s appointment in about an hour. I hate doctor’s appointments. (afraid of shots and crap) The problem is that when I am terrified of these my blood pressure shoots up. This is for high school sports and it’s gonna look weird if a 14 year old has “high blood pressure.” How bring down? How calm down?

DISCUSSION (27)

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > MLGCarGuy
06/09/2015 at 17:37

Underage drinking is clearly the solution to this.

MLGCarGuy > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht
06/09/2015 at 17:38

Good point. Where can I buy Jalopnik Black Label?

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > MLGCarGuy
06/09/2015 at 17:39

Smoke a lot of pot.

TheHondaBro > MLGCarGuy
06/09/2015 at 17:40

Less sodium.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > MLGCarGuy
06/09/2015 at 17:40

tell the nurse you get nervous, and have them take it twice in a row about 5-10 minutes apart also deep breaths with a slow exhale. I usually go from 130/90 to 115/60.

uofime-2 > MLGCarGuy
06/09/2015 at 17:40

do you know breath meditation? That would work if you can do it.

Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif > MLGCarGuy
06/09/2015 at 17:40

Take a pee before you go in, it actually brings it down.

Get them to check it a couple times while you are there!

MLGCarGuy > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies
06/09/2015 at 17:41

The Snoop Dogg dank kush will do right?

MLGCarGuy > uofime-2
06/09/2015 at 17:42

Gonna try it.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > MLGCarGuy
06/09/2015 at 17:42

It’s called “white coat hypertension,” and I would just talk to the doctor about it. They may take your BP, do shots and stuff, and let you calm down a bit, then take it again. That’s what my doctor usually does.

The reason for me, though, is that my doctor is almost in the dead center of Washington, D.C. and traffic is always a nightmare getting there. Google map driving distance is like 13.6 miles away from my place in Northern VA, and it can take me 2+ hours to get there. I’ve almost never been on time for any appointments and it infuriates me to no end, so I end up rushing and freaking out that I’m late, which spikes my BP.

MLGCarGuy > Snuze: Needs another Swede
06/09/2015 at 17:44

Never heard of that before. I’ve told the nurses before that I’m nervous but they still look at me strangely when seeing BP.

505Turbeaux > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies
06/09/2015 at 17:45

actually raises blood pressure, odd enough

Textured Soy Protein > MLGCarGuy
06/09/2015 at 17:46

Find your local high school drug dealer and get some weed. I’m sure someone at your school has weed at this very minute.

Might not go so well on the drug test, unless there isn’t a drug test.

Ike > Snuze: Needs another Swede
06/09/2015 at 17:47

Ah, DC traffic; I have to drive from md to center of dc everyday for day job. I feel your pain sir. (I have a great podcast you can enjoy insteas of listening to wtop and gettin high blood pressure untiledcarshow.podomatic.com just sayin)

StoneCold > MLGCarGuy
06/09/2015 at 17:48

I second meditation. Look up 1 minute or 5 minute meditation for tips.

Steve in Manhattan > MLGCarGuy
06/09/2015 at 17:50

My ex is an ER doc - what you have is called white coat. When someone in a white coat approaches you with a cuff, your pressure shoots up. So does mine. A good doctor knows this. Just tell them you’re really not comfortable with the whole thing. And make an effort to get comfortable with it - regular doctor appointments are important.

MLGCarGuy > Textured Soy Protein
06/09/2015 at 17:51

I’m 420% sure my used-to-be friend from elementary school has some.

Textured Soy Protein > MLGCarGuy
06/09/2015 at 17:55

But really though, you shouldn’t smoke pot to lower your blood pressure because it can actually make your heart race depending on the situation.

Just take lots of deep breaths, and/or tell them you’re nervous around doctors and worried you’ll have a weird blood pressure result.

(I run on an elliptical 5 days a week. My blood pressure is fantastic.)

ttyymmnn > MLGCarGuy
06/09/2015 at 17:59

Ask the doctor to take your BP. I have been fighting hypertension for years, and I’m always nervous about the reading. That makes it go up. Have the doc take it at the end of the exam. Also, start monitoring your BP outside of the office visit. Keep a record of it. If it is consistently higher than 130/90, schedule an appointment to start treating it. You’re a bit young to be hypertensive, but some people are “essentially hypertensive,” which means they just are and nobody knows why. Seeing as heart disease is the number one killer of men, you need to keep an eye on it. But seriously, have the doc take it when you're calmer. I bet you get a better reading.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > MLGCarGuy
06/09/2015 at 18:04

You have a smart phone, or do they have a computer in the office?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_coa…

Also, as ttyymmnn suggests, take your BP outside of the office and write it down. They usually have free BP machines are pharmacies or grocery stores. My doctor actually gave me a little portable BP machine. Actually, this reminds me, I haven’t used it in months. But it was always consistently lower than what they would read in the office.

scoob > MLGCarGuy
06/09/2015 at 18:05

Reserved for those with Gold memberships.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > Ike
06/09/2015 at 18:07

I’ll give it a listen sometime. I have XM in my car, I can’t stand WTOP or any of the other local radio stations. Somehow 10 minutes of music and 50 minutes of commercials just doesn’t do it for me.

MLGCarGuy > Snuze: Needs another Swede
06/09/2015 at 18:08

I do have a smartphone.

My dad had a BP machine but I don’t know where it went.

MLGCarGuy > Textured Soy Protein
06/09/2015 at 18:08

I’m aware, don’t worry.

I’m pretty sure the regular nurses know but I’ll tell them just in case.

Ike > Snuze: Needs another Swede
06/09/2015 at 18:13

I like sirus xm as well, I have noticed il tune in to wtop to listen to the traffic and by the time it comes on I'm mentally not paying it any mind, and by the time I notice I have missed the report, ugh just give me the sirusxm traffic rolling report station that was my jam.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > MLGCarGuy
06/09/2015 at 18:13

I’d pull the article up and show them. Just saw your appointment was in an hour, and that was about 45 minutes ago, so I doubt you’ll be able to find the BP machine, but that’s something to consider for the future.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > 505Turbeaux
06/09/2015 at 18:24

Hmm, strange.