Well this weekend was a doozy.

Wasn’t feeling well Friday after work. Normally I’d take the drive home, lay down, and hope Saturday is better.

But given that I was told I had high blood pressure two weeks ago at the dentist, high blood pressure a week later during a Covid check (negative for Covid btw), and felt weird discomfort in my chest all day Friday, I decided to check myself in. Sure enough, 171/133 then 191/140.

So here I am, chillin in the ER, trying different medication to bring my blood pressure down. At one point I was given Nitroglycerin. I thought man, this is bad, this is stuff you hear about in movies or commercials, I need that? Took 5mg and, lemme tell you, I was terrified. I saw my numbers fall to 125/77 and my heart rate drop to 50, and I thought shit, I’m bottoming out, this isn’t good.

I thought about my wife watching this happen, kids at home, all the family and friends I had yet to contact. But the numbers held in the “normal” parameters, got extremely lightheaded, and the nurse said I was ok. Sure didn’t feel that way at the time.

Eventually I’m moved to a room, being fed various meds to stabilize my blood pressure. Check after check, not low enough. According to the docs, I’ve had high blood pressure, haven’t slept, dealt with sleep apnea, consumed too much caffeine, eaten a poor diet, and been overweight for too long. But when do I have time to deal with that? Another story, another time.

Took several scans, all coming back normal. Eventually bp gets down to 140/100. It’s not great but it’s the lowest my numbers have stabilized around. I’m now at home with a bp cuff and some meds.

Grateful to be home. This plate is a reminder of what I need to do to get better. Sorry to worry y’all fam. But as I first heard @etthehiphoppreacher say, “a setback is nothing but a setup for a comeback. And if you can look up, you can get up. “

I’m on my way.