Over the last month or so, I had been having dizzy spells. Just a general feeling that when I turned my head, my senses took a second longer to realize the fact. Because it lasted a few weeks, I went to the doc. The only real thing that came out of that visit is that we discovered that my blood pressure was 150/104 ("normal" is 120/80, but everyone's different. However, 150/104 is high by anyone's standards). I checked it at work a few times, and it was consistently 130's/90's. Ugh.

Anyway, I went to the eye doctor a few days ago and had this "retinal scan" done (instead of using dilation drops). It showed a nice little picture of my retina. My right retina is already showing effects of high blood pressure... where the artery and vein cross, there's a definite narrowing. The eye doc said that the artery's pressure is compressing the vein somewhat. I also have plaque (cholesterol) that is clearly visible in a few vessels of the right retina. Whenever I take my pressure at work, I take it in both arms. Curiously enough, the left arm is consistently a little lower than the right arm. And my left retina is perfect. (Yay left!)

I went back to the doc for a blood pressure recheck today. 112/82. Yay again!! I asked her for a cholesterol blood test and had that drawn... I should know the results in a few days. As I was waiting to get my blood drawn, the patient next to me (young guy) was having his drawn. Although I could not see his face, I could sense by his body language that he didn't quite like the sight of blood. Sure enough, after the phlebotomist withdrew the needle, the guy turned his head a little and I could see he was pale and woozy. The phlebo had him sit back in the chair and called for a nurse. The guy leaned back and I thought he fainted because he started twitching a little. By then, though, the nurse came around and got him on the floor with his legs up on the chair.

It was kind of interesting to be able to watch from afar without having to be responsible. Anyway, when it was my turn to have my blood drawn, the phlebo had me put my arm on the counter, then hesitated.... he looked at me and asked, "Do you have any problems with having your blood drawn?" with this sort of apprehensive look on his face :) Hhahahhaha. I told him none whatsoever, and happily hopped down and walked away when it was over, leaving the other guy still on the floor drinking some juice.

It must really suck to be that scared of needles. He probably doesn't have cholesterol in his eyeball, though. I guess we all have our crosses :-)