Like most of you, I hate going to see the doctor.

Having said that, I do go when I think something is wrong with me.

But the truth is, I’m hardly ever at the doctor’s because God has blessed me with decent health.

When I turned 50 last year, I knew that I was going to have to start being proactive about my health because, being 50 years old feels serious and I know eventually things start catching up to you.

And we all know, it’s better to catch things sooner rather than later when it comes to our health.

Around a year ago, I started experiencing air bubbles after I would pee.

This was not normal for me (is it ever?) and I thought it was a fluke.

When it continued, I prayed about it and hoped it would eventually go away.

I thought the whole thing was weird.

Then around a couple of months ago, I noticed a little swelling around both my ankles when I was smothering my feet with lotion.

That’s strange, I thought.

My left ankle area looked worse than my right one.

I wondered if it was just fat.

I decided not to panic and just keep an eye on it.

My right ankle started looking normal again, but my left ankle area continued to have some swelling.

One day, the swelling spread.

And again I wondered, if it could just be fat.

But I knew enough to take swelling around the ankles serious because this too was not something normal for me.

I scheduled a physical with emphasis on my left swollen ankle area, and also to find out why I was experiencing air bubbles after I peed.

My appointment was scheduled for February the 15th.

The day before my appointment, I googled for the first time, “air bubbles after I pee”.

Ever come across the word, Pneumaturia?

I haven’t but this is what came up and after reading some into it, I came to the conclusion that it was all bladder related.

As I was getting ready for my appointment, I started thinking about how it might all go down.

I’ll probably have to do a urine sample.

I even went as far as to wonder if at some point in my physical, I would have to expose my stomach, and so I inspected it to see if I needed to shave it.

While driving to my appointment, I noticed I felt calm which was surprising because I always get anxious for doctor visits, and it always shows up when the MA is taking my blood pressure. It’s always high.

I tell the MA this right before she takes my blood pressure.

She tells me it’s 185 over 97!

SAY WHAT?!

I look at the screen.

Yep, it says 185 over 97!

I tell her that it has never been that high!

She tells me she will retake it in a few minutes.

She goes over my info, asks me the usual questions, and asks me new questions now that I’m 50.

I tell her my two concerns.

She tells me more than likely the nurse practitioner will either do a physical or address my two concerns.

She retakes my blood pressure and this time it’s 167 over 101.

This makes me feel a little better, but I know it’s still too high.

The MA leaves the room then comes back and asks me if I would be able to give a urine sample.

I oblige.

As I wait for the nurse practitioner, I feel calm, but I am concerned about my blood pressure being so high.

The NP walks in, introduces herself and she looks concerned.

She tells me my urine sample is fine and that she believes that because my blood pressure is so high, it’s affecting my kidneys and that’s why I’m getting the air bubbles after I finish peeing and why there’s swelling going on around my ankles.

It makes sense to me; I’m just startled because I thought this would all come down to my bladder but instead it’s my wittle heart.

The NP tells me they’re going to do blood work and do an EKG.

This is getting serious. An EKG?

She also tells me that according to my blood pressure readings, I need to start blood pressure medication, “today”!

She says, “This is past anxiety!”

I’m flabbergasted by this point.

Medication for high blood pressure?

I hate the sound of it. I don’t take any meds, cept Ibuprofen for headaches when I need it.

And I hate it when I have to take that.

Blood pressure meds sound scary to me.

I tell the NP that this is all surprising to me because I actually feel fine.

She responds, “That’s why they call it the silent killer!”

EGADS!

She tells me her son is only 35 and has to take medication for high blood pressure. This makes me feel a little better.

I go into another room so they can draw blood.

The blood drawer inspects both my arms and deems my left arm the better candidate.

I hate needles so I stare off to my right.

She pokes me once. No blood.

Does a second poke. No blood.

She apologizes and asks if she can use my hand.

This alarms me but I tell her to do what she’s got to do.

And I wonder what will happen next if she can’t get it from my left hand.

My neck?

My hand doesn’t produce any blood and the blood drawer tells me that she will ask the NP for help.

The NP comes to the rescue and gets blood from my right arm while I stare off to my left.

EKG time.

As I’m putting on the paper hospital gown, I’m starting to freak out but at the same time I feel some calmness.

EKG is done.

The NP comes back and tells me that my EKG is abnormal and that she’s going to refer me to a cardiologist.

Okay, this is getting scary, and I tell her so. She does her best to reassure me that it’s going to be okay and that it’s better that this is happening now instead of finding out the hard way 10 years from now.

I’m thankful for this little nugget of reassurance but I know that I will feel especially better if she can answer one more question for me.

So I ask her, “Did your son have to see a cardiologist?”

She answers, “Yes.”

She wants me to take Lisinopril once a day. I’m to take my blood pressure two hours after taking it. I’m to bring her these blood pressure recordings back in one week.

I make this next appointment with the front desk, and I head to Walgreens to pick up my new friend, Lisinopril.

Too much excitement. Can my heart take it? (Sorry!)

And I have to pee now.

The thought of air bubbles after peeing doesn’t seem like such a big deal now.

The thought of taking medication for high blood pressure gives me anxiety and I wonder about its side effects.

Later that day, I’m in the kitchen with a cup of water and a Lisinopril.

When a situation gets too heavy for me to carry, I will ask God to carry it for me.

So, before I pop the pill in my mouth, I ask God to carry me, to carry this situation for me and that I hope he doesn’t mind the added 20 mg of Lisinopril.

~missy salcido wead