Normalisation of blood pressure

[Kaaswinkel]

Just a happy observation to share...3.5 years of PMR now on 3.5, going onto 3.00 mg....with the Covid 19 calamity and us in NZ. On lockdown my blood pressure has settled down nicely! 112/ 72 ....well..that is telling me something of how I have been leading my life before covid 19......anybody else with similar experience ( I had already retired due to PMR, unfortunately, but now 68 yrs)

[Blearyeyed]

It is interesting . I was speculating with another Chronically ill friend last week about wether the self isolation , forcing many people to have to slow down but also lose the guilt if not doing lots of jobs or activities would help people feel better in their General Health .We thought many people would end up having understanding the value for Pacing themselves and how much better their physical symptoms could become doing it . After which they would feel it worth while to continue in the future . Your BP improvement is a sign of what we were discussing.

Just shows you that you might have retired but you hadn't really slowed down and let yourself relax.

Thanks for posting

[Kaaswinkel in reply to Blearyeyed]

Very interesting you had that discussion!!! So important...

Indeed, I immediately took on three retirement projects , self created because I was retired , and did not have PMR at that stage, from which now two achieved....

one was writing to the newspapers regarding end of life choice legislation which is a hot topic in our country with a referendum coming up.... I had, reluctantly and filled with guilt as you mentioned, let this go because it was soo stressful, trying to write good letters and, unconsciencsly competing with others who are also writing... I gave that up, because the enormous stress it gave me, or really I gave myself...and still I feel: if I don t do it who is going to do it, which of course is partly true and partly not true.......

Now I know I MUST think: if I don t look after me, who IS going to look after me.

I share the blood pressure story because it might make other Friends here on the forum think a about this, if they did not already!! 😊

[SheffieldJane]

I think the planet we live on is showing signs of healing too. Pollution is measurably less for one example. Journalists are exercising their talents to find stories that are uplifting. Perhaps when we reflect on this time in years to come, it won’t be an unmitigated disaster. It’s a long time since the really good people have been highlighted and appreciated. Kindness is no longer scorned and mocked. I am glad your blood pressure has reduced and you no longer feel the responsibility to get this humane change, carefully done and that the weight lies on your shoulders alone.

[Kaaswinkel in reply to SheffieldJane]

Thanks so much. Lovely answer indeed!🌞

[PMRpro Ambassador]

I had learned to slow down a long time ago - because undiagnosed PMR made me! Living where I do also helped because I can't write to the papers or get heavily involved in such things. I worked for a long time with PMR but it only meant sitting in front of the computer.

The lockdown is little difference for us - just more complicated to shop when you can't go every day, or at least shouldn't. It will be worse later in the spring when it is warm enough to go for a walk and stop for a drink in the sun in a cafe. But overall - the quiet is as good as a holiday. And must be helping my BP too - not that I have checked.

[Kaaswinkel]

Thank you... “the quiet is as good as a holiday”.... that is how it feels for me, and at the same time I feel how terrible the situation is in some countries...