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High Blood Pressure Hypertension

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My B.P has been normal to low for all of my life.  I am very active and eat relatively healthy.   However, for the past year my blood pressure has been slowly creeping up.  The top number went from 120, to 130, and a few weeks ago 136/100.  At age 54 it concerned me.  My family has a history of HPB.  My father, sister and aunt all have it and are on medication. How did I know my blood pressure was high?  I had a few symptoms that were bothering me.  I had frequent headaches where in the past I have had zero issues with headaches.  I was constantly tired and I had to take a break when walking up 2 flights of stairs.  That's not usual for me seeing I run twice a week.  My heart kept pounding and my pulse would race for NO apparent reason. Last week I was feeling particularly anxious about work and all the things I had to get accomplished.  I felt so overwhelmed and my heart kept racing.  I also felt dizzy.  I ended up stopping at CVS and walked over to the blood
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Emergency Room Visits

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Yesterday I was driving back from New Hampshire.  I had been on the road all day from 7:30 am to 3:30 pm.  I was about 30 minutes from home when I started seeing this squiggly, translucent "N" shaped thing in the middle of  my left eye.  I tried to ignore it for a while until the "N" turned into a sideways "V".   The color went from clear and squiggly to a bit of a rainbow color.  What on earth, I thought? My heart started pounding and my pulse went up to 102 (according to my fitbit watch).  I drove to the nearest CVS to take my blood pressure.  The first reading was 184/94.  I thought to myself,  "That has got to be wrong".  I retook the test and it was even higher at 189/94.  I got back in the car and drove to the nearest Urgent Care, where they told me to go to the ER ASAP. Yup, back in the car and drove to Baystate ER which was about 10 minutes away from the urgent care center.  Luckily I found a parking spot right away.  I walked i
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Monarch Butterfly Personal Sanctuary

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Magic Wings:  Deerfield, Mass http://www.magicwings.com/ I have visited the butterfly sanctuary many times in the past 15 years.   As I get older, I am more aware of the greatness of nature and the importance of preserving it. In 2017,  I, with the help of my husband,  raised and released approximately 100 butterflies.  Among them were Monarchs, Monarch photos painted ladies Painted Ladies  and swamp swallowtails.  swamp swallowtail    Raising them from caterpillars and watching them transform into the beautiful winged angles was so rewarding.  Every day I would come home from work and wonder how many had made it to the top of the butterfly mansion my dad made me to form their  chrysalis https://www.monarch-butterfly.com/ North American monarch butterflies migrate to Mexico, traveling thousands of miles to escape the cold weather.  I'm think next year I just might follow them on their journey! I know that feeling well after shoveling the snow and putting on several layer
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Follow up to Last Post Re: Fisher cat

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Follow up to the last post: I first met Chloe on a chilly morning at a McDonalds in Hartford, CT 2008 .  Her new mom is my best friend. She called me and told me she got a puppy.  I knew instantly I had to meet her.  From my recollection she was about 2-3 pounds.  She was so tiny, friendly and adorable.  She made me think about getting a dog.  As time past, I spent more time with Chloe.  Her energy and personality drew me to look into getting a puppy just like her.  I ended up getting a Morkie just like Chloe from the same breeder.  Come to find out the puppy I picked out was actually related to Chloe.   I'm not sure how that works, if it was a cousin, 2nd cousin or same dad different mom.....Oh well... fast forward. Here we go, just going to "visit" the same place where sweet Chloe was adopted.  It was located in Dayville, CT   When we arrived, the establishment had 3 puppies in a large pen ready for viewing. 2 were females and 1 was a male.  I was determined to get
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Fisher Cats Be Aware Of The Danger To Small Dogs And Cats

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I have to admit I haven't cried this hard ever.  I cried TWO rivers. RIP Sweet girl This sweet pup and her owner have the same routine night after night.  They go outside, sit on the deck and the dog wanders closely on a short lead while the owner is right there within a few feet of her.  A fisher cat came out of no where, bit through the metal lead and snatched the dog away.  The owner ran after them but couldn't find them as it was very dark.  She called her neighbors and friends to come help her find pup with no luck.  The dog didn't whimper or cry when it was taken as we think she was instantly killed.  All the owner heard was a screaming sound from the fisher cat.    "Pup" was only 9 years old and the owner had her ever since she was as a puppy.  She was stringent with her care and safety.   This was a very traumatizing experience for all.   Fisher cats are from the weasel family. They are increasing in numbers in the Uni
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Celiac Disease

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Ever since I can remember I have had allergy and sinus problems.  When I was around 8 years old I can remember being teased for "sniffing".  I remember everyone saying "Go blow your nose, go get a tissue".  My nose was stuffed up all the time.  I remember my Grama Rose saving some money to send me to an ENT specialist who put me on a steroid nasal spray.  Wow, did that work like a charm.  I was so grateful.  I could breathe through my nose and the congestion was gone.  That lasted for about 3 months and then it came back.  I was put on another round of steroid sprays which worked again but it was short lived.   I also had eczema in every nook and cranny possible.  I had it so bad on the inner part of my elbow and up and down my forearms that I wore a sweater to cover it up.  That sweater acted as my shield against all the comments like.."EWWWW, What's that gross stuff all over your arms".   I specifically recall one time itching my skin so b
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Anticipation vs. the Real Thing

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Ahhh, My first attempt at blogging.  Hopefully in a year I will look back at this, read it and get a chuckle out of how it all began. Today's topic:  Anticipation A few years ago my sister and I went to see my all time favorite comedian Lisa Lampanelli at the Calvin Theater   .  I am talking laugh out loud, bust a gut, laughing our asses off funny!. S he was phenomenally hysterical.  I am a very bad speller.  Thank goodness for the on line dictionary.   dictionary I was browsing on line and noticed Lisa was going to be at the   Warner Theater   in Torrington, CT in March 2017, which is a little over an hour from where I live.   So, in October of 2016,  I purchased 3 tickets.  One for me, my husband and again my sister. Let the count down begin.  The anticipation leading up to the show was exciting.  I looked back and remembered the roaring laughter of the crowd and how my cheeks hurt the next day from laughing so hard.  I couldn't wait to have that experience again.
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