It has been some time since I up to date you on my spouse’s blood stress downside. So seeing as how we have been out of city this weekend and I’ve no recipe, I believed I would replace you on how she is doing and discuss a bit about her WFPB journey.
Recap
I’ve been vegan since 2008, and though my spouse has at all times supported me on MY journey, she by no means actually jumped on board 100% with me till January of this 12 months. She has dabbled with it, and seen the constructive advantages on each her and myself, however by no means dedicated to going 100% – till this 12 months.
On January 1, 2023 – I began a brand new problem for my BNV Assist Group, and he or she determined to come back alongside for the journey, to handle her long-time blood stress points and lose some weight.
Have in mind she has had blood stress points for so long as I can bear in mind and has taken a mix of Losartan and Hydrochlorothiazide for years now, which in truth had by no means actually managed it that nicely.
Quick ahead to Feb 17, 2023.
After a month of consuming a reasonably clear, whole-food, plant-based (WFPB) and getting a number of train (jogging with the granddog, Supernatural VR exercises, and many others) I needed to name 911 within the wee hours of the morning as a result of she had woken up with a nosebleed and a blood stress of 208/123.
These random blood stress spikes had been occurring an increasing number of regularly, typically accompanied by a nosebleed, and normally accompanied by some tummy gurgling and different GI-related points leading to a mad sprint for the lavatory.
What the hell ?!?! Proper?? She’s presupposed to be getting more healthy, not sicker!
And when she began feeling actually sick that morning – I made the decision and the ambulance whisked her away to the ER.
After hooking her up, we realized that the ER docs are VERY hesitant to deal with blood stress issues on their very own. However, as a result of the Doctor’s Assistant we had simply visited the day earlier than had simply prescribed a brand new drug Clonidine – they gave that to her and monitored her for a number of hours earlier than sending her dwelling.
The Remedy Plan
Since that day within the ER, we now have seen our household physician, his doctor’s assistant, his a number of nurse practitioners, and even a plant-based telehealth digital name with Dr. Nikki Davis.
She’s had blood exams, urine exams, 24-hour urine exams (that was enjoyable), EKGs, ultrasounds on her kidneys, adrenals, gall bladder, you title it – and every little thing to this point has come again regular.
The docs cannot appear to determine why that is occurring, so that they normally find yourself prescribing one more new blood stress tablet. We even noticed a Heart specialist, who truthfully appeared very confused as to why she was even there – as every little thing appeared regular. Oh, and he prescribed one other tablet too.
And no – regardless of all the brand new drugs being shoved at us – the one new medicine that she is taking presently is Clonidine at bedtime.
What Really Works
It is unhappy to say that at the present time, we now have to determine this out on our personal, however that’s exactly what it has come right down to.
I’ll say, that in that flurry of physician visits final month, we DID discuss to at least one physician who appeared to offer some fairly stable recommendation…and that was Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn.
He advised his Reversal Weight loss plan and once I defined that we have been just about doing that already, he requested, “Rhonda, what did you weigh in highschool?”, to which she replied, “98 kilos”.
“Then why not weigh that now?”
That Essie, man he is hardcore. I do know that reply has upset lots of people however given his expertise and his observe file….. he is aware of what he’s speaking about.
So since that dialog, primarily based on his recommendation and a few trial and error on our personal, that is what my spouse has been doing:
- No espresso or caffeine
- No alcohol
- No oil in any way
- No wheat – fully gluten-free
- No soy sauce (it has wheat)
- No spicy meals
- 100% WFPBNO
- VERY cautious with FODMAP meals (onions, garlic, cabbage, and many others)
- She eats spinach a number of occasions a day
- She has embraced starches (potatoes & rice)
- She nonetheless workouts 4-5 days every week
We’re slowly experimenting with including again some meals (just like the steamed tofu and broccoli within the image) to see what her tummy will tolerate.
Outcomes Do not Lie
The adjustments she has made could seem excessive, however the outcomes do not lie. These 2 pictures are simply 30 days aside.
30 DAYS!
- The blood stress spikes are actually GONE
- The nosebleeds are additionally GONE
- Her blood stress CONSISTENTLY averages round 110/70
- She has misplaced 25 kilos and has to purchase new garments for her birthday 🙂
- We hope the doc will decrease her BP meds quickly
As I discussed, we have been out of city for the primary time since this began and it is considerably comical in that “I” have at all times been the one who could not eat right here, or there, or “Chuck has to eat vegan”…..
NOW it is Rhonda lol, and check out including gluten-free to the combination when going out to a restaurant. Now THAT is difficult.
However I’m joyful to say that there have been a number of locations we discovered that labored with us to seek out compliant meals for Rhonda once we have been out. Dynasty Chinese language in Sequim, WA have been great, and likewise an enormous shoutout to Turnip the Beet in Port Angeles.
It is not simple to seek out oil-free or gluten-free meals – however it may be done- you simply must ask.
Hypertension is a symptom – not a illness. Strive consuming tremendous clear as my spouse did for 30 days. The outcomes would possibly simply shock you.
