By Atty. Antonio P. Pekas
As I’ve written before, since I got my Sinovac doses (first and second) my blood pressure (BP) had gone haywire. And right after the second dose, my BP would not even go down. It was hovering within stroke or heart attack territory—from 180+ over 120 more or less—and would even go beyond 200+ over 120 to 125. Even when I was taking catapres which was supposed to be for emergency situations, there were times when it did not have an effect. Yes, I was a walking dead during those times. I could have toppled over anytime.
At one time, I even collapsed. It was of course scary. But something happened there. My maintenance meds started having an effect. My lab tests were good before being vaxxed, from the sugar to the uric acid and cholesterol levels, etc. Nothing scary red flags on the resulting figures.
With changes in my maintenance medicines, my scary BP figures started slowly going down. That was of course coupled with even better lifestyle. While I am a vegetarian, always been the past 40 years or so, I had to do more to take care of my BP. Sugar and salt intake were reduced to the barest minimum. I became even more choosy as to food. I came to get used to ampalaya, unsweetened oatmeal, etc. My tea was most of the time turmeric with a pinch of cinnamon powder for their natural blood thinning effects and with chia seeds for their omega 3 oil and other nutrients.
Lemon water of fresh carrot juice with ginger and beet root also became a daily morning fare.
Through readings, I did not only become conversant with foods to deal with my high BP. I also became conversant with the general kinds of drugs being used to treat high BP (like ARB’s, ACE inhibitors, water pills) and many of their side effects
For various reasons I had to change my doctor and every time I went for follow up consultation, after his taking of my ECG and using his stethoscope on my chest and back, he would say, “mayat met!”
Long story short, after all those months, my BP had been going down, and sometimes it would be almost normal. And I would joke with family members, “Can I start drinking coffee again?” Then it would fluctuate again to the high side. It would be up and then down, and then up and then down again.
Then it was time for the Pfizer booster shot. My BP went up again to the stroke and heart attack territory. Its already the third week and my BP is slowly going down again.
Good thing I never got the Covid. Otherwise, I could have died with its blood thickening effect. I guess I have to thank my daily intake of virgin coconut oil and observance of the health protocols.
Other things that I was doing during those scary times were walking or light exercises like walking, fixing up my junk cars, and doing light yoga.
I am now starting to do other heavier work, including straight editing work (that I never really stopped) and which can be stressful.
As a friend commented, if you are not a vegetarian and not doing yoga (including meditation), you would not have recovered when you collapsed.
Well, death comes to everyone anyway. But becoming a vegetable? God forbid.**
