General Discussion

Warpy

(114,750 posts)

48. The ACA kicked in too late for me

Thu May 22, 2014, 09:26 AM

May 2014

I qualified for Medicare first. I do have to agree with you that it's a whole different experience when you've got that all important insurance number even if it's (sneer) Medicare.

Your blood pressure was indeed at life threatening levels. It could have killed you quickly if you'd had a congenital aneurysm in your head burst. It happens more often than you'd think. Long term, say a year or three, it would have damaged your kidneys beyond the point of repair and trust me, living on dialysis is a crappy way to live. You do need to find a doc (internist, general medicine, family practice) to stay on top of it. Blood pressure pills might make you a little dizzy when you first stand up, but they're far better than the alternatives.

Cutting out salt might help you reduce the dosage. Everything tastes like cardboard for a couple of weeks but six months, out, you won't be able to believe you ever ate things like salty chips.

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

88 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Obamacare, which I have passionately criticized, might have just saved my life today... [View all] Demo_Chris May 2014 OP

That BP will destroy your kidneys. See your doctor MattBaggins May 2014 #1

why does HBP hurt kidneys specifically? I didn't know that. KittyWampus May 2014 #8

It affects the blood vessels throughout the body. ScreamingMeemie May 2014 #13

thank you very much for taking the time to answer. KittyWampus May 2014 #79

ScreamingMeemie is right. CaliforniaPeggy May 2014 #26

You can be skinny as a rail and have dangerously high blood pressure. Runs in my family that way. Zen Democrat May 2014 #25

This message was self-deleted by its author PotatoChip May 2014 #58

Recently my father came down with Kidney cancer. Lobo27 May 2014 #39

As a survivor of the same cancer (9 years cancer free) SnowCritter May 2014 #67

Untreated high blood pressure is the #1 cause of kidney failure REP May 2014 #68

You bet your bottom dollar it saved your life today. CaliforniaPeggy May 2014 #2

I am glad you got the care you deserved. bravenak May 2014 #3

Nice malaise May 2014 #4

Glad they caught that! K&R Adrahil May 2014 #5

Hello, I'm glad that they were able to take care of you. TexasTowelie May 2014 #6

and just think how many other people are being saved every single day that same way!!! VanillaRhapsody May 2014 #7

This^^^^^ JNelson6563 May 2014 #31

^^^ This! ^^^ times TWO. eom BlueCaliDem May 2014 #41

"Do not let the good be the enemy of the perfect" hueymahl May 2014 #49

this^^^ times a whole lot. BlancheSplanchnik May 2014 #52

THIS ^^^^^^^ times a MILLION!!! calimary May 2014 #64

Is the ACA perfect? No Trekologer May 2014 #82

Glad you made it through the day and hope you can manage your BP successfully. KittyWampus May 2014 #9

You are one of millions saved without flourishes, and we're very happy for you! Take care. n/t freshwest May 2014 #10

To me, Obamacare is the first big step toward my goal of single-payer. RandySF May 2014 #11

Congratulations! But I want to know why *I've* never gotten a tote bag. Jim Lane May 2014 #12

F#@k they mistook him for a Republican. That is why his experience was so different. Google okaawhatever May 2014 #29

glad that you were given some actual help, and that you are still around. please take care of niyad May 2014 #14

Glad you are ok! My BP Lex May 2014 #15

No horror stories. I see this all the time. Aristus May 2014 #16

My BP creeped up until they finally put me on meds for it. I'm a regular blood platelet donor brewens May 2014 #53

I have a lot of patients who are able to treat their blood pressure successfully Aristus May 2014 #54

Lisinopril 10mg. Demo_Chris May 2014 #74

And THAT is why I have Obamacare. It's the times in life you babylonsister May 2014 #17

Glad you got treated, and it is not serious. Curmudgeoness May 2014 #18

Hope they gave Demo Chris something to ameliorate the toothache. No Vested Interest May 2014 #20

Yes keep you teeth and gums clean... Delver Rootnose May 2014 #37

I am confused. Is this actually what you meant to say? tblue37 May 2014 #19

I assume he means "prior to having insurance", which he now has today. nt CJCRANE May 2014 #70

Sorry, I meant prior to having insurance, etc. nt Demo_Chris May 2014 #75

BTW, it took several different tries before my doctor found a drug that tblue37 May 2014 #21

Take your BP meds- TBF May 2014 #22

Just a tote bag, no pony? Flying Squirrel May 2014 #23

Glad you got help, stay on it denbot May 2014 #24

green smoothies, juicing, cut meat mackerel May 2014 #27

Bad advice. This person needs a physician to help MineralMan May 2014 #51

Agreed. Woo is no substitute for professional medical advice and treatment. stopbush May 2014 #84

It works for me but I do have a dr. and she is the one who told me to cut mackerel May 2014 #86

And that's the point - it took you a year. Yet, you're telling a person with dangerously high BP stopbush May 2014 #87

I'm sorry I don't get your point. The OP didn't want to hear any omgee your dying stories. mackerel May 2014 #88

Don't need to freak out but do what the docs are telling you cap May 2014 #28

Congrats on your 7,000th post. nt okaawhatever May 2014 #30

Thank you cap May 2014 #55

Thanks, that's what I was hoping to hear. nt Demo_Chris May 2014 #32

Your welcome cap May 2014 #56

I hope you will follow up with a good internist and also that dentist. CBHagman May 2014 #33

Welcome to the world of an acceptable level of healthcare. Half-Century Man May 2014 #34

The good news is that you will likely feel better than you've felt in a while. While high blood okaawhatever May 2014 #35

Glad you were checked out. bigwillq May 2014 #36

aww (((Demo_Chris))) Stellar May 2014 #38

Wonderful post! Raine1967 May 2014 #40

Glad to hear you're okay, and thanks for sharing! RiffRandell May 2014 #42

Great story. Thanks for sharing. Glad your HBP is diagnosed. Take care of yourself. mountain grammy May 2014 #43

Yep on the kidney comments. Destroyed my husband's kidneys. DebJ May 2014 #44

Good for you! Glad the ACA is working for your benefit. riqster May 2014 #45

Avoid processed foods. They're loaded with sodium. Get used to cooking real food. valerief May 2014 #46

your story rtracey May 2014 #47

The ACA kicked in too late for me Warpy May 2014 #48

agreed SteveG May 2014 #71

Please book an appointment with a doctor IronLionZion May 2014 #50

See your doctor. And another suggestion: Brigid May 2014 #57

+1 Hissyspit May 2014 #80

I'm so glad you received the proper medical care. myrna minx May 2014 #59

My family experience cap May 2014 #60

Glad you are getting this taken care of. Be well. nt msanthrope May 2014 #61

And the anti-ACA crowd says ... 1StrongBlackMan May 2014 #62

Because the anti-ACA crowd's definition of a NECESSARY test is a test that THEY need, stopbush May 2014 #83

Oh well...there goes Demo_Chris' plea to not post horror stories about blood pressure. tofuandbeer May 2014 #63

Yeah heh-heh... Demo_Chris May 2014 #77

I am happy for you, you are now empowered to find a good doctor mettamega May 2014 #65

That is really good news about fixing your blood pressure. greatlaurel May 2014 #66

No, the Dentist cannot fix my tooth (he has to pull two or three I guess) until my BP comes down... Demo_Chris May 2014 #78

That's great that your dentist even bothered to check! meadowlark5 May 2014 #69

This is the complaint I have with ERs - they never actually do anything for you, unless it's sewing DesertDiamond May 2014 #72

Glad you were able to get some help. stage left May 2014 #73

Dont know why you would have criticized Obamacare other than to say it isnt Universal Care randys1 May 2014 #76

ACA will save 24,000 lives a year. Glad that you are one of them eridani May 2014 #81

The next step is MediCAID expansion in the red states. stopbush May 2014 #85