No Melanoma, just an irritated Seborrheic Keratosis

So good news, I don't have skin cancer.  Instead it was a common non-cancerous skin growth that can look like a wart, or skin cancer.  Despite their appearance they are harmless. It's something people can get as they get older, thus often called "barnacles of aging."  They can grow anywhere, most often on the chest, back, head, or neck.  They range in color and may have a waxy surface.  You can have just one or several.  They are not contagious.   The exact cause is unknown.  Most generally develop over age 50 and increase in number with age.

Hydrochlorothiazide increases risk of Skin Cancer

Since I don't recall this new mole before my stroke, I wondered if its somehow related to high blood pressure and found that HCTZ can increase my odds of getting skin cancer.  Just great...

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/12/171204105339.htm

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/320270.php

Mole Biopsy

A while back I noticed the pretty big mole on the left side of my face.  I asked Emi if she remembers me having it, and she says yes but not that big.  I don't really remember seeing it till then.  Asked Baba same question and she says its a mole I didn't have as a child.  So I went and saw a dermatologist who cut the middle section of it out and is sending it to a lab.  The mole is uneven around it and the color is not consistent within the mole so I got a little concerned.  Results should be in within 2 weeks.

Scary Car Momemt

Was driving in Hemet, stopped at a stop light. The light for the lane turning left turns green, and I start driving. A car who was turning from the opposite site honks. Sorry...  And I back up.  What if I had driven and the other cars didn't stop? I always felt I would die in a car accident but this scared me.  Like the dots didn't all connect.  A simple mistake that could be deadly.

Fascia & the Splits

Finding that working on my fascia helps knee and hip pain and my plantar fasciitis.  I have knots most noticeably in my calves and bottom of feet, when I work on them with the roller thing that my heels don't hurt as much in the morning.  Some days almost no pain.  Been forgetting to work on them on a daily basis and I can tell when I don't.  Thinking about getting a foam roller so I can work on my hips and back.   I think if I can work on getting the knots and tightness out of my muscles that the knee and hip pain will go away.

Also been trying to stretch more, my goal is to be able to do the splits.  I can tell there's tightness in my hips so I know eventually the stretching will help that. Been working on both the side splits and the vertical splits.  Could take months but I think I can do it.

Effects of long-term treatment with metoprolol and hydrochlorothiazide on plasma lipids and lipoproteins.

In order to evaluate the effects of one-year antihypertensive treatment on plasma lipids and lipoproteins, 65 patients whose diastolic blood pressure was in the range 95-120 mmHg were randomly allocated to groups that received either hydrochlorothiazide or metoprolol, or both drugs when the response to one of them was insufficient to control blood pressure. Blood pressure was effectively reduced in all groups. Patients on hydrochlorothiazide showed a significant increase (P less than 0.01) in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) after 3 months of treatment. A significant increase in triglycerides was observed after 6 and 12 months, together with a decrease in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) after 12 months (P less than 0.05) of treatment in patients on metoprolol. In patients treated with both hydrochlorothiazide and metoprolol, total cholesterol increased after 3 (P less than 0.001) and 6 months (P less than 0.05), triglycerides increased after 6 (P less than 0.01) and 12 months (P less than 0.01), and LDL-C increased after 3 (P less than 0.05), 6 (P less than 0.001) and 12 months (P less than 0.01) of treatment, respectively. In 61% of the patients, three or more lipid parameters were affected during the study period. We conclude that long-term antihypertensive treatment with hydrochlorothiazide, metoprolol, and particularly with both drugs, can induce lipid effects that deserve recognition, because in some cases these might counteract the possible benefit of a reduction in blood pressure on the prevention of coronary heart disease.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2266340

Five Years

This year marks 5 years for my stroke, car accident, and Jiji.  I'm glad i'm not part of the 25%, though lately I've had scares with my BP being real high, like 175/110.  Started systemic enzymes about a week ago and also started a food log.   The food log points out what i'm lacking, most noticeably calcium.  Been trying to eat a fruit a day, lately its been either an apple, banana, or grapes.  The recent batch of green grapes have been really good.  Bananas been giving me a mild tingly feeling on my tongue.  Don't know why.  Not a fan of apples but I know its good for me.  Actually feel healthy eating one.  Avoiding baked goods and bread, and sweets except for a piece of dark chocolate few times a week.  The last few readings have been making its way back down to 135/95 range.  Been taking my meds daily too, tho last few days just the metroprolol since BP coming down.  Systemic enzymes are supposed to clean my blood and lower BP, they say noticeable as soon as 2-4 weeks but could take months, but once it starts working, it works.  It just has to be taken on empty stomach, most days I remember to take first thing in morning but the second dose sometimes gets forgotten.  Been taking 2pill/2x day.  Something called Megazymes which is both digestive and systemic enzymes.  I'm hoping this'll work.

Went to get mail the other day, got in my car and didn't have my keys.  Looked around in the pile of mail, then I realized I may have left it in the keyhole.  So I went back, there it was, I hadn't even closed the door to my box.  Getting old dementia? or brain farts coming back?  Was a bit scared this happened, first time I forgot my keys in the PO box!

Apple cider vinegar

Read ACV could lower high blood pressure in about a week. Been reading about how meds can make other parts of body pay in return for lowering BP. Dunno if it will last but gonna try to give it a go. Today was Day 1. Had coffee yesterday and couldn't sleep last night and was super tired this morning. Took a drink before cleaning, didn't feel much more energy during cleaning. 11pm now and just realized I'm not tired. Coincidence? We'll see.

"Green Out"?

Saturday, April 21:  Abby had a bday party to attend in Hemet.  Before heading down, ate a small piece of "chocolate", and we go to Lemongrass for dinner.   Halfway thru, I start feeling a heaviness in my left chest, like my boobs were hurting.  I think, I hope I don't have another stroke  or heart attack.  Something wasn't right.  We order our second bottle of beer to share.  I start feeling light headed and things start going white.  I step outside to get some fresh air.  And pass out. I remember trying to move my legs but they wouldn't, I can hear the people around me, should we call 911?  I barely sit up somehow. Then David's there. I come to, was able to stand up but faint again after a few steps. He carries me to the car.  Some lady asked if he needed help.  He says something like, I'm gonna get down and dirty, as he hoists me over his shoulder.  Apparently my eyes rolled back.  Next few hours, sitting in the car, my body feels super heavy and I can't lift my arms.  This came in waves till I went to bed.  It was really weird, my mind seemed fully conscious but my body wasn't.  They said edibles react differently to alcohol as it is absorbed thru the stomach and liver, not inhaled thru the lungs.  This could cause chest pain, low blood pressure, intense desire to lie down.  After getting in the car, heart rate was 65, which is the lowest I can remember.  I'm guessing either heart rate or blood pressure dropped low enough for me to pass out.   Pretty scary shit.  But glad I didn't have a stroke or end up in the hospital.

My neck: 2 years later

It's been two years since my reverse cervical kyphosis diagnosis, and have been getting chiropractic adjustments.  Happy to see things are noticeably improving.  Old xrays on right.