Small steps lead to big changes...

jwil

Back to work today.  I wasn't particularly impressed by the colleague who called me at 8am on my first day back from leave to go through a load of (non-urgent) data.  I always try and give people a bit of time to get back into it, trawl through the endless emails and at least catch their breath before hounding them!  

I hadn't been into PA while I was off as I keep forgetting to log in, so it was nice to see a load of approved surveys so I cashed out.  Another batch has been approved today so I can cash out again tomorrow.  

New washing machine is coming this week.  I drained the old one and unplugged it all yesterday so I can get DH to help me drag out the old one into the garden in the morning.  Although the old one is being taken, there won't be the room to remove the old one and deliver the new one at the same time!

I can't wait for payday so that I can hopefully make a start on replenishing the pots.  Hoping for a much less spendy September, though I do have DH's and another birthday.

savingholmes

Sorry about the unexpected cost.

It's irritating when people pounce as soon as you return. I think it is normal after the holidays to struggle to adjust - especially parents of young kids as while you've had time off you probably got very little 'you time'. I always said I went back to work for a rest. I hope things settle soon.

Having an at home BP monitor is a good plan. The cuff needs to be large enough or it skews the results. People also often say to use the best of 3 tests as your official result. Believe it or not your BP on one arm can be routinely different to the other too.

jwil

savingholmes said:

Sorry about the unexpected cost.

It's irritating when people pounce as soon as you return. I think it is normal after the holidays to struggle to adjust - especially parents of young kids as while you've had time off you probably got very little 'you time'. I always said I went back to work for a rest. I hope things settle soon.

Having an at home BP monitor is a good plan. The cuff needs to be large enough or it skews the results. People also often say to use the best of 3 tests as your official result. Believe it or not your BP on one arm can be routinely different to the other too.

Thank you, it's very frustrating isn't it.

Yes, when I was pregnant I got sent to hospital once for my BP as the person taking it refused to use a larger cuff and it was reading high.  As soon as I had it taken with the larger cuff, then it was absolutely fine!  I've been doing 3 readings with the library one, and taking the average, but that cuff is too small, so I won't trust the results until the one I ordered has arrived.  It does say on the instructions to always use the same arm as well.

jwil

Today's PAD - £10 (survey)

Jan - £141
Feb - £139
March - £89
April £149
May - £79
June - £270
July - £253
August - £156

jwil

I could get used to these two day weeks!  I'm off after today again til Monday.

I need to look at the restructure stuff today as the consultation ends at the end of the week (I thought it was early next week).  I think one of my meetings has been cancelled, so that will help.

Cashed out again on PA and already past £7 on OP so all going well there.

Have a good day everyone.

EssexHebridean

Always the same arm, and always sit with both feet flat on the floor as well - no crossed legs as that skews the result. 

Great work on Prolific - I'm totally off that one this month, I'll be lucky to clear £12 to cash out! 

badmemory

I was really surprised a few weeks ago when having pre op testing that my blood pressure was up (that did not surprise me at all re pain/stress type things) but he had finished & said I could move, so I stood up as less painful & my blood pressure shot down.  I had always assumed standing would make it worse.

beanielou

Great pads 😊

EssexHebridean

badmemory said:

I was really surprised a few weeks ago when having pre op testing that my blood pressure was up (that did not surprise me at all re pain/stress type things) but he had finished & said I could move, so I stood up as less painful & my blood pressure shot down.  I had always assumed standing would make it worse.

Nope - lying down will make it drop substantially though. I was in hospital a few years back, was woken the second morning I was there by a nurse coming to take obs, who said there was no need for me to sit up. Half asleep, I didn't really take much notice of what she was doing, and a few minutes later she left again. Approximately 30 seconds after that I was fully awakened by the door slamming back as a Doctor rushed in followed by several others - turns out that my BP was through the floor and had caused a complete panic. On asking what it was I was able to tell them that yep, that was always where it was when I was sleeping - I'd previously had ambulatory monitoring so was aware - and that it would return to normal if I sat up. Unsurprisingly (To me, although not to them!) it did, and the nurse got a very valuable object lesson on not doing BP on someone with a very slow resting HR without getting them upright first! 

Found out subsequently that something broadly similar had happened to my Dad when he was in hospital some years before! Yes - that low resting HR is definitely genetic!

jwil

Thanks everyone.   I thought standing affects it as well, as they say to sit down while doing it.  My readings from the library were standing and they are quite a bit higher than home, though it is a wrist monitor and I think those read higher as well.  I'll be enlightened when mine arrives