Oh, I get it. His pressure is usally 100/69 or therabouts and he is on 25 of the metoprolol. He was told no-salt by the cardiologist when he had the stent. and he was told no salt when he got the menieres and the vertigo.

Something about vertigo and salt (the two don't go together).

I'm going to take his blood pressure when he gets home.

He does put ketchup on his food (that has some sodium). I just don't cook with any sodium.

But foods that he does eat, like at Dunkin Donuts, (well there's sodium in that),

In this house, I don't cook with salt, and he doesn't put it on his food.

Can a person who has a stent, well can that person ever go off the metorolol?? I once asked Dr Fred's partner in the office this question and he said "no, you have a stent, you need to be on blood pressure meds".


And since he has been put in the hospital with Vertigo and then the ear nose and throat guy said "you have menieres", that means reduce your salt. So we did and he hasn't had a bad bout of vertigo ever since we reduced the salt.

Well, now I'm confused. Is he getting that dizzy spell because of the low-sodium diet. Or did he get the dizzy spell because he cheated and ate stuff with salt??

See the oxymoron of this whole thing.

No concrete answers.

I'll tell him to go to Dr. Fred and get checked out.

Like he's going to listen to me. Yeah, right!!!

??????????
mel

the word is moderation.

(I hope I get to finish this post....the red X's are coming now!)

No ADDED salt. No foods really HIGH in salt...pretzels, soups, etc (there are new low salt ones).

Just the salt in your food. Avoid high consumption of processed foods.

But a brownie here or there? or a piece of cake? I don't see these as evil...only if eaten in excess. Give the guy a break... let him have some fun.

Doctors ALWAYS say avoid salt. Because in the US people OD on it.
But it only has a negative impact on people very sensitive to it...for example African Americans are considered salt sensitive. Since his BP is low anyway, I'd let him have some things here and there.

Very low blood pressure does not deliver blood to the brain, and people with Adrenal malfunctions are given salt to RAISE blood pressure.

Since you can take his BP...do this: Do a log for a week. Take BP first thing in the morning, and several times of day, and at night. You will find it highest in the morning, and lowest at bedtime. See how much it varies, and test it with some salty food once. See if it goes up. Better to know what is happening than restricting him willy nilly when it might not be needed. IMO.

I get red X's when I try to edit....

Moderation means....do not SALT your food, or eat salty snacks, or pickles, etc.

Only obtain salt from your food (and not highly processed foods).

You know a serving of Low Fat Ruffles potato chips has very little salt.
A serving has 180mg of sodium. That is pretty LOW.

http://www.fritolay.com/fl/flstore/c...ts_ruffles.htm

www.nutrition.org
is a good resource to check content of foods. Check out sodium there.

There hasn't been a potato chip or a pretzel in this house in 2 years. No kidding!!!

He doesn't add sald to anything because he likes everything sweet, because of the taste perversion thingee going on since his fentanyl patch days.

We don't use soups. I cook fresh for EVERYTHING. Nothing is processed.

I am going to to the blood pressure check thing and keep a log.

How soon after he eats some salt should I take his blood pressure???

Thanks,

Mel
P.S. I really do mean THANKS, believe me!!!

Psoriasis is definitely autoimmune. Psoriasis is a systemic disease, not just skin disease.

I get dizzy not matter what position I'm in...it comes and goes without rhyme or reason.

Allen will need to learn some lessons on his own.

You need to devote all that caring energy towards you. Cantankerous men need to learn their own lessons.

get several days done, with numbers that seem consistent.
Then eat salt one day, and see if tomorrow it is elevated.
Blood pressures go down at night..so the same night may not
show much. The next morning will however, since morning pressures are
higher anyway..after a salty day it should be higher. IF he is salt sensitive that is. There may be no effect. This does not mean he can go crazy with salt,
but he won't have to give up everything, either, perhaps.

watch for hidden salt too. here is a pretty good article that gives you different names. plus..if you ever eat out...who knows how much you are getting.

http://vm.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/fdsodium.html

Aiming to get some idea of a food's sodium content, consumers knowledge able about sodium-restricted diets looked for names like sodium caseinate, monosodium glutamate, trisodium phosphate, sodium ascorbate, sodium bicarbonate, sodium stearoyl lactylate, and other sodium-containing ingredients, including salt (sodium chloride).

Mel

If you get Allan a skinny tire racing bike.....I can see him now as a bike messenger in NYC or Lance Armstrong II.....and who will be worrying...him or you??

I wonder what you have to do to get Allan to worry about you as much as you do him.....hmm...the lycra and bike did it for me...(now I need a new gig). I won't subject any one to me in lycra right now.

This is OT in some ways but relevant in others...
A couple of years ago DH & I were out of town and ate at Chain restaurant...well we got their 'special fries' with our orders...Couldn't touch them! Tasted like PURE SALT! Might've just shoved spoonsfulls of salt down our throats? As a result, now I just order mashed or any appealing vegie other than squash...most places don't know how to cook it well. Sigh.
Another thing? Go to the grocery store and look at the salt contents of the same brand of Tomato Juice, but in the different size cans...if you can compare the 6, 10 and 30 odd ounce sizes, well, it can be a SALT experience! The %'s of salt per serving vary VERY widely. Scary but true?

Curious that site and your quote, are too true. Isn't it the same for sugars and the 'substitutes or alternatives' as well?

Melody, Yes you take super care of Alan, BUT, when is he going to take on the responsibility of taking care for himself? Goodness forbid, but if anything happened to you, well he would be totally helpless! Train him, to at least try? Please?

I do cook lo to no salt, adding only usually at the end to taste. I find that there's enuf salts added to canned or some prepared goods to keep me 'salty' enuf for quite a while! All the extra hidden salts as well...When you really look for them, you can find them. Next, I suppose we'll be asking where the SALT came from? Realities intrude. Melody, You do inspire me to cook more fresh, more often. For that you are a gem! Have you checked out D-Life.com's recipies? Some of them are good and EASY! They are criteria that are key in my cooking. Hugs to all! - j

yep j...and fats...artificial sweeteners too. basically if the name sounds like a science experiment...they are probably hiding soemthing. pretty sad.