Forums

[Tyrone Slothrop]

Originally Posted by sebastian_dangerfield

This Covid thing has fucked with people in untold ways. Never had any issue with my health, despite historically having run the machine hard, until last year.

Out of the blue, got a massive, stroke level spike in BP (testing 200/120). All while heart rate was still in low 70s, indicating pretty athletic cardio capacity at that level of stress. Felt fine. Was actually on my way for a run when a chance decision to test it led to discovery.

Scans and scans and tests later, everything came back fine. No organ issues, no left ventricle expansion consistent with longer term exceedingly high BP.

Cause? Unknown. Told to avoid excessive salt. Told booze intake inadequate to cause that kind of spike. No kidney disease. No thyroid issues. Heart attack enzymes actually low. All potential causes eliminated but one: Having had Covid a few times, both before and after having been vaxxed and boosted.

Maybe it was transient (I opted for meds rather than fuck around, which have a delightful calming side effect). Or maybe I'd have had a fucking stroke. I'd never have known except for a chance decision to play with a family member's BP cuff.

You gotta get lucky in life. In so many ways. And maybe you also have to avoid Covid?

That's scary. I hope it's transient.

I don't know what to make of the people who go on about post-COVID risks. On the one hand, some of them seem a bit, um, touched. On the other hand, why not?