When I got to work, I just did not feel right. Had a ringing in my right ear. My Captain put me on our Cardio Monitor. I watched his face as he waited for the BP. His reaction when from "No big deal" to " the 1000 yard stare". My BP was 170/ 140 !!!!! Being that I was at the station, he HIGHLY advised that I be transported "NOW!" It also covered me under Workman's Comp and the Heart & Lung Bill for Firefighters.
The ER did a stress test, blood work and a chest xray. ALL were normal. But my BP was still pesky. I have an appt for probable GERD at my Gastro Doc. As soon as I leave there, I'm seeing a Cardio Doc. Our Rescue / Ambulance Capt told me to look into Sleep Apnea. She said that there is a VERY VERY high number of older Firefighters who develop Sleep Apnea and never know it. She told me that subtle deficiencies can screw up vascular function.
I am back home with a BP monitor I bought. My BP is still a bit high at 142 / 92. I should know more tomorrow.
