and today i have mostly been...

[steve_earwig]

Oh bugger That is rather worrying. Any idea what the figures are? Good luck this afternoon!

I have low blood pressure (110/65), not much to worry about apart from lots of headaches and occasional dizziness/feebleness.

Also: Reading the above posts, this will be day 4 of driving the Pug instead of the yoyo...

[Welly]

It was 180/100 this morning. I've had high readings down at the quacks before which then settle when resting at home. I've got a BP monitor and have been asked to take recordings at various times of the day and keep records.

[steve_earwig]

I think that's called something like "white coat syndrome", my dad gets that. It's not catastrophically high but needs investigating.

My mate Max here did his in the chemists last week, it was over 200 I phoned him a few times after I dropped him home to make sure his head hadn't exploded.

[Welly]

Just had the ECG and I R NORMAL so feel bit better now in that respect.

Blood test next and then for some 'lifestyle amendments'.

Basically I drink too much alcohol, something I've been aware of and have wanted to do something about. I just needed a medical-grade bollocking I think so challenge accepted and now to start on a programme of less slurping and more doing useful stuff.

Slippy slope really, and my biggest failing; amongst all the good things I do this is something I'm not proud of.

[DaiRees]

Good news on the ECG at least fella, perhaps a little push is what you need to get you to take better care of yourself?

If you don't mind me asking mate, what constitutes "too much alcohol"?

I actually drink very little in real terms. I have a glass of red wine maybe 3 or 4 evenings a week and a couple of pints of Guinness most weekends, then every now and again I'll take the bus to the rugby and have a proper session, that could be up to a gallon of the black stuff and several double shorts, but that's really quite rare, perhaps half a dozen times a year.

My Mrs always seems to have a glass of wine in her hand though, I suppose living with me will do that to someone . I've no idea how much she drinks but she does try to be quite covert about it (and I have occasionally found empty bottles in unexpected places as if they've been hidden), which leads me to think that she's drinking more than she feels is appropriate. So that does concern me a little.

[Doggy]

Good to hear it's not too serious.

My typical weekly intake is about 3 pints of Eurofizz of a Friday, a couple of cans of lager most Saturdays and sharing a bottle of plonk over Sunday lunch. As time goes on, I seem to suffer more ill effects from even this amount of drinking - believe it or not I can get a hangover after Friday night and wind up with a headache Sunday evening.

I just about get enough exercise to keep my weight in check without being too careful what I eat, but it feels like this is going to going to need more effort one way or the other soon.

Tell you what Welters, we seem to have acquired 8 stone of Labrador that's in need of some* walkies. Could be just the thing for you!

[Welly]

Just back from the blood test, it was Red which is a good start. Three lots were taken and are now being rushed* off for analysis (1 week).

Coming round to the idea of a substantial lifestyle rethink, and have already started to an extent, family are on board which is good and they'll be keeping tabs on progress. I think I've kinda slipped under the radar really, I can drink too much and it doesn't affect my work or home life and I've never treated anyone negatively enough for them to be concerned. I might add that I never drink during the day, just evenings and as my misguided way of relaxing or dealing with stress maybe.

I definitely think we should look after each others health jointly at home, if you were concerned about a partners smoking/drinking/weight then it is something that should be addressed jointly. One of the things in my own 'improvement' plan is to 'do something else' when I would normally be drinking; this might be a walk or some gardening or even polishing my tail pipes. It is too easy to come home from work, do the dinner, and then sit relaxing watching TV with a glass of something to hand. There's nothing wrong with doing that but there needs to be some balance too.

[benczuk]

Good luck.

It's the right time of year to try as the days get longer and you can actually do something in the evening, but it isn't quite BBQ season.

I fall into the same boat, come home from work*, put the kids to bed, cook dinner and then slob in front of the tv with a glass of wine. The wine becomes a crux, like a fag, something you just pick up and sip without thinking.

Trouble I have is what to replace it with. I don't like plain water, cordials get boring after a couple of glasses, I haven't drunk fizzy pop for 10+ years and have lost my taste for it... only drinks I enjoy are tea (not an option at night if I want to sleep) beer and wine

I now have a stash of this in the house Sainsbursy Low Alco lager. Which is the only low alcohol beer I have found (I have tried lots) that actually has a reasonable taste without a sweet or metalic aftertaste.

Even that gets boring after a while though, in the way a nice bottle doesn't (and all low alco wines are c**p)

[Doggy]

If only you could find a low or non-alcoholic drink that you feel like drinking as much of as you would beer or lager.

FWIW I packed in smoking at this time of year in 2001, then took up cycling to stop the weight gain. It worked brilliantly until in got cold in October and I wimped out, then I put on over a stone.

These days I muddle along by walking the dogs every evening and longer at weekends, but it's not enough really.

[Welly]

I slurp buckets of tea all day at work so doing the same at home doesn't appeal. Fizzy pop is bad for you, cordials just seem to be chemicals, beer is bad for you but has a nice taste and returns a feeling of relaxation/reward. I've tried low-alc beers when out and about and they're pointless, a bit like eating a sweet with the wrapper on.

I have to say that I didn't drink as much when I used to smoke, I used to enjoy a small quality coffee and a Marlborough Light of an evening.

[steve_earwig]

Finger crossed Welly. Mind you, if it does come back "cut down on the booze you pisshead" at least you'll know what it is, rather than mystery ailment, more tests, more prodding and poking (my leukocytes are sky high, they have no idea why, after a year of investigations they gave up and just told me to keep an eye on it).

Umm, oh yeah beer. It's not something I've ever been able to drink, that's not for lack of trying either, it's just lager tastes like piss to me and bitter tastes like ear wax.

I mustard mitt I'm not doing to well on the smoking though, I was doing quite well on the e-fags up until Christmas and then I had a cold. "I know" I said to myself, "I'll just puff on the e-fag and then the cold won't go straight to my chest like it normally does." Then I took a puff on the e-fag, coughed my guts up and threw up. It's right next to me still as I type but it just has unpleasant connotations now.


Anyway, today I have mostly been... trying to get one of these fricking tiny little tillers going. I got 2 from my dad last year, one Mantis and one Homelite and do you think I can get either of them going? My dad is the master of small engines but I'm obviously not. The Homelite lacks a primer bulb, so I tried flooding it - it runs until that fuel's gone and then dies. Ok, get new primer bulb and replace the fuel tubes. Next! The Mantis, it has a primer bulb but the fecker still won't start. I can flood it to get it going and it'll happily sit on it's side idling but if I so much as lay a hand on the throttle or choke, try to stand it uo or try to put the air filter back it just dies. Blocked jet maybe? So I start pulling the carb off (it's another bloody Walboro POS) whereupon a fuel line snaps straight off and sprays 2-stroke mix all over me. Great.

I'm not doing too well with these things, both Flymos I brought back work but with issues (I can't get the engine speed up on the Tecmseh without it going into a rev cycle and the JLO runs ok for 10 minutes and develops a vapour lock and dies). All of these things worked fine at my dad's but they all refuse to behave here so I'm beginning to think I'm a cack-handed imbecile when it comes to 2-strokes.

[GingerMagic]

Then I took a puff on the e-fag, coughed my guts up and threw up. It's right next to me still

You really should clean it up.....

I was given a 4 pack of lovely Cider about 3 weeks ago for doing a diagnostics, and now I'm down to my last 3 cans - is this excessive..??

[steve_earwig]

Nah, it's ok, the dogs ate it.

If it's regular consumption it may still mean you're an alcoholic...

[Doggy]

I was given a 4 pack of lovely Cider about 3 weeks ago for doing a diagnostics, and now I'm down to my last 3 cans - is this excessive..??

That depends on how many cans you had stashed away before acquiring the 4 you admit to.

[OllieNZ]

Bleeding profusely...... I bought a jimny cheap as it was in need of a head gasket, said gasket has now been changed and reassembly is 3/4 complete but unfortunately I have to pop into work in a bit and I doubt I'll get any more done tonight