Catching up on my doctor appointments, including mammograms, skin checks, dental appointments, and yearly physicals was something my mom made me commit to as she underwent her chemo treatments back in early 2023. Since then, it's become an annual thing for me to get my yearly check-up done at the end of the year.
Fortunately, all three I've had have produced satisfactory exams and good numbers from the labwork that was done. But my blood pressure at the most recent of the three visits was a cause for concern for both my doctor and me.
It was high, much higher than it typically is here when I take it at home each day, and when they've previously taken it at the doctor's office. They took it four different times this past visit, and each one was high. Now, normally, I would have attributed it to something called "white coat hypertension," but this went beyond that.
SEE ALSO: Caregiver's Diary Part 34: I Can't Always Be Strong (and That's Okay)
When I talked to my doctor about it, I told her that I was religious about taking my readings using the wrist cuff mom and I use, and that I had notebooks full of numbers to prove it. What I think happened was that, in addition to being nervous about the appointment, the blood pressure cuff they used on me the first two times actually hurt beyond the normal discomfort you feel with them to the point I had to have them take it off of me quickly after it was done. I let them know it, too.
The two times after that when the numbers were bad, I chalked it up to anxiety over my first two experiences with the cuff.
If I ever had a concern about my BP, if it was ever consistently high, I assured my doctor she'd be the first (outside of my family) to know about it because I'd schedule the soonest appointment I could get. I'm sure doctors get told a lot of half-truths and outright fibs from their patients at times, but I was pleased that it appeared my doctor trusted me on this.
But the whole conversation got me thinking once I got back home about my stress levels, and not just after last week, when we had to postpone getting together with family for the Christmas lunch because of back spasms mom was having (she's doing much better now, thank goodness!), but also some other times over the year where my mettle had been tested.
No matter who you are and/or what you do in life, you are going to face stress. Sometimes it will be minor in nature, but other times it will be major, all of which can take on many forms.
That definitely holds true for caregivers and anyone else charged with taking care of a loved one who is limited in what they can do for themselves. The pressure we put on ourselves to make the "best" decision is always there, and when it turns out we didn't, we're hard on ourselves because of it.
But good/best decision or not, we have to give ourselves some grace, which I've talked about before. Not only that, but we need to take the time to care for ourselves, as I've also written about (clearly, I need to do better at practicing what I preach on this topic!).
READ MORE: Caregiver's Diary Part 4: Caregivers Need Care, Too
Whether that care for yourself comes in the form of a long, leisurely drive, a long overdue visit to the hair salon, some retail therapy, some time in the "man cave," or letting go of your worries about this minor issue or that, it's important that you take time for it.
My mental health is something I've got to make a priority in 2026, because if I don't learn to take better care of myself and to stop fretting about things I can do little to nothing to change, the next time that blood pressure reading is super high at the doctor's office might be legit.
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