Things are not going well. I am refusing to take the new medication that my doctor gave me for blood pressure. It carries with it the risk for noncardiogenic acute pulmonary edema. I have seen flash pulmonary edema and it is scary and life-threatening. I can't handle that risk. I have completely changed my diet and am engaging in relaxation exercises like yoga and meditation. So far, I don't think either one does a bit of good, but I will continue until I find something that does. I have increased my klonopin to try to get myself back on solid ground. That is undeniably a disappointment for me since I worked so hard to come off of it and now have to do it again. Obviously, trying to conceive in February is not going to happen. I have begun a protocol based upon some research first presented in 1999 and then again 2008 which utilizes Vitamin C and garlic bulb powder as a means to lower pressure by 9% in 4 weeks. I am hoping and praying that I benefit. Obviously, life is on hold right now. It is upsetting, but I can't do anything about iti at the very moment. Please keep me in your prayers. Thanks.

I am sitting at home while hubby is at church. In my attempts at yoga yesterday, I pulled a huge muscle in my back. My anxiety has been especially high this week and I know that my shrink is getting tired of getting text messages from me. I went to the doctor on Friday and she put me on blood pressure meds. I took it for 2 days and will not take it again. It made me feel horrible. I am going to give myself 6 months on a low sodium diet with supplements to see what I can do naturally. I am at the point where I think that eastern medicine has gotten way too caught up and western medicine has it all right. A friend of mine had a BP of 210/110, did it the natural way and is now normal. In the last 24 hours I have read some very interesting new research that touts the efficacy of 500 mgs of Vitamin C and 650 mgs of garlic bulb powder daily to decrease BP an average of 9%. Nine percent would get me to where I need to be.

If it works, I am going to insist that my husband goes on it too. Actually, I will probably insist that he subscribe to the protocol when I do...immediately. His BP is high and his stress is higher. I am concerned about him. He hates his job. Well, not his entire job, just one portion of it, but it is significant.

Please keep us in your prayers.