What Is Wrong With Me?

After seeing that The Pony got inside with groceries on Thursday's Errand Day, I headed to the Gas Station Chicken Store, to cash in some winners and get more scratchers. The drive takes about 15 minutes from The Pony's house. My rightful handicap space was open. I stepped out into the searing heat, walked across in front of T-Hoe, and my whole world went to Not-Heaven in a handbasket!

I WAS SO DIZZY!

It hit all at once. I was strolling along. Had just about stepped under the roof of the gas pump area. When the world started to spin! I put my hand out to steady myself, first at the brick support post, then along the brick wall under the window. I stepped inside. The room swirled. Two people were at the counter. I stepped over to the counter area by the door, in front of the register, where there's the machine you can use to scan tickets.

"Sorry. I'm not trying to butt ahead. I just don't feel well right now."

I leaned on the counter. The two people were together. They finished up. I moved to the side, and gave Fave my winners and her envelope with tickets. She tried to print my Show Me Cash draw ticket.

"This has not been working! Let me try again."

"That's okay. You can skip it. I don't feel good."

"Something is wrong with that printer. I keep trying to put the paper in again, but it doesn't work. I keep getting this message on the screen from the lottery. I can't scan tickets. If you want to wait, I can try again."

"No. I don't feel like waiting today. That's okay. I'll just use what cash I have in my pocket."

I picked out four tickets, paid, and left. Hobbled dizziliy back to T-Hoe. Called Farmer H and explained the situation, after drinking the last 1/3 of water in my water bottle. Plus half another unopened bottle that has likely been in T-Hoe for a couple years. I dare the microplastics to take me!

"I guess I will try to drive home. It might take me a little longer. But if I don't show up, come looking for me! I'm trying to think of places I could pull off if I need to."

"If you feel like you can drive..."

"I think I'll start feeling better in a few minutes. Last week when this happened, I felt better after water and half a soda."

I wrote on my tickets. Cranked the air up colder. Strapped on the seatbelt. And started off. But had to slam on the brakes when a lady walked across in front of me! I made it off the lot. Made my right turn at the first light. Had a green through the second light. Then felt woozy going under the overpass.

"You're fine. You're fine. You can pull over at Orb K if you need to. Just a little farther. This is just panic right now. That's the tingling in your legs. Just breathe. Now just over the hill. You can turn by Mick the Mechanic's if you need to. Okay. The prison entrance is up here in case you need to get off the road. Just a little more. There's the bridge, and the county blacktop road. Once you're there, you can go slower. Just keep going. Okay. There's room to stop at the low water bridge. Up around the curve. Almost to the mailboxes. Gravel now. Almost home."

I made it to the garage. Farmer H was coming through the people door. How sweet! Checking on me. NOPE! He was getting dogfood. To put in bowls with eggs that I told him to throw out. The dogs were totally not interested in eggy dogfood. It was 96 degrees! But they DID want a piece of grease bread from my hand as I went in the kitchen door.

I drank more water. Changed clothes. Ran cold water over my wrists. Started to feel a little better after 10-15 minutes. Made Farmer H's supper, then sat down with my scratchers and regular snack of an ounce of cheddar, and 12 dill pickle slices. An hour later, the dizziness was completely gone.

My last doctor NP visit was May 13. My blood pressure was 140/60. I have lost 16 pounds (intentionally) since then. I wonder if maybe my blood pressure is going too low. Maybe my medication (10mg lisinopril) that I've been on for 25 years might need the dose adjusted. Or maybe it was a combination of that, and the heat. I try to stay hydrated. I take a bottle of water with me to town, and drink it during my travels. I felt just fine going in and out with The Pony during errands. But this hit me all at once.

I've been having some dizziness off and on for a month or two. Since I've been trying to stay more hydrated, it had seemed better. I don't know what's going on. I'm thinking about not taking my BP medicine until I get back home from town, rather than in the mornings. Or maybe cutting it in half to see if that changes anything. My next appointment is in August.