What’s going on?
Some history here. Two years ago, I had an episode of suspected atrial fibrillation. I was in Otautau and drove to Riverton. I was having acute blurred vision, and my heart started racing. My vision narrowed, and I thought I might be having a heart attack or stroke.
After 45 minutes, I managed to drive to Invercargill A&E, where I had a CT head scan, a full blood check, and had my heart monitored for a few hours.
All normal, except for blurred vision and lightheadedness.
When I got back to Nelson, after a month or so, I had an appointment with a cardiologist that led to a heart monitor for a week. He put me on a beta blocker that reduced my heart rate and blood pressure. In retrospect, I believe this is where my blurred vision went from a single episode to something more pervasive.
During this time, I averaged more than 11,000 steps in 2024 and almost 14,000 in 2025. I continued with my tramping expeditions over summer. In 2024 I ended with an 11-day trip into Johnson and Kakapo Huts, and on the last day of my 65-day summer of tramping, I managed more than 45,000 steps. Not that I’m competitive, much.
That was despite my ongoing vision issues.
A few weeks ago, for some reason, I ate a full can of Four Bean Mix. 15 minutes later, I felt terrible.
I measured my blood pressure at 165/90, which was elevated compared to my standard 103/63.
The can was beans in brine, so I had a massive sodium hit. That caused a spike in my blood pressure that took time to resolve.
Startled by that massive rise in blood pressure, I booked an appointment with my doctor, 10 days away. That was a long wait, but he reassured me and said I might need to cut some medication in half if my blurred vision didn’t resolve in a month.
I was clearly fit, but still not feeling well. But of course no one else knew about it except when I whinged to my doctor.