OH Bound - April 15

So another question crossed my mind today, for those who've been through the process: How much effort is put into pairing up students with OTR trainers? Do they try matching smokers with smokers and non-smokers with non-smokers?

 

I wanted to drive 3 years ago after I had to have my gall bladder out unexpectedly with no insurance (double ouch). Always had really low BP, even when I went in to have it taken out. A month later, I made arrangements to attend a CDL school but all of a sudden had HBP. Took about six months for the doc to get the right combo of meds to maintain it. I learned during that time that what you do really can impact your BP. Lots of water and avoiding salt & caffeine for a couple days in advance of a BP check makes a real difference. Time of day can make a difference, too. BP is generally lower in the morning, before all the hassles of the day work your nerves. If you smoke, chilling out on that a bit the day of also helps. And deep breathing - in through the nose, out through the mouth - for about 10 minutes does wonders.

Of course if you're like me and have a touch of tinnitus, it serves as a permanent built in sphygmomanometer - the higher the volume, the higher the BP. If I could, I'd let you borrow it for a coupla days.

 

Ok, I just spent the last three hours reading the equivalent of Baritone's thread, but from a Swift Driver. Yikes!

 

Passed my physical this morning; now to get some paperwork off to the great Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Wheels are in motion to sell off parts of my biz and shut the doors by the end of March. Mid-March if I'm lucky; then I could get a couple projects done around the house before heading to Ohio. Can't tell you how much less stressful life is since I made the decision to go with Millis...