MEDICAL MATTERS

[Sue]

Word that my sister is in hospital again after a fall. Worrying reminder of our mortality. She is 13 months younger than me. I shall raid the burial fund and order a set of engine castings.... That's the only response I can think of!

Sounds a good idea, money is for the living

[Stanley]

I've had to explain my attitude to some of the grandchildren. They expect me to be stricken with grief and fear at the news about my sister. Now I suppose they'll think I am a heartless old bugger!

[plaques]

My pal was out for lunch with all his daughters family. Bought lunch and the next two rounds of drinks. Dad you can't afford all this. Yes I can its your inheritance money. Doesn't cost me a penny.

[Tripps]

Now I suppose they'll think I am a heartless old bugger!

I'd say they might have a point.

[Stanley]

Sometimes you have to be realistic David.....

[Sue]

My pal was out for lunch with all his daughters family. Bought lunch and the next two rounds of drinks. Dad you can't afford all this. Yes I can its your inheritance money. Doesn't cost me a penny.

I love that. I will remember it for the future

[Tripps]

I've seen a car bumper sticker saying "Spending the kids' inheritance"

Sometimes it's a very attractive thought.

[Stanley]

I call it 'spending the burial fund' and took over £600 out of it yesterday when I ordered castings for another Stuart Number 9 engine....
Meanwhile, My doctor Hassan Manzur has me worried He has asked for a rerun of Monday's blood test but preceded by 24 hours meat-free. What's that all about. Wouldn't it be nice if I could just ring him up and ask.....
(I went for a furtle on the web and it appears that it might be because meat can temporarily raise creatine levels and that's an indicator of Kidney problems.)
Margaret made a sensible remark when I told her. She said "It can’t be that urgent if the appointment isn’t till 28 June. Try not to worry about it," She's quite right of course.......

[Tripps]

News tonight that a simple blood test is on the way to diagnose cancers that have not yet shown any symptoms, reminded me of a cutting I took only a few days ago.


“Medical science is making such remarkable progress that soon none of us will be well.”
- Aldous Huxley

[Stanley]

I've been convinced of that for a long time David. It's why I have such a healthy distrust of 'tests' when they tell you you have something wrong with you but you feel fine. My medics went into a collective conniption when I refused any further treatment for my bladder cancer. They said I could be wrong and I agreed with them but I'd take the risk and not have the months of being unwell that come with the treatment. So far so good......

[plaques]

I've just climbed aboard the blood test round-a-bout. It all starts very innocuously 'take this as a safeguard against'... Then OH Dear its upset your blood system. You may be short of X,Y,Z on the other hand ???? We'll do some more tests. Ah, there's a lack of A,B,C, on the other hand ??? Perhaps a CT scan may be useful. Don't go on holiday.

Tripps mentioned Aldous Huxley. I've a feeling I'm on a Soma trip.

Soma is a drug that is handed out for free to all the citizens of the World State. In small doses, soma makes people feel good. In large doses, it creates pleasant hallucinations and a sense of timelessness.

[Stanley]

You're talking my language Ken! Trouble is that the medics argue that this is modern medicine and point to statistics that 'prove' they are right and doing a good job for us. But as I say time and time again, who actually benefits of the tests and treatments are actually a pain in the bum for the patient?
My bottom line is that the further I can keep away from doctors and hospitals the better I am suited. I had to have a very direct conversation along these lines with my GP when I refused further cancer treatment. The current scheduled blood test on the 28th is a good example. I feel fine but my GP is worried about a remote possibility so I have to have further tests. Trouble is you sound so ungrateful when you protest!

[plaques]

Stanley you seem to have a good caring doctor I would certainly take his advice on blood tests. We all worry about the 'what if' result but knowing and then taking a decision is different from not knowing and being too late.
Mrs P's very close cousin was just recovering from Hodgkins Lymphoma Disease. The on-going blood test now show up the possibility of leukaemia. Straight into chemo she now has a fighting chance of living longer.

[Stanley]

You're right Ken, I have and he seems to have taken a personal vow to keep me living as long as possible. But he and I agree that I have a point of view as well, we have had the conversation.

[plaques]

Another arm full of blood into little bottles. This is becoming a 'three pipe' problem. Gradually developing an encyclopedic knowledge of medical acronyms. The phlebotomist had never heard of half the test before. Join the club I thought.

PS. May get asked to be a script writer for one of the medical soaps.

[Big Kev]

Another arm full of blood into little bottles. This is becoming a 'three pipe' problem. Gradually developing an encyclopedic knowledge of medical acronyms. The phlebotomist had never heard of half the test before. Join the club I thought.

PS. May get asked to be a script writer for one of the medical soaps.

Welcome to 'the club', I had to stop donating blood but I reckon they're taking more for testing than I ever donated

[Stanley]

I give my next 'meat free' armful on the 28th.....

[Stanley]

See THIS BBC report on research into daytime napping. It looks as though I am on the right track..... I have never been frightened of having a nap.

[Sue]

You may recall that last week I had a rather useless appointment at the voice therapy clinic where they tried to treat my voice issue as if it was acid reflux, despite what the consultant had written in my referral. I did not suffer from acid reflux to any note but to keep the peace as they say I accepted the prescription and the two new to me exercises that they suggested ( though my referred problem has still not been addressed and I have to wait till September for that).

Anyway dutifully I have taken the medicine, done the exercises and now I seem to have a profound acid reflux problem, with all the symptoms they described in their talk that I did not have. I blame it on the stress they created by ignoring my original problem. So now I need the medicine and the exercises. I would have done better staying at home !

[Big Kev]

See THIS BBC report on research into daytime napping. It looks as though I am on the right track..... I have never been frightened of having a nap.

I quite like a nap, 15 to 20 minutes can be very beneficial. The BBC article says However, the scientists recommend keeping naps to less than half an hour so I reckon I'm on to a winner there

[Tripps]

No comment. . . .

[Tizer]

On holiday in 2010 I found difficulty in walking up hills - shortness of breath and severe pain in my legs, like the type you get due to lactate build up. Also I couldn't keep my arms above shoulder level for long. I had lots of tests and scans and an angioscopy but nothing showed a possible cause. I was told that my breathing was just above the level to justify an inhaler so I'd have to `just live with it'. Since Covid I've had the extra difficulty of cold weather and/or strong winds causing rhinitis, blocking my nose and thus breathing becomes even harder when walking outdoors. I decided it was time to raise the issue again with the GP and was given a nasal spray to try. This morning I had an interview with the asthma nurse and she's put me down for more tests and has prescribed a spirometer.

But what surprised me was what came next. I said that was good because she could compare the results with those recorded for me in 2010. The answer? `Sorry we don't keep records going back that far'. I was gobsmacked! Has the NHS been throwing away all health records older than 10 years? I'm lost for words...

[Sue]

On holiday in 2010 I found difficulty in walking up hills - shortness of breath and severe pain in my legs, like the type you get due to lactate build up. Also I couldn't keep my arms above shoulder level for long. I had lots of tests and scans and an angioscopy but nothing showed a possible cause. I was told that my breathing was just above the level to justify an inhaler so I'd have to `just live with it'. Since Covid I've had the extra difficulty of cold weather and/or strong winds causing rhinitis, blocking my nose and thus breathing becomes even harder when walking outdoors. I decided it was time to raise the issue again with the GP and was given a nasal spray to try. This morning I had an interview with the asthma nurse and she's put me down for more tests and has prescribed a spirometer.

But what surprised me was what came next. I said that was good because she could compare the results with those recorded for me in 2010. The answer? `Sorry we don't keep records going back that far'. I was gobsmacked! Has the NHS been throwing away all health records older than 10 years? I'm lost for words...

I am lost for words too, especially now it is all computerised, its not take up paper space. Presumably then there will be no record why I was put on omeprazole in the first place. I am sure it was preventative because of the arthritis drugs I took which I nomlonger tame after my replacement big toe joint. This is one of the things I wanted to discuss with my GP. I have had the nasal spray for rhinitis but after a bit gave it up as it stopped working. Then I was put on permanent anti histamines. I have stopped taking them too as they stopped working. There seems to be no follow up anymore on what you are taking and the combinations. The pharmacist does a review but just asks if I know what the drugs are for and not whether they have helped. I need a face to face with a GP who knows me and my history , but they all retired after covid. There are two others I trust but ANY appointments are like gold.

[Big Kev]

HbA1c, kidney function and BP results all good today, that's that sorted for another 6 months. The new drugs look like they did the job. Just the results of the MRI scan to go now, the endocrinologist has put me on a dopamine receptor agonist (gotta love a long name) until the results come in. A peripheral vision test is on the cards too but that'll be dependent on the MRI outcome. These ailments are playing havoc with my travel insurance

[plaques]

CT scan for me this coming Sunday at Blackburn Royal. I saw a sign at the start of the M65 motorway saying there may be closures. Too busy keeping alive at that time so didn't read the detail. Anybody know what its about?