OneGuyFromBarlick

Thanks Maz. I often wonder about the plethora of tests available to the doctors now. I mentioned to my man Hassan that I had heard there was some questioning inside the profession about their efficacy and he said I was right, it is more and more a cause for concern.
Susan asked some questions of my team about my tests and they told her that, overall, the results of my various tests had surprised them. There seemed to be an assumption that at my age there was almost certain to be some contra-indication but none were found. She didn't tell me this until later when the consultant gave me the all-clear. Whatever, I was delighted! (The nurse who did my pre-op cardiac tests told me at the time that she had never seen better results even in young people. Somewhere, somehow, I must have done something right!)

I'd not heard of a CAC Score before so looked it up to see how it worked and what was special about it. It seems to be the computer tomography (CT) scan that we are familiar with but using new fancy machines that can scan much thinner `slices' through the body. Here's a general explanation of CT scanning and the paragraph about the thinner slices (source: RadiologyInfo.org )

In many ways CT scanning works very much like other x-ray examinations. X-rays are a form of radiation—like light or radio waves—that can be directed at the body. Different body parts absorb the x-rays in varying degrees.

In a conventional x-ray exam, a small burst of radiation is aimed at and passes through the body, recording an image on photographic film or a special image recording plate. Bones appear white on the x-ray; soft tissue shows up in shades of gray and air appears black.

With CT scanning, numerous x-ray beams and a set of electronic x-ray detectors rotate around you, measuring the amount of radiation being absorbed throughout your body. The scanner will take a set of images and then the table will move (axial scan). Sometimes the examination table will move during the scan so that the x-ray beam follows a spiral path (spiral or helical scan). A special computer program processes this large volume of data to create two-dimensional cross-sectional images of your body, which are then displayed on a monitor.

CT imaging is sometimes compared to looking into a loaf of bread by cutting the loaf into thin slices. When the image slices are reassembled by computer software, the result is a very detailed multidimensional view of the body's interior.

Refinements in detector technology allow new CT scanners to obtain multiple slices in a single rotation. These scanners, called multislice CT or multidetector CT, allow thinner slices to be obtained in a shorter period of time, resulting in more detail and additional view capabilities.

Whatever they used on me it was very thorough!

Nursing a small blister on my thumb, courtesy of a hot oven tray.
Of course, I shall need a week off, full pay and possibly compensation....

I understand that consumption of good quality wine speeds recovery of thumb blisters!

A likely story.......

Possibly it would. Unfortunately, it is a week night, and we do not imbibe on weeknights.
(besides...I had forgotten all about it until I read the posts).
Had a haircut today. Hardly exciting news, but I managed to get home before the storm hit. It could have ruined me "do".

All the diodes down my right side (ribs actually) ache. I must have strained something getting those bloody bolt cutters out from under the bench!

Voluntary assisted dying system.
Terminally ill Victorian granted first permit for lethal dose under landmark euthanasia laws.
Patients must meet strict criteria to qualify, including having a terminal illness with no more than 6months to live, or 12months if the patient has a neurodegenerative illness like motor neurone disease.
Patients must initiate a conversation with their doctors, see a second doctor specialising in their illness and make 3 requests.
Gosh what a lot to go through but I would imagine worth it if you have no quality of life, and are very mentally aware.

Probably so Cathy but at the moment I am not ready to go!

I have always handled hot weather quite well but even so I know the dangers and am keeping on top of water intake and avoiding unnecessary effort. I know my limitations! Today could be a record-breaker.

Sally was bitten on her calf by some flying insect on Tuesday, looks like a horsefly bite to me. Yesterday it was swelling, hot to the touch and very painful so off she went to the chemists. They took one look and sent her to the surgery. She got an emergency appointment and was seem by Dr Hare. She has prescribed antibiotics and steroids for if the swelling doesn't go down. AB's seem to be taking effect this morning, the redness has gone, still tight but Sally says it feels a lot better.

Nothing ever seems to bother me although Sally with her compromised immune system seems to be a walking restaurant for anything that bites. She was like me and never had a problem until she had chemotherapy after which everything will have a go at her. Must be a change in pheromones or something that the little buggers can detect. Common natural and wonder remedies seem to be effective but only for a short while and believe me she has tried a lot. So she's rattling at the moment doc told her to keep taking the anti-histamines that we always have about for general hay fever type symptoms as well as the AB's and steroids if she needs them, can't be too careful it can very soon go bad as we have found out in the past.

Doctors are getting concerned with the higher incidences of Lymes disease. Spread by tick bites carrying a bacterium Borrelia. Can cause a nasty long term illness that takes some getting rid of. The precautions are cover up legs, arms and don't walk about your kitchen in bare feet.

So she's rattling at the moment doc told her to keep taking the anti-histamines that we always have about for general hay fever type symptoms as well as the AB's and steroids if she needs them, can't be too careful it can very soon go bad as we have found out in the past .......


I react badly to insect bites. The little monsters love me. Luckily I too take antihistamines all the time for allergic rhinitis, however the GP has given me steroids to use in case of an excessive reaction. I have enough for three severe attacks ,after a really bad episode a couple of years ago . So far so good but there are some really nasties here in rural France, as small as a pinhead but as vicious as something much much larger

And the bad news is that the more aggressive biting insects are moving North with climate warming at a rate of about 5ft a day. There was a piece on R4 only yesterday about it. I'm hoping that my nicotine infused body will protect me because I react badly to some bites.....

Several years ago when we were living in the village I got severe bites several times while working in the garden. They were caused by flies, no bigger than a housefly, but resulting in fluid-filled blisters about 2cm across and 0.5 high. I still have the large circular marks on my ankles.

In June I received a reminder text from my dentist that my 6 month checkup was due. Since then I have been trying to book an appointment. I have been on the website numerous times and could not find a slot! Just been on today and managed to find a session at 9.15 on the 10th September, almost 3 months after my regular appointment was due.

I book my next six monthly appointment directly after I come out of the chair. I get a good choice of days and times. They send me an email a week before the event. Good system I'd say.

I finally gave up on the NHS dentist (My Dentist) in Earby last year as they didn't have a dentist never mind any appointments. I made the decision to go to a private dentist in Colne and they are wonderful, appointments easily arranged and time to do things well. It doesn't seem to be much more expensive either.

I am eternally grateful for the fact that I lost all my teeth 60 years ago when Mr Pinder pulled the lot out and gave me pot gobblers. Never had any reason to regret it and my top set is the original he made for me then. Is this a record?
60 years with no pain and expense...... (I suspect I have been very lucky, I know that some people have had much worse experiences)

I'm a stranger in this thread. A medical issue I've been ignoring for years has recently been pushed to the front of the queue. I have long had difficulty standing up from sitting and its gradually been getting worse. My mother had the same symptoms and it degenerated to the point where she competely lost her mobility. She was entirely dependent on my dad, wheelchairs and hoists for the last 12 years of her life. She was diagnosed with a rare condition called Inclusion Body Myositis (IBM),the scanty research suggests it can run in families and blokes are a lot more likely to get it than women. It is unknown in under 50's. its degenerative and has no real treatment.

Last week I was driving and when I wanted to stop I couldn't lift my lower leg / foot to put mt foot on the brake pedal. (a condition called foot drop - https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/foot-drop/ ) I've have had some difficulty in the recent past and made allowances in the way I drive (slowly, big gap to the next car, anticipating having to stop etc) Last week it crumbled when coming down Manchester road. Downhill was always worst, and I had to **cough** steer into a hedgerow to stop the car. I decided that was it and I've made the decision to give up driving. The next time might be a kid I run over to stop the car. I'll not be doing housecalls in my business in future unless I can walk there. I've made an appointment to see my own doctor (not easy, she only works part time and invariably has long delays), Coming up on Thursday. The NHS website points you to a charity's website ( https://www.myositis.org.uk ) it warns few GPs are aware of the condition so I envisage being pushed to a specialist. We'll no doubt find out.....

That's bad news Pluggy, and very wise of you to pack in driving. I hope you get help and support asap.

I'm very sad to hear your news Pluggy. Keep us informed and all the best