Author Topic: The health and fitness thread about random things (Read 469065 times)

Cudzoziemiec · « **Reply #2200 on:** 18 May, 2018, 10:03:21 am »

Quote from: Eccentrica Gallumbits on 10 May, 2018, 12:58:34 pm

Quote from: Cudzoziemiec on 09 May, 2018, 09:49:22 am
Not sure this is quite a health and fitness thing, but why do the NHS, or some of their depts, insist on using "Private number" when they call you? Phone rang just as I was going out, fished it out of pocket, see "Private number" so ignore it. It goes off again immediately, so I decide to give them the benefit of the doubt – and it was about an appointment for my son. I realize they don't want people calling back on that number but surely it's easy to both block incoming calls and have the number display as something relevant (like "BRI outpatients" in this case)? Telecoms have been able to do this for 20 years or so.
They're not calling on a direct line; the call is routed through a switchboard and they've pressed 9 for an outside line, so the caller display doesn't have anything to show.

Probably is, but whatever the technological reasons the effect is to get those calls dismissed as spam.

hellymedic · « **Reply #2201 on:** 18 May, 2018, 12:04:47 pm »

Quote from: De Sisti on 09 May, 2018, 09:34:54 pm

It's possible to mow a small lawn 8 days after a hip replacement*. I kept on thinking of the
mower as a zimmer frame to aid my walking; so ended up accomplishing two jobs with one
action.

LWaB used my wheelchair for this purpose when the comedy crip trio travelled to Taunton for the AUK Reunion in 2016.
He was partially weight bearing and otherwise on crutches, having fractured his pelvis...

mrcharly-YHT · « **Reply #2202 on:** 21 May, 2018, 03:49:49 pm »

Hmm - it seems that the doctors want to stent my kidneys.

I'm not keen on this. It would be semi-permanent; the leaflet suggests that I'd need a replacement every 6 months!

My issues are almost certainly caused by medication. Some research suggests that the issues could have been prevented by taking potassium citrate as a supplement.

Plus it doesn't solve the problem of stopping me getting kidney stones in the first place.

MikeFromLFE · « **Reply #2203 on:** 23 May, 2018, 08:13:45 am »

I got my hearing aid yesterday (singular). Apart from the fact that the plug timers are all bloody noisy, and the birds need silencers, it's fantastic!
Everything is so much 'brighter', and the tinnitus isn't there, and - so far - I don't find it an irritation.
Audiology - a forgotten corner of the a NHS!

Sent from my Moto E (4) Plus using Tapatalk

T42 · « **Reply #2204 on:** 24 May, 2018, 12:37:21 pm »

Cardiologist wants me back on beta-blockers. NOT A FUCKING CHANCE. Those bloody things turned cycling into Hell for three years and cost me my qualification for PBP 2011.

hellymedic · « **Reply #2205 on:** 24 May, 2018, 01:25:36 pm »

Doctor, doctor, if I give up smoking, cakes & alcohol and take statins & beta-blockers, will I live forever?
No, but it will feel like forever...

T42 · « **Reply #2206 on:** 24 May, 2018, 02:46:45 pm »

I'll have a natter with my GP next week. He has the final say in prescribing and I'm pretty sure he'll agree with me.

Cardio also wants to add apixaban on top of clopidogrel, while warning of haematoma risk if I fall off my bike. I suppose I'd better pick my crashes carefully and aim at hedges rather than trees.

mrcharly-YHT · « **Reply #2207 on:** 24 May, 2018, 03:21:10 pm »

They've put me on Tamusolin, to make my kidney stones pass through (hopefully; the alternative is surgery). My BP has dropped through the floor. I can cycle the two miles to and from work, if I ride carefully. Rode a bit fast last night, got off the bike, then had to hold onto a wall to stop myself from keeling over.

Two weeks ago I was hitting the gym for a hard 1hr session twice a week. :-(

T42 · « **Reply #2208 on:** 24 May, 2018, 03:58:45 pm »

Great sensation, huh? I had that all the time 2008-2011 because of overcautiously-prescribed meds. Hope your stones pass faster than that.

mrcharly-YHT · « **Reply #2209 on:** 24 May, 2018, 04:28:59 pm »

Me too.

Hill climbing is utterly out when on beta blockers (I've been on those, too). Like driving a van with a speed limiter fitted.

T42 · « **Reply #2210 on:** 25 May, 2018, 07:36:07 am »

I did cols in the Vosges when I was on BBs. Heart wouldn't go over 130. Every 5-10 pedal-strokes I had to give one big one so that I could coast for a couple of seconds and let the quad pain subside.

T42 · « **Reply #2211 on:** 26 May, 2018, 08:38:59 am »

Further to the above: decyphering the letter from the cardio, it would appear that I have hyperexcitable atria, and I gather that spurious spikes are crossing the bundle of His* and "troubling" relaxation of the left ventricle. This is annoying, since it's exactly what the currently crocked El Prez suffers from, only he's reached the extreme phase.

I know of several cyclists who have this. Mostly they're col-chasers: I'm the first endurance rider I've heard of with it. However, long ago I was told by an anaesthetist that "we'll have you in here one day for a pacemaker. We get droves of cyclists needing them".

Just now the cardio wants to try BBs, but if they're too effective - and I know they would be - he wants me on an anticoagulant instead, and warns me of the risk of haematomata [sauce] if I fall off my bike. In future I'm only to ride on quilted roads.

Joking apart, it looks like the start of something major. Shit.

OTOH yesterday I did 149 km with 900+ metres of climbing at an average of 22.2 kph, so there's life yet. Need to find out how many seasons I can get in before the chopper.

* or Theirs if you want to be non-denominational

Ham · « **Reply #2212 on:** 31 May, 2018, 10:43:42 am »

Quote from: T42 on 26 May, 2018, 08:38:59 am

Further to the above: decyphering the letter from the cardio, it would appear that I have hyperexcitable atria, and I gather that spurious spikes are crossing the bundle of His* and "troubling" relaxation of the left ventricle. This is annoying, since it's exactly what the currently crocked El Prez suffers from, only he's reached the extreme phase.

I know of several cyclists who have this. Mostly they're col-chasers: I'm the first endurance rider I've heard of with it. However, long ago I was told by an anaesthetist that "we'll have you in here one day for a pacemaker. We get droves of cyclists needing them".

Just now the cardio wants to try BBs, but if they're too effective - and I know they would be - he wants me on an anticoagulant instead, and warns me of the risk of haematomata [sauce] if I fall off my bike. In future I'm only to ride on quilted roads.

Joking apart, it looks like the start of something major. Shit.

OTOH yesterday I did 149 km with 900+ metres of climbing at an average of 22.2 kph, so there's life yet. Need to find out how many seasons I can get in before the chopper.

* or Theirs if you want to be non-denominational

I could mention this to Mrs Ham, she might well see the quilting of a road as a challenge. (FTR, anything in Ham Hall that doesn't move fast enough gets quilted)

Good luck, anyhow.

hellymedic · « **Reply #2213 on:** 31 May, 2018, 12:04:35 pm »

Went to Central Middlesex Hospital today to see surgeon about the cysts on my scalp. Been put on waiting list to have one or two removed from my bunch of six. Consultation might have lasted three minutes.
GN: Appointment ran on time.
BN: 8 mile trek £10 and two Taxicard Swipes
GN: Couldn't see taxi rank by exit so hopped on waiting bus, which took us halfway; didn't have to wait very long for next bus, which went to our door.
BN: They have replaced receptionists with technology. Check-in on terminals by clinic. Desk in waiting area blocked off with signs telling you to use terminals outside. Large TV screen on wall shows BBC1 with subtitles on left (wrong aspect ratio so distorted images) Right half of screen is patient stuff: Joe Bloggs to Room 4 or whatever. Hospital time on top left of screen is 3.5 minutes behind BBC time. Folk with visual impairments or language/literacy issues would have trouble managing this.
GN: Hospital ATM works. I has CASH!

My brother had his cysts removed at the GP surgery. My last batch were removed at Edgware Hospital, which is within walking distance but on the east side of Watling Street, the frontier between Brent & Harrow and Barnet.

I'll have my Breast Squeezing at Edgware in a fortnight though.

barakta · « **Reply #2214 on:** 31 May, 2018, 12:24:31 pm »

I had my "lost twice" 11 months overdue head MRI to eliminate scary causes of migraine yesterday... £18 in taxi fares cos local buses don't do the route properly. We arrived 35 mins early cos travel was at rush hour o clock and I had to apply a worst case traffic AND worst case taxi factor and taxi came early.

There was a human receptionist but she was a bit sluggish and didn't have great awareness. So much for my "patient advocate" saying it was all sorted and they were expecting me. Had to keep saying "I'm deaf, face me while talking" "say again". There was a crap TV loud enough to be annoying but not loud enough to hear, no subtitles showing crap telly. I don't miss having a telly.

I wasn't taken out to the MRI scanner van till 65 mins after my appointment time then had more waiting in there... They took my hearing aid and spex off me quite a bit before taking me in... While the radiographers were friendly, they only half grokked DEAF.

The funniest bit was me being taken into scanner room and lipreading radiographer 1 telling someone behind me "she can't hear you!" before turning to talk at me herself and trying to give me disposable earplugs... I had to explain 100db deaf at <500Hz, I can't HEAR the MRI scanner apart from a tiny bit of some high frequency harmonics... They plonked headphones on me anyway which then got wire snagged so I had them pulling in a funny way while in the scanner.

Apparently reporting is delayed, signage all says 2 weeks with biro scrawl saying 6-8 weeks. Radiographer 2 said chase specialists' secretary after 4-5 weeks so I'll do that via my "patient advocate" cos my consultant's secretary has shown herself incapable of responding to emails even after I formally complained, TWICE.

I need to then go back to arguing with a new human "I really do MEAN IT when I say be Accessible Information Standards compliant or I'm escalating again" and I'm done with nice education, I did that 11 months ago and they still haven't sorted basic access.

T42 · « **Reply #2215 on:** 31 May, 2018, 01:01:16 pm »

Quote from: Ham on 31 May, 2018, 10:43:42 am

Quote from: T42 on 26 May, 2018, 08:38:59 am
Further to the above: decyphering the letter from the cardio, it would appear that I have hyperexcitable atria, and I gather that spurious spikes are crossing the bundle of His* and "troubling" relaxation of the left ventricle. This is annoying, since it's exactly what the currently crocked El Prez suffers from, only he's reached the extreme phase.

I know of several cyclists who have this. Mostly they're col-chasers: I'm the first endurance rider I've heard of with it. However, long ago I was told by an anaesthetist that "we'll have you in here one day for a pacemaker. We get droves of cyclists needing them".

Just now the cardio wants to try BBs, but if they're too effective - and I know they would be - he wants me on an anticoagulant instead, and warns me of the risk of haematomata [sauce] if I fall off my bike. In future I'm only to ride on quilted roads.

Joking apart, it looks like the start of something major. Shit.

OTOH yesterday I did 149 km with 900+ metres of climbing at an average of 22.2 kph, so there's life yet. Need to find out how many seasons I can get in before the chopper.

* or Theirs if you want to be non-denominational

I could mention this to Mrs Ham, she might well see the quilting of a road as a challenge. (FTR, anything in Ham Hall that doesn't move fast enough gets quilted)

Good luck, anyhow.

Ta. Got a stress test next week. Thing is, I'm climbing well and I feel fine. The cardiologist calls that "asymptomatic".

My sister's into the quilting bit as well. It makes for a lot of obligatory likes on Facebook.

BrianI · « **Reply #2216 on:** 31 May, 2018, 10:16:00 pm »

Hmm. Is that the wee weird scabby thing which was biopsied off my ear (and diagnosed as all clear) coming back again? Seems to be right where one of the stitches were from the biopsy site.

Will keep an eye on it!

LittleWheelsandBig · « **Reply #2217 on:** 31 May, 2018, 11:03:58 pm »

Sounds interesting T42. For what little it is worth, I know of a couple of randonneurs with pacemakers who are holding up pretty well. We're still aiming to share the road with you again in your part of the world, so don't stop turning your wheels just yet.

T42 · « **Reply #2218 on:** 06 June, 2018, 03:41:33 pm »

Thanks, LWaB.

Had the stress test today: everything normal, absolutely without arrhythmia. Cardiologist has backed off from the BBs but wants me to take a mild anticoagulant to offset the risk of cerebral haemorrhage. "Minimal risk of haematomata", quoth he.

Why is it that all these medical words are so bloody difficult to spell?

hellymedic · « **Reply #2219 on:** 06 June, 2018, 04:52:36 pm »

They're all Greek (and Latin) to me!

ElyDave · « **Reply #2220 on:** 06 June, 2018, 07:43:00 pm »

5 years ago today, I became a type 1 diabetic officially

I feel no less healthy now than I did before, and certainly better than the undiagnosed and uncontrolled diabetic I was for several months

hellymedic · « **Reply #2221 on:** 06 June, 2018, 08:22:21 pm »

I think life-changing diagnoses can be a relief.

They provide an explanation for multiple symptoms and a hope of a useful management plan.

It might be sad to have the diagnosis but it's good to know the illness is treatable and you're not a malingering neurotic etc.

T42 · « **Reply #2222 on:** 07 June, 2018, 08:54:18 am »

Yes. My son is vastly overweight (BMI 37 and counting - a figure I have trouble believing) yet remains just within the limits for not being diabetic. As a result his knees and ankles are grumbling, at the age of 44. My own ankle problems started at that age, but they came from jumping a couple of metres down a bank in the forest and landing hard on both heels. Were he to do the same he'd have to be helicoptered out.

A diagnosis of T2 diabetes delivered with a good scare would do him a world of good.

hellymedic · « **Reply #2223 on:** 07 June, 2018, 01:32:13 pm »

Weird how hurty joints don't spur action from some folk.

I am privileged in not having pain in general. I don't do pain. If I had pain,I would do my best to minimise or abolish it.

I am a softie!

mrcharly-YHT · « **Reply #2224 on:** 07 June, 2018, 01:41:09 pm »

I had my pre-op assessment yesterday. My BP is low (105/60), despite recent exercise being minimal (just basic planks and about 80 pushups a day).

Despite losing 7kg recently and getting down to 76kg I was still flagged as 'overweight'. I'm skinny with maybe an inch of belly fat at the most.