Health update.

[ckn]

26 minutes ago, JohnM said:

So they are not blaming you being a mod?

What is your BP? I'd like to compare if with mine,  which stubbornly refuses to come down.. PM me if it's private.

24hr average on the highest meds I can tolerate is 160/100. I had to not take my meds before the session today as the trial requires them to tick a box to say they saw me take them, my BP on taking them was 178/110

[ckn]

On 02/08/2019 at 15:00, ckn said:

I’ve volunteered for a clinical trial to reduce my blood pressure, it’s effectively a stent in the carotid artery that convinces the body that blood pressure is dangerously high therefore it does more to reduce it without medication.

Part of the process is lots of tests and assessments, today was a full physical work up, including going over blood tests, doing an ECG and getting my arteries scanned by ultrasound to make sure they’re good enough for the process.  Even if I pan out as I don’t meet the very strict medical criteria then I’ll still get the Plan B of direct access to the country’s best blood pressure clinicians to help put me right.

The doctor wasn’t impressed by my blood tests, he thought they were wrong as the cholesterol was too low and something had gone wrong with the test. I had to convince him that those were normal for me. 2mmol/L total cholesterol with <1mmol/L LDL (bad cholesterol). The reference range for a “healthy” adult is 5mmol/L total with no more than 3mmol/L LDL.

I blame my wife, she keeps feeding me all this healthy stuff when my genetic makeup is designed to eat high-fat stodgy stuff.

All passed today, onto MRI scans of the entire path of the procedure and other bits of me.

Ah well, Plan B it is. Apparently I'm too physically healthy to meet the criteria for the trial. My physical health is very good for my age and having such a high blood pressure meaning I'm outside the quite narrow scope of the trial. The doctor said that it's all to do with them being unlikely to find a match for me to put on the other side (50/50 chance of getting the treatment or put into the control group)..

[tonyXIII]

2 hours ago, ckn said:

Ah well, Plan B it is. Apparently I'm too physically healthy to meet the criteria for the trial. My physical health is very good for my age and having such a high blood pressure meaning I'm outside the quite narrow scope of the trial. The doctor said that it's all to do with them being unlikely to find a match for me to put on the other side (50/50 chance of getting the treatment or put into the control group)..

Look on the bright side. You now have it 'in writing' - you are physically very healthy. Lots of people would take that as a real positive.

Good luck with the BP!

[gingerjon]

3 hours ago, ckn said:

Ah well, Plan B it is. Apparently I'm too physically healthy to meet the criteria for the trial. My physical health is very good for my age and having such a high blood pressure meaning I'm outside the quite narrow scope of the trial. The doctor said that it's all to do with them being unlikely to find a match for me to put on the other side (50/50 chance of getting the treatment or put into the control group)..

"Too physically healthy for this trial"... did they keep a straight face whilst telling you that?

[Shadow]

1 hour ago, gingerjon said:

"Too physically healthy for this trial"... did they keep a straight face whilst telling you that?

Next he'll be telling us how he was rejected from the job of Porn Star because his #### is too big

[ckn]

44 minutes ago, Shadow said:

Next he'll be telling us how he was rejected from the job of Porn Star because his #### is too big

That was in the 90s when I left the army. Ron Jeremy vetoed me because he knew his career would be over. 

[ckn]

2 hours ago, gingerjon said:

"Too physically healthy for this trial"... did they keep a straight face whilst telling you that?

The average person on the trial was 15 years older than me with typical age related wear and tear health issues. Apart from knackered knees and being a bit too overweight for my liking, I’m in decent medical shape. 

For example, my total cholesterol is under 2. My bad cholesterol is 0.9. The doctors were sure they had the wrong test results but that’s a historical known for me. That means my arteries are in very good nick and that went against me as most trial candidates had either high cholesterol or age related furred arteries. 

[Shadow]

5 minutes ago, ckn said:

That was in the 90s when I left the army. Ron Jeremy vetoed me because he knew his career would be over. 

As a former artillery man there are any number of innuendos to be made.

was it a 105mm?

was there a misfire?

did you need a team of men to help make it work?

[ckn]

Just now, Shadow said:

As a former artillery man there are any number of innuendos to be made.

was it a 105mm?

was there a misfire?

did you need a team of men to help make it work?

105mm? I once had an entire regiment of artillery firing their 8” on my command (M110). Although I found the smaller ones were great at getting in, shooting their load and getting out before anyone noticed. I spent years making infantry folk jealous about the size of mine compared to their small hand operated peashooters. 

 

[Shadow]

28 minutes ago, ckn said:

105mm? I once had an entire regiment of artillery firing their 8” on my command (M110). Although I found the smaller ones were great at getting in, shooting their load and getting out before anyone noticed. I spent years making infantry folk jealous about the size of mine compared to their small hand operated peashooters. 

 

As an infantry platoon sergeant I needed 30 other blokes to do all that stuff for me. If I had to start using my weapon something had gone very badly awry

[Lounge Room Lizard]

I am on 4 days Chemo every 28 days which happens 4 times. I am on round 2. I spend 3 weeks in Hospital one week at home due to Immune system being reduced to Nothing each time. The Cancer was reduced from 75% to 5% in my Bone Marrow. Hopefully similar result after this next round. The hope is I will have remission for a while until the Cancer comes back at some point. Its tough not seeing much of my daughter, but if I am in remission then can make up for this. The Cancer I have maybe not curable but its treatable to a point in many cases. Sadly many still die from Myeloma often due to organ failure, pneumonia etc

[Bob8]

1 minute ago, Lounge Room Lizard said:

I am on 4 days Chemo every 28 days which happens 4 times. I am on round 2. I spend 3 weeks in Hospital one week at home due to Immune system being reduced to Nothing each time. The Cancer was reduced from 75% to 5% in my Bone Marrow. Hopefully similar result after this next round. The hope is I will have remission for a while until the Cancer comes back at some point. Its tough not seeing much of my daughter, but if I am in remission then can make up for this. The Cancer I have maybe not curable but its treatable to a point in many cases. Sadly many still die from Myeloma often due to organ failure, pneumonia etc

Hi, ‘Deb8’ here, we are thinking about you. And that lovely lasagne -Mrs Deb 8

[Bob8]

4 minutes ago, Lounge Room Lizard said:

I am on 4 days Chemo every 28 days which happens 4 times. I am on round 2. I spend 3 weeks in Hospital one week at home due to Immune system being reduced to Nothing each time. The Cancer was reduced from 75% to 5% in my Bone Marrow. Hopefully similar result after this next round. The hope is I will have remission for a while until the Cancer comes back at some point. Its tough not seeing much of my daughter, but if I am in remission then can make up for this. The Cancer I have maybe not curable but its treatable to a point in many cases. Sadly many still die from Myeloma often due to organ failure, pneumonia etc

Wishing you the best. 

You have a great life and I dearly hope it can be a long one. 

[longboard]

46 minutes ago, Lounge Room Lizard said:

I am on 4 days Chemo every 28 days which happens 4 times. I am on round 2. I spend 3 weeks in Hospital one week at home due to Immune system being reduced to Nothing each time. The Cancer was reduced from 75% to 5% in my Bone Marrow. Hopefully similar result after this next round. The hope is I will have remission for a while until the Cancer comes back at some point. Its tough not seeing much of my daughter, but if I am in remission then can make up for this. The Cancer I have maybe not curable but its treatable to a point in many cases. Sadly many still die from Myeloma often due to organ failure, pneumonia etc

All the best to you Si. 

[Dave T]

Quick update on my Afib. Been feeling pretty ropey over the last few weeks, like I have been constantly fighting a virus, but had good news yesterday when visiting my Cardiologist. After more tests, confirmed that there is no issue with my heart itself (apart from the irregular and now racing heartbeat), all the piping etc. is fine. So that just means some treatment for the Afib itself to see if they can fix it and manage it.

So will now go for Cardioversion, which is a procedure where you have electric shocks to your heart to try and reset the rhythm. Have also been given more medication to handle the fast heart rate. 

I must admit, I am feeling much better today, I think the stress of having to go and visit a cardiologist at the age of 41 was getting to me more than I thought. 

On top of the above, my main focus at the moment is to get fit, lose weight, and reduce my alcohol intake (that isn't a massive issue) - and take this as a wake-up call that I can't muck about with my health and need to take care of myself. 

Likely I will still need medication ongoing, and no guarantees the Cardioversion will help, but hopefully it will.

Thanks again to the couple of people who have messaged me privately about this and what they have been through, it really has helped during this last few weeks.

[Shadow]

2 hours ago, Dave T said:

Quick update on my Afib. Been feeling pretty ropey over the last few weeks, like I have been constantly fighting a virus, but had good news yesterday when visiting my Cardiologist. After more tests, confirmed that there is no issue with my heart itself (apart from the irregular and now racing heartbeat), all the piping etc. is fine. So that just means some treatment for the Afib itself to see if they can fix it and manage it.

So will now go for Cardioversion, which is a procedure where you have electric shocks to your heart to try and reset the rhythm. Have also been given more medication to handle the fast heart rate. 

I must admit, I am feeling much better today, I think the stress of having to go and visit a cardiologist at the age of 41 was getting to me more than I thought. 

On top of the above, my main focus at the moment is to get fit, lose weight, and reduce my alcohol intake (that isn't a massive issue) - and take this as a wake-up call that I can't muck about with my health and need to take care of myself. 

Likely I will still need medication ongoing, and no guarantees the Cardioversion will help, but hopefully it will.

Thanks again to the couple of people who have messaged me privately about this and what they have been through, it really has helped during this last few weeks.

Best of luck, my wife gave me one of these the day after my Cardioversion

 

[Bearman]

I was told yesterday that I need a pacemaker due to my AF.

I have to have another check up to see if my heart has been further historically damaged by the AF. This will determine if I need 1 or 2 electrodes on the gizmo.

There is a 3 months waiting list for the procedure to implant which ever is decided. I get extremely tired since my stroke and I am hoping that it gives me a bit of get up and go.

Other than that I am ok, but I know my speech isnt quite right as I now stumble over occasional words.

[longboard]

10 hours ago, Bearman said:

I was told yesterday that I need a pacemaker due to my AF.

I have to have another check up to see if my heart has been further historically damaged by the AF. This will determine if I need 1 or 2 electrodes on the gizmo.

There is a 3 months waiting list for the procedure to implant which ever is decided. I get extremely tired since my stroke and I am hoping that it gives me a bit of get up and go.

Other than that I am ok, but I know my speech isnt quite right as I now stumble over occasional words.

Good luck with it Bearman.

[Shadow]

10 hours ago, Bearman said:

I was told yesterday that I need a pacemaker due to my AF.

I have to have another check up to see if my heart has been further historically damaged by the AF. This will determine if I need 1 or 2 electrodes on the gizmo.

There is a 3 months waiting list for the procedure to implant which ever is decided. I get extremely tired since my stroke and I am hoping that it gives me a bit of get up and go.

Other than that I am ok, but I know my speech isnt quite right as I now stumble over occasional words.

Another one for the Arc Reactor T Shirt.

I have been surprised since I had my Heart issues just how common it is, I choose to believe it's because it is easily and successfully treated these days and we are all testaments to the benefits of modern medicine.

 

[ckn]

24 minutes ago, Shadow said:

Another one for the Arc Reactor T Shirt.

I have been surprised since I had my Heart issues just how common it is, I choose to believe it's because it is easily and successfully treated these days and we are all testaments to the benefits of modern medicine.

 

Go to this site, click on the first document (the Excel one), go to the GP tab and you can see exactly how many people in your GP practice have AF.

The current estimate is that 1/3 of people with AF have not been diagnosed or detected, there are plans in place in most areas to improve this detection through routine checks.

The best way to find out is the Over 40s Health Check your GP will organise for you with delight (they get paid a very small amount for every patient who does this check) as that's included in the checks they make.  Better be quick though as Matt Hancock (our current health minister) has said that they're getting canned at some point for some waffly reason but in reality because they cost quite a bit despite the clear prevention and early intervention they provide to people just starting to get these conditions.

[Shadow]

30 minutes ago, ckn said:

Go to this site, click on the first document (the Excel one), go to the GP tab and you can see exactly how many people in your GP practice have AF.

The current estimate is that 1/3 of people with AF have not been diagnosed or detected, there are plans in place in most areas to improve this detection through routine checks.

The best way to find out is the Over 40s Health Check your GP will organise for you with delight (they get paid a very small amount for every patient who does this check) as that's included in the checks they make.  Better be quick though as Matt Hancock (our current health minister) has said that they're getting canned at some point for some waffly reason but in reality because they cost quite a bit despite the clear prevention and early intervention they provide to people just starting to get these conditions.

Is there a similar incentive for type 2 diabetes?

I have regular blood tests to monitor my Hypertension and Heart and in the last couple my Blood Sugar levels have been slightly elevated but as you can see from the Fitness thread I've been dropping weight slowly and consistently overthe past 6 months and exercising more so when I had the last set the GP suggested we'd probably see that going down next time.

Yesterday I got a call on behalf of the Nurse Practitioner booking me in for 20 minutes to tak to me about my Type 2 Diabetes and to refer me for retinal scanning. I suggested she have a conversation with the GP as he didn't seem to thk there was a problem. Short answer, one of them will call back in a week after the Nurse gets back from leave and will discuss it with me further. Mrs Shadow suggested it was a money earner for the practice, the cynic in me agrees but thinks it may be a presentational issue.

[ckn]

5 minutes ago, Shadow said:

Is there a similar incentive for type 2 diabetes?

I have regular blood tests to monitor my Hypertension and Heart and in the last couple my Blood Sugar levels have been slightly elevated but as you can see from the Fitness thread I've been dropping weight slowly and consistently overthe past 6 months and exercising more so when I had the last set the GP suggested we'd probably see that going down next time.

Yesterday I got a call on behalf of the Nurse Practitioner booking me in for 20 minutes to tak to me about my Type 2 Diabetes and to refer me for retinal scanning. I suggested she have a conversation with the GP as he didn't seem to thk there was a problem. Short answer, one of them will call back in a week after the Nurse gets back from leave and will discuss it with me further. Mrs Shadow suggested it was a money earner for the practice, the cynic in me agrees but thinks it may be a presentational issue.

Yes and no. That's more of a "do it or we'll dock your practice income" one.  You're now in the higher categories of patients the practice must keep an eye on, usually if you have one issue then you'll have more.  If you have a few of the bigger issues such as AF, hypertension and diabetes then you're more likely to get others, even if simply because you don't feel well therefore you do less and get inactivity diseases.

There are clear financial reasons for it though.  If you catch type 2 diabetes early enough then there are more options and chances to reverse it and stop the implications such as eye damage, if you leave it then it costs the NHS a long-term fortune to keep you alive and well, but if they reverse it then that's a lot of money saved.

Competent prevention generates no money for healthcare providers but it doesn't half save the NHS a lot from stopping it becoming an ongoing issue.  Isn't socialised healthcare without profit motives such a great thing to have?

I could rant about this for hours and the attitude of government since 2012 especially in cutting prevention funding.

[Bearman]

I am now bionic.

i have had a pacemaker fitted this morning.  My pulse rate is up to a healthy 60 beats a minute. It hasn’t been this fast since someone told me it was my turn to get the beer in

[Northern Eel]

8 hours ago, Bearman said:

I am now bionic.

i have had a pacemaker fitted this morning.  My pulse rate is up to a healthy 60 beats a minute. It hasn’t been this fast since someone told me it was my turn to get the beer in

Really good to hear. Keep well.

[gingerjon]

9 hours ago, Bearman said:

I am now bionic.

i have had a pacemaker fitted this morning.  My pulse rate is up to a healthy 60 beats a minute. It hasn’t been this fast since someone told me it was my turn to get the beer in

Good stuff.