Update on oggbashan's health

[MetalRabbit51]

Your Continuing Struggle

Ogg, I can't imagine the fortitude you have had to draw on to deal with this medical malady, or series of maladies I should say. I wish you the very best in your health challenges. May you continue to confound the best medical minds with your positive progress!

 

[fifty5]

Type of reaction

Ogg, I can't imagine the fortitude you have had to draw on to deal with this medical malady, or series of maladies I should say. I wish you the very best in your health challenges. May you continue to confound the best medical minds with your positive progress!

My bet, knowing Ogg's sense of humour, is that he laughs it all off!

 

[oggbashan]

My bet, knowing Ogg's sense of humour, is that he laughs it all off!

You're right, FF. I also try to make the medics laugh too. I usually succeed.

My oncologist refuses to pass me on to her senior colleague, although she consults him and he attended one visit with me. Why?

1. I brighten her day and make her laugh, and,

2. I always bring her a tin of Quality Street chocolates. When her boss came, he got one too...

 

[NoJo]

I like to make medics laugh too. I had minor surgery recently. I kept my damn mouth shut all the way through the procedure.

 

[oggbashan]

I had a letter about my MRI scan today. The first two sentences say:

"[oggbashan's] MRI scan is normal. The EMG did not show any evidence of Lambert Eaton Myasthenic Syndrome."

But the rest of it is gobbledegook to me; "positive for CRMP5/CV2 antibodies." "GAD antibodies and VGCC is awaited?

I have sent a scan of the letter to my medical daughter.

 

[Handley_Page]

I had a letter about my MRI scan today. The first two sentences say:

"[oggbashan's] MRI scan is normal. The EMG did not show any evidence of Lambert Eaton Myasthenic Syndrome."

But the rest of it is gobbledegook to me; "positive for CRMP5/CV2 antibodies." "GAD antibodies and VGCC is awaited?

I have sent a scan of the letter to my medical daughter.

Fingers crossed, Ogg.

 

[oggbashan]

Another hospital visit today, accompanied by my wife and medical daughter. The consultant wants to try a six-week course of strong steroid tablets to see whether they improve my vision and speech. My unsteadiness? He thinks that might have another cause.

But the steroids are likely to affect my Type II diabetes sugar levels which have been already high this year - only one result in single figures since Jan 1st!

I have a telephone appointment with my diabetic nurse tomorrow, She is likely to recommend that I stop the several tablets, for which I am on the maximum doses, and switch to injected insulin.

 

[Handley_Page]

Another hospital visit today, accompanied by my wife and medical daughter. The consultant wants to try a six-week course of strong steroid tablets to see whether they improve my vision and speech. My unsteadiness? He thinks that might have another cause.

But the steroids are likely to affect my Type II diabetes sugar levels which have been already high this year - only one result in single figures since Jan 1st!

I have a telephone appointment with my diabetic nurse tomorrow, She is likely to recommend that I stop the several tablets, for which I am on the maximum doses, and switch to injected insulin.

Fingers crossed, Ogg.

 

[SisterJezabel]

Another hospital visit today, accompanied by my wife and medical daughter. The consultant wants to try a six-week course of strong steroid tablets to see whether they improve my vision and speech. My unsteadiness? He thinks that might have another cause.

But the steroids are likely to affect my Type II diabetes sugar levels which have been already high this year - only one result in single figures since Jan 1st!

I have a telephone appointment with my diabetic nurse tomorrow, She is likely to recommend that I stop the several tablets, for which I am on the maximum doses, and switch to injected insulin.

My first thought when I read steroids was BGLs. Insulin with the newfangled pen-injectors is not too bad from what patients have told me- especially when compared to other sub-cutaneous needles we give (mainly blood thinners which sting!).

 

[oggbashan]

My first thought when I read steroids was BGLs. Insulin with the newfangled pen-injectors is not too bad from what patients have told me- especially when compared to other sub-cutaneous needles we give (mainly blood thinners which sting!).

Thank you for this. I am worried that the consultation with the diabetic nurse is only by phone. She can't show me who to use insulin.

I am also concerned about injecting myself. I can't see straight and my hand coordination has never been good. When I had to inject myself as part of the chemotherapy I only succeeded in three out of five.

 

[JamesMiehoff]

Thank you for this. I am worried that the consultation with the diabetic nurse is only by phone. She can't show me who to use insulin.

I am also concerned about injecting myself. I can't see straight and my hand coordination has never been good. When I had to inject myself as part of the chemotherapy I only succeeded in three out of five.

First of all the newer autoinjectors are very easy to use. If you have a little belly fat, just pinch it together and stick the needle in. The needles are very short, about 1/4 inch (sorry you will have to do the metric conversion). Once in, press the button and a measured amount will be injected.

My wife has been an insulin diabetic for about 10 years and I can't say that she loves the new injectors, but she tolerates them well.

On another front, have your doctors tried you on Rybelsus (semaglutide)? It is a pill, you take once a day. I was on it for a year and my A1C dropped from 8.2 to 6.9. I also lost 40 pounds although most of that was home cooking and portion control due to the lockdown.

It did an excellent job of controlling my blood glucose. I was frequently over 200 and almost never below 130 when testing (100 is considered normal). In the last six months taking it my high was 179 (once) and I was within normal range (80-130) 78% of the time and when I was out of range it was only a couple of points off.

I am currently off it due to other health issues, but it did a very good job of helping to manage my blood glucose.

James

 

[oggbashan]

Thank you. I am now booked for a face-to-face visit on Thursday to show me how to use the injectors. 1/4 inch means more to me than any metric measurement - because I am ancient. At school, we measured the playground with rods (poles or perches) and a surveyor's chain of 22 yards - the length of a cricket wicket.

On another topic. I am due to have a CT scan, but before then I have to have a blood test.

I received the letter dated 8th March, this morning and it said I had to take the blood test within 14 days of the date of the letter (dated FIVE DAYS AGO). If not, the CT scan will be cancelled and has to be requested again.

Went online to book a test. Every hospital within 50 miles cannot do it next week. The earliest is Monday 22nd.

I have written a 'more in sorrow than anger' letter saying please send the letter by First class post (it came second) OR allow longer than 14 days.

 

[Handley_Page]

Ogg, I quite agree with you about Postal problems.
I received an appointment letter - on the day of the appointment !

 

[oggbashan]

Ogg, I quite agree with you about Postal problems.
I received an appointment letter - on the day of the appointment!

I received an automated telephone call to remind me that I had an appointment on the tomorrow - news to me, but I attended. The appointment letter arrived three days after the event.

 

[oggbashan]

Weight loss and cancer? Not Og!

I had my face-to-face meeting with the diabetic nurse today. Before she decided on what amount of insulin I should take she wanted to know my current weight. My bathroom scales are obviously useless showing me as just under 100 kg when I am actually 108.5. That is 17 stone = 230 lbs. When I was first diagnosed with cancer I weighed 12.5 stone!

The procedure for injecting insulin seems complex but I am sure after a few days it will be easy even if the checklist is a closely typed sheet of A4.

Next? Blood test on Monday prior to next CT scan to be arranged.

 

[oggbashan]

I did my first injection of insulin this morning.

The actual injection was easy. But preparing for the injection was longwinded with a double-sided A3 sheet of instructions to follow. I got one thing wrong but it was easily corrected.

Now to see what effect that has on my blood sugars today...

 

[oggbashan]

I did my first injection of insulin this morning.

The actual injection was easy. But preparing for the injection was longwinded with a double-sided A3 sheet of instructions to follow. I got one thing wrong but it was easily corrected.

Now to see what effect that has on my blood sugars today...

Not much. Still fairly high.

I started steroids this morning. The leaflet enclosed with them is full of warnings but so far - 8 hours later - nothing.

 

[Handley_Page]

Not much. Still fairly high.

I started steroids this morning. The leaflet enclosed with them is full of warnings but so far - 8 hours later - nothing.

Keep at it Ogg

 

[JaxRhapsody]

The 21st page on March 21st.












(my bday)

 

[oggbashan]

The 21st page on March 21st.












(my bday)

Congratulations - a day late.

This week is our 49th wedding anniversary, and next month my next birthday. I didn't expect to rach either. Now for the 50th!

 

[fifty5]

All the best to Ogg

Congratulations - a day late.

This week is our 49th wedding anniversary, and next month my next birthday. I didn't expect to rach either. Now for the 50th!

Our 50th is this year, June or July if I remember correctly, then both our birthdays follow in August, 25th for her, 26th for me.

Anyway many congrats to you, Ogg, I guess you now laugh at all the predictions of your death that have been made over the last few years!

 

[oggbashan]

Our 50th is this year, June or July if I remember correctly, then both our birthdays follow in August, 25th for her, 26th for me.

Anyway many congrats to you, Ogg, I guess you now laugh at all the predictions of your death that have been made over the last few years!

Thanks, FF. The doctors and I are delighted they got it wrong, but when I answered the Census yesterday I had to categorise my health as 'bad'.

The cancer is in remission. The oncologist hopes it won't return but suspects it will. Two years, five? The odds on my death shorten over time.

 

[_Lynn_]

Our 50th is this year, June or July if I remember correctly, then both our birthdays follow in August, 25th for her, 26th for me.

Anyway many congrats to you, Ogg, I guess you now laugh at all the predictions of your death that have been made over the last few years!

Congrats.

Mine would have been the 48th if I hadn't chosen a divorce fifteen years ago.

 

[Handley_Page]

Congrats.

Mine would have been the 48th if I hadn't chosen a divorce fifteen years ago.

U OK, Madam?

 

[TarnishedPenny]

The doctors and I are delighted they got it wrong, but when I answered the Census yesterday I had to categorise my health as 'bad'.

The cancer is in remission. The oncologist hopes it won't return but suspects it will. Two years, five? The odds on my death shorten over time.

That's not atypical, sir. But you seem to be having a good run while it lasts and that's the important thing.