Update on oggbashan's health

[NoJo]

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.

Wow, fifty you were married at 5 years old! Talk about childhood sweethearts...

 

[fifty5]

Mark out of 10?

Wow, fifty you were married at 5 years old! Talk about childhood sweethearts...

No, if you look at my logon data (and can read) you will see that I have been known as FiftyFive for over 17 years. I have been called other things by less polite people, but generally kept my temper, dear lad.

 

[NoJo]

..and I've been taking the piss for over 17 years, right back to when I was SubJoe and you actually were 55

 

[jehoram]

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'.

Statistically, that will balance out with the guy who lists his health as "good" and then keels over tomorrow.

 

[oggbashan]

Tablets!

When I get up I take five (medically prescribed) tablets. I got downstairs, inject myself with insulin, have breakfast, followed by two vitamin tablets, then another medically prescribed tablet, then 12 x 5 mg steroid tablets, and a large chewed tablet. That is it until the evening.

In the evening a slightly different set of five tablets, one chewed tablet, and Vitamin C dissolved in water.

I rattle!

 

[jehoram]

When I get up I take five (medically prescribed) tablets. I got downstairs, inject myself with insulin, have breakfast, followed by two vitamin tablets, then another medically prescribed tablet, then 12 x 5 mg steroid tablets, and a large chewed tablet. That is it until the evening.

In the evening a slightly different set of five tablets, one chewed tablet, and Vitamin C dissolved in water.

I rattle!

Something I heard somewhere:

T. S. Eliot was wrong when he said that we measure out our life in coffee spoons. We measure out our life in pill container compartments.

I find them useful for telling me which day today is.

 

[oggbashan]

After my telephone consultation with my diabetic nurse today, I will now be injecting myself twice a day with insulin to counteract the impact of steroids on my blood sugar count.

When my father was 90 years old and admitted to a residential home, he was taking thirty tablets a day. Within three months, by regulating his diet and consultation with the visiting doctor, he was off them all.

He lived another six years of very active life. Before he went to the home, he never knew whether he had eaten a meal or not, so would either have two or none. In the home, he ate three good meals a day at set times. Sometimes he forgot he had had breakfast, but because he had walked seven to ten miles after it, they might give him another (and add it to the fees!).

 

[JaxRhapsody]

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!

Thanks, man. Good to see you're still kicking. I'm certain you'll see both. You an Aries, too?

 

[oggbashan]

Thanks, man. Good to see you're still kicking. I'm certain you'll see both. You an Aries, too?

Nope. Bloody-minded Taurus.

 

[oggbashan]

Wo Ho!

After eight days of taking steroids - I can see singly!

I haven't been able to do that, except for half an hour at dusk - sometimes - for eighteen months.

When I signed on this morning I forgot my eye patch and didn't notice. It has now been six hours. I expect it won't last when I get tired, but that is amazing.

Apart from raised blood sugar levels which I am trying to regulate with insulin, I have had no side effects of the steroids.

 

[TarnishedPenny]

After eight days of taking steroids - I can see singly!

I haven't been able to do that, except for half an hour at dusk - sometimes - for eighteen months.

When I signed on this morning I forgot my eye patch and didn't notice. It has now been six hours. I expect it won't last when I get tired, but that is amazing.

Apart from raised blood sugar levels which I am trying to regulate with insulin, I have had no side effects of the steroids.

 

[oggbashan]

Day two of seeing singly.

 

[TxRad]

Day two of seeing singly.

Now you will know who the real twins are.

 

[oggbashan]

Now you will know who the real twins are.

It's the local dog walkers who have been worrying me. One woman has four scotties. I've been seeing eight for over a year.

Now they are back to four.

 

[Handley_Page]

It's the local dog walkers who have been worrying me. One woman has four scotties. I've been seeing eight for over a year.

Now they are back to four.

I had a phone call today from the Eye Clinic.
They want me to turn up for my second "cataract job" in three weeks.
After that I think it might be safe to get my soldering iron working.

 

[oggbashan]

HP. just think of all the details you will be able to see...

 

[Handley_Page]

HP. just think of all the details you will be able to see...

Oh, I'm looking forward to it.
A review of my bad soldering. . . .

 

[oggbashan]

Blast!

Back to intermittent double vision.

Two steps forward, one step back.

 

[Handley_Page]

Back to intermittent double vision.

Two steps forward, one step back.

As long as it's a small backward step . . .

 

[oggbashan]

As long as it's a small backward step . . .

Thanks, HP. It seems to be. Back to single vision since then. It is great to be typing without an eyepatch.

 

[Handley_Page]

Thanks, HP. It seems to be. Back to single vision since then. It is great to be typing without an eyepatch.

When my ole' Mum had her cataract fixed, she used one word to describe the effect; "the colour". Following my first one, I could see what she meant. Seeing in an alternate mono is no fun (with or without an eye patch);
I look forward to good stereo vision.

 

[oggbashan]

Today we had to drive forty miles to see my neurologist. 'We' currently means my wife. I haven't driven since January 2019 because of double vision - but now I can see singly, the neurologist had helped me to complete the form for DVLA (Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency) to allow me to be considered to drive again.

Although I had double vision, because I could see clearly and read a number plate at double the minimum distance with an eye patch over one eye, I didn't actually need to stop driving but I felt it was safer. My licence conditions already included tablet-controlled Diabetes. I was considered safe to drive as long as my blood sugar levels were above 5. They haven't been that low for three years.

The DVLA form had to be completed because I have moved from tablet-controlled Type II diabetes to tablets AND insulin.

What is worrying is that the majority of UK drivers over 75 (or younger) who have conditions that might affect their safe driving have NOT told the DVLA.

I know of three neighbours who should NOT be driving but they continue to do so, putting themselves and others at risk, and the DVLA hasn't been told.

Because my town has a higher percentage of older residents than most, we expect drivers to be erratic, and the pedestrians? They step out without looking, even if they can see, which many can't. For years I was worried because the Chairman of our local Blind club used to cycle around the town although his vision was 10% in one eye and 15% in the other. Scary! Riding a bicycle with a white cane was stupid.

 

[KeithD]

It's a tough call on one's self. I stopped letting my father-in-law drive with my children in the car when he was not much older than the age I'm approaching. Continually makes me think, although, with the sheltering issue, I'm not doing much driving at all. We still have two cars for the personal convenience (down from three or four), but mine is two-and-a-half years old and only has 2,000 miles on it--nearly all trip mileage.

 

[oggbashan]

It's a tough call on one's self. I stopped letting my father-in-law drive with my children in the car when he was not much older than the age I'm approaching. Continually makes me think, although, with the sheltering issue, I'm not doing much driving at all. We still have two cars for the personal convenience (down from three or four), but mine is two-and-a-half years old and only has 2,000 miles on it--nearly all trip mileage.

M<y older Volvo has 210,000 miles but is well-maintained. and passes its annual roadworthiness test with ease. The newer one is on 97,000 miles and is just nicely run-in. We need the cars for my frequent hospital visits - five this week!

Because of a damaged back, I cannot travel on a bus without suffering pain for 48 hours afterward. Taxis, even to the nearest hospital, would cost £30 each way. Today's hospital would have cost £60 each way.

 

[AloneTooLong]

I still drive although I do try to avoid driving after dark. My Dad was still driving at age 95 although he should NOT have been doing so.

I have told my family I expect/plan to stop driving almost totally in another 3-4 years (my driver's license is valid for another 4 years). The local hospital is one block away, has doctors in their office as part of the complex; grocery store is about 2 miles and dentist is about 3 miles.

Able to get home delivery on some groceries if need be.