Update on oggbashan's health

[KeithD]

Five down and one to go.

 

[oggbashan]

Five down and one to go.

And another scan, and a visit to the oncology consultant who won't refer me to one of her juniors because I bring her chocolates.

Why not? Thanks to her I am still alive and kicking when another consultant told me to go away and enjoy the last few months of life - two and a half years ago.

 

[Handley_Page]

There were too many jokes about 'Big Ears' in the treatment room. My right ear is now smaller than my left, but still large.

Erm. . . cosmetics on the 'other' ear ?

And another scan, and a visit to the oncology consultant who won't refer me to one of her juniors because I bring her chocolates.
Why not? Thanks to her I am still alive and kicking when another consultant told me to go away and enjoy the last few months of life - two and a half years ago.

And long may it continue.

 

[oggbashan]

Erm. . . cosmetics on the 'other' ear ?



...

Like what? Another operation to make them the same size? No thanks.


They weren't identical anyway - just both large but one, although smaller than it was is still large. They show more than usual because of my partial hair loss from chemo. If the pattern after the last set of chemo continues, I can grow my beard to hide some of the ears. Who knows? Last time hair grew back where I had been bald for decades.

I don't recommend it for hair loss treatment though.

 

[Handley_Page]

A real shaggy-dog tale. . . .

 

[oggbashan]

This morning I received a letter from my General Practioner, whom I rarely see because I am seeing so many hospital consultants.

Please would I ring to make a telephone appointment to discuss the consultant's letter.

Which letter? From which consultant? I have a fat file of consultant's letters - six so far in August. Apparently, it might be something to do with oncology but the receptionist wasn't sure. I will wait until the call on Thursday morning...

Which consultant? It wasn't a consultant at all. It was a letter from me, advising the doctor of the results of a pre-chemo check. My pulse rate was high - 121. At the last session, it was 111. The doctor thinks my thyroid might be failing - so more blood tests...

 

[Handley_Page]

Which consultant? It wasn't a consultant at all. It was a letter from me, advising the doctor of the results of a pre-chemo check. My pulse rate was high - 121. At the last session, it was 111. The doctor thinks my thyroid might be failing - so more blood tests...

Nice one, Ogg.
And Good Luck

 

[oggbashan]

I received a letter this morning with my next CT scan appointment.

Departments don't talk to each other, With the best will in the world I cannot be in two places at either end of a large hospital at the same time.

I have pre-chemo at the same time as the scan which is supposed to be AFTER my last chemo session three days later...

Do they NOT look at my records? I suppose that might be asking too much...

 

[vanmyers86]

I'm just glad you are still here to fuss about it all!

 

[Handley_Page]

Do they NOT look at my records? I suppose that might be asking too much...

Could you be assuming that there is ONE record ?
Imagine if different departments had their own records. . . .

Fingers crossed Ogg.

 

[oggbashan]

Could you be assuming that there is ONE record ?
Imagine if different departments had their own records. . . .

Fingers crossed Ogg.

A couple of decades ago I was given the task of reconciling Social Services records with local NHS records. I was a senior manager with the authority to get things done. The NHS staff were junior clerks wh couldn't change anything. I failed because the NHS records were in such a mess.

 

[oggbashan]

Essential blood test or not?

On Friday I have a pre-chemo test to see whether I am OK for chemotherapy next Tuesday. As part of that, they take a blood sample. But my GP wants another blood test because I have a high pulse rate.

The NHS is currently short of containers for blood tests because so many have been used for vaccines. They are only doing 'essential' blood tests. For cancer? I'm essential. For raised pulse? I don't know, or can they use the same bottle and sample?

I will find out on Friday. If not? I may have to wait a month or so for a 'non-essential blood test which means another hole in my much-abused arm...

 

[Winter_Fare]

Please don't worry Ogg xxx

I just wanted to say, sorry you're going through all the extra stress of delayed testing. Please try not to worry too much.

This is a really shitty but temporary situation, and your doctor absolutely will not let this fuck up your care. It's a national shortage, so there are work arounds that GPs and hospital doctors can use, plus good old keeping an eye on your clinical condition and symptoms the old fashioned way, until normal service resumes xxxx

 

[oggbashan]

Thank you, Winter Fare.

I'm not concerned, even if my doctor is. She thinks my pulse is too fast but it has been like that for decades. I have more serious conditions to worry about...

 

[Handley_Page]

I had this problem and wondered why it seemed impossible to have one blood sample for multiple tests.
I didn't get a comprehensible answer.
Fingers Crossed, Ogg.

 

[oggbashan]

I had this problem and wondered why it seemed impossible to have one blood sample for multiple tests.
I didn't get a comprehensible answer.
Fingers Crossed, Ogg.

Back in 2018, a consultant didn't know what was wrong with me. He had a pre-printed checklist to order blood tests. He ticked EVERY box except those for pregnancy and added six more at the end.

My wife was waiting for me when I went in to have the blood taken. Everyone else was in and about in five minutes. I took twenty because they took six bottles of blood.

The results? Except for blood sugar related to Type II diabetes which was slightly raised, everything else - all 70 tests - showed nothing abnormal.

 

[TarnishedPenny]

Back in 2018, a consultant didn't know what was wrong with me. He had a pre-printed checklist to order blood tests. He ticked EVERY box except those for pregnancy and added six more at the end.

The results? Except for blood sugar related to Type II diabetes which was slightly raised, everything else - all 70 tests - showed nothing abnormal.

You do this just to keep them on edge, don't you?

 

[oggbashan]

You do this just to keep them on edge, don't you?

I am an 'interesting' case. Yes, they now know I have small cell lung cancer but it is the symptoms that puzzle them. They thought I had Lambert-Eaton Myasthenic Syndrome, in which case I would be the first seen in our county but they have now decided that it isn't that but something similar but even rarer...

Most times I see a consultant they have students with them because I am different.

 

[Handley_Page]

I am an 'interesting' case. Yes, they now know I have small cell lung cancer but it is the symptoms that puzzle them. They thought I had Lambert-Eaton Myasthenic Syndrome, in which case I would be the first seen in our county but they have now decided that it isn't that but something similar but even rarer...

Most times I see a consultant they have students with them because I am different.

When they finally get round to give it a name, may I suggest "Ogg syndrome" ?

 

[oggbashan]

Pre-chemo check today. Blood oxygen 100% as usual (but NOT usual for those with lung cancer!); Blood Pressure 125/68; pulse? Still high at 115 but dropped to 107 after five minutes. (It's those nurses in short dresses and black stockings)

I'm apparently still alive...

 

[KeithD]

Pre-chemo check today. Blood oxygen 100% as usual (but NOT usual for those with lung cancer!); Blood Pressure 125/68; pulse? Still high at 115 but dropped to 107 after five minutes. (It's those nurses in short dresses and black stockings)

I'm apparently still alive...

. . . and healthier in those regards than I am. (So, it's all relative.)

 

[oggbashan]

. . . and healthier in those regards than I am. (So, it's all relative.)

It's all due to the 30 pills I take every day. Without them? My blood pressure would be sky-high...

 

[KeithD]

It's all due to the 30 pills I take every day. Without them? My blood pressure would be sky-high...

I take twenty-three pills (so, those seven other ones must be the difference), and my blood pressure still is sky high (and has been for nearly six decades. I got my first imminently terminal [obviously false] diagnosis--rampant leukemia--sixty-seven years ago). It isn't over until it's over.

 

[oggbashan]

Today was the sixth and last chemotherapy session. It should have taken two and a half hours. It took five and a half hours because the staff, who should be eight, were down to three because so many had been 'pinged' for close contact with someone with Covid.

Now I wait for the next scan and the report a couple of weeks later to see if the cancer has gone again.

 

[Handley_Page]

.
Now I wait for the next scan and the report a couple of weeks later to see if the cancer has gone again.

Fingers Crossed, Ogg