So, yesterday was my post results catch up with my GP. It went really well, I think, although I’m pretty surprised by almost everything that transpired. Memo to self; don’t make too many assumptions!
I let the doc lead the meeting, which she did, by recapturing our last discussion, and confirming she feels my lipid levels are endogenous, and she therefore feels “a bit of help would be useful”. I asked her to clarify for me the factors she was taking into account in suggesting intervention. Disappointingly, she confirmed “Total Cholesterol”. Further discussion around the components ensued, and also I touched on my understanding of how statins work, with the potential for all the good elements being suppressed along with the perceived poorer areas, plus the potential for statins to impact on sugar levels. I summarised by saying, based on my research I am not comfortable to take statins, without research based input and further clarity on the mak-up of my LDL component. I also explained that I feared if I agreed to statins, in my current frame of mind, I couldn’t be certain I wouldn’t suffer side effects; real or otherwise. I don’t mean I’d make them up, but at my current level of belief I might just conjour up some psychosomatic aches and pains.
She suggested we had two ways to move forward:
- Document our discussion, and revisit by re-running panels regularly, with an open ended option for either party to change their approach
- I could be referred to a Lipid Clinic, at one of our major hospitals to explore matters further with someone with greater expertise than she has. (She was pretty candid about her generalised level of expertise.)
I have to say, I wasn’t expecting the potential referral, so that put me onto the back foot for a full millisecond. When we explored that further, it seems prudent to make the referral after my next panel, as we’re running quite short of time to have a couple of appointments before I go away again. So, our agreement was bloods immediately I’m next in UK, then referral to the Lipid Clinic. I call that a bit of a result.
I was then keen to understand how that will be recorded on my records, so that I can make accurate disclosures (but to over disclosures) to my overseas health insurers. I wanted to understand if I had just declined treatment. She confirmed that was not the case. Another result.
Being on a roll; I thought I’d expand the scope of the discussion a little wider. We had already touched on my wider diabetes. Last time around, I had mentioned Professor Taylor’s impressive work, and this time around she had clearly done some digging for herself. I asked her what her views were on the work and its implications for T2s who replicate his successes. She was very open to the concept of reversal, and agreed it appears to be work that can’t be ignored by her profession.
By a circuitous route I eventually asked her when she would consider a T2 to have reversed their diabetes, with a view to removing them from the Register. She quickly responded that she would be content to remove me now, if I wanted it. She was also quick to point out that she would not consider removal would mean cessation of regular blood panels, and realistically, I would never be refused bloods, if I thought there was value in running a panel. So, she has gone off to find out how she puts that into action.
I’m relaxed if she finds she can’t just remove me from the register, as that was never really an objective for the meeting. The only things I’d lose would be retinopathy screening; but my local optician does retinal photography and always shows and discusses the images, and my foot check, which I can probably do for myself, most of the time. I could probably even “train” Mr B in the therapeutic use of a light bristle brush, and a stiff-ish nylon filament on my feet as I keep my eyes closed. Obviously, I’d restart paying for my vision tests, but I’m not fussed by that prospect.
So, I’m happy with how that went. I’m very pleased I had done quite a bit of work before going to see her. She did acknowledge how engaged and well-informed I appear to be. That we have differing views of the “Next Steps” wasn’t anything contentious or anything to fall out over.
Should anyone feel I am being hasty in allowing myself to be removed from the Register, please give me your feedback. I’m happy to listen.