Apologies if this is long, but I could use both advice and probably encouragement.
2020 started with a medical bang for me. On New Years Day, I started peeing blood. Straight to GP following morning to give urine sample, and later again same day for blood sample. There were communication issues at this point, as the next thing I knew was a call from the local hospital to rearrange my urgent urological cancer referral: I later realised the GP surgery was following NICE guidelines to the letter, but hadn't actually told me. After hospital visits for ultrasound, an inserted camera to check bladder, digital rectal exam and then for an MRI scan - and a long wait (4 weeks) for results - I was given an all clear. Small cyst on one kidney: lots of people have them, no need for concern. But...
I'd always been a frequent pee-er (and a frequent coffee drinker too - I've been cutting down since), so nocturnal peeing was discussed. It started over the previous year or so, although subsequent cutting back on fluid intake in the evening has helped. (I usually now sleep through till about 30 mins before the alarm clock.) It was a relief that my prostate and kidneys checked out fine (my father had cancer in both at different times), but I'm still peeing a fair bit some days. (Usually slightly more than average, sometimes more with bouts where I seem to pee every 30 mins for a while, usually late afternoon. This seems fairly variable from day to day.)
The blood tests, meanwhile, had flagged up high cholesterol (Total 8.8, HDL 1.9, Triglycerides 2.4, Non-HDL 6.9, Total/HDL ration 4.6, LDL 5.8). Appointment with nurse - the only person I've seen at the surgery, despite making appointments to see a doctor - to discuss, where I explained I hadn't really taken in the figures when first told as far too anxious re: possible cancer. Explained that I had made serious lifestyle changes (complete cold turkey on smoking, now exercising (brisk walking) about 60-90 mins 5-7 days a week, cutting calories, using a FitBit to track), and wanted to continue on that basis for a while to see if I could reduce numbers and come for second blood test. I had also reduced my blood pressure from 151 to 130 in about 5 weeks (early-Jan to mid-Feb): the nurse was both gobsmacked and full of praise at that.
The day before the appointment for new blood tests, my M-i-L passed away, and I cancelled the appointment to support my partner. And then we went into the March lockdown.
I've carried on with the new diet and exercise, and have shed 16kg (was 79, now 63), bringing my BMI down from 27.5 to 21.7. I've cut out nearly all baked goods (annoying: I'm an excellent baker) except oatbakes made with soy milk, flaxseed and blueberries and a vegan, sugar free apple crumble. I'm using sugar free, low carb oat or soy milks and yoghurts in both coffee (decaff only) and cooking, and eating oily fish about 3 times a week: meat only very occasionally. Eating lots of veg, some homegrown, beans, seeds, pulses. Generally, I'm feeling much fitter and healthier.
Many years of tending towards bloating, constipation and indigestion seem to have passed: I was told many years ago by an emergency doctor that an acute attack of constipation and cramping was probably IBS, and I've used mebeverine to address passing problems from time to time. Since February, I've had only one minor episode, resolved in 24 hours with senokot.
So why this posting?
I've noticed that as well as the fresh (fasting) blood test, the cancelled appointment also included a Plasma Glucose Test.
I've also noticed:
a) a couple of episodes of tingling/stinging in my hands (especially when in water) that a couple of days later stops tingling and turns into very dry skin - moisturising very frequently helps, and during the worst (first) episode, I slept with silk gloves on: this seemed to resolve the problem within 48 hours or so (and could be a reaction to more frequent handwashing and to hand sanitiser, which seems very drying, and it could be eczema-elated - I had psoriasis when younger, although this seems to have ceased)
b) about two weeks ago, after a longish walk in new boots, I noticed three toenails on one foot had turned purple: it looks like bruising under the nail, and one toe occasionally feels slightly bruised. There's no other pain, and I've not noticed any other particular feet issues - this *could* be new boots syndrome (they're now sitting in a corner with shoe trees in )
c) outbreaks of dry/itchy skin (usually chin) and being a frequent pee-er have been part of life for as long as I remember (certainly 40+ years with the skin), so that could be 'just me'
c) my new diet may be doing my wellbeing apparent good and my waistline a marvellous service (I have a whole 'new' wardrobe of clothes I've not worn in 7 or 8 years), but fitbit is showing we're typically eating about 55% carbs.
Obviously, I'm concerned these could be diabetes symptoms and I've not had a blood glucose test. So I should - if the surgery is allowing blood test appointment (when I looked in July, they weren't offering them at all) - attend and at least be informed. (I hope this community would be there with inevitable subsequent answers. I'm not as utterly anxious as I was in January/February with the cancer tests, but worries do tend to pray on me.)
What would you advise me to discuss with the surgery, and any other actions I might take/consider? I'm thinking that:
a) it seems statins - which I turned down at this stage - can raise blood sugars, so taking them might cause further issues
b) reducing carb intake seems to be widely recommended here, but in short term may increase cholesterol readings which may lead the surgery back to (a) and be insistent that I start statins/// thus leading back to (b). I'm also aware that many GP/surgery nurses have firm views that a patient can cause problems by querying: my reluctance on statins didn't go down well.
Sorry this is so long, and many thanks for reading.
2020 started with a medical bang for me. On New Years Day, I started peeing blood. Straight to GP following morning to give urine sample, and later again same day for blood sample. There were communication issues at this point, as the next thing I knew was a call from the local hospital to rearrange my urgent urological cancer referral: I later realised the GP surgery was following NICE guidelines to the letter, but hadn't actually told me. After hospital visits for ultrasound, an inserted camera to check bladder, digital rectal exam and then for an MRI scan - and a long wait (4 weeks) for results - I was given an all clear. Small cyst on one kidney: lots of people have them, no need for concern. But...
I'd always been a frequent pee-er (and a frequent coffee drinker too - I've been cutting down since), so nocturnal peeing was discussed. It started over the previous year or so, although subsequent cutting back on fluid intake in the evening has helped. (I usually now sleep through till about 30 mins before the alarm clock.) It was a relief that my prostate and kidneys checked out fine (my father had cancer in both at different times), but I'm still peeing a fair bit some days. (Usually slightly more than average, sometimes more with bouts where I seem to pee every 30 mins for a while, usually late afternoon. This seems fairly variable from day to day.)
The blood tests, meanwhile, had flagged up high cholesterol (Total 8.8, HDL 1.9, Triglycerides 2.4, Non-HDL 6.9, Total/HDL ration 4.6, LDL 5.8). Appointment with nurse - the only person I've seen at the surgery, despite making appointments to see a doctor - to discuss, where I explained I hadn't really taken in the figures when first told as far too anxious re: possible cancer. Explained that I had made serious lifestyle changes (complete cold turkey on smoking, now exercising (brisk walking) about 60-90 mins 5-7 days a week, cutting calories, using a FitBit to track), and wanted to continue on that basis for a while to see if I could reduce numbers and come for second blood test. I had also reduced my blood pressure from 151 to 130 in about 5 weeks (early-Jan to mid-Feb): the nurse was both gobsmacked and full of praise at that.
The day before the appointment for new blood tests, my M-i-L passed away, and I cancelled the appointment to support my partner. And then we went into the March lockdown.
I've carried on with the new diet and exercise, and have shed 16kg (was 79, now 63), bringing my BMI down from 27.5 to 21.7. I've cut out nearly all baked goods (annoying: I'm an excellent baker) except oatbakes made with soy milk, flaxseed and blueberries and a vegan, sugar free apple crumble. I'm using sugar free, low carb oat or soy milks and yoghurts in both coffee (decaff only) and cooking, and eating oily fish about 3 times a week: meat only very occasionally. Eating lots of veg, some homegrown, beans, seeds, pulses. Generally, I'm feeling much fitter and healthier.
Many years of tending towards bloating, constipation and indigestion seem to have passed: I was told many years ago by an emergency doctor that an acute attack of constipation and cramping was probably IBS, and I've used mebeverine to address passing problems from time to time. Since February, I've had only one minor episode, resolved in 24 hours with senokot.
So why this posting?
I've noticed that as well as the fresh (fasting) blood test, the cancelled appointment also included a Plasma Glucose Test.
I've also noticed:
a) a couple of episodes of tingling/stinging in my hands (especially when in water) that a couple of days later stops tingling and turns into very dry skin - moisturising very frequently helps, and during the worst (first) episode, I slept with silk gloves on: this seemed to resolve the problem within 48 hours or so (and could be a reaction to more frequent handwashing and to hand sanitiser, which seems very drying, and it could be eczema-elated - I had psoriasis when younger, although this seems to have ceased)
b) about two weeks ago, after a longish walk in new boots, I noticed three toenails on one foot had turned purple: it looks like bruising under the nail, and one toe occasionally feels slightly bruised. There's no other pain, and I've not noticed any other particular feet issues - this *could* be new boots syndrome (they're now sitting in a corner with shoe trees in )
c) outbreaks of dry/itchy skin (usually chin) and being a frequent pee-er have been part of life for as long as I remember (certainly 40+ years with the skin), so that could be 'just me'
c) my new diet may be doing my wellbeing apparent good and my waistline a marvellous service (I have a whole 'new' wardrobe of clothes I've not worn in 7 or 8 years), but fitbit is showing we're typically eating about 55% carbs.
Obviously, I'm concerned these could be diabetes symptoms and I've not had a blood glucose test. So I should - if the surgery is allowing blood test appointment (when I looked in July, they weren't offering them at all) - attend and at least be informed. (I hope this community would be there with inevitable subsequent answers. I'm not as utterly anxious as I was in January/February with the cancer tests, but worries do tend to pray on me.)
What would you advise me to discuss with the surgery, and any other actions I might take/consider? I'm thinking that:
a) it seems statins - which I turned down at this stage - can raise blood sugars, so taking them might cause further issues
b) reducing carb intake seems to be widely recommended here, but in short term may increase cholesterol readings which may lead the surgery back to (a) and be insistent that I start statins/// thus leading back to (b). I'm also aware that many GP/surgery nurses have firm views that a patient can cause problems by querying: my reluctance on statins didn't go down well.
Sorry this is so long, and many thanks for reading.
