"What have you eaten" Parallel Chat

[Zhnyaka]

I do so agree, Antje. Trouble is - here we don't have access to a nephrologist (there is a renal department at the hospital, but they only work with people who have seen specialists elsewhere and advise or treat them), GPs are not accessible, nurses don't know much, and the medical consultant I see is only interested in my liver, because that was why I was referred to him. Since I can't see a GP, I can't ask for a repeat test to see what is happening to my kidneys (I did have a scan which showed a marked difference in my kidneys and that I have one "duplex" kidney, but that shouldn't be a problem, it's just odd. Nothing to follow up on that, as far as I know.) We don't have a joined up medical service here any more. We have people who know how to do their bit of the job and nothing more. Then there is this mitochondrial thing that nobody seems to know anything about - except the name.

Do you have the opportunity to see a doctor online? If you have all the tests, then an online survey may be enough. It may be expensive, but health is more important than money.

 

[Annb]

Do you have the opportunity to see a doctor online? If you have all the tests, then an online survey may be enough. It may be expensive, but health is more important than money.

The only way we can get to contact a doctor online is if a doctor asks you to do so. The only way you can get him to do that is to talk to him or her. This only happened since the Covid epidemic and it seems to have been an excuse for all sorts of services being cut. I don't know if this has happened anywhere else but it certainly seems to have happened here.

For example, before the epidemic diabetics were told on no account to let anyone but a hospital podiatrist touch their feet (maybe that was a bit over the top, but it was the case). After Covid the hospital sent out letters to all their podiatry patients to say they could no longer be treated at the hospital unless a serious problem developed. "Get a family member to cut your nails" (an absolute no no up to that point). I suppose, if that family member made an error and did some damage, then the hospital would step in.

There was a shortage of podiatrists on the Island. There was one medical practice who let one use their surgery - not our one, but of course, they already had appointment books full for months ahead. A mobile podiatrist set up in business, but was soon swamped by patients. A second podiatrist started working from the medical practice and, finally, the log jam eased a bit. It is still difficult to get an appointment but it is much easier than it was. I have no idea what happened at the podiatry department. What happened with Covid to make things change so much? That's just one example of many.

 

[Zhnyaka]

The only way we can get to contact a doctor online is if a doctor asks you to do so. The only way you can get him to do that is to talk to him or her. This only happened since the Covid epidemic and it seems to have been an excuse for all sorts of services being cut. I don't know if this has happened anywhere else but it certainly seems to have happened here.

For example, before the epidemic diabetics were told on no account to let anyone but a hospital podiatrist touch their feet (maybe that was a bit over the top, but it was the case). After Covid the hospital sent out letters to all their podiatry patients to say they could no longer be treated at the hospital unless a serious problem developed. "Get a family member to cut your nails" (an absolute no no up to that point). I suppose, if that family member made an error and did some damage, then the hospital would step in.

There was a shortage of podiatrists on the Island. There was one medical practice who let one use their surgery - not our one, but of course, they already had appointment books full for months ahead. A mobile podiatrist set up in business, but was soon swamped by patients. A second podiatrist started working from the medical practice and, finally, the log jam eased a bit. It is still difficult to get an appointment but it is much easier than it was. I have no idea what happened at the podiatry department. What happened with Covid to make things change so much? That's just one example of many.

I meant something like that https://www.topdoctors.co.uk/e-consultation/nephrology/
when you just give your money and the doctor consults you online

 

[Annb]

I meant something like that https://www.topdoctors.co.uk/e-consultation/nephrology/
when you just give your money and the doctor consults you online

Ah. I see. I'll think about that. Pro - might get some kind of answer, assuming he knows something about the rest of my issues. Con - NHS would refuse to treat me unless they send me privately themselves. Still will think about it, perhaps just get some advice but not tell the local medics that I did.

Thanks for the thought.

 

[Antje77]

Seven days on the bridge, day three:

I had read that you can put a corn of cob in the oven, leaves and all until the leaves are blackened (30-60 minutes depending on source, good thing I love vague recipes), so I did that yesterday night after work.

Very excited to find out what was inside those leaves on the bridge today, and on reheating in the microwave together with a piece of meatloaf.
It looked pretty cool and it's a treat because I always forget how to dose for it:



And then at 2:30 pm the power was out.
They only fixed it an hour or so ago (10 pm), so I spend my time on the bridge until 8 pm for Jan Lul, the bridge works on electricity too.
A cob of corn and meatloaf taste a lot better when not eaten straight from the fridge, but still, it was food even though the butter didn't melt on my corn.

I hope my ice lollies in the freezer have survived.

Looks still tasty in the picture though!



I swapped my morning swim for an extra 30 minutes of sleep today, so I used my 4-6 pm break to try a new swimming spot at the insistence of a friend, otherwise I would have just spent my time being bored on the bridge.
And a wonderful place I found, less than 10 minutes from the bridge and right on my morning route to work!
I'll use it more often during my break or on my way to work.

 

[Zhnyaka]

Con - NHS would refuse to treat me unless they send me privately themselves.

O my God, WHY?! How does your NHS work? Either contact us and if we don't have the resources to help you, just suffer, or go to a private clinic and then pay a lot of money for any visit to a doctor? What the hell?!

 

[Annb]

O my God, WHY?! How does your NHS work? Either contact us and if we don't have the resources to help you, just suffer, or go to a private clinic and then pay a lot of money for any visit to a doctor? What the hell?!

It is commonly said these days that our NHS is broken. It doesn't work. At least, not very well. For some, in some places, it works very well. Where my brother lives, in England, it went through a bad patch but now it works very well indeed. We have nothing but praise for the way he has been treated over the last few years, especially since that treatment saved his life. In other places, it is not so good. More and more, we hear of people going private because they can't get anything done on the NHS, or people suffering or dying because they can't get the treatment they need, and can't afford to go private.

On the other hand, people with a diagnosis of conditions such as diabetes do get advice and treatment - sometimes better than others, but it is available if you have a diagnosis. Getting that diagnosis might be an issue though.

I finally got that diagnosis some years ago (took a urine sample to a locum GP and asked him to test to see if I was diabetic) at the end of about 50 years trying to discover what actually was wrong with me. The NHS has been helpful, if ignorant of new thought on the subject, so I shouldn't complain too much.

Today, I have an appointment with the hospital Diabetes Clinic - to discuss the Mounjaro issue. I will tell them of my concerns and they will tell me, maybe, of what they recommend. That's one issue being dealt with. I don't know how joined up their thinking is on the relationship between diabetes and other conditions (like kidney problems). I'll try to find out today.

 

[Zhnyaka]

I don't know how joined up their thinking is on the relationship between diabetes and other conditions (like kidney problems). I'll try to find out today.

Are you saying that they may NOT know that diabetes causes complications for the kidneys, eyes, and nerves? This disease is even called DIABETIC nephropathy.

 

[Annb]

Are you saying that they may NOT know that diabetes causes complications for the kidneys, eyes, and nerves? This disease is even called DIABETIC nephropathy.

They should know, but whether they have any way of getting a doctor to do all the checks required, I don't know. They certainly don't have the facility themselves, or the knowledge, to advise on treatment. Not their speciality.

Over the last 2 years I have been told by an incontinence nurse that I need to get a GP to refer me to a urologist, but can't make the request herself, a GP who "doesn't do skin conditions - that's a nurse's job", a dietician who wants a blood test done, but can't ask for it herself - have get a doctor to order that, a student doctor who said I have a mitochondrial disease but doesn't know much about that and doesn't think it is a problem that might connect to anything else, so just ignore it, a medical consultant at the hospital who deals with my liver problem but although aware of other issues, doesn't have the remit to consult on those, not even though they may impinge on the liver problem. He, however, is the one who wants me to go onto Mounjaro to try to help with the liver by losing some weight. No joined up thinking, as I said before.

 

[Annb]

Avocado salad for breakfast - chopped up avocado, tomato, onion, cucumber and lemon. Coffee.

2nd meal will be a fritter made with the rest of that defrosted salmon from yesterday with some peas.

Odd - ordinary green peas seem to be alright, but I have become very wary of split peas, chick peas, beans of any sort, and lentils. I do have to try to get them back into my diet, but can't find an opportunity to do so - too much to do to take the risk of a fierce reaction.

Neil has discovered that something in ordinary table salt is beginning to cause him some problems. He uses it in bread making mainly, but also when using pasta. He tried some sea salt when the table salt box needed refilled and found that he felt much better after eating that loaf. So he tested it on other cooking and everything improved. He is now converted to using sea salt. Not sure what the issue might be - anti-caking agent perhaps?

EDIT: Just checked online. Anti-caking agents used in table salt are aluminium based. Could be an issue for someone subject to developing intolerances/allergies.

 

[jpscloud]

Yesterday I was out on errands until early afternoon but I did eat at a cafe at midday. Least said the better! For tea I had chicken, cauliflower, runner beans and a medium potato with some instant gravy.

Breakfast is a mish mash, I had half a cup of cooked rice leftover, some runner beans and a couple of tomatoes that needed using up quickly so I put that all in a dish, covered it in cheese, microwaved it and called it breakfast.

Tea might be the same as yesterday. I need to get in the garden and do a few jobs while the rain holds off, so probably won't eat any lunch.

 

[Annb]

Just back from the diabetes clinic. The nurse there didn't know why I was there. My case had been passed over to the GP practice months ago (and that's another issue) so she was puzzled as to why I had been referred back to the hospital. I told her the story about referrals and that the medical consultant had asked for Mounjaro to be prescribed.

She's not keen on Mounjaro for anyone and for me she thinks it's a very bad idea with all the health problems I have. She thinks there's insufficent data available on comorbidities. She thinks my diabetic control is good so it wouldn't be prescribed for that and "just" for weight loss, she disapproves. So there we are. I actually do agree with her, so she'll tell the GP that she won't recommend it.

My weight is a bit down, my HBa1c is down from the last check, from 58 to 52. She says that my kidney results are flagging up a problem, although a gfr of 42 is acceptable for an 80 year old. But that's another reason why she's unwilling to prescribe Mounjaro - she's not aware of any data on effect on kidneys. So I'll just keep on keeping on, as we all do.

Just had a couple of strawberries with some cream to stop the rumbling tum.

 

[jpscloud]

My weight is a bit down, my HBa1c is down from the last check, from 58 to 52.

I'd be really pleased with that result, well done! I think mine will be in the 60s (I'll find out on Thursday) and the weight coming down a bit is great too - also glad that you're happy with your Mounjaro decision.

I've had a productive day in the garden, I got the grass cut before the wetter weather comes, and tried out my new garden shredder which works really well. My new compost bins arrive tomorrow (wooden slatted ones) so I'm getting some material ready - I am taking down one of the hazel trees (it's a cobnut really) so I'll have loads of woodchips to start the compost off. The bigger branches will be saved for a friend's woodburning stove and making some wildlife woodpiles in my hedges.

I've also got a nice little harvest of cobnuts from the branches I've shredded today, which are lovely shelled and toasted - cobnuts don't go hard like hazelnuts, they're soft like chestnuts when toasted. I'm surprised the squirrels haven't taken them all, but the nuts are ready sooner than the squirrels may have expected, due to the hot summer we've had.

I'm a bit tired now and have just shaken all the twigs and spiders out of my hair (I truly am a wild woman) so it's time for a shower and then tea - I actually fancy some fish fingers, which I know aren't ideal but heigh ho.

 

[Annb]

Now, here's an odd thing.

I found a jar of walnuts in the cupboard. I like walnuts but never think of eating them. These must have left over from the coffee/walnut cake I made for DIL to take to work some months ago. They were still fresh tasting when I tried one, so I had another. Then another. While cooking, I had another small handful. Last night I had another few.

Yesterday evening my BG was in the 4's, and still there this morning. I did take my basal insulin, which usually doesn't have any immediate effect and BG stayed around 4.5. 2 coffees didn't budge it either. I had breakfast about half an hour ago (Salmon mayo with half a tomato and some cucumber) and took my pills but didn't take insulin. Libre has just told me my BG was dropping too low - just below 4. Just having another coffee to see if that will bring it back into the 4's. This is unusual for me. Can walnuts do that?

I feel another experiment coming on.

No idea what to make for 2nd meal. I have to check the big fridge to see what Neil bought for me yesterday.

EDIT: Neil bought a piece of cod for me yesterday, so it will be goujons of cod, fried, coated with ground up nuts (walnuts?) with a few peas.

After the coffee (2nd of the day) BG went up to 6.1 but it's dropping again now and into the 5's.

 

[jpscloud]

I have my diabetic review in a couple of hours but I just realised I can check the NHS app to see my test results so I had a look - my HbA1c is 54, just up from 52 last time. I'm very happy with that considering my difficulties with controlling my diet, and it shows the efficacy of the meds I'm taking.

Apart from that my total cholesterol and triglicyerides are a little high but the ratio of HDL/LDL is improved. I'm happy with that, but I'm sure I'll be offered statins again.

I'm having chicken for dinner later, with some runner beans, cauliflower and gravy, and maybe a small celebratory potato!

 

[Annb]

Odd sort of day. It was leg rebandaging day and it was also birthday cake making day for Em. (Should have been yesterday, but I was too tired so it had to be today - today she is officially a teenager.)

What with that and still being very sore after all the efforts yesterday, I ended up running late to go for my appointment. So, last minute, I was making my final trip to the loo and then getting my shoes on, which takes a while and then - just as I was about to go out of the door, Libre alarm went off. Expecting it to say BG too high, I checked but it told me BG was 2.3! I hadn't felt anything, apart from a bit hot, but it is a very warm day. Grabbed a couple of toffees and decided I'd have to depend on the cans of slightly sweetened coffee I keep in the car. Had one and BG started to rise into the 3's so, no panic. Just before we got to the Health Centre, I decided to check again. It was 4.8. Fine.

The nurse had bandaged one leg when the alarm went off again. 2.8 and dropping. Still felt OK but I asked her if she had something to try to reverse it. She offered chocolate (which she was taught was the best thing in the situation) but I asked for a plain biscuit. She came back with 2 shortbread biscuits so I ate the first and waited to see the result. Still only 2.8. By then she'd finished the job and I was back in the foyer waiting for Neil to collect me. Had the second biscuit and, finally it started to rise. I decided to boost the rise by having another can of coffee. By the time we got home it was 4.5. Emergency over.

It's now almost 3.30 - 5 hours after the first alarm. About 20 minutes ago I had an alarm that BG is too high (8.1) so I had half a dozen walnut halves to see what happens. Just checked BG is 9.8. This is probably all the carbs catching up on me so we'll see what happens.

By the way, the too carby breakfast was scrambled eggs on toast. I dosed with what should have been the right amount of insulin for that. Probably got that wrong hence the hypo.

2nd meal will be pork patties with some salad-stuff. Might have a few more walnuts before that.

 

[shelley262]

I have my diabetic review in a couple of hours but I just realised I can check the NHS app to see my test results so I had a look - my HbA1c is 54, just up from 52 last time. I'm very happy with that considering my difficulties with controlling my diet, and it shows the efficacy of the meds I'm taking.

Apart from that my total cholesterol and triglicyerides are a little high but the ratio of HDL/LDL is improved. I'm happy with that, but I'm sure I'll be offered statins again.

I'm having chicken for dinner later, with some runner beans, cauliflower and gravy, and maybe a small celebratory potato!

Well done on holding your figures at a similar level - hope your review went well.

 

[shelley262]

Odd sort of day. It was leg rebandaging day and it was also birthday cake making day for Em. (Should have been yesterday, but I was too tired so it had to be today - today she is officially a teenager.)

What with that and still being very sore after all the efforts yesterday, I ended up running late to go for my appointment. So, last minute, I was making my final trip to the loo and then getting my shoes on, which takes a while and then - just as I was about to go out of the door, Libre alarm went off. Expecting it to say BG too high, I checked but it told me BG was 2.3! I hadn't felt anything, apart from a bit hot, but it is a very warm day. Grabbed a couple of toffees and decided I'd have to depend on the cans of slightly sweetened coffee I keep in the car. Had one and BG started to rise into the 3's so, no panic. Just before we got to the Health Centre, I decided to check again. It was 4.8. Fine.

The nurse had bandaged one leg when the alarm went off again. 2.8 and dropping. Still felt OK but I asked her if she had something to try to reverse it. She offered chocolate (which she was taught was the best thing in the situation) but I asked for a plain biscuit. She came back with 2 shortbread biscuits so I ate the first and waited to see the result. Still only 2.8. By then she'd finished the job and I was back in the foyer waiting for Neil to collect me. Had the second biscuit and, finally it started to rise. I decided to boost the rise by having another can of coffee. By the time we got home it was 4.5. Emergency over.

It's now almost 3.30 - 5 hours after the first alarm. About 20 minutes ago I had an alarm that BG is too high (8.1) so I had half a dozen walnut halves to see what happens. Just checked BG is 9.8. This is probably all the carbs catching up on me so we'll see what happens.

By the way, the too carby breakfast was scrambled eggs on toast. I dosed with what should have been the right amount of insulin for that. Probably got that wrong hence the hypo.

2nd meal will be pork patties with some salad-stuff. Might have a few more walnuts before that.

Happy birthday to Em a big milestone for her becoming an official teenager. Well done you too making her a birthday cake what a lovely thing to do for her, especially when you have health issues and your blood sugars zig- zagging up and down today..

 

[Annb]

Thanks for the good wishes for Em. I'll pass that on. She liked her cake - she doesn't like icing so it was just a lemon drizzle with a slight sugary crust. It's her favourite kind of cake.

She asked about 6 weeks ago if instead of a present she could have money to take with her to Alton Towers at the beginning of August, so that was what she had. Easy for me not having to worry about getting the right thing. Still gave her a little something with the cake though. Felt mean not to.

 

[jpscloud]

birthday cake making day for Em

Happy birthday to Em! Sounds like a tricky day there with your BGs - hope it all settles down for you.

Well done on holding your figures at a similar level - hope your review went well.

Thanks @shelley262 the review did go well, I was offered statins again but declined and wasn't told off. I've also been offered to switch to Mounjaro, which I have accepted because I really need some help to shift my weight and the higher doses available with it should help. I still have 5 weeks of Ozempic to use up - the surgery ordered a double prescription for me when it was hard to get hold of and I've had extra in store since then. I'll start Mounjaro after that.

I've just had my tea - chicken etc that I mentioned earlier, and I'm feeling quite sleepy so might go for an early night soon. Lots of rain today, it feels weird not to be watering the garden this evening!