What was your fasting blood glucose? (full on chat)

[Lamont D]

5.5 this Christmas tree decorating, Boris battering, rishi porkies Wednesday. The torys once again wouldn't commit to a full Hillsborough law. Despite the recommendations!
How? Why? What? I haven't had a reading below 6mmols reading, For quite a while, and yes I rechecked twice still 5.5.
Woo hoo!
Mrs L pleased with tree but still reluctant to get in season festivities, I'm not Inconsiderate, but it has to be done, Mrs L is allowed to wallow in her pit, and letting the world go by. But my duty of being festive is a direct reaction to what we have done together for over forty odd years of marriage and Christmas is huge in the family's importance.
Too much to do and chores still to be doneT

Best wishes to you all as always.

 

[Lamont D]

I have a big question?
I had another unusual dream, this one was a repeat of being trapped in a workplace, and I couldn't cos with doing the job.
A figure appeared near the end.
He offered a way out.
He was dressed similar to the caricature of a yankee capitilist, he even had a pinkie ring.
He gave me a wad of dollars.
He told me to take care of business.

So, mulling over the dream, it made me realise that, politicians have to answer to someone who would be the backer for doing the day job. Why would our current pm be a pm?
He has more than enough to be comfortable, multi millionaire, married into a family, which has more money than sense.
Who is paying the bills for bojo?
Why would the other ministers go through the blatant cruel interpretation of the dogma and not be allowed to vote with concious?
There has to be a puppet master.
Pulling the strings.

If the covid enquiry, asked that question.
Then maybe, we might find some actual truth about why, bojo, and the rest of the death squad, allowed covid to cause so many victims. Many that didn't need to be thought of that way.

And maybe, I could have some nice dreams!
Of unicorns, or sunny days ...........

 

[ianpspurs]

Crace doesn't pull any punches on Johnson in today's online Guardian. The effect? Nothing. Opinions already formed, spin spun and the bereaved still bereaved. Honest Bob positioning himself for life after Rishi. Who's next? They've checked out as a government and are auditioning for the members' votes. We're on our own. Pray for a quiet year or early election but I fear he might drag it out to Jan 2025. What's the relevance? pretty sure we all here need the NHS at the very least many also have school age grandchildren. Rwanda or the NHS and schools as the big issues? Difficult one - NOT.

 

[lindisfel]

06.12
FBG 5.2
Did I mention the pork MrSlim was given? Yesterday he was asked to collect some pie filling, came home with half a pigs liver, the kidneys, a home made boudin noir sausage and assorted other trimmings from our friends pig. Plus half a dozen duck eggs.
MrSlim is not willing to accept money for fixing her barn roof, so is receiving payment in kind.
The liver was delicious, cooked just pink and with onion gravy. We still have about a kilo left. Pigs livers are huge.
On vets advice I am steaming courgettes for Kiki. Mashed up a teaspoonful added to her meals seems to have made a big difference. She still haunts the kitchen but she is definitely more content. We had noticed she was always hungry and increased her portion size, with little noticeable effect on her appetite. However the weight gain as a result was significant, enough to lead to health problems later. In three weeks she gained 300g.
So now back to slightly smaller( original size) meals with courgette. The vet assured me this would help her to feel more full, but not add calories, thus controlling her weight.
Today we are going to attempt to get vaccinations. Have been putting it off because I haven't been well, but with trip go UK looming and dire warnings of potential flu epidemic in France, can't leave it any longer.

My mother use to go daft when she was given a "fry" when her brother killed their pig they kept in a sty in a little yard and he divided all the bits and pieces up. It was when he came back after the war. I bet the smell and flies round the house were appalling but I remember pig owners boiling up the pig swill the most.
D

 

[JohnEGreen]

6.0 this morning.

 

[lindisfel]

Got a long day sorting out will be back in later.

Have a great day all of you

Milder again today after having car still frozen up yesterday at 1030 am and minus 3deg C when we wanted to go to shops.
D.

 

[gennepher]

Apologies.

I would have asked yesterday if I had filled in the form for Specsavers but I didn't until last night.

The receptionist handed me a form when I left Specsavers and said just fill this in and bring it next week It will make things easier.

Got the form out last night to fill it in and I filled in all the questions as you can see. It was just box ticking. Then I got to the end and it says "My optometrist has explained to me in general terms the risk and benefit issues associated with cataract surgery. I would like to go ahead with the referral for assessment in the hospital eye service with a view to cataract surgery"

Just hand this in when you come in next week said the receptionist last week.

I thought today's appointment was to see if I had cataracts, the optician last week just said I had cataracts based on my right eye was blurred when I was looking through their little glass holes at their letters. But then I realised there the little glass eye holes at the opticians were all steamed up and I asked her to clean them a few times and it did improve things. But by this time I am probably panicking. And also because she said that my right eye had done a dramatic deterioration in the last year.

But she never actually examined me for cataracts which is what I understood today's appointment is, to confirm I actually have cataracts. I do not know who is examining me last week's optician or somebody else.

I got to the end of this questionnaire and I thought I'm not signing this because I've not agreed to anything yet. And in any case the optometrist has not explained to me in general terms of the risks and benefits issues associated with cataract surgery. You don't sign and date things as you go through the NHS service do you? And even before you've actually been diagnosed with something to be treated for?

I have blacked out my name and address by the way, but there is no provision on there for an NHS number and my NHS number is not on this piece of paper. I know they have my NHS number.

Then I realised the beginning said "pre-operative questionnaire".

You can see I have ticked the "no, no difficulty box" all the way through.

With my glasses on my eyesight is absolutely fine, which is what the questionnaire is asking me to tick the boxes on.

Then I am wondering if this piece of paper is two documents cobbled together. On the first page it says they give me three response options on the boxes for me to tick. But actually there are five response options.

I went to my photocopier to make a copy of this stuff, because I didn't want to hand it in without having a copy. I took a photograph of it but I then realised I wanted a paper copy to be able to hand into St Paul's Eye Hospital when I go in a couple of weeks, because obviously I am asking for a second opinion from them. This St Paul's eye hospital appointment is simply my yearly check up, not because I have a particular problem.

Of course my printer wouldn't work. This was midnight, the time of midnight. It's 20 years old and I'm thinking oh no it had given up the ghost.

Finally figured out possibly the printer cartridges had dried up so here is me dipping the printer cartridges in very warm water to see if I can start them going again. Success!

I know this is very late to be asking a question that anyone might respond to because my appointment is at quarter to 11:00 this morning.

My questions are:
• I do not think I should sign this piece of paper, because the optician was pushing for a private operation last week she talked quite a bit about it and I am just suspicious.

• The optician last week was expressing an urgency that this right eye cataracts had to be dealt with as soon as possible, and that the NHS waiting list of two years was too long.


Any advice on how to approach appointment would be appreciated.


Even just some words to give me a bit of confidence.

I'll check my phone and I'll check it again just before I go into the appointment...

Thank you.

I'll let you know how this goes on and I'll do my normal post later this afternoon....

Thanks


Oh, by the way last year, Specsavers optician, a different one, insisted I had macular degeneration and it needed treating, and that it could only get worse. He insisted on a couple of other things as well and sent this to my GP surgery and this caused some problems with my regular appointment at the St Paul’s Eye hospital couple of weeks later. St Paul’s Eye hospital specialist said I had absolutely no signs of macular degeneration, and neither did I have the other problems the Specsavers optician last year insisted that I had. I have all the paperwork from last year that everybody said and this conflicting information last year.

So you'll have to forgive me if I am sounding doubtful about this cataract thing this year....

Photos below...

 

[JohnEGreen]

I personally would hold off signing attend the appointment and explain your concerns and if not happy with the explanations you are given just tell them you are not going to commit to anything until you have been to the eye hospital and had confirmation of the diagnosis from them private surgery would be very expensive not something you should commit to unless absolutely necessary.

Good luck hope all goes well.

 

[ianpspurs]

Morning all from a dark LA - probably lighter if I draw the curtains but I like sitting with just Christmas tree lights. @gennepher I agree with @JohnEGreen. Today is Drip Trip day so up earlier to hydrate sufficiently but not too much as walking about while attached isn't my idea of fun. Somehow we have no babybels which I always take for DT days - nurses know me by that, tin of Heroes for them obviously. No more Crace links - we’re (UK) way past the time when even laughing hysterically works. Life has overtaken any absurdity writers could dream up yet is being packaged as normal. So similar to the more straight talking OT prophets:you can't say they or the Manic Street Preachers didn't warn you. Y'all navigate your way through this shower of slurry with as much dignity and love for others as is humanly possible just now. I have Spurs to watch this evening - thank you Amazon Prime. Phillipians 4:8 - Spurs and that verse are in no way linked.

 

[Annb]

Apologies.

I would have asked yesterday if I had filled in the form for Specsavers but I didn't until last night.

The receptionist handed me a form when I left Specsavers and said just fill this in and bring it next week It will make things easier.

Got the form out last night to fill it in and I filled in all the questions as you can see. It was just box ticking. Then I got to the end and it says "My optometrist has explained to me in general terms the risk and benefit issues associated with cataract surgery. I would like to go ahead with the referral for assessment in the hospital eye service with a view to cataract surgery"

Just hand this in when you come in next week said the receptionist last week.

I thought today's appointment was to see if I had cataracts, the optician last week just said I had cataracts based on my right eye was blurred when I was looking through their little glass holes at their letters. But then I realised there the little glass eye holes at the opticians were all steamed up and I asked her to clean them a few times and it did improve things. But by this time I am probably panicking. And also because she said that my right eye had done a dramatic deterioration in the last year.

But she never actually examined me for cataracts which is what I understood today's appointment is, to confirm I actually have cataracts. I do not know who is examining me last week's optician or somebody else.

I got to the end of this questionnaire and I thought I'm not signing this because I've not agreed to anything yet. And in any case the optometrist has not explained to me in general terms of the risks and benefits issues associated with cataract surgery. You don't sign and date things as you go through the NHS service do you? And even before you've actually been diagnosed with something to be treated for?

I have blacked out my name and address by the way, but there is no provision on there for an NHS number and my NHS number is not on this piece of paper. I know they have my NHS number.

Then I realised the beginning said "pre-operative questionnaire".

You can see I have ticked the "no, no difficulty box" all the way through.

With my glasses on my eyesight is absolutely fine, which is what the questionnaire is asking me to tick the boxes on.

Then I am wondering if this piece of paper is two documents cobbled together. On the first page it says they give me three response options on the boxes for me to tick. But actually there are five response options.

I went to my photocopier to make a copy of this stuff, because I didn't want to hand it in without having a copy. I took a photograph of it but I then realised I wanted a paper copy to be able to hand into St Paul's Eye Hospital when I go in a couple of weeks, because obviously I am asking for a second opinion from them. This St Paul's eye hospital appointment is simply my yearly check up, not because I have a particular problem.

Of course my printer wouldn't work. This was midnight, the time of midnight. It's 20 years old and I'm thinking oh no it had given up the ghost.

Finally figured out possibly the printer cartridges had dried up so here is me dipping the printer cartridges in very warm water to see if I can start them going again. Success!

I know this is very late to be asking a question that anyone might respond to because my appointment is at quarter to 11:00 this morning.

My questions are:
• I do not think I should sign this piece of paper, because the optician was pushing for a private operation last week she talked quite a bit about it and I am just suspicious.

• The optician last week was expressing an urgency that this right eye cataracts had to be dealt with as soon as possible, and that the NHS waiting list of two years was too long.


Any advice on how to approach appointment would be appreciated.


Even just some words to give me a bit of confidence.

I'll check my phone and I'll check it again just before I go into the appointment...

Thank you.

I'll let you know how this goes on and I'll do my normal post later this afternoon....

Thanks


Oh, by the way last year, Specsavers optician, a different one, insisted I had macular degeneration and it needed treating, and that it could only get worse. He insisted on a couple of other things as well and sent this to my GP surgery and this caused some problems with my regular appointment at the St Paul’s Eye hospital couple of weeks later. St Paul’s Eye hospital specialist said I had absolutely no signs of macular degeneration, and neither did I have the other problems the Specsavers optician last year insisted that I had. I have all the paperwork from last year that everybody said and this conflicting information last year.

So you'll have to forgive me if I am sounding doubtful about this cataract thing this year....

Photos below...
View attachment 64783
View attachment 64784

What do they think they are doing asking you to sign up for something that hasn't been explained to you? Until I was sure this was the right thing for me, I wouldn't sign it. It's your decision of course, and not for me to advise but I wouldn't.

 

[jjraak]

Apologies.

I would have asked yesterday if I had filled in the form for Specsavers but I didn't until last night.

The receptionist handed me a form when I left Specsavers and said just fill this in and bring it next week It will make things easier.

Got the form out last night to fill it in and I filled in all the questions as you can see. It was just box ticking. Then I got to the end and it says "My optometrist has explained to me in general terms the risk and benefit issues associated with cataract surgery. I would like to go ahead with the referral for assessment in the hospital eye service with a view to cataract surgery"

Just hand this in when you come in next week said the receptionist last week.

I thought today's appointment was to see if I had cataracts, the optician last week just said I had cataracts based on my right eye was blurred when I was looking through their little glass holes at their letters. But then I realised there the little glass eye holes at the opticians were all steamed up and I asked her to clean them a few times and it did improve things. But by this time I am probably panicking. And also because she said that my right eye had done a dramatic deterioration in the last year.

But she never actually examined me for cataracts which is what I understood today's appointment is, to confirm I actually have cataracts. I do not know who is examining me last week's optician or somebody else.

I got to the end of this questionnaire and I thought I'm not signing this because I've not agreed to anything yet. And in any case the optometrist has not explained to me in general terms of the risks and benefits issues associated with cataract surgery. You don't sign and date things as you go through the NHS service do you? And even before you've actually been diagnosed with something to be treated for?

I have blacked out my name and address by the way, but there is no provision on there for an NHS number and my NHS number is not on this piece of paper. I know they have my NHS number.

Then I realised the beginning said "pre-operative questionnaire".

You can see I have ticked the "no, no difficulty box" all the way through.

With my glasses on my eyesight is absolutely fine, which is what the questionnaire is asking me to tick the boxes on.

Then I am wondering if this piece of paper is two documents cobbled together. On the first page it says they give me three response options on the boxes for me to tick. But actually there are five response options.

I went to my photocopier to make a copy of this stuff, because I didn't want to hand it in without having a copy. I took a photograph of it but I then realised I wanted a paper copy to be able to hand into St Paul's Eye Hospital when I go in a couple of weeks, because obviously I am asking for a second opinion from them. This St Paul's eye hospital appointment is simply my yearly check up, not because I have a particular problem.

Of course my printer wouldn't work. This was midnight, the time of midnight. It's 20 years old and I'm thinking oh no it had given up the ghost.

Finally figured out possibly the printer cartridges had dried up so here is me dipping the printer cartridges in very warm water to see if I can start them going again. Success!

I know this is very late to be asking a question that anyone might respond to because my appointment is at quarter to 11:00 this morning.

My questions are:
• I do not think I should sign this piece of paper, because the optician was pushing for a private operation last week she talked quite a bit about it and I am just suspicious.

• The optician last week was expressing an urgency that this right eye cataracts had to be dealt with as soon as possible, and that the NHS waiting list of two years was too long.


Any advice on how to approach appointment would be appreciated.


Even just some words to give me a bit of confidence.

I'll check my phone and I'll check it again just before I go into the appointment...

Thank you.

I'll let you know how this goes on and I'll do my normal post later this afternoon....

Thanks


Oh, by the way last year, Specsavers optician, a different one, insisted I had macular degeneration and it needed treating, and that it could only get worse. He insisted on a couple of other things as well and sent this to my GP surgery and this caused some problems with my regular appointment at the St Paul’s Eye hospital couple of weeks later. St Paul’s Eye hospital specialist said I had absolutely no signs of macular degeneration, and neither did I have the other problems the Specsavers optician last year insisted that I had. I have all the paperwork from last year that everybody said and this conflicting information last year.

So you'll have to forgive me if I am sounding doubtful about this cataract thing this year....

Photos below...
View attachment 64783
View attachment 64784

Three things here @gennepher .

Its surgery , whichever way you look at it, and any surgery has no matter how limited, inherent risks.

I doubt anyone ethical would be pressing you into an operation or pre operation consent, without being FULLY satisfied THEY had confidence YOU fully understood the potential risks

With the greatest respect to you, I would have expected, that just to cover any issues regarding them explaining and you fully understanding, at the very least a printed sheet covering all the possible issues ...
So I'd vote to hold off signing.

Given they have 'form' for being wrong, AND that your eye appointment is so close...I'd vote to hold off signing.

And if you can read with little difficulty USING glasses, as the questionnaire asks, I'm no doctor, but it seems to me that, that in itself perhaps lowers the urgency and offers some opportunity to delay operating until someone explains the full 'what' & 'why' to your complete satisfaction...

And while the NHS may be long, I doubt if you go private, and do miss this one, the wait to go private again would be of a serious length of time..imho
So I'd vote to hold off signing.

I think it was @lindisfel who had cataracts surgery, but ended up needing that surgery corrected ..mmhh
(Unsure if it was NHS/PRIVATE. or PRIVATE/NHS.)


Of course it's up to you to decide



I would add, I'd be definitely worried, about anyone capable of sending me somewhere to have anything surgical done to me or my eyes, willing, it seems, to have got a few sixth formers, post leaving school cider party in the local park, to produce such a digs dinner of a 'Consent' form.

If they can't get that right, what else are they happy to be slap dash about ?

God bless, I hope sieving through our replies, offers some help to you making the right decision for you .

Xx

 

[gennepher]

I personally would hold off signing attend the appointment and explain your concerns and if not happy with the explanations you are given just tell them you are not going to commit to anything until you have been to the eye hospital and had confirmation of the diagnosis from them private surgery would be very expensive not something you should commit to unless absolutely necessary.

Good luck hope all goes well.

Thank you very much @JohnEGreen
You have said exactly what I want to say to the opticians.
But as I am a deaf old lady on my own, I can feel pressured.
You have given me exactly the confidence I need this morning.
I will tell the optician's I need to go the regular eye hospital check up appointment in Liverpool and had confirmation of the optician's diagnosis.
Thank you so much again for your response.

 

[gennepher]

Morning all from a dark LA - probably lighter if I draw the curtains but I like sitting with just Christmas tree lights. @gennepher I agree with @JohnEGreen. Today is Drip Trip day so up earlier to hydrate sufficiently but not too much as walking about while attached isn't my idea of fun. Somehow we have no babybels which I always take for DT days - nurses know me by that, tin of Heroes for them obviously. No more Crace links - we’re (UK) way past the time when even laughing hysterically works. Life has overtaken any absurdity writers could dream up yet is being packaged as normal. So similar to the more straight talking OT prophets:you can't say they or the Manic Street Preachers didn't warn you. Y'all navigate your way through this shower of slurry with as much dignity and love for others as is humanly possible just now. I have Spurs to watch this evening - thank you Amazon Prime. Phillipians 4:8 - Spurs and that verse are in no way linked.

Thank you Ian for your response.

 

[gennepher]

What do they think they are doing asking you to sign up for something that hasn't been explained to you? Until I was sure this was the right thing for me, I wouldn't sign it. It's your decision of course, and not for me to advise but I wouldn't.

Thank you so much @Annb for your response. These are exactly my concerns. It wasn't until I got to the end of the form box ticking, I realised what it was asking me to sign, that is something that has not yet been explained to me. Your advice is what I want to do, at least until after a second opinion.
Thank you very much Ann.

I would not sign any form that had not been explained to me, the ins and outs of whatever it was.

 

[gennepher]

Three things here @gennepher .

Its surgery , whichever way you look at it, and any surgery has no matter how limited, inherent risks.

I doubt anyone ethical would be pressing you into an operation or pre operation consent, without being FULLY satisfied THEY had confidence YOU fully understood the potential risks

With the greatest respect to you, I would have expected, that just to cover any issues regarding them explaining and you fully understanding, at the very least a printed sheet covering all the possible issues ...
So I'd vote to hold off signing.

Given they have 'form' for being wrong, AND that your eye appointment is so close...I'd vote to hold off signing.

And if you can read with little difficulty USING glasses, as the questionnaire asks, I'm no doctor, but it seems to me that, that in itself perhaps lowers the urgency and offers some opportunity to delay operating until someone explains the full 'what' & 'why' to your complete satisfaction...

And while the NHS may be long, I doubt if you go private, and do miss this one, the wait to go private again would be of a serious length of time..imho
So I'd vote to hold off signing.

I think it was @lindisfel who had cataracts surgery, but ended up needing that surgery corrected ..mmhh
(Unsure if it was NHS/PRIVATE. or PRIVATE/NHS.)


Of course it's up to you to decide



I would add, I'd be definitely worried, about anyone capable of sending me somewhere to have anything surgical done to me or my eyes, willing, it seems, to have got a few sixth formers, post leaving school cider party in the local park, to produce such a digs dinner of a 'Consent' form.

If they can't get that right, what else are they happy to be slap dash about ?

God bless, I hope sieving through our replies, offers some help to you making the right decision for you .

Xx

Thank you very much @jjraak for your quick response.

I agree with everything you say in your response to me.

Your third paragraph , that starts, "I doubt..." that was my concern too.

Your fourth paragraph that starts "With greatest respect..." I had not thought of asking for a printed sheet for explaining and possible issues. And with me being deaf, I need to know I have fully understood. I fully agree with holding off signing, for the the moment. I needed the confidence this morning not to be rushed or railroaded into signing.

I agree with your 5th paragraph. The Liverpool eye hospital appointment is so close, I need to attend that first for more facts.

I agree with your 6th paragraph. Currently I have no difficulty reading or with any activity using my glasses as the form says I do when I tick the boxes. I agree, I need everything explaining properly.

I remember @lindisfel saying something, but I think he has gone somewhere for the day or something. But I think I remember it didn't go so well and he had it done again. I think private?

I fully agree with the assessment of a dog's dinner of a so called consent form. So poorly constructed and put together. It fills me with no confidence whatsoever.

Thank you so much to you @jjraak and also thank you for everyone else who has responded. You have all given me the confidence to do what I want to do this morning.

I'll let you know what happens this afternoon when I come back.

And thank you so much again you are all angels responding. You have taken all the stress away from me and give me the confidence this morning.

You all have a good day mind....

 

[Krystyna23040]

6.8 this morning.
Not so much admin this morning. So the wind down to the Christmas vacation has already started. I am so pleased that I made the decision to finish classes early. For once I am being sensible.

 

[jjraak]

Thank you very much @jjraak for your quick response.

I agree with everything you say in your response to me.

Your third paragraph , that starts, "I doubt..." that was my concern too.

Your fourth paragraph that starts "With greatest respect..." I had not thought of asking for a printed sheet for explaining and possible issues. And with me being deaf, I need to know I have fully understood. I fully agree with holding off signing, for the the moment. I needed the confidence this morning not to be rushed or railroaded into signing.

I agree with your 5th paragraph. The Liverpool eye hospital appointment is so close, I need to attend that first for more facts.

I agree with your 6th paragraph. Currently I have no difficulty reading or with any activity using my glasses as the form says I do when I tick the boxes. I agree, I need everything explaining properly.

I remember @lindisfel saying something, but I think he has gone somewhere for the day or something. But I think I remember it didn't go so well and he had it done again. I think private?

I fully agree with the assessment of a dog's dinner of a so called consent form. So poorly constructed and put together. It fills me with no confidence whatsoever.

Thank you so much to you @jjraak and also thank you for everyone else who has responded. You have all given me the confidence to do what I want to do this morning.

I'll let you know what happens this afternoon when I come back.

And thank you so much again you are all angels responding. You have taken all the stress away from me and give me the confidence this morning.

You all have a good day mind....

What was your fasting blood glucose? (full on chat)

Our 4 year old granddaughter has had scarlet fever then tonsillitis then chicken pox and is now in hospital with pneumonia. Her parents were told there would be a 15 hour wait for an ambulance despite the East of England area not taking industrial action. Goodness knows what the rest of the...

www.diabetes.co.uk

@lindisfel post.

 

[SlimLizzy]

07.12
FBG 5.3
Woke as usual shortly after seven, bathroom then got back into bed. Just past ten am when I next surfaced!
Both of us got our flu jabs yesterday. At the pharmacy I was once again asked to pay the top up. However MrSlim was prepared this time and had the paperwork with him. So my Carte Vitale has now been corrected and jab was done with nothing to pay. We are to call on Friday about Covid jabs, which I feel are now urgent because we will be socialising much more than is normal for us.
It's raining again. MrSlim is fed up of it. He needs a suitable day to finish the barn repair. Meanwhile his scaffolding is sitting there waiting to be used and he wants it home to do some corrective work on the gutters... All he needs is one good day.
After searching through all the Christmas cards in the shop, (Sorry @gennepher ) finally found some with greetings in French. I am always surprised at how many products, including clothing, have slogans in English. Today's task to write them.

 

[Lamont D]

6.2 this card buying, card sorting, Christmas decorations done Thursday. Just back in from town, I'm knackered already, Mrs L has sorted her Christmas ornaments on shelves and replaced her usual ornaments. So front room nearly finished, back room finished (ish). Front garden finished (lighting), back garden tidied due to no rain! (For a change) Back in the sixes, tut!
Raining, now, wind and harder downpours due. An unpleasant day, still cool, draughty, damp, no fun being out!
@gennepher, hope you sort out them eyes of yours, don't you let them make your mind up for you. If you ain't happy, say no!
Is your appointment at the eye hospital in Liverpool (St Paul's) near the museums, or the cataract hospital (St Catherine's) on the Wirral?
Cos usually, my counsellor is housed in St Catherine's, and my appointments are Thursday afternoon. But it was cancelled yesterday.
Hope, @lindisfel , you have finally dug yourself out of the snow? And you weren't impacted by the power cut?

Gotta lotta to do. Chores necessary and cos I went to town a ham shank to munch on later!

My best wishes to you all as always.

 

[dunelm]

Apologies.

I would have asked yesterday if I had filled in the form for Specsavers but I didn't until last night.

The receptionist handed me a form when I left Specsavers and said just fill this in and bring it next week It will make things easier.

Got the form out last night to fill it in and I filled in all the questions as you can see. It was just box ticking. Then I got to the end and it says "My optometrist has explained to me in general terms the risk and benefit issues associated with cataract surgery. I would like to go ahead with the referral for assessment in the hospital eye service with a view to cataract surgery"

Just hand this in when you come in next week said the receptionist last week.

I thought today's appointment was to see if I had cataracts, the optician last week just said I had cataracts based on my right eye was blurred when I was looking through their little glass holes at their letters. But then I realised there the little glass eye holes at the opticians were all steamed up and I asked her to clean them a few times and it did improve things. But by this time I am probably panicking. And also because she said that my right eye had done a dramatic deterioration in the last year.

But she never actually examined me for cataracts which is what I understood today's appointment is, to confirm I actually have cataracts. I do not know who is examining me last week's optician or somebody else.

I got to the end of this questionnaire and I thought I'm not signing this because I've not agreed to anything yet. And in any case the optometrist has not explained to me in general terms of the risks and benefits issues associated with cataract surgery. You don't sign and date things as you go through the NHS service do you? And even before you've actually been diagnosed with something to be treated for?

I have blacked out my name and address by the way, but there is no provision on there for an NHS number and my NHS number is not on this piece of paper. I know they have my NHS number.

Then I realised the beginning said "pre-operative questionnaire".

You can see I have ticked the "no, no difficulty box" all the way through.

With my glasses on my eyesight is absolutely fine, which is what the questionnaire is asking me to tick the boxes on.

Then I am wondering if this piece of paper is two documents cobbled together. On the first page it says they give me three response options on the boxes for me to tick. But actually there are five response options.

I went to my photocopier to make a copy of this stuff, because I didn't want to hand it in without having a copy. I took a photograph of it but I then realised I wanted a paper copy to be able to hand into St Paul's Eye Hospital when I go in a couple of weeks, because obviously I am asking for a second opinion from them. This St Paul's eye hospital appointment is simply my yearly check up, not because I have a particular problem.

Of course my printer wouldn't work. This was midnight, the time of midnight. It's 20 years old and I'm thinking oh no it had given up the ghost.

Finally figured out possibly the printer cartridges had dried up so here is me dipping the printer cartridges in very warm water to see if I can start them going again. Success!

I know this is very late to be asking a question that anyone might respond to because my appointment is at quarter to 11:00 this morning.

My questions are:
• I do not think I should sign this piece of paper, because the optician was pushing for a private operation last week she talked quite a bit about it and I am just suspicious.

• The optician last week was expressing an urgency that this right eye cataracts had to be dealt with as soon as possible, and that the NHS waiting list of two years was too long.


Any advice on how to approach appointment would be appreciated.


Even just some words to give me a bit of confidence.

I'll check my phone and I'll check it again just before I go into the appointment...

Thank you.

I'll let you know how this goes on and I'll do my normal post later this afternoon....

Thanks


Oh, by the way last year, Specsavers optician, a different one, insisted I had macular degeneration and it needed treating, and that it could only get worse. He insisted on a couple of other things as well and sent this to my GP surgery and this caused some problems with my regular appointment at the St Paul’s Eye hospital couple of weeks later. St Paul’s Eye hospital specialist said I had absolutely no signs of macular degeneration, and neither did I have the other problems the Specsavers optician last year insisted that I had. I have all the paperwork from last year that everybody said and this conflicting information last year.

So you'll have to forgive me if I am sounding doubtful about this cataract thing this year....

Photos below...
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I’m aligned with @JohnEGreen et al and pleased that you have got this firmly sorted in your head. All the very best with it.