Health
Well its been an interesting time with my health recently and I will tell a little what going on here. Although at this moment I have this horrible cough and cold that isn't shifting and it means for a second week in a row when I am leading worship means I will sound like barry white, which for a strong tenor is awful....
Anyway. About three or four weeks ago I was sitting watching TV when I noticed this "flash" in my eye. The way I explain it is if you look at a light bulb and then look away and blink, there is a residue image left behind that you can see that slowly disappears. Well I could see this little dot but it wasn't dissapearing. I talked about it to Emma and then rang my optician. (As an aside I have to say that my optician - Dipple & Conway - were excellent and for a proper optician, not a "glasses" place like specsavers, I would recommend them).
The optician did a thorough exam and they did a photo of the inside of the eye to find that I had suffered a slight bleed at the back of the eye. They were concerned enough to bypass my doctor and get me an appointment at the eye clinic the following day. They organised and arranged all of this. The hospital appointment was not fun. They told me not to drive to the appointment so a friend of mine took me.
The appointment confirmed the bleed but it also confirmed that my blood pressure was through the roof (and probably the cause of the bleed). They decided to do a full range of blood tests though to check for diabetes and other things as that could have been a cause as well. Having a blood test was fun for the reason that I had never had a blood test before in my life - partly through not really needing one - partly through a fobia of needles meant I never really pushed for one. I also got my blood pressure taken again.
The blood pressure was still high, so I was told I needed an ECG trace. Not having one of these before I was expecting a two hour lie down with monitors et al. In fact, it lasted about 20 seconds and I was in and out of the doctors in 3 minutes. I went back for another blood pressure check and that was still high so I was referred back to my GP.
The last meeting with the GP was fun. I am really blessed to have a doctor who is witty and fun and is prepared to talk and listen about things. To bring a long story to a conclusion is that the ECG was fine and the blood tests were fine apart from my thyroid was quite low. Consequently I am now having to take thyroid tablets for the rest of my life. Now this is a God thing in two senses. Firstly, I am asthmatic and have to take a range of inhalers which I have always had to pay for and secondly, a low functioning thyroid can have, to some degree, have a weight increase effect. Being diagnosed with a thyroid function means I now qualify for free prescriptions for the rest of my life. Secondly, taking thyroid tablets should mean with a diet I will see a more significant weight loss than I had in the past - which in turn should lead to a lower blood pressure.
Alsoafter a chat he decided that I may suffer from a condition known as sleep apnea. This is where I stop breathing during the night and wake myself up gasping for breathe. It sounds worse than it is and I rarely notice it. When I do notice it, its more annoying than anything else. Emma sees it more than what I do and she says it frightens her as I just stop breathing. I will be reffered to the sleep clinic at the hospital where hopefully this issue (and a snoring issue of gigantic proportions will be sorted).
The last thing (yes another thing). He asked me about my breathing and more so my nose. I have always breathed through my mouth as my nose is frequently blocked (at least one tube anyway). So now I am being reffered to the ENT (Ears Nose and Throat) clinic to see if I have polyps that are blocking my nose.
So there you go - all good fun - a friend said that it sounds like I am having a Health MOT. Certainly feels like it.
Anyway. About three or four weeks ago I was sitting watching TV when I noticed this "flash" in my eye. The way I explain it is if you look at a light bulb and then look away and blink, there is a residue image left behind that you can see that slowly disappears. Well I could see this little dot but it wasn't dissapearing. I talked about it to Emma and then rang my optician. (As an aside I have to say that my optician - Dipple & Conway - were excellent and for a proper optician, not a "glasses" place like specsavers, I would recommend them).
The optician did a thorough exam and they did a photo of the inside of the eye to find that I had suffered a slight bleed at the back of the eye. They were concerned enough to bypass my doctor and get me an appointment at the eye clinic the following day. They organised and arranged all of this. The hospital appointment was not fun. They told me not to drive to the appointment so a friend of mine took me.
The appointment confirmed the bleed but it also confirmed that my blood pressure was through the roof (and probably the cause of the bleed). They decided to do a full range of blood tests though to check for diabetes and other things as that could have been a cause as well. Having a blood test was fun for the reason that I had never had a blood test before in my life - partly through not really needing one - partly through a fobia of needles meant I never really pushed for one. I also got my blood pressure taken again.
The blood pressure was still high, so I was told I needed an ECG trace. Not having one of these before I was expecting a two hour lie down with monitors et al. In fact, it lasted about 20 seconds and I was in and out of the doctors in 3 minutes. I went back for another blood pressure check and that was still high so I was referred back to my GP.
The last meeting with the GP was fun. I am really blessed to have a doctor who is witty and fun and is prepared to talk and listen about things. To bring a long story to a conclusion is that the ECG was fine and the blood tests were fine apart from my thyroid was quite low. Consequently I am now having to take thyroid tablets for the rest of my life. Now this is a God thing in two senses. Firstly, I am asthmatic and have to take a range of inhalers which I have always had to pay for and secondly, a low functioning thyroid can have, to some degree, have a weight increase effect. Being diagnosed with a thyroid function means I now qualify for free prescriptions for the rest of my life. Secondly, taking thyroid tablets should mean with a diet I will see a more significant weight loss than I had in the past - which in turn should lead to a lower blood pressure.
Alsoafter a chat he decided that I may suffer from a condition known as sleep apnea. This is where I stop breathing during the night and wake myself up gasping for breathe. It sounds worse than it is and I rarely notice it. When I do notice it, its more annoying than anything else. Emma sees it more than what I do and she says it frightens her as I just stop breathing. I will be reffered to the sleep clinic at the hospital where hopefully this issue (and a snoring issue of gigantic proportions will be sorted).
The last thing (yes another thing). He asked me about my breathing and more so my nose. I have always breathed through my mouth as my nose is frequently blocked (at least one tube anyway). So now I am being reffered to the ENT (Ears Nose and Throat) clinic to see if I have polyps that are blocking my nose.
So there you go - all good fun - a friend said that it sounds like I am having a Health MOT. Certainly feels like it.
posted by monty at
6:14 AM
2 Comments:
You're in my thoughts.
Thanks for the update Monty. Having young children is enough of a drain on your health without having all that to put up with. It sounds as if all the pieces of the jigsaw are coming together to get you fighting fit. Hope that's the case and praying for you and the family at this time...
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home