Wednesday 20 April 2016

A Spring Return



As many of my followers are aware I had a mild TIA - transient ischemic attack,  a few days ago. This put me into hospital for four days and my route there was because my pipe fell out of my hand three times in succession, for each time that I picked it up from the floor and stood up, down it would go again. I became aware that all was not right with me so I trotted down to the studio to sit with her Ladyship and eventually brokered the subject that perhaps a trip to my GP would be a good thing to do.

Arrangements were made and we were given appointment for 4pm that day, not too long to wait, although in the surgery that time spent in the waiting room seemed horrendous - I am not good at waiting, not good at all; you might even think of me as being an impatient patient :)

My BP was extremely high as stated in comments on my recent blog, that being the case my lady GP told us to go directly to A&E at the nearest hospital which was about six miles away. We did as we were told, the waiting room only had two spare chairs and eventually I was seen by a Doctor and returned back to the waiting room, with a warning given to my wife that if I turned a funny colour or started acting oddly to ring the bell. We sat there until eleven pm when I was put on a trolley and given loads of caring attention. I slept fretfully, her Ladyship was given a comfortable chair and at eight thirty a.m I told her to drive home and get some rest.

The rest of my time there was spent in having a multitude of tests done,  he majority of which showed that I was healthy, apart from some clogging in carotid arteries - they supply blood to the brain. That sounded serious and the ward doctor explained to me that there were two procedures that would correct the situation; thus I returned home without having to consider any options because if you choose Life then either method is acceptable and I do choose life.

Today I had an appointment with the vascular specialist who with a big smile on his face told me that the clogging in my arteries was only slight, with a natural age related thickening and that he would not be performing any procedures on me.  He then said he would see me in six months time to do a  re-check and providing all was well he would not see me again.

I am delighted and with a spring in my step we left the hospital in glorious sunshine, revitalised.

30 comments:

  1. I am delighted that your carotids are in a good, natural state. A good flow to the old noggin' helps keep these wonderful posts wonderful. Glad all is right.

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    1. Dear Toni thank you so much for your appreciation.

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  2. A frightening challenge met bravely and sensibly. You did all the right things, especially by treating the situation as an emergency from the outset. Believe me, I know. All my best wishes for your continued good health and online company.

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    1. Thank you for your support and understanding Geo.
      We were really shocked yesterday by the physical size of most of the patients seeking treatment for they were enormous and we just wondered why they had allowed themselves to get into that situation.

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  3. Trust you recover with no lasting effects. My sis in law had 9 brain bleeds a few years ago but made a full recovery. Best regards!

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    1. Thank you Bill am sure that my condition is improving daily.

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  4. Glad the eventual outcome is reasonably good Heron. Appalled at the long wait in the hospital - but that seems to be the way it is these days. At least you don't appear to be grossly overweight - yes we too noticed when the farmer went for a CT scan yesterday that many people stalking the hospital corridors were to say the least overweight. (and mostly the same folk were standing just outside the main entrance smoking.)

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    1. Thank you Pat.
      I have a positive outlook on life and am certain that being so is half the battle. My doctors in the local health centre are good people who listen and understand my point of view which is to use herbal remedies where possible; fortunately I have had years of experience in alternative care and make my own salves etc. The outcome is not 'reasonable' it is actually very good and I am a delighted bunny :)

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  5. Hi Mel - that is good news and such a relief for you both ... enjoy the summer now - and we'll be seeing you around as and when ... all the best - cheers Hilary

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  6. Given my husband's recent health issues, I was so very happy to read that you don't need surgery and your blood pressure is back to normal I hope! (So the dropping of your pipe was due to the slightly clogged arteries? )

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    1. Oh Carol wish that my BP was back to normal it is running at 140 which is still a tad high but it will return gradually - I hope though it is generally a bit above normal.
      The dropping of my pipe was due to the TIA which in turn was caused by a minute piece of plaque in the arteries passing though the brain.

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    2. Diet changes can work wonders! (I read your reply to M n J below)
      xo

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    3. As I used to tell people years ago 'You are what you eat' I should have taken my own advice - gulp :(
      Yesterday was the first time that I had BP test taken on my big toes :)

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  7. How very scary, so glad that you're ok now. Do take care. I have high blood pressure and once a year my doctor does an ultra sound on my neck arteries to make sure there's no build up.

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    1. Hi Janet, it was the ultra sound check that discovered the presence of plaque in my neck arteries.
      Our diet has now changed drastically.
      Thank you for the comment and stay healthy ok :)

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  8. Sorry to hear about your health scare, Mel. But glad that you came out of it at the other end with that spring in your step. Keep well. :)

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  9. That is indeed very good news, Mel! I'm so glad your spring is springing again. Koos has had two of those procedures for clearing the thickening arteries, so if it is necessary in the future, I can testify that they work very well. Meanwhile, keep well! There's a lot of flu about, which I can testify to as well…having got it myself right now. The upside is that I can comment on blogs during the day :)

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    1. Hello Val. Am feeling so much better and thank you for sharing about Koos, very good to know.
      Sorry to hear that you have the flu - a very nasty condition to have and you probably caught it when you were at the Book Fair in London. There is though a silver lining it will boost your immune system when you are better; till then stay warm and cosset yourself x

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  10. Glad to hear you're ok now H :)

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  11. Great news from the doc. Very pleased for you.

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  12. Your heron family were so pleased with the good news & relieved that Grandpa Heron is back to his usual mischief with that familiar twinkle in his eye! The wee fledgling will be chasing you over mountains in August ;)

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    1. Thank you Snappy, I must say that we are looking forward to your visit and being chauffeured around the countryside :) xx

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  13. Great news, I am glad you didn't have to go 'under the knife'. So good healthy food, plenty of exercise and you will live to a ripe old age! Xxx

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    1. I have to say that my exercising has been curtailed Fran all due to have been given a high dosage statin which raised an enormous blister on my left foot; slowly though it is healing. The dosage was 80mg and after the blister was lowered to 40mg which is still probably too high.

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  14. Hey had me worried for a while. glad the results were good. Keep doing what you doing.. or maybe have even more fun!!

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    1. The results of my last blood tests from last week (5th May), I received today and the Cholesterol has dropped to 3.6 instead of 6.7 so am doing even better.
      Thank you for all of your comments Gwen.

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