Support thread for those awaiting medical appts,tests and surgery

[ohyouBadBadkitten]

It seems that there is probably rather a lot of us who are impatiently waiting to see consultants, have tests or waiting for surgery. So a thread for you to vent in or post your 'hooray's'

me. Am waiting to see my cardiologist. been a bit of a catalogue of delays and getting lost in the system. I have a wonderfully supportive gp who has just calmed me down after me losing the plot a bit when I found I wasnt on the appt system.

How about you?

thread with mad cat lady poor thing. I hope they managed to sort her out in the end but it did make me giggle at times. She must have been very confused.

Nothing to report. Had a student practise on me first then the technician did all the measurements. No feedback and they couldn't help me with the blood test results.

Sounds very similar to when I had my last echo. The student I had was extremely unconfident, and whacked the transducer right down on my scar. I think she realised that she had hurt me, because she went to get her supervisor straight away, who then took over the test. I hope you get your results more quickly than me.

I went to my exercise class today, and I really enjoyed it. I was a bit stressed when I got there, because I had been running around like a mad thing all morning getting dd2 sorted for her holiday. Then I had to lug her very heavy kit bag, because she couldn't. My bp was a bit up when I got there, and my heart rate was lower at the end of the class than at the beginning. The exercises were quite manageable apart from the exercise bike, on which I had to turn the reistance right down because I couldn't push the pedals at all .

The other people were really nice too. They mostly seemed younger than those that were in hospital with me, maybe in their 50's or 60's, with only a few in their 70's or more. It was also one third women, so I felt quite comfortable.

I'm really glad the exercise class was positive :) how many sessions do you get?

The weekend now and then work on Monday.

I get 8 sessions on this course, and after that I can do phase 4, for which I have to pay £14 a month. I think phase 4 has special classes, plus I can use the gyms and pools in my borough. I may well do this, because I let my gym membership slip.

Good luck for work on Monday . I'm sure you will be fine, but if you are not then your GP will sign you off, and at least you will have given it a go.

Phase 4 sounds like a very good option! The 8 sessions should give you confidence in your ability to exercise hopefully.

I left my work in such a melodramatic fashion when I was signed off. So I need to return in disguise.

HI Don't worry about wetting the bed LGR When I was in hospital having the first VP shunt in I turned to the Surgeon and vomited all over him, but at the same time I wet the bed just at the same time another Surgeon checked the wounds on my tummy, I was and the surgeons said "don't worry we get worse when we are in theatre, If anyone who works in a hospital has not seen a bit of urine or vomit must be dreaming"

I saw the GP today (DP got him to do a house call to see how ill I am at the moment) I got anti sickness tablets and the wonderful Diarolite :( The pregabilin don't seem to work it makes me more sick at the moment. I am back on bed rest for 10 days :( and on Trammadol and Oramorph for pain relief,. My GP is going to take my care back (he passed all of my neuro care over to surgeons and neuros) as the right people are not helping. My GP took blood much to my DP nightmares :) I should have the results back in a few weeks, I cant remember what the blood tests were for as I was vomiting when he was telling me

I'm glad the exercise class went well Mad. Is that exercise on Prescription? I have been referred to that apparently losing 10% of my body weight will cure me, I lost 30% 15months ago and got worse and I was hoping someone else has been who could tell me what it was like.

weeks I mean days.

That post don't make sense I blame the Oramorph - I have been off it for about a week and put back on it.

I hate bed rest as I sleep all day and awake all night, DP has been pushed on the sofa so he does not touch my legs, I'm bored even DD is not in bed with me :( and shes fast asleep so I can't get DP to bring her into my bed :(

Backpack, I'm sorry you are on bed rest and bored. Try to stay awake today, to give yourself a chance of sleep tonight. Not easy I know.

My exercise class was very similar to exercise on prescription. You should give it a go when you are feeling better, because it is a positive thing to exercise again. Most people will be much older than you (I'm 39, so quite a bit older than you, but was the youngest one there).

I'm quite at the doctor that told you losing a small amount of weight would cure you. I bet you wish that a cure could be achieved so simply after all the neurosurgery that you have been through.

BackPack Some area run exercise on prescription schemes specifically for people diagnosed with depression, and I'd guess that in such a class you'd neither be the only younger person nor the only one with complex medical issues. But as mad wisely says, it tend often to be a question of funding rather than of need. In terms of the losing weight I think it's more that the statistics show that being overweight is a risk factor for IH and that weight loss may help a significant proportion of patients... however, given that your illness has already completely confounded medical knowledge, telling you that losing weight will help seems decidedly suspect advice. But certainly, healthy eating and as much exercise as possible and safe can only ever be a good thing. What's you DP like in the catering department whilst you're on bedrest?

Mad am following with interest your description of the classes. I know I need to get back into exercise and I do want to, but I need to find a way to restore my own confidence, even though common sense would suggest I'm safer now than before the surgery. I've walked back and forth to the CM a few times, but that's it .

Just realised the psychiatrist has diagnosed me with a personality disorder, had a letter through that I asked for a copy of, and according to the ICD-10 code he's put my down as an anxious (avoidant) personality disorder. That sucks. Really sucks.

Feeling a bit upset about it. I know it's not a physical health problem, but I've always been led to believe that it's bad to have a PD diagnosis.

I'm so sorry. You've got so many health problems and diagnoses to cope with... you really don't need another.

I think you're right, though, to regard the PD diagnosis as just that: a diagnosis and a load of bullshit and as such a social construction rather than a scientifically-validated phenomenon. There has been a lot of research into why doctors diagnose PDs, and it's often because the patients have difficulties they don't understand and/or cannot help... not because of the difficulties themselves. Certainly, until about ten years ago, people with PD diagnoses were very much discriminated against by health professionals and were denied treatments... however, there has since been a lot of policy and investment into trying to prevent that from happening and it does, I think, happen less.

So honestly, I would try and regard this PD diagnosis as a means by which the psychiatrist can justify his/her own professional shortcomings rather than anything about you. Really, it seems as though anyone living with the amount of pain and uncertainty with which you're coping would feel anxious and want to avoid things...

Argh I'm panicking. Not sure about what, but just that sense of everything, everything feeling all too much :(

Concentrate on deep breathing. Relax and do something pleasant or calming, like reading a book or going for a bath. Life is one step at a time, focus on the here and now and don't worry about looking forwards too far or backwards too often.

I had a real panicky moment today too, and have made a complete fool of myself. I'm also about to out myself even more to people who know me. Must stay off the fetish threads .

Dd2 is on her first camp, and we are also away. Dh remotely checked our answerphone and there were two messages from a mobile with poor reception. The sound quality was so poor that I could not make out what was being said, just that there was a child speaking and a man in the background. Dh panicked and so did I, so we called the emergency contact, who is not on camp. She said that she had not been informed of any problems. As soon as I was off the phone dh said, actually the voice sounded a bit like dd2's friend, and the man in the background could have been her dad. I called dd2's friend's mum, and it was her calling to see if dd2 could play.

Rabbits, BM is right about your psyche report. Of course, the strain of dealing with long term physical health problems is going to impact on anyone's mental health. Everyone feels happier when they are frolicking in the sunshine, but life isn't always like that. Having looked up the definition of anxious avoidant, the criteria seem so vague that I could put myself and many of my friends into it, especially on a bad day. It is so frustrating when you see something that you want to challenge in any professional report, but especially on medical records .

Thanks Rabbits for helping me calm down. As you say, thinking too much about the future when there's nothing you can do about it isn't very constructive.

Mad Yes, I'm always amazed by the people on here who name the schools their kids attend and then post about Friday night bumsex and their evil in-laws. But yes, I can appreciate your panic. How long are you away from DD2? Honestly, I think many of us would similarly have panicked... including perhaps the emergency contact person, if she has kids. I dread the day I have to wave DD off anywhere further than the CM.

Another first here today: an outing to a local children's gallery with the DH, the DCs and their amazing godmother. DS found it all wonderfully chewable.

Silly dh Mad! I'd have panicked too.

Well done BM :) lol at your ds finding everything chewable. A gallery for all the senses!

Rabbits, I think probably everyone with long term health issues would end up with a psych diagnosis if assessed, it's the nature of what chronic illness does to you. Have you been offered any help? The main thing is that you end up feeling better.

How's everyone today? Could I ask another question...?

My back hurts, especially when I'm just out of bed. It has been happening each morning for the past ten days or so I've never had a bad back before so I'm guessing that it has come about from the way I've been holding myself and lying down and positioning myself for breastfeeding since the surgery. Really, it feels such a minor niggle compared to everything else and so insignificant in relation to the pain which others on this thread live with... however, I would therefore very much like to nip this one in the bud, like, now. Does anyone know of any exercises I could do? Or where or who I should ask for help...?

Before you get out of bed try hugging one knee to your chest, then the other or if you want try both together. Then after you get out of bed slowly roll your back forward and down starting with the neck first. They are the two main ones my osteopath has me doing. Off to see him this week, he's quite good with helping some of the issues that crop up around the arthritis.

Feel very tearful this afternoon. Took dd clothes shopping ( it was desperate) and exhausted myself. Can't imagine going back to work tomorrow, I'm scared of everyone fussing (which will make me cry) and I'm scared of not managing it and being sent home in a state.

Also realised how lonely I've been these past few weeks. I could quite easily disappear off the planet and the only people it would bother is dd and dh.

Mad - hope you are doing ok with regards tomorrow. I really hope it goes well and you get the news you are hoping for.

Poor you. I can very much relate to both fears, and to the isolation. There'll be all of us from this thread, plus I'm sure a few lurkers, rooting quietly for you... not the same as RL companionship, but genuine solidarity nevertheless.

Thanks for the exercise ideas, too. I'll report back!

Thank you BM. I hope the exercises help. I also find that ice is good when the pain is sharp and heat for when it is dull and nagging.

Good grief OYBBK, 1000's of MNers would miss you if you disappeared, and not just on here, weather and gardening . I agree, not the same as RL friends, but I'm sure they would too.

I'm sorry that shopping today was difficult, but IME shopping with an 11/12 year old girl is incredibly stressful. I delegate this to dh now, because dd1 doesn't like anything I suggest, so it never ends well. All the best for work tomorrow, I know what you mean about people being too sympathetic, it can sometimes make you feel worse.

I'm trying to be upbeat about tomorrow. If I'm not in flutter, I shall sqeeeee most unbearably. If I am, but the EP is satisfied that my current treatment is keeping me well, then I shall be happy enough. If he suggests amiodarone, I shall be quite nervous, but my pacer will prevent the very low heartbeat that OYBBK had, so it should be fine. If he goes for ablation or cardioversion, I will need some handholding, but the treatments are low risk. It's just that I'm feeling quite risk adverse at the moment.

Tonight I'm feeling happy. Dd2 is back from camp, safe and well. I'm not very good at letting go.

feel very silly for being so maudlin and eeyore. I think I'll be better once I've got a few days work under my belt.

What time is your appt? Will be thinking of you.

Am glad your dd is back safe and sound. I hope she didnt smell too much

My appointment is in the early afternoon, so quite a civilised time. No running across town in the rush hour.

Yes, dd2 did stink, and also had a bit of a temperature. She had a great time though, and says she has too much to write in her holiday news. I plucked up the courage to go into the bag, and the washing machine is working on the muddy lake infested clothes.

I hope everyone else is fine, and that LGR is on the mend.