Cate's Diary
- Thread starter Cate
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my aneurysm has not grown Getting Fit
Member
Cate, great news from the Dr. Always nervewracking waiting for results.
Cate
Long term member
Good news from my cardio. My aneurysm has not grown at all but I do have a narrowing of an artery that goes to my stomach. It's only 65-70% of its capacity apparently. If I start to experience stomach pain after eating I am to ask to see a vascular surgeon. I'm not worried for now. I just have to keep doing what I'm doing.
We went for our family lunch at G's other sister's place & have only been home about half an hour. We are both really tired & G is fast asleep. He's been doing all of the driving. One more medical appointment is left for this month & that's next Wednesday. Then I have 3 next month for my other eye. My cardio thinks having them both done now is an excellent idea & he thinks I am looking after my health very well.
We went for our family lunch at G's other sister's place & have only been home about half an hour. We are both really tired & G is fast asleep. He's been doing all of the driving. One more medical appointment is left for this month & that's next Wednesday. Then I have 3 next month for my other eye. My cardio thinks having them both done now is an excellent idea & he thinks I am looking after my health very well.
That's great, congratulations!
Given how small and light your regular meals are that probably isn't a problem as long as it doesn't get worse.
That's always wonderful to hear from an expert.
Cate
Long term member
Thanks, LaMa & Em. It was relief about the aneurysm not growing, but then the narrowing of the artery is a concern that I will have to keep an eye on. I had some really interesting conversations with my cardio. I really like him. He started out saying "Now, your GP recommended you have a CT scan..." & I said, "No, I recommended I have a CT scan" & told him that I am responsible for my own health & I thought it was time. He said he wished more people realised that they shouldn't blame everyone else for what is ultimately our own responsibility. We had some interesting philosophical conversations & quite a few laughs. I asked if I could take a photo of something he has on his wall & then we talked about hospitality & caring for others & he says that he tells his students that caring for the patient should be at the core of their being as doctors. He's an interesting guy.
This is what he had on his wall-
G has gone off to play golf again & we are going to listen to some live music this afternoon just down the road again when he gets home. It will be a bit chilly by the time we get home this evening. I'll take gloves & beanie I think & rug up. Arch might even need his PJ's
This is what he had on his wall-
G has gone off to play golf again & we are going to listen to some live music this afternoon just down the road again when he gets home. It will be a bit chilly by the time we get home this evening. I'll take gloves & beanie I think & rug up. Arch might even need his PJ's
Your cardio sounds like a great doctor. It's part of why I can't stand Dr. House, even though I like the actor: he would never have become that good at observing tiny details in people without actually being interested in people. Plus patients often only reveal relevant details during a random chat because they don't know some things are important even though you're convinced you asked them directly.
Cate
Long term member
He really is, LaMa & he really does care & listen to you. He's not like so many specialists who have massive egos & don't give you the time of day.
We just got back from listening to live music, just down the road. It is such a great venue & a really good atmosphere. We had such lovely interactions with small children & lots of people really. It was really good & lots of fun.
Cate
Long term member
I think we have to be. I don’t expect anyone else to take responsibility for my health.
I do too, Em. You can tell he really means it.
It was excellent
We shared a small pizza, some hot chips with aoli & a bottle of Tasmanian Pinot Noir.
Today will be much healthier!
That's the difference between the MEDICAL model that looks at disease in isolation and the BIOPSYCHOSOCIAL MODEL which looks at the person as a whole and not just a medical problem to solve.
I agree that for some doctors, it's all about their ego. I did not take to the woman who was treating my mother at all. She likened treating mental illness to someone needing an insulin injection for diabetes. Huge red flag for me.
That's good for the soul. It's all about balance.It was excellent
We shared a small pizza, some hot chips with aoli & a bottle of Tasmanian Pinot Noir.
Today will be much healthier!
Cate
Long term member
That seems to be true. When I said that I was responsible for my own health & had decided to pay to have my cataracts done instead of getting a new car, his head really swivelled around & he said that most people just don't realise how important our sight is for so many different reasons. I really like it when you can actually engage with a doctor & they really see you, rather than see your specific condition that you are seeing them for. He took note that I was having cataract surgery. It seemed to hold significance to him.
Maybe she meant that we should treat mental illness as we do a physical illness & it shouldn't have any stigma. It still does, no matter what people say.
It really is. I enjoyed it thoroughly & it did me lots of good.That's good for the soul. It's all about balance.
High blood pressure influences cataracts so they're probably something he sees a lot. And bad eyesight is one of the main predictors for risk of falling, which in turn relates to a whole host of other issues. Plus of course people often get scared to drive when they don't see well, which can make them less independent, etc.
Getting Fit
Member
Great idea to take care of your eyes first. We have to take responsibility for our health like you do. I think our Dr should be our partner in our health, but many just want to write a script and be done with you. 20 years ago my cholesterol had snuck up to 225, Dr wanted to give me a pill, I said no, i will do the work and get it down. Next time it was 169, then the Dr told me too low isn;'t good either, Hard to get it in the right range when I can't test it myself.
Cate
Long term member
Thanks, LaMa & Ann. I'll be pleased when both eyes are done & healed. My right is still quite red & stings & I think it's from the steroidal drops. I might just use my normal ones for a day, which he said was fine & see how they go.
It's a bit of a gloomy day today. We'll go into our local town & do a bit of shopping & take Arch for a walk.
BF was avocado & tuna on Ryvitas(with rhubarb chutney & some 99% ff mayo. 335 cals.
Yesterday was a very lazy day & I went over my cals for the day by 138. I had 4 squares of choc with our fruit platter & one speculaas tea biscuit. We shared a bottle of red wine with our older son who called in on his way home from work & had dinner with us.
It's a bit of a gloomy day today. We'll go into our local town & do a bit of shopping & take Arch for a walk.
BF was avocado & tuna on Ryvitas(with rhubarb chutney & some 99% ff mayo. 335 cals.
Yesterday was a very lazy day & I went over my cals for the day by 138. I had 4 squares of choc with our fruit platter & one speculaas tea biscuit. We shared a bottle of red wine with our older son who called in on his way home from work & had dinner with us.