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[CLKD]

Are you swimming to Switzerland 'cos flights are in disarray, probably much more worrying than anything the Hospital can throw at you 

[GeordieGirl]

I came home from my Easter break to a letter from the gp surgery saying "due to our recent chat about me worrying about my heart' she's written to the cardiology dept and they want to see me

I've not had a chat about me worrying about my heart
I told her I don't like the palpitations but had my heart thoroughly checked out 3 years ago when the peri symptoms started .  And categorically told her I'm not at all worrying about my heart as I know why I'm having them, just that I don't like them, so so far I've collected the following hospital appts (again)

Tissue specialist
Eye specialist
Cardiologist

I'm sure soon I'll be off the ENT again soon as the tinnitus is playing up and of course the bone dr (mind is mushy over the names lol) as my hip and back is constantly hurting and maybe the vagifem will prevent me from seeing the bladder dr

Xx

Damn, I'm feeling a little left out, I've only had two departments (breast and bottom). What can I think of next I wonder?

Funnily enough I mentioned on a FB group about menopausal symptoms and a friend ticked every box. In 18 months her doc has sent her for every test imaginable and she's had various treatments for individual problems but not once has the doc realised it could be a simple case of her hormones....hm. She's heading back there this week.

It's reassuring to be sent for the tests (whether needed or not!). My partner's sister in law died three weeks after finally being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, she'd been going to her GP for over a year because she wasn't feeling well and it was missed. I'd much rather break up my week with a regular trip to the hospital than be one of the wrong statistics.

The more I read about it all, the better I feel, it's reassuring to hear we're competing in our lists here :-)  (and still walking around with a pulse!!)

GG x

[GeordieGirl]

Are you swimming to Switzerland 'cos flights are in disarray, probably much more worrying than anything the Hospital can throw at you 

Fortunately we haven't had any problems with flights this week and have had some large groups travelling out on holiday . Let's hope it's not my flight that ends up the exception ...

GG x

[Annie0710]

Joking apart I do agree, maybe I'm blaming every ailment in this damn menopause and it is good we are getting checked, I live in hope that maybe this time round one of the depts refers me to someone who can sort my hormones out

Good luck with the trip xx

[CLKD]

GPs need to check symptoms as a separate issue 'in case'!

[honeybun]

A lot of aches,pains and uncertainty over the health issues are not just confined to women. Some of the problems we have are down to the aging process.

My hubby has the foggy brain, the aches and pains, the worrying about health issues.

Guess in some departments we really are all the same and hormones can't be blamed.


Honeybun
X

[GeordieGirl]

A lot of aches,pains and uncertainty over the health issues are not just confined to women. Some of the problems we have are down to the aging process.

My hubby has the foggy brain, the aches and pains, the worrying about health issues.

Guess in some departments we really are all the same and hormones can't be blamed.


Honeybun
X

Men's hormones also decline with age and in fact HRT for men preceded female HRT by several decades, but early treatment was an unmitigated disaster  - a synthetic testosterone, methyltestosterone was pushed forward as a replacement for real testosterone. After a few years of taking this anabolic steroid drug which was totally alien to men's bodies,  many of the men developed liver diseases, cancer and heart disease. Many died as a result.

A little like the WHI debacle, this then lead experts of the day to state ALL testosterone replacement was deadly, even comparing natural testosterone to it's anabolic steroid synthetic replacement is like comparing water to pepsi.  Bio-identical testosterone is now approved ...it took a while but they finally got that right. It's likely though a lot of men probably don't go for help, or if they do, their doctors are still scared off by the health issues from methyltestosterone.

At least female menopause is widely recognised even if not so widely (well) treated....

GG x

[CLKD]

   men's hormone levels certainly 'drop off' as they age 

[GeordieGirl]

Update....

After three biopsies, one MRI and a CT scan, it's been confirmed it's stage 2 bowel cancer. Bugger.   It's still early and so it's treatable, but needless to say the diagnosis has floored me a little - this isn't me, I'm fit, strong and healthy and haven't had anything worse than chicken pox until last autumn. It just doesn't seem real. 

My consultations to date have all been at Stepping Hill hospital in Stockport which has been exemplary - the first biopsy showed negative but the consultant wasn't convinced as he also saw the photos (now THOSE photos would have beaten all the selfies on FB! Inside as well as out). The second biopsy was on the cusp so he did the third himself under general anaesthetic and made sure he took a large enough chunk.  Thank God he did.

Having read for hours and hours about hormones and realised how little some (particularly my own) doctors know about these things has actually given me the confidence to question and challenge where the bowel cancer's concerned. The consultant's recommended strategy doesn't suit me and after probing there are alternate solutions available, one which is fairly new to the UK but has been used in France for 40 years with excellent results (contact radiotherapy). He's agreed to refer me to a specialist cancer centre at Clatterbridge on the Wirral for further discussion and hopefully treatment there.  In the interim I'm making radical changes to diet and lifestyle to give my body its best chances.

On the plus side, I got the hormones sorted and underway, hopefully this one will be rectified too.

[oldsheep]

I'm so sorry to read this. I wish you everything of the best with your treatment. As you say, seems you do have to do your own research to take control of how you wish to be treated.
All the very best.

[Jenna]

Hi GeordieGirl,

I am also so sorry to read this. As you say, you have had excellent treatment so far, and I can tell that you will ensure that you continue to do so with all your thorough research.

I really wish you all the very best and please let us know how you are getting on.

Jenna xx

[Morwenna]

 

[LizeeeH]

Hi GG

Sorry to hear your news hunni

It does sounds like you have a fab hospital with caring doctors Lots of hugs coming your way

Keep strong xxxxxxxlizxxxxxx

[GeordieGirl]

Thanks for the warm wishes all. It's been found early so the treatment is effective, I'm just hoping to be able to avoid the radical approach my Stockport consultant favours - a kind of whip it all out then it won't bother you again type of thing. I do actually need my bowel so would prefer to keep as much as I can of it as possible, and really don't want it coming out of any other orifice than the one I'm used to.  Fortunately the specialists agree.

The journey starteth here. Hopefully it will endeth just as quickly and cleanly and I'll be able to bore the socks off everyone raving about the new treatment and how " it's changed my life for the better " (a girl can hope!)

GG x

[honeybun]

I had been thinking about you as we hadn't heard from you.

Good luck with everything, your attitude is amazing and I hope everything goes as planned.

Keep posting.


Honeyb
x