How has your day been?
Oct 22nd 2013, 10:59 am
#6046
Forum Regular
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 214
Re: How has your day been?
Been threatened with statins. LDL of 4.2
So NOT going to take them. I have a month to reduce the 6.6 overall and high LDL through diet.
Bu++er- I'd just got in some jarlsberg and English Red Leicester cheese.
So...seeing as I'm GF and can't eat spicy stuff, brassicas, onions or garlic, does anyone have any suggestions as to what I can actually eat??
So NOT going to take them. I have a month to reduce the 6.6 overall and high LDL through diet.
Bu++er- I'd just got in some jarlsberg and English Red Leicester cheese.
So...seeing as I'm GF and can't eat spicy stuff, brassicas, onions or garlic, does anyone have any suggestions as to what I can actually eat??
Are you GF because of CD? If so, can you tolerate oats? Do you avoid the other foods because of IBS? Or some other condition? What are the supplements the doctor has told you to take? If this is too personal, please pm me
.Apart from decreasing your LDL, what are your triglycerides (TGs) like? TGs might be up because of too many sugary foods and too much alcohol
.Some people find that changing the diet and using one of those margarines containing plant sterols helps - Logical, Flora Active and similar.
I have lowered my total cholesterol count before by cutting out cheese, butter, chocolate and red meat, so will do that again. I'll just add them to the list of things I am not allowed. I'd been eating more red meat to boost the iron as I am anemic- though only slightly now.
Your GP could draw up a care plan to include a dietitian, if you wanted, but it sounds as if you already have some experience with this
.
Oct 22nd 2013, 8:47 pm
#6047
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Mar 2008
Location: Sydney, NSW
Posts: 7,580
Re: How has your day been?
Hi Caroline, there's lots of info out there with tips for improving your lipids profile, such as http://www.heartfoundation.org.au/he...s/default.aspx, also see section on fish oil and other oils, if you aren't taking supplements already. LDLs are usually up if an individual has too many foods containing high amounts of saturated fat, such as full-fat dairy, butter, skin on chicken, pork crackling and other fat on meat, takeaway foods). Usually, people are told to eat less of these foods and more veg and other foods containing fibre.
I have been eating more cheese and chocolate than normal, and I believe that is what has done it- and OH does an excellent pork crackling.
Are you GF because of CD? If so, can you tolerate oats? Do you avoid the other foods because of IBS? Or some other condition? What are the supplements the doctor has told you to take? If this is too personal, please pm me.
I am gluten intolerant and have IBS- been scoped both ends and have some gut changes, though not typical of CD, though I have the gene for it and the gastrologist recommended the GF diet.Supplements are fish oil- I take 2000mg per day, bilberry and lutein for my eyesight as recommended by my opthalmic surgeon- had cataracts at 50 and my maculas are those of an 80 year old, vitamin D because of MS, and glucosamine/chondroitin because of arthritis/joint pain.
Apart from decreasing your LDL, what are your triglycerides (TGs) like? TGs might be up because of too many sugary foods and too much alcohol.
TG's are 0.8, so on the lower end of normal.
Some people find that changing the diet and using one of those margarines containing plant sterols helps - Logical, Flora Active and similar.
Already using Flora/Logicol as DD has high cholesterol too.
Lean red meat is OK and good for iron content. Other meats such as chicken have less iron so eating with a vitamin C-rich food helps to absorb it. See Heart Foundation page for info on eating oily fish, twice a week recommended.
Already eat fish- salmon and tuna, but not always twice a week.
Has your doctor told you that total cholesterol is OK for you at 5.4-5.8? Yes.
Your GP could draw up a care plan to include a dietitian, if you wanted, but it sounds as if you already have some experience with this.
I have been eating more cheese and chocolate than normal, and I believe that is what has done it- and OH does an excellent pork crackling.
Are you GF because of CD? If so, can you tolerate oats? Do you avoid the other foods because of IBS? Or some other condition? What are the supplements the doctor has told you to take? If this is too personal, please pm me
. I am gluten intolerant and have IBS- been scoped both ends and have some gut changes, though not typical of CD, though I have the gene for it and the gastrologist recommended the GF diet.Supplements are fish oil- I take 2000mg per day, bilberry and lutein for my eyesight as recommended by my opthalmic surgeon- had cataracts at 50 and my maculas are those of an 80 year old, vitamin D because of MS, and glucosamine/chondroitin because of arthritis/joint pain.
Apart from decreasing your LDL, what are your triglycerides (TGs) like? TGs might be up because of too many sugary foods and too much alcohol
.TG's are 0.8, so on the lower end of normal.
Some people find that changing the diet and using one of those margarines containing plant sterols helps - Logical, Flora Active and similar.
Already using Flora/Logicol as DD has high cholesterol too.
Lean red meat is OK and good for iron content. Other meats such as chicken have less iron so eating with a vitamin C-rich food helps to absorb it. See Heart Foundation page for info on eating oily fish, twice a week recommended.
Already eat fish- salmon and tuna, but not always twice a week.
Has your doctor told you that total cholesterol is OK for you at 5.4-5.8? Yes.
Your GP could draw up a care plan to include a dietitian, if you wanted, but it sounds as if you already have some experience with this
.
Oct 23rd 2013, 2:28 am
#6048
Forum Regular
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 214
Re: How has your day been?
Hi Caroline, it sounds like you are doing a lot of good things with your diet and you exercise as well. I can't work out how to get your red text quoted, so hope you can follow this.
I fully understand the difficulties in abstaining from good cheese, chocolate and pork crackling. Most people can get away with occasional treats, but not everyone. Harder to ignore cheese now that there are so many more varieties available, such as the Leicester you mentioned and I've seen quite a few other British and French cheeses in the shops.
It's interesting that your endoscope did not confirm CD - had you been eating gluten-containing foods prior to the scope?
IBS - have you heard of FODMAPs? See http://www.med.monash.edu/cecs/gastro/fodmap/ and http://shepherdworks.com.au/disease-...ow-fodmap-diet.
If you can tolerate oats, they are good at mopping up cholesterol, as are other high fibre foods, you might be able to pick out a few from the FODMAPs websites and the National Heart Foundation http://www.heartfoundation.org.au/he...s/cereals.aspx.
I've heard a cardiologist talk on the radio about an alternative to statins, he is involved in marketing this product. His name is Dr Ross Walker, lots of webpages for him, plus see info on BergaMet http://bergamet.com.au/Dr-Ross-Walker.php. You would have to discuss with your doctors first, of course.
For some people, despite all their efforts, if there is a family history of high cholesterol and/or heart disease, going onto some medication may be necessary. Some GPs and other health professionals don't seem very aware of possible side-effects of statins, though, and it is good to be aware of them. Not everyone is affected, and research is being done, see recent article on University of Dundee research http://www.express.co.uk/news/health...y-side-effects.
I fully understand the difficulties in abstaining from good cheese, chocolate and pork crackling. Most people can get away with occasional treats, but not everyone. Harder to ignore cheese now that there are so many more varieties available, such as the Leicester you mentioned and I've seen quite a few other British and French cheeses in the shops.
It's interesting that your endoscope did not confirm CD - had you been eating gluten-containing foods prior to the scope?
IBS - have you heard of FODMAPs? See http://www.med.monash.edu/cecs/gastro/fodmap/ and http://shepherdworks.com.au/disease-...ow-fodmap-diet.
If you can tolerate oats, they are good at mopping up cholesterol, as are other high fibre foods, you might be able to pick out a few from the FODMAPs websites and the National Heart Foundation http://www.heartfoundation.org.au/he...s/cereals.aspx.
I've heard a cardiologist talk on the radio about an alternative to statins, he is involved in marketing this product. His name is Dr Ross Walker, lots of webpages for him, plus see info on BergaMet http://bergamet.com.au/Dr-Ross-Walker.php. You would have to discuss with your doctors first, of course.
For some people, despite all their efforts, if there is a family history of high cholesterol and/or heart disease, going onto some medication may be necessary. Some GPs and other health professionals don't seem very aware of possible side-effects of statins, though, and it is good to be aware of them. Not everyone is affected, and research is being done, see recent article on University of Dundee research http://www.express.co.uk/news/health...y-side-effects.
Oct 23rd 2013, 5:05 am
#6049
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 10,375
Re: How has your day been?
I spent the morning at Breastscreen QLD. Contacted on monday after routine 2 year mammogram, told to come back 7.30 weds morning.
Panic, brain going OT, urgent call backs for anything medical usually mean serious. Tuesday mentally planning funeral, as you do in these situations
Arrived to find 5 other women, all looking very calm and collected, all older ladies, to be expected, age is a big factor. Lost of supportive husbands reading fishing/car magazines and generally looking lost
.
Into white robe, and to their credit, the mammogram is right there on the computer, and I can see the offending white area straight away, about 1cm long, irregular outline, like a large huge grain of fluffy rice.
More mammograms, and they really need your boob flat, ouch, grin and bear anything to get answers.
Back to wait room,
Ultrasound, back to wait room
Physical exam, back to wait room
Women popping in and out the door, we are all taking our turn on the same path.
All the time fully informed, none of the 'we cant say', all straight answers.
All reports go to the Doctors, you wait, the wait room is actually comfortable, tea, coffee, decent chairs, TV on the morning show. A volunteer comes in and does cheese & saos, morning tea in that aussie CWA way. Nice touch for the older ladies, homely.
I get up to wander round, among the clinical buildings and airconditioning units, a pretty brush pergola pavilion thing, sits amid the utility of it all, I am thinking thats where you sit, if you get bad news, sit with the family digest it, I sit back down, make a cup of tea.
The door is opening again, a new Doctor, the one giving reports on our little roundabout of the last 2 hours. The woman ahead of me goes in, then goes up the corridor to another room...
The Doctor calls me, 'we are sending you home" the offending white blob is on the screen again, she shows me close up images of it in every format, its glandular tissue, nothing harmful. I am one of the 90% called back who go home.
I am not elated nor jumping up and down as you might expect, more quietly reflective/respectful that in that second I could also have been walking up the corridor for more tests/biopsy etc. As I walk out a lovely cheery rotund lady in a purple gown give me a wink and a thumbs up, I thumb back. I am the first of the morning to go free.
As i walk out, the intense heat burning into me, all I can wonder is which of the magic roundabout ladies will walk out soon, or much later.....
Grounding for sure.
Panic, brain going OT, urgent call backs for anything medical usually mean serious. Tuesday mentally planning funeral, as you do in these situations
Arrived to find 5 other women, all looking very calm and collected, all older ladies, to be expected, age is a big factor. Lost of supportive husbands reading fishing/car magazines and generally looking lost
. Into white robe, and to their credit, the mammogram is right there on the computer, and I can see the offending white area straight away, about 1cm long, irregular outline, like a large huge grain of fluffy rice.
More mammograms, and they really need your boob flat, ouch, grin and bear anything to get answers.
Back to wait room,
Ultrasound, back to wait room
Physical exam, back to wait room
Women popping in and out the door, we are all taking our turn on the same path.
All the time fully informed, none of the 'we cant say', all straight answers.
All reports go to the Doctors, you wait, the wait room is actually comfortable, tea, coffee, decent chairs, TV on the morning show. A volunteer comes in and does cheese & saos, morning tea in that aussie CWA way. Nice touch for the older ladies, homely.
I get up to wander round, among the clinical buildings and airconditioning units, a pretty brush pergola pavilion thing, sits amid the utility of it all, I am thinking thats where you sit, if you get bad news, sit with the family digest it,
I sit back down, make a cup of tea. The door is opening again, a new Doctor, the one giving reports on our little roundabout of the last 2 hours. The woman ahead of me goes in, then goes up the corridor to another room...
The Doctor calls me, 'we are sending you home" the offending white blob is on the screen again, she shows me close up images of it in every format, its glandular tissue, nothing harmful. I am one of the 90% called back who go home.
I am not elated nor jumping up and down as you might expect, more quietly reflective/respectful that in that second I could also have been walking up the corridor for more tests/biopsy etc. As I walk out a lovely cheery rotund lady in a purple gown give me a wink and a thumbs up, I thumb back. I am the first of the morning to go free.
As i walk out, the intense heat burning into me, all I can wonder is which of the magic roundabout ladies will walk out soon, or much later.....
Grounding for sure.
Oct 23rd 2013, 5:09 am
#6050
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jun 2005
Location: Limerick-Shropshire- Perth.
Posts: 3,215
Re: How has your day been?
I spent the morning at Breastscreen QLD. Contacted on monday after routine 2 year mammogram, told to come back 7.30 weds morning.
Panic, brain going OT, urgent call backs for anything medical usually mean serious. Tuesday mentally planning funeral, as you do in these situations
Arrived to find 5 other women, all looking very calm and collected, all older ladies, to be expected, age is a big factor. Lost of supportive husbands reading fishing/car magazines and generally looking lost.
Into white robe, and to their credit, the mammogram is right there on the computer, and I can see the offending white area straight away, about 1cm long, irregular outline, like a large huge grain of fluffy rice.
More mammograms, and they really need your boob flat, ouch, grin and bear anything to get answers.
Back to wait room,
Ultrasound, back to wait room
Physical exam, back to wait room
Women popping in and out the door, we are all taking our turn on the same path.
All the time fully informed, none of the 'we cant say', all straight answers.
All reports go to the Doctors, you wait, the wait room is actually comfortable, tea, coffee, decent chairs, TV on the morning show. A volunteer comes in and does cheese & saos, morning tea in that aussie CWA way. Nice touch for the older ladies, homely.
I get up to wander round, among the clinical buildings and airconditioning units, a pretty brush pergola pavilion thing, sits amid the utility of it all, I am thinking thats where you sit, if you get bad news, sit with the family digest it, I sit back down, make a cup of tea.
The door is opening again, a new Doctor, the one giving reports on our little roundabout of the last 2 hours. The woman ahead of me goes in, then goes up the corridor to another room...
The Doctor calls me, 'we are sending you home" the offending white blob is on the screen again, she shows me close up images of it in every format, its glandular tissue, nothing harmful. I am one of the 90% called back who go home.
I am not elated nor jumping up and down as you might expect, more quietly reflective/respectful that in that second I could also have been walking up the corridor for more tests/biopsy etc. As I walk out a lovely cheery rotund lady in a purple gown give me a wink and a thumbs up, I thumb back. I am the first of the morning to go free.
As i walk out, the intense heat burning into me, all I can wonder is which of the magic roundabout ladies will walk out soon, or much later.....
Grounding for sure.
Panic, brain going OT, urgent call backs for anything medical usually mean serious. Tuesday mentally planning funeral, as you do in these situations
Arrived to find 5 other women, all looking very calm and collected, all older ladies, to be expected, age is a big factor. Lost of supportive husbands reading fishing/car magazines and generally looking lost
. Into white robe, and to their credit, the mammogram is right there on the computer, and I can see the offending white area straight away, about 1cm long, irregular outline, like a large huge grain of fluffy rice.
More mammograms, and they really need your boob flat, ouch, grin and bear anything to get answers.
Back to wait room,
Ultrasound, back to wait room
Physical exam, back to wait room
Women popping in and out the door, we are all taking our turn on the same path.
All the time fully informed, none of the 'we cant say', all straight answers.
All reports go to the Doctors, you wait, the wait room is actually comfortable, tea, coffee, decent chairs, TV on the morning show. A volunteer comes in and does cheese & saos, morning tea in that aussie CWA way. Nice touch for the older ladies, homely.
I get up to wander round, among the clinical buildings and airconditioning units, a pretty brush pergola pavilion thing, sits amid the utility of it all, I am thinking thats where you sit, if you get bad news, sit with the family digest it,
I sit back down, make a cup of tea. The door is opening again, a new Doctor, the one giving reports on our little roundabout of the last 2 hours. The woman ahead of me goes in, then goes up the corridor to another room...
The Doctor calls me, 'we are sending you home" the offending white blob is on the screen again, she shows me close up images of it in every format, its glandular tissue, nothing harmful. I am one of the 90% called back who go home.
I am not elated nor jumping up and down as you might expect, more quietly reflective/respectful that in that second I could also have been walking up the corridor for more tests/biopsy etc. As I walk out a lovely cheery rotund lady in a purple gown give me a wink and a thumbs up, I thumb back. I am the first of the morning to go free.
As i walk out, the intense heat burning into me, all I can wonder is which of the magic roundabout ladies will walk out soon, or much later.....
Grounding for sure.
That made for some teary reading.So pleased for you.
Oct 23rd 2013, 5:12 am
#6051
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 15,526
Re: How has your day been?
Great news and a very sobering thing to go through, try and avoid survivor guilt if you can though as that seems to be coming through a bit.
Now for the 'funny' Errm your not planning on doing anything uncharacteristically wild and wanton with your new lease on life per chance
? 
Go celebrate
Now for the 'funny' Errm your not planning on doing anything uncharacteristically wild and wanton with your new lease on life per chance
? Go celebrate
Oct 23rd 2013, 5:13 am
#6052
MODERATOR
Joined: Sep 2009
Location: Adelaide
Posts: 29,850
Re: How has your day been?
I spent the morning at Breastscreen QLD. Contacted on monday after routine 2 year mammogram, told to come back 7.30 weds morning.
Panic, brain going OT, urgent call backs for anything medical usually mean serious. Tuesday mentally planning funeral, as you do in these situations
Arrived to find 5 other women, all looking very calm and collected, all older ladies, to be expected, age is a big factor. Lost of supportive husbands reading fishing/car magazines and generally looking lost.
Into white robe, and to their credit, the mammogram is right there on the computer, and I can see the offending white area straight away, about 1cm long, irregular outline, like a large huge grain of fluffy rice.
More mammograms, and they really need your boob flat, ouch, grin and bear anything to get answers.
Back to wait room,
Ultrasound, back to wait room
Physical exam, back to wait room
Women popping in and out the door, we are all taking our turn on the same path.
All the time fully informed, none of the 'we cant say', all straight answers.
All reports go to the Doctors, you wait, the wait room is actually comfortable, tea, coffee, decent chairs, TV on the morning show. A volunteer comes in and does cheese & saos, morning tea in that aussie CWA way. Nice touch for the older ladies, homely.
I get up to wander round, among the clinical buildings and airconditioning units, a pretty brush pergola pavilion thing, sits amid the utility of it all, I am thinking thats where you sit, if you get bad news, sit with the family digest it, I sit back down, make a cup of tea.
The door is opening again, a new Doctor, the one giving reports on our little roundabout of the last 2 hours. The woman ahead of me goes in, then goes up the corridor to another room...
The Doctor calls me, 'we are sending you home" the offending white blob is on the screen again, she shows me close up images of it in every format, its glandular tissue, nothing harmful. I am one of the 90% called back who go home.
I am not elated nor jumping up and down as you might expect, more quietly reflective/respectful that in that second I could also have been walking up the corridor for more tests/biopsy etc. As I walk out a lovely cheery rotund lady in a purple gown give me a wink and a thumbs up, I thumb back. I am the first of the morning to go free.
As i walk out, the intense heat burning into me, all I can wonder is which of the magic roundabout ladies will walk out soon, or much later.....
Grounding for sure.
Panic, brain going OT, urgent call backs for anything medical usually mean serious. Tuesday mentally planning funeral, as you do in these situations
Arrived to find 5 other women, all looking very calm and collected, all older ladies, to be expected, age is a big factor. Lost of supportive husbands reading fishing/car magazines and generally looking lost
. Into white robe, and to their credit, the mammogram is right there on the computer, and I can see the offending white area straight away, about 1cm long, irregular outline, like a large huge grain of fluffy rice.
More mammograms, and they really need your boob flat, ouch, grin and bear anything to get answers.
Back to wait room,
Ultrasound, back to wait room
Physical exam, back to wait room
Women popping in and out the door, we are all taking our turn on the same path.
All the time fully informed, none of the 'we cant say', all straight answers.
All reports go to the Doctors, you wait, the wait room is actually comfortable, tea, coffee, decent chairs, TV on the morning show. A volunteer comes in and does cheese & saos, morning tea in that aussie CWA way. Nice touch for the older ladies, homely.
I get up to wander round, among the clinical buildings and airconditioning units, a pretty brush pergola pavilion thing, sits amid the utility of it all, I am thinking thats where you sit, if you get bad news, sit with the family digest it,
I sit back down, make a cup of tea. The door is opening again, a new Doctor, the one giving reports on our little roundabout of the last 2 hours. The woman ahead of me goes in, then goes up the corridor to another room...
The Doctor calls me, 'we are sending you home" the offending white blob is on the screen again, she shows me close up images of it in every format, its glandular tissue, nothing harmful. I am one of the 90% called back who go home.
I am not elated nor jumping up and down as you might expect, more quietly reflective/respectful that in that second I could also have been walking up the corridor for more tests/biopsy etc. As I walk out a lovely cheery rotund lady in a purple gown give me a wink and a thumbs up, I thumb back. I am the first of the morning to go free.
As i walk out, the intense heat burning into me, all I can wonder is which of the magic roundabout ladies will walk out soon, or much later.....
Grounding for sure.
Oct 23rd 2013, 5:32 am
#6053
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 10,375
Re: How has your day been?
Feeling very strange actually! It was a very weird 48 hours. I think it makes you very very aware of how your life can change in a heartbeat. You already know that but this makes you really really understand it.
Wildest thing I am doing tonight is cooking dinner and feeling how lucky I am to be doing that ordinary task! Life does go on, but I am feeling a need to re assess a few things as well. But we already have some major plans as last teen finishes school this year
However if it makes you feel one thing its "Do it now" . You really might get 'hit by a bus' (as they say) tomorrow.
Wildest thing I am doing tonight is cooking dinner
and feeling how lucky I am to be doing that ordinary task! Life does go on, but I am feeling a need to re assess a few things as well. But we already have some major plans as last teen finishes school this year However if it makes you feel one thing its "Do it now" . You really might get 'hit by a bus' (as they say) tomorrow.
Oct 23rd 2013, 5:39 am
#6054
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 15,526
Re: How has your day been?
Wildest thing I am doing tonight is cooking dinner and feeling how lucky I am to be doing that ordinary task! Life does go on, but I am feeling a need to re assess a few things as well. But we already have some major plans as last teen finishes school this year
However if it makes you feel one thing its "Do it now" . You really might get 'hit by a bus' (as they say) tomorrow.
and feeling how lucky I am to be doing that ordinary task! Life does go on, but I am feeling a need to re assess a few things as well. But we already have some major plans as last teen finishes school this year However if it makes you feel one thing its "Do it now" . You really might get 'hit by a bus' (as they say) tomorrow.
Good luck with your plans and actions
Oct 23rd 2013, 6:24 am
#6055
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Mar 2008
Location: Sydney, NSW
Posts: 7,580
Re: How has your day been?
Feeling very strange actually! It was a very weird 48 hours. I think it makes you very very aware of how your life can change in a heartbeat. You already know that but this makes you really really understand it.
Wildest thing I am doing tonight is cooking dinner and feeling how lucky I am to be doing that ordinary task! Life does go on, but I am feeling a need to re assess a few things as well. But we already have some major plans as last teen finishes school this year
However if it makes you feel one thing its "Do it now" . You really might get 'hit by a bus' (as they say) tomorrow.
Wildest thing I am doing tonight is cooking dinner
and feeling how lucky I am to be doing that ordinary task! Life does go on, but I am feeling a need to re assess a few things as well. But we already have some major plans as last teen finishes school this year However if it makes you feel one thing its "Do it now" . You really might get 'hit by a bus' (as they say) tomorrow.
Oct 23rd 2013, 6:41 am
#6056
Forum Regular
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 54
Re: How has your day been?
I have just booked yet another night in Agnes Water.... I am never going to leave this place!!
Oct 23rd 2013, 6:51 am
#6057
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 23,400
Re: How has your day been?
Excellent day - good appointment with specialist, he has stopped my injection and increased the other immune suppressant tablet I am on and I dont have to go back until the new year, he is really pleased with how things are going and so am I.
I drove so far out of my comfort zone today it really challenged my fear of driving but I did it and feel quite proud of myself.
All in all I am feeling very grateful for my health and well, just everything really.
I drove so far out of my comfort zone today it really challenged my fear of driving but I did it and feel quite proud of myself.
All in all I am feeling very grateful for my health and well, just everything really.
Oct 23rd 2013, 6:53 am
#6058
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 23,400
Re: How has your day been?
Feeling very strange actually! It was a very weird 48 hours. I think it makes you very very aware of how your life can change in a heartbeat. You already know that but this makes you really really understand it.
Wildest thing I am doing tonight is cooking dinner and feeling how lucky I am to be doing that ordinary task! Life does go on, but I am feeling a need to re assess a few things as well. But we already have some major plans as last teen finishes school this year
However if it makes you feel one thing its "Do it now" . You really might get 'hit by a bus' (as they say) tomorrow.
Wildest thing I am doing tonight is cooking dinner
and feeling how lucky I am to be doing that ordinary task! Life does go on, but I am feeling a need to re assess a few things as well. But we already have some major plans as last teen finishes school this year However if it makes you feel one thing its "Do it now" . You really might get 'hit by a bus' (as they say) tomorrow.
Oct 23rd 2013, 9:13 am
#6059
Im a woomaaan
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,978
Re: How has your day been?
I spent the morning at Breastscreen QLD. Contacted on monday after routine 2 year mammogram, told to come back 7.30 weds morning.
Panic, brain going OT, urgent call backs for anything medical usually mean serious. Tuesday mentally planning funeral, as you do in these situations
Arrived to find 5 other women, all looking very calm and collected, all older ladies, to be expected, age is a big factor. Lost of supportive husbands reading fishing/car magazines and generally looking lost.
Into white robe, and to their credit, the mammogram is right there on the computer, and I can see the offending white area straight away, about 1cm long, irregular outline, like a large huge grain of fluffy rice.
More mammograms, and they really need your boob flat, ouch, grin and bear anything to get answers.
Back to wait room,
Ultrasound, back to wait room
Physical exam, back to wait room
Women popping in and out the door, we are all taking our turn on the same path.
All the time fully informed, none of the 'we cant say', all straight answers.
All reports go to the Doctors, you wait, the wait room is actually comfortable, tea, coffee, decent chairs, TV on the morning show. A volunteer comes in and does cheese & saos, morning tea in that aussie CWA way. Nice touch for the older ladies, homely.
I get up to wander round, among the clinical buildings and airconditioning units, a pretty brush pergola pavilion thing, sits amid the utility of it all, I am thinking thats where you sit, if you get bad news, sit with the family digest it, I sit back down, make a cup of tea.
The door is opening again, a new Doctor, the one giving reports on our little roundabout of the last 2 hours. The woman ahead of me goes in, then goes up the corridor to another room...
The Doctor calls me, 'we are sending you home" the offending white blob is on the screen again, she shows me close up images of it in every format, its glandular tissue, nothing harmful. I am one of the 90% called back who go home.
I am not elated nor jumping up and down as you might expect, more quietly reflective/respectful that in that second I could also have been walking up the corridor for more tests/biopsy etc. As I walk out a lovely cheery rotund lady in a purple gown give me a wink and a thumbs up, I thumb back. I am the first of the morning to go free.
As i walk out, the intense heat burning into me, all I can wonder is which of the magic roundabout ladies will walk out soon, or much later.....
Grounding for sure.
Panic, brain going OT, urgent call backs for anything medical usually mean serious. Tuesday mentally planning funeral, as you do in these situations
Arrived to find 5 other women, all looking very calm and collected, all older ladies, to be expected, age is a big factor. Lost of supportive husbands reading fishing/car magazines and generally looking lost
. Into white robe, and to their credit, the mammogram is right there on the computer, and I can see the offending white area straight away, about 1cm long, irregular outline, like a large huge grain of fluffy rice.
More mammograms, and they really need your boob flat, ouch, grin and bear anything to get answers.
Back to wait room,
Ultrasound, back to wait room
Physical exam, back to wait room
Women popping in and out the door, we are all taking our turn on the same path.
All the time fully informed, none of the 'we cant say', all straight answers.
All reports go to the Doctors, you wait, the wait room is actually comfortable, tea, coffee, decent chairs, TV on the morning show. A volunteer comes in and does cheese & saos, morning tea in that aussie CWA way. Nice touch for the older ladies, homely.
I get up to wander round, among the clinical buildings and airconditioning units, a pretty brush pergola pavilion thing, sits amid the utility of it all, I am thinking thats where you sit, if you get bad news, sit with the family digest it,
I sit back down, make a cup of tea. The door is opening again, a new Doctor, the one giving reports on our little roundabout of the last 2 hours. The woman ahead of me goes in, then goes up the corridor to another room...
The Doctor calls me, 'we are sending you home" the offending white blob is on the screen again, she shows me close up images of it in every format, its glandular tissue, nothing harmful. I am one of the 90% called back who go home.
I am not elated nor jumping up and down as you might expect, more quietly reflective/respectful that in that second I could also have been walking up the corridor for more tests/biopsy etc. As I walk out a lovely cheery rotund lady in a purple gown give me a wink and a thumbs up, I thumb back. I am the first of the morning to go free.
As i walk out, the intense heat burning into me, all I can wonder is which of the magic roundabout ladies will walk out soon, or much later.....
Grounding for sure.
Oct 23rd 2013, 9:31 am
#6060
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 23,400
Re: How has your day been?
Well about 3 weeks ago I was in the exact same postion as you were, unfortunately my results were not good, my arse hasn't hit a seat in the last few weeks, after multiple biopsy, lymph node and tumour, ct scans. Bone scans, heart scans, ECG and more bloods you could shake a vampire e at and I finally start 26 weeks of chemo on Monday, followed by an op and then radiotherapy, then 5 years of tablets! I have to say the stAff at Breast Screen WA are fantastic and I cannot praise them enough for the help and support they have given me and how thoroughly they dealt with me. Please ladies get your boobs checked! It's free after you turn 40 and it could save your life!
That is awful, I am so sorry
In the UK they dont do mammograms until 50 (not sure if they have changed it) and my friend was diagnosed with BC at 41, she found the lump herself.
I am so grateful that here in WA they start at 40 and do them every 2 years, but so many women dont get them done. Some of the ladies I work with didnt even know you could go and get a mammogram done.