Siouxie

That sounds like the idiot cardiologist I saw a couple of years back who assured me that I was going to die from a stroke due to my cholesterol levels being so high - he obviously hadn't read my extensive notes that showed I had already had a stroke, have Familial Hypercholesterolemia, Atherosclerosis, blocked arteries etc. He informed me that I would never, ever be able to get my cholesterol levels down by diet and I needed to have injections into my stomach every couple of weeks to stop the production of cholesterol completely. Your body needs some cholesterol to produce new cells, so I wasn't going to accept shutting production of it down completely.

A year later, having studied the subject ad nauseum and eating very specific foods prepared in a very specific way (together with a low dose statin I achieved an LDL cholesterol level that is the same as an 'average' person - going from 3.9 to 1.9 - much to my neurologist, vascular specialist and new cardiologist suprise- and mine! I still keep a diary of everything I eat.

Jsmth321

Some doctors have too much tunnel vision and don't think outside of the box and jump to conclusions. There was actually an investigation done here in BC, turns out the healthcare system does indeed discriminate especially against natives.

Hard for a 30 to 49 something to get any kind of screening here for colon cancer, because they say it's not likely for that age group, all the while colon cancer is rising in that age group.

GP's are often with my wife, on her case about liver and blood sugar, well earth to GP, earth to GP, its medication included, but many don't seem to understand the effects certain medications can do to the body. Psychiatrists do, but GP's don't seem to take that into account, kind of hard to control blood sugar when its not diet causing the issue but a medication class well known for doing so.

I try to get South African trained doctors, I don't know if I just got luck the last few times, but South African trained doctors have always been respectful, good bedside manner, and patient.

Worst doctor I ever had was Scottish, he was 100% Grade A ass wiper.

BEVS

Actually flattering. He thought you were much younger than you are Pen.

I have the high Cholesterol issue and have had since it was first monitored really about 45 yrs ago. It's a family thing. I am low risk as have never ever smoked ; was always ultra fit ; and the things I liked to eat were the 'good stuff ' as it is peddled today . Now I am post menopause and carry more weight , have become less active & like a good glass of vino I do think about it a bit more & certain medical folks fret about it more,.Yet my tests show I am doing fine for my age in all other ways.

spouse of scouse

I've learned a bit more about why I stopped breathing under anaesthetic. Given the amount of time I'd fasted there shouldn't have been anything in my stomach, but there must have been something because I vomited and then aspirated (breathed into my airway) whatever it was. That caused my vocal cords to go into automatic protection mode, clamping shut in what's termed laryngospasm. That in turn meant my airway was completely obstructed and I desaturated and stopped breathing completely.

I had a good anaesthetist who knew his stuff, so he was eventually able to force a tube past the laryngospasm, suck out the foreign matter, and clear my airway. What's a bit concerning now is, after review by the anaesthetist, there appears to be some damage to my vocal cords, as in paralysis. I can talk again, but only in a husky kind of way, in a low register, and sometimes they words just don't come out. I've tried singing 'doh ray me far etc' but far is as far as I can go, which isn't bloody far enough if you want to talk properly

I wasn't too bothered for the first four weeks as my voice was continually improving, but it stopped improving two weeks ago. Dunno what's going to happen. The earliest available ENT appointment I could get is March, everything seems to shut down over Christmas here unless it's an emergency/urgent.

As the saying goes, it is what it is and at least I'm alive! Not being able to communicate in my usual way gets me down a bit but hopefully it won't be forever.

My next post will be moaning about the loss of my exquisite singing voice (just kidding, I can't sing for toffee!)

Lion in Winter

Aagh. Let's hope that time will be the great healer, etc, and that the state of your vocal chords will improve. Maybe you can work out how to turn that husky voice into cash in the interim.

spouse of scouse

My ever so Aussie brother laughingly suggested I get a job doing phone sex

DaveLovesDee

I bet Scouse is enjoying the quiet

Hope you get your voice back soon!

spouse of scouse

Don't know that he's getting much quiet, it's more like there's a crow loose aboot the hoose.

DaveLovesDee

Caa-caa!

spouse of scouse

Shurrup you

Lion in Winter

Does anyone even do phone sex any more? I would have thought it went out when streaming live video came in.

Not that I would know or anything......

spouse of scouse

That just goes to show how hopelessly unsuitable I'd be for the job - I'm not even across the technology

caretaker

In my constant quest to keep all threads relevant, I'd like to point out that phone sex could have some health benefits, both physical and mental. I'm not saying it does, but it could.. I'm not a real doctor. It's socially distanced, that's a fact. At 4 o'clock on Sunday or Saturday morning sometimes while channel surfing, I see phone sex infomercials on one of our two French language channels, so I'm going to guess that it might still be a thing in Quebec.

spouse of scouse

Everything sounds sexy if it's said in French

caretaker