Trivial things you don't understand/mildly annoy you

[Batch]

good point Aud.

shit news like, but prevention is better than cure.

[Nomoreheroes]

Bit of a shocker today. My blood pressure had been creeping up so visited the doc. She sent me off for tests - blood and urine.

Came back with a massive blood glucose levels - 327, should be below 150. Cholesterol very high, too.

Got to get my eyes tested now because of the glucose levels, kidneys and liver need scanning and, obviously, have to change diet massively. No alcohol either! Pills and insulin incoming!

The doc was scathing about us Brits. Never going for routine tests on a regular basis and only going for a check once there are symptoms. Got to agree. Most don’t want to be a bother at the GP’s surgery if they feel OK.

It cost me €115 for the tests. Money well spent.

Apologies if I come across a bit preachy

Think about it guys. Just because you feel fine doesn’t mean there’s nothing going on inside.

To quote the Stranglers - Something Better Change!

Sort it out Mr Audrey.

[Cheltred]

Bit of a shocker today. My blood pressure had been creeping up so visited the doc. She sent me off for tests - blood and urine.

Came back with a massive blood glucose levels - 327, should be below 150. Cholesterol very high, too.

Got to get my eyes tested now because of the glucose levels, kidneys and liver need scanning and, obviously, have to change diet massively. No alcohol either! Pills and insulin incoming!

The doc was scathing about us Brits. Never going for routine tests on a regular basis and only going for a check once there are symptoms. Got to agree. Most don’t want to be a bother at the GP’s surgery if they feel OK.

It cost me €115 for the tests. Money well spent.

Apologies if I come across a bit preachy

Think about it guys. Just because you feel fine doesn’t mean there’s nothing going on inside.

You're right of course, On the the other hand you can feel crap and have nothing much wrong! Hope you get everything sorted

[McGurk's Missus]

Get better Aud!

[Crackity Jones]

Bit of a shocker today. My blood pressure had been creeping up so visited the doc. She sent me off for tests - blood and urine.

Came back with a massive blood glucose levels - 327, should be below 150. Cholesterol very high, too.

Got to get my eyes tested now because of the glucose levels, kidneys and liver need scanning and, obviously, have to change diet massively. No alcohol either! Pills and insulin incoming!

The doc was scathing about us Brits. Never going for routine tests on a regular basis and only going for a check once there are symptoms. Got to agree. Most don’t want to be a bother at the GP’s surgery if they feel OK.

It cost me €115 for the tests. Money well spent.

Apologies if I come across a bit preachy

Think about it guys. Just because you feel fine doesn’t mean there’s nothing going on inside.

Sorry to hear that Aud. I have been insulin dependent type 1 diabetic for about 15 years now. It takes some getting used to but you'll be fine. I only want to the GP because I didn't feel quite right.

My GP is an advocate that anyone over 40 should take a statin irrespective of whether they have high cholesterol. Reduces the risk of heart issues apparently.

Hope your other tests come back good.

[Quagmire]

Bit of a shocker today. My blood pressure had been creeping up so visited the doc. She sent me off for tests - blood and urine.

Came back with a massive blood glucose levels - 327, should be below 150. Cholesterol very high, too.

Got to get my eyes tested now because of the glucose levels, kidneys and liver need scanning and, obviously, have to change diet massively. No alcohol either! Pills and insulin incoming!

The doc was scathing about us Brits. Never going for routine tests on a regular basis and only going for a check once there are symptoms. Got to agree. Most don’t want to be a bother at the GP’s surgery if they feel OK.

It cost me €115 for the tests. Money well spent.

Apologies if I come across a bit preachy

Think about it guys. Just because you feel fine doesn’t mean there’s nothing going on inside.

Hope you get better soon Aud.

The issue here is it’s next to impossible to actually see a GP, you get the receptionist asking questions first, then maybe a phone call only for them to tell you you are fine without seeing you, so people just don’t bother.

[Audrey]

That’s the thing, though. I don’t actually feel unwell. I did notice an increase in thirst and peeing which is a sign of high glucose levels but, stupidly, just put it down to getting older.

I’m sure if there were doc’s appointments available on a drop in basis, as it is here, a lot of people would be willing to pay £20 or so. But any sign of privatisation regarding the NHS is anathema to many.

Not sure how much my blood/urine tests would cost in the UK - damn sight more than my €115 I’d think.

[Samdy Gray]

My GP is an advocate that anyone over 40 should take a statin irrespective of whether they have high cholesterol.

Or, you know, they could educate people about good diet and lifestyle choices without prescribing needless medication.

[Crackity Jones]

Or, you know, they could educate people about good diet and lifestyle choices without prescribing needless medication.

Or, you know, you could educate yourself that underlying conditions such as high blood pressure or diabetes or familial history of stroke or heart disease can also cause high cholesterol and require needed medication.

[Samdy Gray]

I'd argue it's the other way around, high cholesterol causes the conditions you describe. And high cholesterol is caused by diet and lifestyle choices.

Yes, medicate when a condition is present, but you described statins being prescribed as preventative medicine. There's a big difference.

[Crackity Jones]

I agree that unhealthy lifestyle choices and poor diet are causes of high cholesterol. I was just pointing out that there are other things that we can't control that are causative. I would dispute that these are necessarily caused by high cholesterol as well.

The prescription of preventative medication isn't anything new. I am not advocating that statins are prescribed this way; merely that my GP is an advocate. In fact, NICE recommend statins as a preventative measure for patients at higher risk of CVD.

[horlock07]

Hope you get better soon Aud.

The issue here is it’s next to impossible to actually see a GP, you get the receptionist asking questions first, then maybe a phone call only for them to tell you you are fine without seeing you, so people just don’t bother.

Depends how your practice operates, in our case you go on ask my GP online and put in why and symptoms etc. Normally within an hour a GP calls you back for a chat and then decides whether you need an appointment to be seen. Things have actually got better for us over the pandemic as our practice in the next town has taken over the small GP practice in our village so don't need to get in the car now to see the doctor.

Thankfully engagement with receptionists on matters of symptoms are a thing of the past, at least for now!

[Bob's Orange]

I'd argue it's the other way around, high cholesterol causes the conditions you describe. And high cholesterol is caused by diet and lifestyle choices.

Yes, medicate when a condition is present, but you described statins being prescribed as preventative medicine. There's a big difference.

Not always. I've been taking Statins for a few years now, the same as my dad. Unfortunately ours is more down to genetics. Both he and I are advocates of keeping healthy via both excercise and a decent diet. Unfortunately due to genetics we both had high cholesterol which is now managed by both Statins and our diet/lifestyle choices. 

[Batch]

he does say 'medicate where a condition is present' to be fair.

sounds like you are doing so you can BO

[Bob's Orange]

he does say 'medicate where a condition is present' to be fair.

sounds like you are doing so you can BO

Ah yes, fair point it does say that.

Reminds me, I do need to make an appointment to get my eyes tested!