Annual review clinic.

[BobD]

I had my annual review clinic yesterday and apart from having a half hour wait which is not good for my blood pressure produced some interesting things I thought I would share.

I told the nurse there was no point in taking my BP or I would throw the machine out of the window. (it had been one of those days with people not phoning back, meetings going on and on and then having to wait with a load of sick people) . I always send in a weeks chart prior to these annual visits so she got that out and promptly added 5 to each number "to account for stress". Add about 40 yesterday I thought. Anyway it was acceptable to her although I though darned good for me.She then asked my how old my machine was and explained that you should have them calibrated at least every three years but since it was cheaper then just buy a new one.

We then looked at my blood test results and cholesterol was 4.1 , down from 7.1 when I was not on statins but I have also changed my diet a lot. We are trying a different statin this time due to chronic tendon pains in my legs but it is just as bad. I agreed to try to carry on for a while but we did agree that it was a personal choice.

Kidney function was next along with potassium which had dropped to a more acceptable level whilst kidney function was back up to pre-event levels so things are returning to normal. She did tell me that they take 1% off kidney function for every year over 40 so by 80 one would expect to be down to 60% which is fine apparently so my 77.8% is pretty good.

So some interesting facts to share and I just hope that you all have the same level of care as our practise although hopefully are not kept waiting so long! lol

[wendicarro]

Health sounds like you are back on track! I must add though that half an hour wait is pretty good by NHS standards as I usually wait much longer, however a little patience with the nurse would be helpful as they are not aware of the day we have had before entering the room therefore allowing them to carryout and record important information as protocol dictates.

Wendi.

[Rellim296]

All that is sounding pleasing Bob.

My surgery seem to have cut down on what they test and I don't seem to have the same range of tests - no cholesterol, for example.

Our big surprise was that when my other half went for a Well Man check when he was 72, they did not routinely do a prostate check. He had to ask (and just as well he did) and they were somewhat grudging.

[Hidden]

All looking good Bob.....well done! Prior to AF, I never had "white coat" syndrome.....now I even get it at home!! This is not going to be overly helpful, but one of the speakers at the Surrey ASG a year or so ago, mentioned a statin beginning with "R" that apparently was better regarding muscle pain. If I can find something more specific, I will let you know

[cupoftea]

Well done you.

[cupoftea]

Well done you.

[cupoftea]

Well done Bob

[Buffafly]

Sounds good, long may it continue (hope no complaints about the grim reaper when he eventually turns up cos the answer will be 'Well when I called you early you didn't want to come!)

I have just had a letter from our excellent GP practice who have analyzed their patient demand and staffed accordingly with a triage system to divert you from the GP if possible. I shall be booking to see the musculoskeletal specialist ASAP.

[Jay10]

Glad all seems to going well, have a relaxing Easter.

[VeeT]

All sounds good Bob. I'd be interested or hear what changes you made to your diet to get the cholesterol reduction.

[BobD Volunteer in reply to VeeT]

Basically eating less meat. more veggie meals and more fish (especially smoked haddock yum yum) . Trying to limit cheese which I love to once or twice a week for lunchtime sandwich and snacking from a huge bag of mixed dried fruit rather than crisps and biscuits. Lost about five pounds in six weeks as well. I am also eating slightly smaller meals as well apart from last night's Punjabi Railway Lamb Curry. One has to have some pleasures!

[VeeT in reply to BobD]

Thanks Bob. I seem to be borderline cholesterol levels and borderline diabetes so wondered what else I could do. Been vegetarian for about 35 years but do love cheese. I have a problem with portion control. Need to buy a smaller plate.

[seasider18]

Nurse at our practice says that BP monitors become less reliable after only a year and should be replaced. She offered to compare results with a surgery one if I brought mine in. I told her that as well as my two year old one I have an old 2001 model that does not vary much from the newer one.

How long does a surgery one last with its constant usage ?

[BobD Volunteer in reply to seasider18]

I find BP machines as unreliable as I am. I can take three reading swapping arms each time and get three vastly different results. My lovely doctor told me to take two five minutes apart and discard the first one. Every so often she sends me a message to do a weeks chart (three times a day if possible) which I put on a spread sheet and average out for her with a final figure which this time was 132/73. They then add five to both supposedly for stress and came up with 137/78 which they are happy with. Of course if I were to use my right arm all the time it may be higher but being right handed i do it on my left arm.

Interestingly since my angiogram I have no pulse in my right wrist and haven't recently tried bp on that side. Hand is fully functional and warm so not too worried about it but odd never the less. Stenosis maybe or just the artery still a bit hard?

[seasider18 in reply to BobD]

My BP can be labile like yours but for some reason it has gone way down over the past three months so I only take a 25mg Losartan if it goes up.

I go to the Hypertension Referral Centre at the Royal Sussex and he tells me to take 4 or 5 readings over a ten minute period three or four times a day.

Strange that you have lost your pulse in presumably the wrist they did the angiogram through.

[Hidden]

Only half an hour wait?? Wow, that's good!

It sounds like you're on track well done. And thanks for all the support you give.

[Chris147]

Glad all is well with you regards Chris

[Hidden]

Good one Bob, back to your car engines now ...... brrrrrm, brmmmm

[Thomas45]

I've just had my annual cardiology check-up. 9.10am, 5 miles away, 40 minutes drive. Consultant only 10 minutes late. Consultant listened to my heart and said it was in fibrillation, although I didn't think it was, so had ECG done. Change of medication likely from Flecainde which I've been taking for about 12 years, to Diltiazem. I'm asthmatic. My fear is not that a different drug may be better, but that it might have unacceptable side effects, or react to the other drugs I'm taking. I know known reactions are documented, but we are all different and while patients A - Y can tolerate a drug, I'm patient Z who can't. My medical records acknowledge that Rivaroxaban had an adverse effect. So it's that interaction with existing drugs I'm concerned about. I've read that Diltiazem can cause swollen feet. I already have swollen feet and wear long compresstion socks to combat lymphoedema.