Bit of success here: So I have been... - British Heart Fou...

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Bit of success here

rizal profile image
rizal
β€’54 Replies

So I have been diabetic since time began and it has got gradually worse over the years, year before last developed cancer in the bladder, start of last year had a heart attack then in July blue lighted into hospital couldn't breathe. Diagnosed with heart failure. That last one scared the living daylights out of me. Waiting for the ambulance to arrive, convinced I was dying - painfully.

After a week was released from hospital and determined I was not going to go through that again. Last 6 months struggled with the fluid restrictions, taken every med exactly as told, done all the exercises I was told to do (gradually building up) made and recorded all the measurements and slowly, this month got rid of the walking stick, doing 1 hour of walking up and down my lounge a day (on top of going out to shops etc)

Had a full set of blood tests a week or so ago and the follow up with my doc on the phone this morning. My long term blood sugars down so low that I barely count as diabetic any more. So I have to cut the gliclazide down to 1 a day, from 3. Cholesterol down to 3.5. I'm nearly normal! Still getting the odd days when breathing involves a bit more effort than it should but the doc thinks that I get into a sort of vicious circle - slight breathing problem makes me anxious which affects the ticker which affects breathing, well you can guess. The fact that I had a little weep as I was telling her how scared I am of going through last july again may have helped her think that. Anyway she gave me an appointment for a face to face next week so she can see how the ticker and lungs sound.

I am feeling so positive!

Just did an extra 30 minutes walk up and down to music to celebrate. There may very well be light at the end of the tunnel (which is not the taxman with a torch looking for me)

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rizal profile image
rizal
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54 Replies
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Heather1957 profile image
Heather1957

Really thrilled for you and your very positive journey. It is so rewarding to actually see the results after all your hard work, long may your achievement continue!

rizal profile image
rizalβ€’ in reply toHeather1957

Thank you!

10gingercats profile image
10gingercats

I love the last sentence...taxman looking for you with a torch!!

Nettekin profile image
Nettekinβ€’ in reply to10gingercats

Saw this recently - appealed to my weird sense of humour. "Due to recent budget cuts the light at the end of the tunnel has been turned off"😁

RufusScamp profile image
RufusScamp

That is so good. I hope things get even better for you!πŸ₯³

rizal profile image
rizal

Thank you

Heyjude31 profile image
Heyjude31

Such wonderful news, so good to see all your hard work, has come to fruition. I would be having a jig round the lounge if I was you. πŸ‘πŸ‘πŸ‘πŸ‘πŸ‘πŸ‘πŸ‘β˜ΊοΈβ˜ΊοΈβ˜ΊοΈ

rizal profile image
rizalβ€’ in reply toHeyjude31

Thank you, jigging now

Heyjude31 profile image
Heyjude31β€’ in reply torizal

β˜ΊοΈβ˜ΊοΈπŸ€—

Hello :-)

You have certainly been through such a lot but how far you have come reading your post you deserve it you have worked so hard to get where you are today :-)

I got a tip from your post as well as I have been looking for complicated ways to exercise and reading how you walk up and down your room made me think I can do that and how simple and as it is so cold outside I can stay warm to :-)

So thank you for your positive post giving hope to others and I will start my walks up and down my room now :-)

Wishing you all the best :-) x

β€’ in reply to

I walk up and down my lounge too, completed 2 1/2 miles yesterday while listening to the tv. Outside the rain was drizzling and wind blustery. Enjoy your inside walking exercise.

rizal profile image
rizalβ€’ in reply to

Oh WOW 2 1/2 miles! I am seriously impressed. New target for me!

β€’ in reply to

Hello :-)

It is amazing what you can do inside and when you actually hear what someone is doing you think why did I not think of doing that :-)

Glad you came and shared this with us :-)

Well done on the 2 and a half miles to :-) x

rizal profile image
rizalβ€’ in reply to

My flat is tiny, so I have added extra obstacles, a chair and one of those exercise steps that they use in gyms (I bought it recently to use in video exercise classes which are still just a little bit to difficult to do as often as I want) So as I walk round and round I do a mini slalom and a little step up and down. Just for interest) Important to have some music playing as that "forces" you to keep up a pace. It is boring, but I live in fear of experiencing once again the drowning of HF when I was taken into hospital last time, that is my motivator. Sometimes I listen to a podcast, but that does not work the same as music with a bit of a pounding beat. Also it adds to the reward at 30 minutes I can switch that terrible music off!

It took a while to build up to 30 minutes a session, but the reward a few short weeks ago when I could walk up to the reception area of the flats without using my walking stick was marvellous.

β€’ in reply torizal

Hello :-)

I do live in a house but to be honest it is not very big at my living room is not very big either so I will take those tips and I might walk past my stairs and use the bottom stair as a step up :-)

Thank you for the tips they are most helpful :-) x

gladliz profile image
gladlizβ€’ in reply to

Careful not to wear the carpet out!

β€’ in reply togladliz

:-D x

rizal profile image
rizalβ€’ in reply togladliz

haha

Genesini profile image
Genesini

Some lovely news to start the day. Thanks for sharing, keep on striding and striving! πŸ₯³

rizal profile image
rizalβ€’ in reply toGenesini

Thank you

Healthyheart1 profile image
Healthyheart1

Wow, that's awesome news, I bet your on cloud 9, keep it going x Sheena x

rizal profile image
rizalβ€’ in reply toHealthyheart1

Thank you

Becksagogo profile image
Becksagogo

Wonderful feel good story to start the day. Long may it continue. Well done !

rizal profile image
rizalβ€’ in reply toBecksagogo

Thank you

jeelpie profile image
jeelpie

hi rizalamazing results and I love your positive attitude, keep going from strength to strength, you ve got this, you're a survivor x

rizal profile image
rizalβ€’ in reply tojeelpie

Thanks you

Hun084 profile image
Hun084

Brilliant news. Well done.

rizal profile image
rizalβ€’ in reply toHun084

Thank you

Mountwood profile image
Mountwood

Well done, you have worked so hard. I discovered walking indoors during the first lockdown when I couldn't go out for my morning walk. I found that it was 20 paces from my front door to my rear lounge window so 5 round trips gave me 200 paces and doing that 5 times during the day was 1000 paces. Not as good as a walk outdoors, but better than doing nothing. Good luck.

benjijen profile image
benjijen

Brilliant!

rizal profile image
rizalβ€’ in reply tobenjijen

Thank you

nursenancy53 profile image
nursenancy53

Well done on your good news, all your hard work paid off. Take care πŸ™‚

rizal profile image
rizalβ€’ in reply tonursenancy53

Thank you

Janma123 profile image
Janma123

Well done, that is really uplifting. Keep up the good work. Jane

rizal profile image
rizalβ€’ in reply toJanma123

Thank you

Wooodsie profile image
Wooodsie

Nice one Rizal, well done. Very pleased to hear of your improvements and the effort you have made to succeed.

rizal profile image
rizalβ€’ in reply toWooodsie

Thank you

Great work rizal, the bonus here is if you need a break during your house expeditions you can pop the kettle on for a cuppa β˜• πŸ˜€

rizal profile image
rizalβ€’ in reply to

Thank you. Problem is, I'm on restricted fluids and sometimes gasping for a cuppa, but know if I have one too soon, I will run out of allowance too early.

β€’ in reply torizal

When you get your face to face appointment, ask what you can drink or perhaps replace it with fruit you can have. I myself walk up and down stairs using the bedrooms and kitchen for the walking bit. Ive always loved ice pops so have one when I'm finished, only amounts to about half a cup of fluid but the coldness is welcome. Keep up the good work, no pain no gain n all that 😌

rizal profile image
rizalβ€’ in reply to

Great idea thanks. I was chatting on WhatsApp last night to my son, he suggested using ice cubes (but make them smaller) it is something he does with his indoor plants during hot dry spells to give a slow release of water. I have ordered from Amazon, today a set of ice cube trays, smaller ones with lids, so I can start trying that out. My mouth gets so dry

β€’ in reply torizal

That's a great idea, you could pop dilute drink flavours in too. Just don't have the urge to sit in a plantpot 😜

rizal profile image
rizalβ€’ in reply to

Especially the cactus

β€’ in reply torizal

πŸ˜‚

wischo profile image
wischo

Well done you, keep it up.

rizal profile image
rizalβ€’ in reply towischo

Thank you

Go Rizal!

Such a positive approach.

All the very best!

Maisie

rizal profile image
rizalβ€’ in reply to

Thank you

Qualipop profile image
Qualipop

HUGE congratulations. I am reading your post to my husband who is also diabetic and getting worse. He'd do better if he could control his obsession with cakes, biscuits and the huge amount of salt he uses. His eye pressure has risen and he has early diabetic retinopathy. Your story may just be what he needs. A fantastic result. Well done.

rizal profile image
rizalβ€’ in reply toQualipop

Thanks, hope it can work for him as well!

Qualipop profile image
Qualipopβ€’ in reply torizal

He was impressed. I hope it sunk in.

rizal profile image
rizalβ€’ in reply toQualipop

Fingers crossed

ph5019 profile image
ph5019

Hi Rizal,I see you have many replies, you are an inspiration to everyone, fantastic, well done.

There a lot of us on this site who have been through very challenging times and it is always good to read a positive outcome.

Wishing you well for the future.

Kindest regards, Paul.

rizal profile image
rizalβ€’ in reply toph5019

Thank you Paul

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