How do I manage multiple health issues

[ianmac2]

I'm feeling very confused and at a loss I have recently been informed that I now have type 2 diabetes on top of COPD OSA, Asthma, Underactive Thyroid, Hypertension, Angina, stage 3 kidney disease this makes 8 long term health issues that affect every aspect of my life .How am I going to manage im normally very much take control of my health issues. And Whats going on with my body

[Soundwell1]

I understand because I'm having difficulty too with type 1, hashi thyroid, mvd, glaucoma, fibro . Gp doesn't seem at all interested nor other specialists. They can't seem to cope with all the issues and usually just want to cover the only thing they deal with.I'm so sorry that you're having trouble too.

[Kristin1812 Heart Star in reply to Soundwell1]

The cross-specialty working does seem to be an issue in Hospitals we’ve attended, too. Where Specialists don’t seem to be able to work together to agree what the best overall care is for all the different bits of us. We are, after all, a whole person! I was involved in training Consultants and saw how their Specialty based trained and practice works. It’s very organ (bones, heart, liver) or age or process based eg diabetes, rheumatology.The GP is, of course, meant to deal with the whole you, with advice from Specialists (sometimes a handful). I’m sure these can be contradictory sometimes.

It just feels like this doesn’t always work well, when you have multiple problems.

[ianmac2 in reply to Kristin1812]

This is so true while others who have one condition are followed up and seen regularly if you multiple conditions your left

[Blackcatsooty]

Pick the ailment that worries most and concentrate on minimising that ailment.Just as Soundwell comments, GP will often only look at one issue, and they do not want your diagnosis. So report the symptom and not the illness.

You must be overwhelmed. Try smiling. It might help a little.

Good luck

[Hidden]

Hi,

That’s a lot to deal with☹️ . Can see how you’d feel overwhelmed with another diagnosis added.

I’d suggest that you take any & all offers of help that happen. And that you ask for help when you need it. Do take the medication that you are prescribed, as prescribed (speak to the dr/pharmacist if there’s problems with any ) & if there are any lifestyle changes you are able to make which help you feel a bit better then do.

I live with a few ongoing /chronic conditions too (none of them the same as yours )& there have been times , particularly with my heart that it’s felt way too much.

It can get difficult to be seen as an illness, rather than a person. I think a lot of people can end up seeing themselves in that way too. It’s helped me a lot to keep in mind when things get worse with my health that there’s a lot more to me than those symptoms/that illness.

Take care

Nina

[Bingo88]

Hello Ian mac. I know these illnesses all take their toll on your mental health. I too have ckd stage 3. Kidney function recently dropped from 32 to 24. But awaiting a result of a recheck of my function from my blood test. I also found out in the same week over 2 years ago I needed a pacemaker and had severe copd. We can only do as advised and try our best to look after ourselves and just try and enjoy life. Did you know with ckd. There's certain foods you should avoid to help your kidneys. Take care and hope you can come to terms with the problems life throws at us Brian

[Hidden]

You do not mention how much you weigh or your BMI. If you are overweight or obese then an eating plan to reduce and control your weight will help your diabetes, hypertension and perhaps COPD and angina. And I have an annual asthma review plus I am supposed to have COPD (even though I was only a smoker for 12 years and gave up over 45 years ago) but I have unexpectedly improved my breathing results since restarting playing saxophone, which my asthma nurse said often happens when people play wind instruments. So you could consider that, not only to improve your breathing, but to take your mind off your health issues.

[ianmac2 in reply to Hidden]

Yes bmi 34 and 15 and half stone eating pretty much all healthy foods and reducing calories intake but thanks for the advice

[Hidden in reply to ianmac2]

With respect you need to lose weight. I suggest you set yourself say two (or three?) consecutive 5kg loss targets, with smaller targets of say 1 kg loss over say 10 days. If you don't do these things already, your first step is to slowly cut out snacks like crisps, all cakes, puddings, biscuits and sugary snacks and to drink water not soft drinks, as well as no sugar in tea and coffee. If you drink alcohol reduce your intake. Then progressively reduce your portion size. But don't let your eating plan become an obsession, more an enjoyment of a healthier diet. And if you don't exercise much, start walking every day, gently building up how far you walk and how quickly. Go as far and as fast as you feel comfortable, but do it regularly. Finally weigh yourself at the same time each day and rejoice as you slowly see your weight come down.

[Qualipop]

Luckily, the ideal diet for diabetes is the same ideal diet for heart problems so I would start with that. I would then choose the most worrying thing or the one that affects you most and make sure you are on optimum medication that doesn't react with anything else you take. For my friend, her thyroid is the worst because it fluctuates so much. Find a good pharmacist who can check your medication. I no longer see my GP about medication as the surgery has a really good pharmacist.

[Heather1957 in reply to Qualipop]

This is something I find confusing!

As a diabetic it is cut the carbs and fat (good fats) and protein are fine, find it east to lose weight doing this.

Heart issues, yes cut carbs but also fat and protein not necessarily good for the heart, it depends on the fat and the protein!

[Qualipop in reply to Heather1957]

It's all a matter of everything in moderation. My husband has never cut c arbs but he has swapped them to things that digest more slowly like potatoes swapped to sweet potatoes; wholemeal bread instead of white, brown rice instead of white. I restrict his protein but mainly swap red meat for white and use quorn instead of mince ( he's never even noticed). He still has a pie maybe once a month and insists on his joint of beef on a Sunday but it balances out.

[Heather1957 in reply to Qualipop]

Absolutely, 'in moderation' very important, it is just it can be a minefield on feeding yourself when you have several health issues.

[ianmac2]

Thank you for all the comments I've found them informative and helpful as for my diet I don't drink alcohol i have 2 cups of coffee a day 1 suger don't eat red meat love fish chicken & home made veg soup and salad s don't eat takeaways or fast food .I do like my bread wholemeal of course keep my 5 a day lol i do try to keep exercise and moving but can be health limited at times.anyway blood's later this week then seeing GP so willHave it out with him about a plan of care .Then take on DWP .

[EMBoy]

Yes, it's a nightmare trying to cope with multiple illnesses. I have asthma, COPD, underactive thyroid and a pacemaker. As far as I know, I'm not diabetic, but I am overweight (BMI 29, and I need to lose 2 stone to be at a healthy weight for my height).

Like everyone else here, I don't get a lot of support from my GP (even getting an appointment is difficult these days), so I have to try and sort myself out.

I try to treat all my ailments in a logical fashion, so the first thing I do is make sure my thyroid status is OK - I take my Levothyroxine (175 mcg) regularly and get tested at least once a year. Before I started treatment for my hypothyroidism, I had a BMI of 32, hypertension, OSA and mild kidney disease. All of these gradually resolved as my thyroid status returned to normal.

I have had asthma since I was 17, but as I stupidly continued smoking for the next 45 years, I developed COPD. I can't take steroids for this (another story), but use a long lasting bronchodilator (Formoterol) twice a day, and it works a treat. I keep as busy and active as I can, and just over two and a half years ago (at the same time that I discovered I have heart disease and had my pacemaker fitted), I finally gave up smoking. This has really helped my COPD. I'm not going to run a marathon any time soon, but I can live a reasonably normal life.

I don't have any experience of diabetes, but I do know that if you keep your blood pressure and diabetes under control, it will help to keep your kidney disease stable.

The most important thing is not to let all this get you down. If I sit and brood, I can easily get into the "Why me?" syndrome and it spoils my day. I keep busy and get a lot of help from this forum and other similar forums. The Thyroid UK forum on Health Unlocked is really good.

All the best - just stick with it and do what you can.

[Brokenheart19]

Depending on your age try a geriatrician. They specialise in older people with what is termed complex needs. Suggested for my mother (78) who broke six ribs falling down our stairs. She has type 2 diabetes; ckd pulmonary fubrosis; copd; asthma; and had heart monitor fitted three years ago. The geriatrician didn’t bat an eyelid and went through all of her notes carefully she now has a good overview from one specialist. NB we did pay privately as there was a 2-3 year wait……

[ianmac2 in reply to Brokenheart19]

Thanks but I'm only 62 not there yet lol

[Partner20]

My partner has several long-term conditions, including ckd, hypothyroidism, type2 diabetes and Barrett's oesophagus amongst others. Our GP considers him too complicated to deal with as he has unusual presentations and many unexplained intolerances, and, in any case, GPs cannot deal with conditions that are currently being treated by a consultant. However, the issue is mainly that consultants work in silos, and do not communicate with those outside their specialism, and as each condition requires different diets and behaviours, it is up to us to work things out. For instance, diets for diabetes, ckd and kidney disease often contradict each other, so we have to find middle ground. For several years life has been an endless round of testing, appointments, and scans,etc., even during recent lockdowns, with the relevant paperwork and resulting spreadsheets mounting up. We longed for a week with no phone calls or tests!! It is important to take time away from these concerns, but it's easier said than done. Currently enjoying a few test/appointment-free days!! Hope you will find your way soon.

[ianmac2]

I'm seeing GP after blood results next week so will be putting my case strongest posable and if he can't then refer me to specialist that can .Hope you and your partner get a few days away from it all

[marypw]

I have several different conditions and have had to see many consultants.I've found it really helpful to take a print out of my medical history along with me.

I include all the conditions I have and when they were diagnosed, previous surgeries, current medication, including dosage, previous surgeries, and known drug allergies and side effects. It really saves time and effort in making sure you remember everything, especially when you see someone new.

It's also really helpful if you have an unexpected trip to A&E!