Satguru is here - Message Board

Well it's been an interesting and busy day, the doctor saw me straight away and was very helpful, and have to book a blood test when the offices open again on Monday wherever I want to go. That's either Kingston Hospital if they let me do a fasting test in the afternoon or round the corner first thing in the morning in two weeks as that's the queue. I don't mind either, I would prefer it to be done straight away if possible but no problem having a blood test. Then I found the carpet shop can supply and fit the sort of carpet I want for less than I expected and will arrange it after my haircut booked for Tuesday at last. No need for me to varnish the floor now as they glue the carpet on, new technology it seems.
So as long as it's not diabetes I think the other possibilities are pretty far fetched and if not then unlikely to be much else as far as I've been told. The online tests said I was very low risk and hoping that is the case.

Otherwise once the carpet's in the furniture will follow, and then tidy the house around all the space I've created. I can use the room at night as I can bring a light in from the plug next door until someone decides to connect the electricity to the newly added wiring. The heating is fine as it's about 90F in there at the moment during the day and will get someone to fix it before September at the latest. There was a lovely half price cabinet in IKEA I would have bought had it guaranteed to fit the car (it was a close call) but the queues turned out to be longer than I've ever seen (bear in mind I was there soon after the opening and got most of my furniture there since) and didn't fancy an hour standing in the queue with basically the cast of East Enders had it been real people. Thank goodness I didn't buy the rug there now I can get the carpet for around the same price.

I can now work at my own pace on the long word for word wizard now the monthly is sorted, and have a free run at the crystal ball without one person playing six names. The hard core quietly runs in the background till October now, my position is below the last times although it's very early days and hopefully more new questions will become familiar as I go along as I played the last global and after about 7 complete challenges that had the first major sets of new questions after div 7. They should be really as otherwise the same people get the same positions as it's basically a rerun of the previous one, and hopefully the new categories we have to play in HC will even that out as no one will be any more familiar with history or literature than anyone else. I'm amazed how TV has been so far as it's the only tough one I can do for the first time, while the others are now back beyond my area of knowledge unless sports gets a batch of British questions at once. And finally I am still hoping to get to Brighton sooner or later, probably this month anyway. I also saw my meditation master there three years running and learnt how the second time, all at Brighton Conference Centre. My great uncle lived in Hove a couple of miles away when he was alive in the 80s, and known the place most of my life although not as well as Oxford which is this side of London and a straight 50 miles on the motorway. That's the last place on the list as I usually went every year, to the bookshop, football or previously to see our friends there before they went to Surrey. And in a couple of months the football friendlies will be on locally which they weren't last year so didn't bother to go. And as far as I know cameras are no longer banned at Barnet so should actually get my first photos there as well.

Reply #521. Jun 03 11, 6:19 PM

Jazmee27

Hope everything turns out well

Reply #522. Jun 03 11, 8:50 PM

Thanks Jazmee, me too!

Reply #523. Jun 04 11, 7:41 AM

I won't find out till the department opens tomorrow when I can get my blood test, if they take out of towners and let you fast at any time (the doctor I called on duty thought that would be OK) I can do it tomorrow, if not it's a two week wait round the corner. I'd prefer it out of the way of course but won't know till then.
I was thinking about going to Sussex today, but besides the rain arriving soon after my father wanted to go shopping there and being sunday would rather go in the week. My computer froze, lost a general in hard core as it lost two minutes in the process, and then discovered I'd pressed enter instead of backspace in the brain twist. I can calculate the minimum brain twists I've played- 300 or so during full globals, plus a couple of hundred when playing for fun, and although the laptop is much smaller than the PC so really only applies to what is relatively a large mobile phone keyboard in comparison has still never happened and unlikely to again. It was similar after 51 years cutting through the hedge cutter cable when I turned to see a neighbour passing, but that just got repaired, I won't get the brain twist back.

The week's booked up already, haircut, financial advisor and carpet fitter, then once he's been the furniture will go in and get a bookshelf. I had a call from an old friend last night who's on her own and fed up, she's way across London and with her job etc agreed too far to do much, but is moving over here next year and if nothing else will have someone else to see, miserable or not. She was always miserable and 25 years on is no different. But she's not demanding or hard work and pretty attractive, and an improvement on many of the others but suspect as she wasn't interested in me then will never be. But time will tell.

Reply #524. Jun 05 11, 12:13 PM

Oh well, I prefer getting garbage out of the way but as hospitals don't take tourists I'm booked in at the surgery in 10 days, unless the local hospital does fasting tests in the afternoon who will tell me tomorrow.

Otherwise all the business is getting done this week and each day will see more benefits, beginning with the long awaited haircut and then the carpet fitting. No need for plans as most of the week is booked already now, and if they can do the test early all the better.

Reply #525. Jun 06 11, 1:42 PM

Hi, I'm quite new to Ft and to the chat boards in particular. I hope you don't mind me commenting as a lot of the blogs seem to be comprised of people who know one another quite well. I do hope everything goes well for you with regard to the tests.

Reply #526. Jun 06 11, 1:54 PM

lesley153

Welcome, new person! There are no rules about who may and may not post. None of us knew each other before we dived in and started posting. We got to know each other because we write this stuff. If it appears to you to be cliquey - it shouldn't!

Reply #527. Jun 06 11, 3:05 PM

Thanks, that's made me feel welcome. I'll jump in with both feet next time!

Reply #528. Jun 06 11, 3:33 PM

Thanks bloodandsand, please! comment on my blogs (and any others) as writing them is only part of the job, discussing them afterwards is the rest. Many people didn't know anyone else when they arrived but once you're here you're part of the scene.

Reply #529. Jun 06 11, 6:59 PM

It is nice when things go smoothly- although the haircut was altered till tomorrow I called the hospital who confirmed a fasting blood test can be taken any time as long as you've fasted. I got straight in the car and someone even gave me their ticket for the car park- I would have paid for an hour and she clearly expected a longer wait as well and why the hell should they get paid in advance for time people didn't use? I went in, got the ticket, found the room and within a minute was called in, looked the other way (my father's good advice from the last and only other one) and a minute later it was done. Now I just have to think about the result but two online diabetes tests put me very low risk and I'd expect to feel a lot worse if I did have it.

Tomorrow is the financial adviser, I already know the only possible product I want and unfortunately she's clearly programmed to stick to her script come what may and only hears answers to her questions and not any interruptions. Monty Python could have done a good sketch trying to put her off with rude suggestions and inappropriate scratching. But not in my own bank or I'd lose every account in one go. The ex was coming today and cancelled at the final minute, but am happy to have had the rest of the day free although there's nothing on TV instead. She may come tomorrow, I don't mind either way.

The carpet's being fitted on Friday and can then furnish the new room, although electricity and then heating may remain elusive. I have a light plugged into the next room if I need it but apart from a portable radio am planning to get a small portable TV for there but won't be able to plug it in. And whatever bargains IKEA have if I can't get them in the car and have to queue for an hour even at night then I'll go to one of the many secondhand shops for a bookshelf. The final (?) hurdle will be seeing the specialist depending what the tests find, but won't worry about that now, I'll know more in a week or so anyway. Nothing more interesting than real life.

Reply #530. Jun 07 11, 12:22 PM

That was quick work with regard to the blood tests! See that as a positive omen.

I know exactly what you mean about Ikea, trouble is I seem to be magnetically drawn towards it. No matter how many times I tell myself - Don't bother, It won't be in stock, The queues will be massive - I just can't seem to stay away!

Reply #531. Jun 07 11, 1:25 PM

lesley153

Pleased to hear your hospital has people who have a bit of common sense. The advice I got was that you need to fast for eight hours so don't eat anything after midnight, and come in for a blood test any time after 8am (pause for dry laughter at the thought of 8am). I presented myself at noon, having eaten nothing since 4am, and the moron taking blood refused to take a sample because I'd eaten after midnight and she didn't want to waste my blood if it couldn't be tested. No thought to my wasted journey, naturally. I tried very hard to persuade her that eight hours without food is eight hours without food and a hungry body doesn't know or care what time it is. No, *whoosh* right over her head.

I did have to go again, but not before a full and frank exchange of views with a very sympathetic member of the patient liaison office.

Silly question: what's the point of a financial adviser who speaks but doesn't listen?

I find it very easy to keep away from IKEA! Are its regular customers addicted to sensory deprivation?

Reply #532. Jun 07 11, 1:52 PM

I know, I know! The mindless wandering following the footprints, the 500th variation of a Billy bookcase - but.....there's just something!(Bev)

Reply #533. Jun 07 11, 2:02 PM

Hi Satguru and all. So much talk of diabetes got me thinking about how mine went undiagnosed for two years.

I kept having these mysterious "falls" that I couldn't remember the cause of, quite serious falls. I shattered an elbow, broke a wrist, etc. Over the space of two years.

Just when they'd about convinced me that I was crazy and that my younger brother must be beating me in my sleep---the doctor figured it out.
So, I'd like to know why you are so afraid of getting it, Satguru? I have to take a pill twice a day and an injection at night. Mind the sweets as I've been told to do since age 11.

I have a friend who gets the brain anuresysms (no spell check) I would think that would be far worse. Comment?

Reply #534. Jun 07 11, 3:04 PM

Funnily enough it was the doctor who said 'if you go to the hospital for a fasting test you'll have to go early'- I suspected 12 (in my case) hours would be the same regardless and rang up and they confirmed it doesn't matter what time you arrive, it's the length of the fast that counts. Thank goodness, I'd have had to wait 10 days otherwise.

I can't think of many people who wouldn't want every single day of their lives regulated- my aunt got type two and has to test her blood every day although I know hardly anyone with it needs injections as well. But with no one here to look after me either the thought of carrying a little briefcase everywhere I go for the rest of my life as a few of my type 1 friends have had to as long as I remember is not a happy prospect at 51, especially with the eye problems and ulcers that seem an inevitable result after you've had it a while.

Passing out is a sure indication of something- my only symptom they picked up are retinal aneurysms which aren't automatically a result of anything but diabetes is the commonest if there is a known cause so have to check first. I've had frequent peeing for 30 years with a few tests that came back negative for a variety of problems- polyuria/irritable bladder appears to be like many rashes, not fatal or even really harmful so beyond the scope of medicine. They can give you dessicating hormones which dry you out totally by almost dehydrating you and the symptoms can be worse than needing to be near a toilet (or bush in my case, I'm an expert at subtle improvisation) so only taken in desperate (often embarrassing) situations. I've also had mystery tiredness on and off which caused my original negative test, and thank goodness is in decline at the moment so have more good than bad days. I've managed 40-50 mile trips (albeit usually as a passenger) this year with no trouble, which could have finished me off a couple of years earlier but that was the aftermath of a gut infection that laid me low for two years and all but finished my social life.

I was surprised the old system Gary also mentioned of a pee-strip test they used to give us all at school to weed out the healthy before sending the unlucky positives to get blood tests, as presumably if it was adequate to do so in the 70s and since it should have been now. Except they also tested virtually everything you can think of so have saved whatever it costs for a half day private checkup which only tends to tell you what you already know, ie I'm fat and out of condition and my hair's falling out. Yes, I've got a mirror, and can only jog for three minutes. This you charge £120 an hour for?

Reply #535. Jun 07 11, 3:19 PM

Well, I do carry a small glucometer with the test strips and finger stick needles. Being female, it's only a small burden. If I'm away from home and feel faint, I can stick myself and see if that's the cause.
I'm sure I don't test enough, as the supplies are not covered completely by insurance and can get pricey if used with all due diligence.

When I was in the hospital with the 4 broken ribs a couple years ago, it seemed like they were forever sticking me to test or dispense. I've had sudden bladder trouble, but never not made it. I do time my trips from home for convenient stops. I drink lots of water, so that would be a given.

You know what they say, lose weight, stop smoking, exercise more---

die anyway. I'm 60, I think losing my sight or a limb would be the worst.

Reply #536. Jun 07 11, 10:26 PM

Professer

David for years i have been to doctors for this and that and they Question Diabetes, have had many blood tests for it to be all clear.

It first started when i had lumpectomy on the back of my leg,had gone to get the leg redressed and got a gasp from the nurse she got her coollegue to look also gasped they both left me sat there trousers round ankles while the fetched a doctor one look he said you are diabetic come back tmw after fasting over night, so i did result all clear.

As i have already said my friend in scotland tested me with one of her strips and glucometer and i had a surprisingly good level well below the level that is diabetes, which astounded them as i drink gallons of lucozade.

I am sure and hope i am right you don't have diabetes as you have a healthier lifestyle then me, hoping everything goes well for you David.

Reply #537. Jun 08 11, 1:49 AM

Hi Professor,

I've always been the one to bruise easily and a lot. Managing all the while to have terrible veins to draw blood from. My Mom was the same way.

In my 20's I asked a doctor about it, but I was healthy at the time
Enough of the health issues, if we live long enough, we all get some "condition".

It's very hot here in Texas in the summer. y fence is overgrown and I need to clear it, but only a bearable hour or so right at daybreak.

Maybe I'll work that into my "routine".

Reply #538. Jun 08 11, 4:51 AM

Well life has pretty well settled down to normal again, I was about an hour and a half with the financial advisor but had to be done, and very nearly asked her out but would expect the West End, weekends in Paris and expensive restaurants and casinos would be her style rather than Hampstead Heath, garden centres and the TV. I can always go for it another time if I want to as she is single and looking and only lives a mile away or so. The hair has finally been cut (almost in the singular nowadays alas) and the ex is here and waiting for a Chinese meal to arrive.

Tomorrow is free and can do whatever I like, and got a booking on Friday as well as the carpet fitter. Then I can get the room usable, get a TV in there and just need electricity to plug it in which they were meant to do when they finished the wiring. Another visit over the road to sort that out and then presumably the bill I wasn't meant to be paying.
It's been the busiest couple of weeks for ages and suspect if I was diabetic and untreated I couldn't have managed it. I can but hope anyhow.

Reply #539. Jun 08 11, 1:37 PM