My less than constructive rant/vent"

[TerryP]

I have updated this thread to a more calmer version 🙂

 

[rebrascora]

One of the main functions of this forum is to give people a safe space to let off steam and vent their frustrations. Far better here where we all understand than taking it out on nearest and dearest.... or worse still bottling it up..... so feel free to have a good rant....

I see it is a while since you last posted. How are you getting on with the Gliclazide? You mentioned pancreatic problems in your other thread and I would be concerned that Gliclazide in such circumstances might be a bit like flogging a dying horse.... Hope I am wrong about that and it is working well for you?

Did you try the Libre free trial?

 

[Benny G]

I have removed this thread as it was more of a rant/vent than constructive.

I think if you had named your thread something like, "My less than constructive rant/vent", we would have been suitably forewarned and mentally prepared. It's OK to blow off a little steam sometime, and a primal scream can be constructive, or at least make you feel a bit better.

 

[TerryP]

One of the main functions of this forum is to give people a safe space to let off steam and vent their frustrations. Far better here where we all understand than taking it out on nearest and dearest.... or worse still bottling it up..... so feel free to have a good rant....

I see it is a while since you last posted. How are you getting on with the Gliclazide? You mentioned pancreatic problems in your other thread and I would be concerned that Gliclazide in such circumstances might be a bit like flogging a dying horse.... Hope I am wrong about that and it is working well for you?

Did you try the Libre free trial?

Hi rebrascora

Thanks for replying to my thread, that was very kind.

I had originally named the thread ‘Diabetes the disease that just keeps giving’ and although I like the title, I thought it might be a little inappropriate.

I had a bad day yesterday, started in the morning when the GP called me to tell me that I needed to go onto Clopidogrel and Atorvastatin for the rest of my life (seems I have PVD thus the new drugs and MRI on Wednesday, my left ankle pulse is only going thud instead of thud thud) so of course I immediately consulted Dr Google and set myself off for the rest of the day. The good news is today seems a little brighter but the thing that gets me are the little questions that crop up after a phone call like that. So for example….should I continue to work in the garden or is that going to dislodge some piece fat and subsequent blood clot and its good night Gracie.

Overall and in answer to your question. I don’t seem to be doing too bad, my morning number are ok but my evening ones (before Tea) are always above target (unless I have been working outside then they are within range). I have my annual review with the diabetes team in a couple of weeks so I want to explore the whole question of my Pancreatitis and diabetes, so we shall see what shakes out of that.

I did try the Libre free trial. I was ok with it but noticed that the numbers of the device vs the finger prick were a bit off, when it was on the high side I wasn’t too worried but I did wonder if I would have been able to catch a Hypo in time with the data lag. My GP wont prescribe so it was an interesting experience and useful to see what others are using. I am however keeping a very close eye on the Afon Technology to see when/if that passes its clinical trials.

So that’s about it. I hope you can see why I was a little spooked yesterday, but today is another day.

 

[TerryP]

I think if you had named your thread something like, "My less than constructive rant/vent", we would have been suitably forewarned and mentally prepared. It's OK to blow off a little steam sometime, and a primal scream can be constructive, or at least make you feel a bit better.

Hi, thanks for the suggestion. I have renamed the thread accordingly🙂

 

[IrvineHimself]

I had a bad day yesterday, started in the morning when the GP called me to tell me that I needed to go onto Clopidogrel and Atorvastatin for the rest of my life

I had a phone call like that about 5 weeks ago, just after after my first bloods came back: At 8 pm on a Friday night the Doc phones me up and tells me she had been reviewing my blood work and I had hyponatremia. (abnormally low sodium). She went on to say she had arranged for an 'Emergency Clinical Assessment' first thing the following morning (Saturday 9am), and if I felt unwell in any way at all during the night, I should head straight to the nearest A&E!

I took it kind of philosophically and fell asleep thinking: 'Is this it, am I on the way out. God, please let it be quick and painless.' Surprisingly, I managed to sleep okay, but, when I arrived at the hospital, they were waiting with a wheelchair!

I spent the day being treated like a king and rolled around between: consultants, x-rays, vampires, and god knows what else by my own personal porter. I felt fine by the way, it was only when they suggested they might have to keep me in that I realised they were really serious.

It was at that point my ranting began, I am surprised you didn't hear me.

so of course I immediately consulted Dr Google

The problem with Dr Google is that, even if you're lucky/experienced enough to choose good quality, reliable sources, you're still going to get hit with a lot of worst case scenarios which are often of very low probability.

In cases like this, always remember that the main Diabetes UK domain has a contact page with options for telephone, email, fax or live chat with the care team.

Check the page, but the main details are:
Diabetes UK Helpline:
(Mon-Fri 9-6) 0345 123 2399
or email helpline@diabetes.org.uk

Though I suspect it may be closed for the Jubilee celebrations(?. When it reopens, I would definitely try the helpline for advice on which activities to avoid.

Best of luck
Irvine

 

[Eddy Edson]

So for example….should I continue to work in the garden or is that going to dislodge some piece fat and subsequent blood clot and its good night Gracie.

For PAD/PVD, usual advice is to exercise a lot, particularly walking. I would definitely talk to doc or vascular specialist about any questions you have - but in all the research, guidelines, expert statements etc on PAD I have read since diagnosis I don't recall any mention of increased risks of dislodging plaque etc with exercise, so I'd be surprised if it were a thing.

 

[TerryP]

For PAD/PVD, usual advice is to exercise a lot, particularly walking. I would definitely talk to doc or vascular specialist about any questions you have - but in all the research, guidelines, expert statements etc on PAD I have read since diagnosis I don't recall any mention of increased risks of dislodging plaque etc with exercise, so I'd be surprised if it were a thing.

Thanks for the info Eddy, I will talk to the consultant when I get called back in. I'm thinking that you are 100% right but like I mentioned its the ability of my mind to play all sorts of tricks that causes me the issue.

 

[Eddy Edson]

Thanks for the info Eddy, I will talk to the consultant when I get called back in. I'm thinking that you are 100% right but like I mentioned its the ability of my mind to play all sorts of tricks that causes me the issue.

Might also be worth saying something about statins if this is a new prescription. Most of the anti-statin / statin-hesitant commentary you see on the Internet and message boards is simply wrong, but with PAD/PVD it's even more wrong. There is a huge amount of evidence that statins at high-intensity if not contra-indicated are crucial for PAD management - not just for lowering LDL, but also for stabilising plaque to reduce the risk of the kind of event you mentioned.

See the NHS England lipid management guidelines: https://www.england.nhs.uk/aac/wp-c...ondary-prevention-of-cardiovascular-disea.pdf

Symptomatic PAD/PVD puts you in the secondary prevention category - as if you'd had a heart attack or whatever - and the guidlines say don't wait to see what lifestyle measures can accomplish but prescribe atorvastatin 80mg (ie the max dose) right away unless CKD, drug interaction, not tolerated or patient really doesn't want it.

Docs in UK and Oz (where I am) seem often to be a bit statin-hesitant themselves, so I would definitely talk to yr doc about this. If they don't intend eg increasing the atorvastatin dose up to 80mg then I would refer them to these NHS guidelines and ask them to explain (of course they might have a good reason).

Taking a statijn every day is no more burdensome than brushing yr teeth, taking a multivitamin, shaving, getting dressed etc etc. Anyway, that's the way I see it.

 

[trophywench]

The more exercise route is to encourage peripheral artery and vein growth - so if you don't exercise, the blood can only travel via the plaque clogged blood vessels, not the nice clean new ones and as they get more clogged it ruddy well hurts.

If it caused plaque to break off, they would never advise it in the first place.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Hope you are able to have a constructive conversation with your consultant and that you can get some reassurance 🙂

 

[TerryP]

Hi Everyone

Thanks for your comments and support (really helpful). Well the situation has moved on a little since I last posted. My Dr has placed me on Atorvastatin 40mg and Clopidogrel 75mg tables once he saw the Consultants initial report of PAD. I have however since had a lower limb MRI and the results show a blockage in the left artery in my upper leg and also a slightly enlarged artery in my right groin. The upshot is that I have to have a stent put into my leg but this probably won’t happen within the next 3 months. (NHS Backlog etc). I must say and I’m not being bitter (as I work for the NHS) that with the clearing of the NHS backlog there seems to be very little time for the Patient. My consultant was still talking to me about the procedure as he was leaving the room to see the next patient. I have no real information about what to expect etc other then the X-ray department will do the stent work.

On an additional note, I now have to go to a Rapid Heart clinic (get my heart checked out as I reported some chest pain and discomfort). The Dr gave me the spray for under my tongue (which I have not had to use yet thank goodness) but it all seems to be tumbling down around me. I did ask if it was safe to do the Rapid Heart test when I have a blockage but again there was no real time to discuss my worries or concerns.

Apart from that I have 12 new Goldfish in an outdoor pond that help me to take my mind off things for a while.