Good News stories

[eighthobstruction]

....Rupert Murdochs new wife looks like Elsie Tanner....

[Serial_Apologist]

....Rupert Murdochs new wife looks like Elsie Tanner....

[Serial_Apologist]

Excellent news on the personal health front resulting from a visit to the local surgery this morning - last year's cholesterol etc levels almost as good as the previous 5 years - why do they use the term "pre-diabetic"?? - and blood pressure "within the target zone". I feel so re-motivated after a month's failed efforts at weight reduction ("Less white bread, white rice and white pasta" he recommended) that I shall probably go down to the local blood testing 'ow's yer father this very afternoon, (the Tessa Jowell Health Centre, wouldn'tcher know?) and get my samples taken. And the surgery had actually contacted me - on the dog 'n' bone! Waheeeey!!!

Sequel
I have just been. Two noticeable differences from previous years: firstly they would appear to have dispensed with the always welcoming middle-aged Caribbean women doing the job, who always had a laugh ready to steady any anxieties, and replaced them with new staff probably from the Balkan region or Middle East who are very reserved and soft-spoken so everything has to be repeated; secondly the ancient lottery ticket-type dispensing machine has been replaced by a sooper-dooper touch screen on which one has to type ones data, and which only works within a narrow range of impact responsiveness, so the helpful guy in the lengthening queue behind me had to step in on my behalf. When that also did not work, he called out for assistance, which was then given as well to the rest of the queue. A woman who'd told the attendant she'd pre-booked for 2.05pm through her surgery had been sitting patiently as these other incomers' names came up on the illuminated board, with growing anxiety writ large as the clock reached 2.30. New wow technology allows the NHS management to rest its cases, and so now shall I.

[french frank]

Excellent news on the personal health front

(in moderation, of course) (ditto)

I was wondering why I was developing oedema - first time ever - in my left foot and lower leg. It did occur to me that it might be due to the recently prescribed antihistamine, but preliminary 'research' suggested antihistamine might be used to treat oedema rather than cause it. I did check up on the accompanying leaflet and discovered that a rare (1 in 1,000) side effect of the drug was - oedema. So it's gone in the bin. It wouldn't be the first (or most serious) side effect I've suffered from a prescribed drug. I hate taking the damn things

[pastoralguy]

....Rupert Murdochs new wife looks like Elsie Tanner....

And what first attracted you to the billionaire Rupert Murdoch…?!

I thought he was married to Jerry Hall.

[Serial_Apologist]

And what first attracted you to the billionaire Rupert Murdoch…?!

I thought he was married to Jerry Hall.

Thrown in the jerry can, but from what I recall she was OK with the, er, terms of the die vorce!

[Serial_Apologist]

(in moderation, of course) (ditto)

I was wondering why I was developing oedema - first time ever - in my left foot and lower leg. It did occur to me that it might be due to the recently prescribed antihistamine, but preliminary 'research' suggested antihistamine might be used to treat oedema rather than cause it. I did check up on the accompanying leaflet and discovered that a rare (1 in 1,000) side effect of the drug was - oedema. So it's gone in the bin. It wouldn't be the first (or most serious) side effect I've suffered from a prescribed drug. I hate taking the damn things

Which must therefore make you pro histamine! Seriously, I hope you (have managed to) find an alternative, as they do not usually prescribe antihistamine for minor things, I would think.

[LMcD]

(in moderation, of course) (ditto)

I was wondering why I was developing oedema - first time ever - in my left foot and lower leg. It did occur to me that it might be due to the recently prescribed antihistamine, but preliminary 'research' suggested antihistamine might be used to treat oedema rather than cause it. I did check up on the accompanying leaflet and discovered that a rare (1 in 1,000) side effect of the drug was - oedema. So it's gone in the bin. It wouldn't be the first (or most serious) side effect I've suffered from a prescribed drug. I hate taking the damn things

PM on its way regarding lymphoedema.

[eighthobstruction]

And what first attracted you to the billionaire Rupert Murdoch…?!

I thought he was married to Jerry Hall.

.....Chinese woman wife (of protecting Karate chop at Leveson Inquiry) - gone.........Jerry Hall - gone........then engaged to Right Wing Fundementalist Evangelist (but she failed a lie detector test)......now Elsie Tanner....life in the old pig dog....

And what first attracted you to divorce Ms Hall....

[oddoneout]

Excellent news on the personal health front resulting from a visit to the local surgery this morning - last year's cholesterol etc levels almost as good as the previous 5 years - why do they use the term "pre-diabetic"?? - and blood pressure "within the target zone". I feel so re-motivated after a month's failed efforts at weight reduction ("Less white bread, white rice and white pasta" he recommended) that I shall probably go down to the local blood testing 'ow's yer father this very afternoon, (the Tessa Jowell Health Centre, wouldn'tcher know?) and get my samples taken. And the surgery had actually contacted me - on the dog 'n' bone! Waheeeey!!!

Sequel
I have just been. Two noticeable differences from previous years: firstly they would appear to have dispensed with the always welcoming middle-aged Caribbean women doing the job, who always had a laugh ready to steady any anxieties, and replaced them with new staff probably from the Balkan region or Middle East who are very reserved and soft-spoken so everything has to be repeated; secondly the ancient lottery ticket-type dispensing machine has been replaced by a sooper-dooper touch screen on which one has to type ones data, and which only works within a narrow range of impact responsiveness, so the helpful guy in the lengthening queue behind me had to step in on my behalf. When that also did not work, he called out for assistance, which was then given as well to the rest of the queue. A woman who'd told the attendant she'd pre-booked for 2.05pm through her surgery had been sitting patiently as these other incomers' names came up on the illuminated board, with growing anxiety writ large as the clock reached 2.30. New wow technology allows the NHS management to rest its cases, and so now shall I.

Why indeed. The official line is that the blood results indicate that if you continue as you are you are at risk of developing diabetes, and you will be offered ways(face to face course or smart thingy version) to reduce or prevent that. Let's just say that a bit of reading around the subject can be interesting as I found when my recent blood tests put me one point into the relevant range.
I'm pleased that your results were encouraging SA. Your experience with the digital book-in system sounded all too familiar; my surgery has had one for years now and it is temperamental so it isn't unusual to find a notice stuck on it saying check in at the desk.

[LMcD]

The average water bill is to rise by £66 over the next 5 years in this part of the world, which is a much smaller increase than I'd been expecting.

[Mario]

Ahem…

I’ve just passed my Grade 6 Music Theory exam.

I’m very happy.

[Pulcinella]

Ahem…

I’ve just passed my Grade 6 Music Theory exam.

I’m very happy.

So you should be!
Congratulations (and welcome back!).

[teamsaint]

(in moderation, of course) (ditto)

I was wondering why I was developing oedema - first time ever - in my left foot and lower leg. It did occur to me that it might be due to the recently prescribed antihistamine, but preliminary 'research' suggested antihistamine might be used to treat oedema rather than cause it. I did check up on the accompanying leaflet and discovered that a rare (1 in 1,000) side effect of the drug was - oedema. So it's gone in the bin. It wouldn't be the first (or most serious) side effect I've suffered from a prescribed drug. I hate taking the damn things

The way I would tend to look at it, is that these are effects. Calling them" side" effects can be a bit disingenuous really. We take drugs, and they affect our bodies, and sometimes do helpful things to the bit that needs attention. But sometimes other things happen.
Like you , I avoid drugs as far as is sensible. Too often a medical short cut I'm afraid. And testing regimes and the way results are published need to be questioned much more closely, IMO.

Hope it has cleared up FF.

[french frank]

Hope it has cleared up FF.

It has! Combination of gym at 8am Mon-Fri, drink lots of water, massage and foot and ankle exercises several times a day. Skinny legs have returned.

Have to admit that my blood pressure after being 'optimal' for 3 weeks suddenly hit the "Crisis! stay calm, move slowly toward the phone and dial 911or 999 ... " I panicked for a moment but then thought, 'ang on, that was triggered by something. What? Don't start taking the tablets again; wait and see what happens. Will check BP again when I feel I can handle bad news

Next research project: what causes high BP? Smoking? Negative. Overweight? Double negative. No physical exercise? No. Poor diet? Double negative. Stress and anxiety? Nnnoooo, not till the BP spiked. Conclusion: I don't have high BP, no matter what the Omron registers

PS Don't do as I do: do as your told!