Health Is Stupid
Sep. 13th, 2023 12:19 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
bdstrikeBack in mid-July, I got funny, sudden numbness in my left hand and feet. It was kind of weird.
Thought I should go to the GP. Did. Wish I hadn't.
I am currently stuck in a testing bonanza because they found 1 *slightly* raised liver enzyme during a routine blood test (that is irrelevant to the numbness) and went bonkers trying to figure out what it is.
It's Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver, probably?? That is the most obvious and likely scenario? It's super common, reversible with life-style changes (Weight loss 🙄)
And it's been like: mid July, initial blood tests. Early August, repeat those blood tests, see if it's improved. It hasn't. Mid August, a fucking BONANZA of liver tests for what it might be for everything ranging from coeliac to lupus to hepatitis BUT they did not test the liver enzyme that was raised again to see if it was still raised. For no apparent reason they left that off.
It was none of those whopping liver things. OBVIOUSLY. (It's NEVER Lupus)
All THAT intense blood panel found were two slightly elevated immunoglobulins.
Now, mid-September, which was the next available appointment my GP had after the blood tests done in August, doctor is like. Well we need to do some more blood tests, and an ultrasound, and maybe a fib scan, and check you out for MGUS/myeloma (bone marrow/blood cancer) ?!? but these are routine, so we'll see you for those in 4 to 6 weeks. Maybe 8. Possibly 10.
And I'm just there thinking: do you have some budget to use up or something? These tests are bordering on fundamentally unnecessary. I have an active dental abcess which is going to raise my inflammation markers and probably my immunoglobulins too. (Which I told them) Why couldn't you have done electrophoresis on those proteins straight away when they came back raised? Why wait three weeks, and not take a new blood sample for another four?
If you wanted to refer me for an ultrasound (waiting list 6+ weeks) why not make the referal when you got the weird blood tests back on the 18th of August. Why wait almost a month to even START the referral process?
And I'm just tired of it. I'm tired of engaging with this stupid system that is such a creaking mess of bureucracy. I asked if I could pay privately to speed it up and the answer was no! BeCaUsE iT's RoUtInE.
So now my current calendar is looking like:
15th of September: Root canal (paid for privately, because the NHS dental system is shit.)
9th of October: Nerve conduction tests - the only one I care about, since it actually deals with the numbness that was why i went to the GP in the first place.
16th October: MOAR BLOOD TESTS
???Eventually??? Ultrasound on liver.
And I am stressed about it (obviously) and not very patient. And I KNOW it's free and I should be grateful they're checking things but there comes a point where it is ABSOLUTELY ridiculous.
OH! And I mentioned HRT because hot flashes at night and periods wonky all over the place and the doctor was like "Not until we've sorted out what's wrong with your liver take some evening primrose oil your hormone blood tests are fine."
Hormone profiles are NOTORIOUSLY crap at predicting menopause you KNOW that you're apparently qualified! You know what would help my overall health? Being able to sleep at night instead of being stressed and miserable and HOT..
I'm fine. Honest.
Thought I should go to the GP. Did. Wish I hadn't.
I am currently stuck in a testing bonanza because they found 1 *slightly* raised liver enzyme during a routine blood test (that is irrelevant to the numbness) and went bonkers trying to figure out what it is.
It's Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver, probably?? That is the most obvious and likely scenario? It's super common, reversible with life-style changes (Weight loss 🙄)
And it's been like: mid July, initial blood tests. Early August, repeat those blood tests, see if it's improved. It hasn't. Mid August, a fucking BONANZA of liver tests for what it might be for everything ranging from coeliac to lupus to hepatitis BUT they did not test the liver enzyme that was raised again to see if it was still raised. For no apparent reason they left that off.
It was none of those whopping liver things. OBVIOUSLY. (It's NEVER Lupus)
All THAT intense blood panel found were two slightly elevated immunoglobulins.
Now, mid-September, which was the next available appointment my GP had after the blood tests done in August, doctor is like. Well we need to do some more blood tests, and an ultrasound, and maybe a fib scan, and check you out for MGUS/myeloma (bone marrow/blood cancer) ?!? but these are routine, so we'll see you for those in 4 to 6 weeks. Maybe 8. Possibly 10.
And I'm just there thinking: do you have some budget to use up or something? These tests are bordering on fundamentally unnecessary. I have an active dental abcess which is going to raise my inflammation markers and probably my immunoglobulins too. (Which I told them) Why couldn't you have done electrophoresis on those proteins straight away when they came back raised? Why wait three weeks, and not take a new blood sample for another four?
If you wanted to refer me for an ultrasound (waiting list 6+ weeks) why not make the referal when you got the weird blood tests back on the 18th of August. Why wait almost a month to even START the referral process?
And I'm just tired of it. I'm tired of engaging with this stupid system that is such a creaking mess of bureucracy. I asked if I could pay privately to speed it up and the answer was no! BeCaUsE iT's RoUtInE.
So now my current calendar is looking like:
15th of September: Root canal (paid for privately, because the NHS dental system is shit.)
9th of October: Nerve conduction tests - the only one I care about, since it actually deals with the numbness that was why i went to the GP in the first place.
16th October: MOAR BLOOD TESTS
???Eventually??? Ultrasound on liver.
And I am stressed about it (obviously) and not very patient. And I KNOW it's free and I should be grateful they're checking things but there comes a point where it is ABSOLUTELY ridiculous.
OH! And I mentioned HRT because hot flashes at night and periods wonky all over the place and the doctor was like "Not until we've sorted out what's wrong with your liver take some evening primrose oil your hormone blood tests are fine."
Hormone profiles are NOTORIOUSLY crap at predicting menopause you KNOW that you're apparently qualified! You know what would help my overall health? Being able to sleep at night instead of being stressed and miserable and HOT..
I'm fine. Honest.
