Blah!

Since my mom passed away last July, my sister and I have been walking the trails in our best park.  I started having breathing issues almost right away, so I mentioned it to my doctor.  He was going to order a stress test.  His first order went in back in November.  I'm still waiting to hear.  Meanwhile, we're still walking.  Still having issues. Still waiting to hear about the stress test.
The doctor is also having a bit of a hard time regulating my thyroid.  It's still too high.  I think I've had more blood tests in the last couple of months than I have since being in remission.
Yesterday, we had appointments to get the results of our latest tests.  Steven has his own issues.
Doc was just full of good news!  Not.  Thyroid is still high, drop one of my synthroid pills: cholesterol is high, now on Crestor (first one last night and today feeling icky)  and my platelets are a little high.  He wants to keep an eye on that.
Did find out why I haven't heard anything about my stress test (and appointment with the specialist); the office had sent the wrong phone number. That has now been corrected, so it shouldn't be too long before I hear about my stress test.  Fingers crossed.  This concern  about my breathing issues is because my mom had a stroke in 2013.  And there are times my heart feels like it is racing.

Cindy I'm so sorry!!   So you are very hypOthyroid right?  Will you test again in 6-8 weeks after decreasing synthroid - that's what I have to do with a dose change.     Great your stress test will be ordered soon!!   Hope you get good news!!!!!

PS - Just a thought - would the high thyroid numbers have anything to do with the cholesterol, breathing, etc?   Do you have an endocinologist or is your MD taking care of the thyroid issues?

Mel, yeah, I'll have a recheck in about 6 weeks.  And now I am hyPO.  I've been dealing with thyroid issues for 3 docotor's worth now.  Long before my ITP.  For the longest time those numbers have been good.  Just a few minor nips and tucks.  This new high count isn't normal for me.  But then, if you ask Steven, he'd tell you I'm not normal! lol.
The cholesterol thing is new.  He's never mentioned anything about that before.
I did wonder if the thyroid issues could affect the breathing and heart problems.  Right now, just my MD is looking after all of it. And of course, mum's stroke is on my mind.  Asked doc a couple of visits ago, if her condition was hereditary.  He said it could.  He's really good.  Keeps on top of our health.  We see him every 5 weeks or so.
No call yet about the stress test or specialist visit.  He was going to mark the referral as urgent, so I'm hoping today I'll get that call.
Still gonna keep walking with my sister in the meantime, though!

Sorry to hear this Cindy, shame the stress test office didn't contact your doctor to inform him they couldn't get through to you.

I've just had to start on statins too. Was summoned to the surgery for my well person check and discovered my triglyceride levels are too high. Really annoyed as eat a very healthy diet. Had a long talk with the pharmacist at the surgery. He told me it was more than likely down to 8 years on prednisolone rather than my diet. When I asked if things would improve once I got off the wretched stuff (down to 2.5mg/day) he said no the damage was done I would be on statins forever. Oh joy. 

Hope things improve for you and you soon get stress test. 

Mrsb, my sister works in a doctors office and she said the same thing!  We are wondering about that too.  But the wheels are in motion now, so hopefully it won't be too long. The number they had was technically my mum's.  She wouldn't use a cell phone, and when she moved in with us wanted to keep hers.  I thought we had let our docs office know that it was no longer in service because when we moved after mum went to the nursing home we let it go.  I guess not.  All fixed now, that's all the matters.
I'm on 10mgs.  I was hoping I wouldn't be on it long. I'll admit, we don't eat the healthiest.  But with the cost of food, we don't over do it, either.  We don't eat a lot of sweets or junk food.  If we have anything with salt added, I, we, don't add any extra.  The hardest part is remembering I have to take it!  I'm not used to taking anything at bedtime; that was what the pharmacist recommended.  I try to take it at the same time Steven takes his.  I'm also a big person.
I think I've been off the Pred since doing the Rituxan in 2011 and went into remission.

Cindy I would think thyroid could cause heart problems if the thyroid condition wasn't being taken care of - hypO slows things down and hypER kicks things into high gear, the happy medium of an in-range TSH is what is needed.   Hope by now your stress test has been scheduled!!

Like MrsB I too take a statin.  Since I take a bp med before bed I just take it then.   MrsB a good friend of ours has bad cholesterol and triglycerides and he cannot get either to a good # in spite of eating properly (boring in other words ) and exercising and doing everything he is supposed to do.  Doctor told him bad genes.  

Yeah, I know the thyroid can affect everything. My thyroid numbers have been good lately, so this is rather concerning.  Of course, I am getting older.  But mum had heart issues and had the stroke, so hence the stress test.  Funny I should read this now.  I was literally just getting ready to post that I finally got my call about it this morning!  Next Wednesday, June 1st.  I said to Cathy yesterday on our walk that I hope I don't have to wait 6 months from the time the specialist orders it.  I'll be so glad when it's done!
With the cost of food these days, who can eat healthy?   We don't eat a lot of junk food or sweets.  And I don't eat as much as I used to.  At our last doctor's appointment I weighed myself and I'm under 200 lbs for the first time in a long time!  Hopefully these pills will help.

I am so glad you have your stress test scheduled Cindy - break a leg (so to speak ) - hope you pass with flying colors!! 

I am shocked every time I go to the grocery store, it is something how the prices are increasing.  I, unfortunately, love sweets - blame that on my Mom, may she rest in peace, she loved cakes from the German bakeries in our city and too convenient      Congrats on your weight loss!!
 

Wednesday morning at 9:15!  Can't wait!
I drink a lot of water and I think these walks with Cathy may be helping.  We do sometimes get cravings for something sweet, but have cut down on the amount we eat a lot.  Whatever works!  My dad was never much of a sweet eater..  My mom was the exact opposite.

Well, that test was fun! Not!
I was okay while just walking slowly on the treadmill, but when they sped it up, I started feeling like I couldn't breathe.  At that point, they stopped the test.  There was a doctor monitoring the test ,(I'm assuming he was a doctor) and he said everything looked normal. So I don't know if I will see the specialist.

I haven't had one yet, probably at my age I need one, but I hear they are not fun.  There is also a nuclear treadmill test, that shows how the blood is flowing to the heart.   Well it sounds like you passed that test Cindy, proud of you     I would think that person who said everything looked normal would know - maybe though the results are sent to someone to evaluate.  

I'll wait and see if I get a call from the specialist.  If not, I see my doctor in a couple of weeks.  He should also get the results.

Hope you get good news Cindy!!!

Thanks, Mel!  Still waiting to hear from the specialist.  My doctor says I should still see him and he will get the results too.
In the meantime, Cathy and I are still walking with plenty of stops along the way for photo ops and rehydration!

Probably you would have heard something by now if results weren't good!
Loving your photos - so glad you are able to take those walks!

I was thinking the same thing, Mel.  No news is good news, as they say!
Thanks!  It wasn't looking promising for us to get out this weekend.  Last night it was 60% chance of rain for today and 70% for tomorrow.  This morning when I checked, it's down to 30% for today and up to 80 for tomorrow.  So we are going today!  In fact, I'm sitting here watching the sun come out.

No news is good news Cindy.
We are in the middle of a heatwave over here. I'm spending my time pottering  about in the garden  and trying to persuade the dog he would be happier on the cool, shady hall floor. However he seems to prefer following me around huffing puffing and panting the silly animal. 

I agree, mrsb.  We see our doctor on the 6th of July, and if I haven't heard from the specialist by then, I'll ask my doc if he's got the results.
Our weather can change in a heartbeat! We haven't had many really hot days here.  When my sister and I walk, we're usually in the woods and out of the sun.

Yep - no news is good news!
Your dog loves you mrsb and wants to be with you.    Now if it was me I'd prefer to be on the cool, shady hall floor   We are going to have a "cold" spell in a couple days, supposedly - highs in the 70s F, time will tell.  I do prefer the heat!

So according to my doctor on Wednesday, my stress test was good.  So I said nothing to worry about.  He says he wouldn't go that far, we have to figure out why I'm having these symptoms.   So now I am waiting to get a breathing test done. Doctor wants to rule out everything, like COPD. He asked if I was still walking with my sister and I said yes, I wasn't going to stop unless told to.  I forgot to ask if I would still see the specialist, but my sister seems to think I will.  It's been awhile and I haven't heard, so I don't know.

Cindy, your doctor sounds thorough and that is good!  Has the breathing test been scheduled?   Can you email your doctor, or call his office, to ask if you will still be seeing the specialist?  

Mel, I'm still waiting for the breathing test appointment.
Just wasted 2 hours at emerg and plan on calling my doc tomorrow to see if I can get in to see him soon.
We had our 4th (and final, I hope) boosters on Thursday.  Now my arm is red and hot to the touch.  Triage nurse said it was a localized reaction.   I didn't feel like sitting there for 5 or 6 or 7 hours only to be told they couldn't do anything.  And I didn't want to miss my walk with Cathy!  The triage nurse did mark the red spot in case it grows.
So, we are going to be late getting out, but Cathy and I are going for our walk!  We're going to another park we have here in the city.  The only thing is, the trails there are mostly short ones.

Good heavens Cindy, that didn't happen with the other injections if I remember right.  Bless your heart - I don't blame you for getting out in the good weather & clean air with Cathy (plus I need photos to look at ) instead of waiting around.  Did they give you any tylenol or something to maybe quiet that reaction?  I'm so sorry!!

Nope, no reaction like this.  The first Moderna dose made me sick for a couple of days.  The ER triage nurse called it "localized reaction" and that it's normal.  He did suggest I not get Moderna again and take Tylenol.  According to the nurse who gave us our shots said as far as she knows, these will be the last ones.  Yeah, right!  With more variants coming out, I'm sure our government will suggest another booster.  I wouldn't mind if I had to get it once a year like the flu shot if it will keep me safe.
Steven's shot came out of the same bottle as mine and had no reaction.  I will say, the redness is almost gone and the heat isn't as bad.  Today makes day 5 and the arm is still a bit sore.
Pictures will be posted later this afternoon.  Enjoy them!  We went to the nature park.  Cathy actually bought a book on hiking in New Brunswick and has a few trails picked out for us.

My son was just a couple days shy of getting his 2nd booster when he came down with symptoms - he got it from his son who was just shy of getting his 1st injection as his age group finally was approved.  Interesting our young grandson was over his in 3 days and thankfully not real sick - our son had it not too good, high fever etc.    My fully vaccinated niece got it from her son who is fully vaccinated, her daughter fully vaccinated got it too.  The fully vaccinated husband of a friend just tested positive.  A friend who I haven't seen for quite a while because she refused to get vaccinated has it - what I don't get is she has a mother who is demented and she is there taking care of her and wouldn't get vaccinated knowing her mother is high risk, haven't heard yet if mother got it.    Just telling you all this because I think we will be having covid vaccines for a long time to come        

Nope, I wouldn't get another Moderna again - you have had 2 reactions to it.  

I haven't been on the computer till now so haven't seen the photos yet - it is late so I'll look tomorrow.   

I totally agree with you Mel!  This is going to be around for a very long time!
We received a notice from the landlord about still wearing masks in the common areas.  Yesterday, Steven had to go down to his office and thanked the LL for the notice.  Not that it really makes a difference, we would still be wearing our masks anyway.  We wear them in the stores or anyplace there are a lot of people.  People just don't care anymore.
Both of Cathy's kids had mild cases of it., but she and hubby both got away without it.
I couldn't wait to get my first shot so I could go see my mother in the nursing home.  I don't understand how your friend refuses to get vaccinated, especially since she takes care of her mother.
I hope your son, grandson and niece are all feeling better!  Steven says he has no doubt that we'll probably get it.  We'll just try to avoid it as best as possible.

In the UK we are going to get another covid vaccination in September or so. This time it is likely we will all get a Moderna updated for Omicron, so I'm told. It'll be my sixth! Fed up with them now.  

This was my fourth.  And I hear we have new variants forming, so I have no doubt we'll be getting another shot.
I'd be willing to get a yearly booster if I need to.
We've already had the Omicrom.  Not sure what the new one is.  Have you had any reactions to your shots, JJ?

The latest Omicron is called Centaurus or BA2.75. The newest vaccine should cope with BA4 and 5 too which the original vaccines don't.

Oddly I had a high temperature after the last vaccination which is the first time I've had any reaction. The blood test done at the same time showed that I had no B cells at all so made no antibodies but maybe something else was happening.

That's it, the BA2.
I think I only had a small fever with the first shot of Moderna.  All my other reactions have varied.  I'll probably have to go back to the Pfiezer if we need another booster.