I have had a very busy day today. It started with going to hospital for an appointment for a Coronary CT scan as I have been having sporadic visits to hospital due to significant chest pains. I have had ECG’s on several occasions and nothing seems to be showing as heart attack material at this stage, but my GP – and the Cardiology team – felt it was worth further investigation.
So, I rocked up with my husband at 9.00am and got out of there about 12.00pm. So, it was rather more than I had expected to happen. They started to try and get my heart rate down, which was about 100bpm and they were aiming for 65bpm. They gave me Beta blockers to try to get it down, but after quite an extended time they got me to about 80-85bpm and they could work around that. Then they put a lure in so that they could put contrast dye through the lure. It was a weird sensation, as I felt a hot wave course through my body and – as I had been warned – it felt like I had weed myself when it got to my crotch. So, that was an interesting way to start the day. Results expected about 1-2 weeks I think.
When we finished with all the checks and were sent on our way, we had coffee in the cafe just downstairs. I sat there people watching – as I do – and saw a woman come in that was wearing a rather nice shirt. I thought to myself “she dresses quite well for an old lady!” Then I looked again and thought “bugger me, she looks like she might be around my age!” I don’t feel like I am 64 years old mainly, but from time to time as my myriad of maladies kick in, I feel 74+. So, that was an interesting thought process. I just didn’t initially even consider that she may have been around my age. It is strange that feeling that I am still young in my head and it is a challenge sometimes to realise and accept that I am reaching the age – should I go missing – that I would be described as “…an elderly woman from ….” scary stuff!
The second thing on our timetable for today was an appointment with a podiatrist at the local Parkinson’s society. I was not sure what she would be able to do for me, but I have had very painful feet lately, especially the left one. When I first went in, I asked what sort of things she did for people she saw at the society. She advised that it was mainly pedicures and bunions and such that people may not be able to do for themselves.
I told the podiatrist that I have a painful left foot and to a lesser extent a painful right foot. She has suggested looking at toe separators – available at any of the bargain chemist type places – or orthotics. I am going to try them and see if they make any difference. When I described what I was experiencing, she queried whether it might be nerve related and suggested I try to get to talk to my surgeon or someone on his team to see if a nerve conduction test be done. She is also going to bring something to make a tailor-made toe separator if the one from the bargain pharmacy does not work. We talked about what may be causing the issues and she said that it could be my Parkinson’s causing my toes to go in funny directions and the pain could be related to Parkies stiffening up my body, or it could be my arthritis playing up. It could also be residual, unresolved pain from my operation. The trouble is, it’s very hard to know.
All in all, treating me for my various aches and pains must be challenging for the professionals, because with so many maladies it must be hard to pin down what exactly is causing the pain issues. Is it one of the conditions, or is it a cooperative effort between them all?
All I know is that the pain is becoming a big pain and I would dearly love to get rid of it, before it becomes problematic for me.
My life is a good illustration of how complex ageing can be and its effect on our bodies of the various health issues. I seem to somehow lurch from one medical issue to another, with barely time to take a breath.
Two appointments in one day, is very tiring, so not much was even attempted when we got home.
After being poked and prodded and stuck with a lure in my arm, I think I deserved to just blob about for a bit!
My journey with Parkinsons 