Health scare

[TitanTim]

The past few weeks have have made me realise how much good health shouldn't be taken for granted. I'm 54 and always thought of myself in reasonably good health to a point I've never even thought about it, I've never been to see a doctor probably since I was a nipper, never had to as I've never had bad health.

A few weeks ago I started having issues with both feet, started off as burning, as if both feet are on fire and then with the feet going cold with the toes going numb. First thought is what the hell, it will go. After 3 weeks the burning and soreness seemed to be getting worse and at times unbearable. As you do you search he interweb for answers and it was all pointing towards diabetes. I got to the stage where I was pretty devastated to be honest and got pretty neurotic this is what I had. Burning feet can be be a sign of vascular neuropathy and as a result that you've had diabetes for some time without realising. The scary thing is it can be the first hint you have the disease. I went to the docs who also suspected diabetes. Although I'm reasonably active I know my refined sugar intake has probably been too high over the years but otherwise I have a fairly balanced diet and no family history of diabetes. The doc ordered full blood tests. In the meantime my diet and excercise routine has completely changed as I got to know all about diabetes and what is required to control it. I didn't realise you have to inform to the DVLA if on insulin and your car insurer which means premiums will most likely go up. I thought S**t I bought a blood sugar monitor however glucose levels appeared normal so went for days completely confused. Found it all very depressing.

Last Friday I went back to the docs for the test results, to say I was apprehensive was an understatement. I sat in front of the doc fearing the worst but the doc cofirmed that all the blood tests came back clear and normal. I think I asked the doc about 4 times are you sure I don't have diabetes and replied I definately don't have it. I was pretty ecstatic however there was still issue I was having with the feet. The doc still isn't sure but has suggested back excercises to see if it improves things, compressed nerve as I get tingling in the lower back at times so currently doing that to see if it improves matters.

If anything this has taught me to take health more seriously especially as you get over 50, maybe see the doc once a year and get blood tests done just for reasurance on your general health.

Tim.

 

[paddy wright]

Glad all is ok!

 

[bladeowner]

Glad all is well. I hope your feet get better. Shows the pitfalls of self diagnosis though. I once ordered a Readers Digest book of medical conditions and symptoms. It was marvellous but my wife sent it back immediately as she knew I'd be complaining of half the the ailments.

 

[Anonymous]

Hope you get sorted soon. Health issues aren't limited to the older either. I got cancer at 25, then another different, unrelated type at 28!

All fun and games

 

[TitanTim]

Thanks guys, really sorry Greg, sometimes other people's health issues put things into perspective, hope you're ok now.

I appreciate at 54 I should be grateful for the good health up to now.

Still trying to figure my foot issues. The issue I now have is my toes are freezing, I did aerobics and exercise bike this morning and toes still freezing cold. I've now been sitting down the past half hour and all of a sudden it's like a hot tap has been turned on and my toes are now super warm. Its bizzare, same happened last Friday, toes on both feet freezing all day even thought temps were on the 20s then in the evening all the toes went warm and stayed warm all yesterday yet today until now been struggling to keep them warm.

I have been suffering alot from work stress and anxiety the past few months and wandered if it could be related. I did explain this to my doc but she really completely dismissed it.

Tim.

 

[Cees Klumper]

Good luck with getting to the bottom (pun intended) of your foot issue. Glad it's not diabetes.
I decided to go for my first check up in many years a couple of weeks ago. I'm 59 and like you always considered myself to be in good health, no complaints, regular exercise (weights, no cardio), moderate lifestyle, trim etc. Well I had very high blood pressure, as in average 150/95, high blood sugar (deemed pre-diabetes) and high cholestorol.
Immediately changed diet habits and added cardio to my routines. Within these few weeks my blood pressure went to average 110/70 which is entirely fine, and we'll do the blood and urine work again in 3 months to see how the changes in habits, which is all they really are, have worked out. I am very encouraged by the blood pressure improvement already. Last year I heard an old girlfriend on mine at 57 had a stroke and that was another reminder of the importance of regular preventative health checks. Getting my first colonoscopy in a few months....

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks guys, really sorry Greg, sometimes other people's health issues put things into perspective, hope you're ok now.

I appreciate at 54 I should be grateful for the good health up to now.

Apologies, I wasn't trying to be a story topper.

Was just trying to get that people tend to think I'll be ok until 40s/50s and maybe but it's not always the case. Look after yourself whatever age

 

[firebobby]

Have you thought about acupuncture Tim, sounds like a blockage of some sort. Good luck with it and keep us informed.
Oh and
:worthless:

 

[TitanTim]

Good luck with getting to the bottom (pun intended) of your foot issue. Glad it's not diabetes.
I decided to go for my first check up in many years a couple of weeks ago. I'm 59 and like you always considered myself to be in good health, no complaints, regular exercise (weights, no cardio), moderate lifestyle, trim etc. Well I had very high blood pressure, as in average 150/95, high blood sugar (deemed pre-diabetes) and high cholestorol.
Immediately changed diet habits and added cardio to my routines. Within these few weeks my blood pressure went to average 110/70 which is entirely fine, and we'll do the blood and urine work again in 3 months to see how the changes in habits, which is all they really are, have worked out. I am very encouraged by the blood pressure improvement already. Last year I heard an old girlfriend on mine at 57 had a stroke and that was another reminder of the importance of regular preventative health checks. Getting my first colonoscopy in a few months....

Thanks Cees, hope you get sorted too, somethimes it just needs some basic changes in lifestyle to get yourself back on track I'm just regretting not keeping a regular tab on blood pressure, cholestrol and sugar levels, all a silent killer, something Im going to keep a check on more regularly in future.

I've started taking something called Fruitflow, an interesting product, may sound gimmicky but is supposed to have the same benefits as taking asprin each day without the possible side affects.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3HCSdyupEY&t=135s

Tim.

 

[TitanTim]

Thanks guys, really sorry Greg, sometimes other people's health issues put things into perspective, hope you're ok now.

I appreciate at 54 I should be grateful for the good health up to now.

Apologies, I wasn't trying to be a story topper.

Was just trying to get that people tend to think I'll be ok until 40s/50s and maybe but it's not always the case. Look after yourself whatever age

Thanks greg, no worries,

Tim.

 

[TitanTim]

Have you thought about acupuncture Tim, sounds like a blockage of some sort. Good luck with it and keep us informed.
Oh and
:worthless:

Thanks bobby, acupuncture could be an option, a friend has suggested hot yoga, unsure about that anyways toes still warm today although slightly sore, I hoping more daily excercises will see things improve.

Tim.

 

[Mr Tidy]

Glad to hear it wasn't what you feared OP, but I hope you get it sorted.

Good health to everyone else too!

 

[jimbo1958]

Glad you're ok Tim......you're right about good health.....I'm down to only 4 bottles of lager a night now. :cheers:

 

[buzyg]

Glad you got the all clear Tim. Hope you get your feet sorted soon too.

 

[TitanTim]

Thanks all, appreciate the kind words,

I hope tomorrow I don't need to go into the office wearing my heated socks as I did last week. Only issue I had was in a meeting when I realised the one sock seemed to go into hyper heat just as the battery was running out of juice :lol: A few contorted expressions and all was good

Tim.

 

[dr_john]

Results sound good Tim, glad to hear. Sounds like a circulatory problem to me, but I'm no doctor (not that sort anyway!).

I was diagnosed with cancer 7 years ago at the age of 64, through a routine bowel cancer screening test. Up until then I had NO IDEA that anything was amiss, just shows the importance of taking advantage of the various test that are available. I'd urge everybody to take the tests, I wouldn't be here today if I hadn't.

 

[TitanTim]

Results sound good Tim, glad to hear. Sounds like a circulatory problem to me, but I'm no doctor (not that sort anyway!).

I was diagnosed with cancer 7 years ago at the age of 64, through a routine bowel cancer screening test. Up until then I had NO IDEA that anything was amiss, just shows the importance of taking advantage of the various test that are available. I'd urge everybody to take the tests, I wouldn't be here today if I hadn't.

Thanks John, the Doc is trying to sort out a visit to vascular at the hospital but bizzarely toes have been fine today, circulation seems fine now, no idea. The burning of the feet seems to be slowly subsiding as well, which I've had for 3 weeks. I'm starting to think it's stress related somehow. Just a case of monitoring and if I get an appointment at the hospital see how I've fared up to then.

Its pretty scary these silent issues and of course when you find out the damage may have already been done, hope you're ok now.

Tim.

 

[firebobby]

Tim, why not go down to Dover or anywhere on the South coast with a rubber dingy. Say you don't understand English and complain about your feet. You will be seen tomorrow mate

 

[TitanTim]

Tim, why not go down to Dover or anywhere on the South coast with a rubber dingy. Say you don't understand English and complain about your feet. You will be seen tomorrow mate

:lol: That night be not such a bad idea, earliest I can get in at the hospital is August, but when I do its unlikely they will understand me or me them :?

Tim.

 

[Z4Sparky]

Hope you get it sorted Tim.

It also raises the very interesting point of how men (and I'm stereotyping here) tend to put off going to the docs.

Easy enough to say in hindsight, and I did exactly the same about 4 years ago to the point my wife had to rush me to A&E as my heart rate was going through the roof and I was going to the toilet roughly every 30 minutes!

Turns out I have an inflammatory bowel disease that was so bad it could've been game over.

Now I don't even think twice about going to the docs for anything, but (touch wood) luckily nothing serious since.

Please keep us updated Tim and hope you feel better soon.