Help required - medical not car

[Paul T]

I’m no expert but can categorically say if I was in your position I’d 100% focus on diet.

 

As an Engineer I tend to treat things this like any engineering challenge, change the inputs/variables and log the response,  to do this though you need to be determined and look at all variables (activity/sleep/work) so that the results are as noise-free as possible.

 

its also important to A-B-A when you think you’ve found a result I.e prove you can turn the problem back on, then back off again.

 

I’d start start with obvious stuff like dairy, wheat, meats, processed food etc. Of course keep water intake consistent and take note of as much as you can (energy levels, physical appearance, sleep pattern etc)

 

good luck and sorry you’re in this position, must be really frustrating when the experts can’t diagnose you!

[MrPid]

Some good advice in the last two posts.

 

I am hitting 40 in August and must say that i've noticed in the last couple of years you just dont bounce back from heavy manual work like I used to.

 

I would say one of the biggest differences I noticed was giving up tea & coffee during the day for water. I am desk bound all day and I make sure I clear at least 2 litres of water during the day, if not more. Plus more water at home in the eve.

 

Not relying on the caffeine boost and allowing my body to filter out all the crap, just like doing an oil change on the car, but on a daily basis makes such an enormous difference. I cannot remember the last time I fell ill, even in winter. Its a one small thing, so combined with others will certainly help.

 

Like you say, there may be an underlying condition or allergy that flares up sporadically which is crap, but if you can help your body as best you can then you have a better chance of curing or managing flare ups.

 

Also dont under-estimate the effect of stress on the body. A colleague became seriously ill due to stress, it massively affects your digestion system and in turn other organs, including your skin (your skin is your biggest organ). She was signed off and became diabetic as well, due to stress. A strict diet and exercise reversed the diabetes and she went self employed and is happier and healthier than ever.

 

Hope you manage to make some progress soon 

[Mighty Mart]

Hi John,

Cannot help much more than to say that the last few posts are probably the most useful.....

The body is a marvellous thing, with most things ticking away in the background and you may feel OK, but if you are overweight for example, your heart is having to work excessively hard just to digest a meal whilst you are oblivious to it....as we found out when my wife had a heart issue a few years ago. 

I'm an inch over your height and overweight at just under 14 stone - I've lost a bit (3/4 of a stone) and noticed the difference big time already.

I still consider myself to be fit - I've played a lot of sport to quite a high level in the past, and run about after my Grandchildren all over the place, but if I'm honest, I know I am nowhere near as fit as I SHOULD be!

I'm 57 years young by the way.

If some of your organs are working overtime doing the normal stuff, then you can become susceptible to other things?

Doctors are no different to any of us - there are good and bad and they get tired and have off days too....

They are also expected to diagnose across the spectrum - jack of all trades and masters of none - that's what specialists are for...

Blood tests are only any good for checking what the Doc has asked for too, they don't examine for everything, so you could have had several tests with bloods not being checked for your particular problem too. 

Don't be afraid to ask the opinion of another doctor at your surgery - its your health, not theirs....

Hope you can get it sorted mate and good luck for the future.

Mart.

[jeff oakley]

Hi John, a lot of good advice and as others have said you have a few too many underlying health issues which could be affecting your ability to deal with other health issues.

 

You didn't say where you were bitten, in this country or abroad as that can have a big differential in what you may have. If you were abroad did you have any vaccines etc.

 

My advice is to be a little less understanding with your Dr. GP's are wonderful but limited with what comes through their doors. I would ask to see an Endocrinologist who will do a battery of tests on bloods your GP will not have requested. They will check everything is fine at a hormonal level, with the exception of the swelling legs Thyroid issues could explain many of your symptoms.

 

After that ask to see a specialist in tropical medicine as suggested they will see things your GP has no idea of. It will be a process of elimination for sure.

 

Unfortunately there are too many GP's who will look at your health record and dismiss other things because of your weight, I have been there as I am similarly short for my weight.

 

Again keeping an accurate diary of everything will help the medics as well and be really detailed, what you eat each day, what you drink, exercise. All these things will show if there is a trigger food for example. When you go to see the GP or specialist take your notes and also a partner, wife or mate who can prod you as sometimes you are too busy listening and actually miss saying something important

 

This could take a long time to get to the bottom of but you have to start somewhere on that process of elimination and diet is probably the best place to start and will help your other issues. The key thing is do not give in or get downhearted there are wonderful medics who will not dismiss you because you are stout and will get there

[stephenh]

Very sorry to hear that you are still suffering from this, John. 

I thought it was cellulitis, but why does it keep recurring? As I understand it, cellulitis can be treated with quite a range of antibiotics,  and in view of the fact that it keeps recurring I wondered if the GP has considered trying a different antibiotic?

All best wishes from me, anyway.

[John Williams (Panda) - Joint Manchester AO]

12 hours ago, jeff oakley said:

Hi John, a lot of good advice and as others have said you have a few too many underlying health issues which could be affecting your ability to deal with other health issues.

 

You didn't say where you were bitten, in this country or abroad as that can have a big differential in what you may have. If you were abroad did you have any vaccines etc.

 

My advice is to be a little less understanding with your Dr. GP's are wonderful but limited with what comes through their doors. I would ask to see an Endocrinologist who will do a battery of tests on bloods your GP will not have requested. They will check everything is fine at a hormonal level, with the exception of the swelling legs Thyroid issues could explain many of your symptoms.

 

After that ask to see a specialist in tropical medicine as suggested they will see things your GP has no idea of. It will be a process of elimination for sure.

 

Unfortunately there are too many GP's who will look at your health record and dismiss other things because of your weight, I have been there as I am similarly short for my weight.

 

Again keeping an accurate diary of everything will help the medics as well and be really detailed, what you eat each day, what you drink, exercise. All these things will show if there is a trigger food for example. When you go to see the GP or specialist take your notes and also a partner, wife or mate who can prod you as sometimes you are too busy listening and actually miss saying something important

 

This could take a long time to get to the bottom of but you have to start somewhere on that process of elimination and diet is probably the best place to start and will help your other issues. The key thing is do not give in or get downhearted there are wonderful medics who will not dismiss you because you are stout and will get there

 

Jeff,

 

Thank you

[stephenh]

I meant to add that as cellulitis is caused by a bacterium it should surely be possible to positively identify one way or the other if it is or it isn't, by either a swab from your leg at a time when it flares, or a blood test, at the same time, and to work out which antibiotic(s) will work best in your particular strain. I'm not a doctor, but it seems to me fairly simple these days to isolate and identify bacteria.

[John Williams (Panda) - Joint Manchester AO]

update:

 

a fortnight ago i was tested for sleep apnea; they think it could be the lack of deep sleep and the body not recovering.... I've always been a bad sleeper

 

now waiting another 4 weeks on the results so let wait and see

[jeff oakley]

5 hours ago, John Williams - Blyton Organiser said:

update:

 

a fortnight ago i was tested for sleep apnea; they think it could be the lack of deep sleep and the body not recovering.... I've always been a bad sleeper

 

now waiting another 4 weeks on the results so let wait and see

 Good to hear you are getting some help. I am sure your Dr will have already told you but weight is an issue with Sleep apnea especially if you have a large neck so once again it will help if you get the weight slowly coming down

 

As I said you will need to knock everything of one by one until you are fully fit, if it is just this usually you will get a very fetching oxygen mask to wear at night which staff I have who suffer with this say it works and they sleep like babies.

 

Jeff