Category Archives: health & happiness

new & improved river walk

04 Tuesday Apr 2023

Posted by in health, health & happiness, sevilla

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

,

new river walk (1)

Several years ago I started doing (what were supposed to be daily) River Walks and Park Walks, usually starting off early in the morning (okay, 9-ish) and getting in something like 10,000 steps, long before Fitbit step counting became a thing. But then this and that got in the way, then cancer, then getting old, blah blah whatever… so while I have revived the River Walk in the past couple of years after Covid lockdown, it was still a patchy activity. Until now!

The main drawback with the River Walk was that, although it’s lovely to walk down along the river bank, there is virtually NO SHADE and so unless you get out there early (in my case not likely) it’s quite brutal other than in winter. And while there was also the option to walk next to the river at street level, the Paseo del Torneo had become frankly treacherous as the paving stones were all broken and buckled. Then last year the Paseo had a makeover and just this week it was finally reopened. Okay, there are still a few “bare patches” which I assume they are going to fill in with plants growing atop the various pergolas along the way. But most of it is as you see above. A lovely canopy of leafy greenness with dappled sunshine peeking through. Loving this. It inspires me to get out there.

new river walk (2)

programa mamograma

06 Monday Mar 2023

Posted by in cancer, health & happiness, hospitals, sevilla

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

,

programa mamograma

There’s a preventative breast cancer programme here that keeps you on file to remind you to get a mammogram every two years. Apparently I was taken off the list when I didn’t reply to the notice they sent me in 2010. I don’t even remember this but as I had just come through second chemo and was getting PET scans every six months I guess I didn’t think it was necessary? Well apparently… wrong! Anyhow, had a mammogram done in August 2021 via my GP and today I called up the programme to get back on the list and… yes! I will be advised about the next mammogram which will be scheduled for August 2023. These fuckers are never fun, but neither is cancer, take it from me. So if you are able to do so, make sure you get screened every two years. Take care xx

the pressure’s on!

23 Wednesday Nov 2022

Posted by in health, health & happiness, sevilla

≈ 5 Comments

Tags

,

pressure

After the initial check over with my GP two weeks ago I was sent for blood tests and an ECG a couple of days later, and while checking my BP, the nurse said it was a “little bit high” but then immediately sent me upstairs to talk to a doctor, who told me to go back downstairs and get a pill from the nurse, sit there for 30 minutes, then get my BP taken again and come back to see him. After which he told me to take my BP regularly (morning and evening) until my next GP appointment (today). This meant getting on Amazon to find a reliable but not too expensive arm-band machine which would arrive quickly. That done I spent the next ten days keeping track of my BP and got Peter to do the same. He was overdue for a check up and had actually been prescribed BP meds a few years ago, but then stopped taking them and also stopped seeing the doctor. Turns out his BP is even higher than mine!

Anyhow, went back to the GP today and my blood test results were normal other than a highish cholesterol level. Not diabetic, no serious thyroid issues, everything else looking fine. But Doc Silvia wants me to take this medication, while taking and recording my BP at home twice a week, and then see her again after 90 days. With another blood test six months from now. Anyone have any experience taking this? Enalapril-Hydrochlorothiazide seems to be a pretty normal BP med without too many side effects, but I’m always a bit cautious about taking drugs, especially if they are meant to me longish term. This getting older biz kind of sucks sometimes, but I still think it beats the alternative.

today’s check list

08 Tuesday Nov 2022

Posted by in health & happiness

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

,

check list

After my last frustrating encounter with a GP when I had Covid, I wasn’t looking forward to today’s in-person appointment. At least this time it was with a doctor I’d seen before, and who is actually supposed to be my regular GP now that Dr Agustín has retired, but I guess with staff shortages, etc, sometimes you just get stuck with whoever is on duty. AND SO… I showed up with my check list of, well, things I wanted to have checked, now that my oncologist doesn’t want to see me again. And so I sat down, pulled out my list and said to Dr Silvia (it’s actually nice to have a woman doctor again) that I was there for my “revisión de coche” and when she laughed I immediately relaxed. Then she said – okay, let’s go, what’s first? – and we went through my list point by point, while she checked recent test results on the computer and made notes. In the end I got all the tests I asked for other than the Covid antibody one since public health centres are not offering them, so I will have to pay for that at a private clinic. But I will get a specific test done for my thyroid, which probably should have been done years ago, plus a couple of others, and I will also be put on a “prevention list” for regular mammograms.

So on Thursday (waaaaayyy too early in the morning) I’m going for more blood tests and an ECG, and will check back with Dr Silvia when the results come in. I know it’s early days as I’ve only seen her twice, but I think I’ve lucked out with a GP who actually listens to me and also gives good advice. And this was after a heavy morning for her and with appointments backed up, yet she didn’t appear rushed or make me feel like I was being rushed. More news as I get it…

doctor’s note

13 Thursday Oct 2022

Posted by in coronavirus, covid, health & happiness, home, sevilla

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

, , ,

doctors note

Since Covid almost all of my medical appointments have been done online or by phone, with the exception of physical tests of course. It’s easier in some ways, frustrating in others. For example today was not just frustrating but maddening. By chance I had a pre-arranged appointment with my GP this morning and so, rather than cancel it, Peter went and took along a doctor’s note. The note stated that I had just tested positive for Covid (it also included a photo of the test) and that I wanted to get a prescription for Paxlovid. I also asked about the upcoming jabs and when I should book them. So when he called me and said “what is it you want?” I already knew this guy was an asshole.

I asked if he’d read the note, then asked him to read it, and then asked about the prescription. He said I didn’t need Paxlovid, muttering something about not doing prescriptions for that, and said he’d write one for Paracetamol mixed with something else. Clearly he had not read my history and knew absolutely nothing about me. Then he said that I should just rest at home and not worry because it was JUST LIKE A BAD COLD. I mean, seriously WTF? An actual doctor is going around telling patients Covid is just like a cold??? We are doomed.

Meanwhile resting doesn’t really seem to be an option as I can barely stay out of bed. Yesterday I went to lie down at 3 pm and didn’t get up again until 11 this morning. Now I’m annoyed with myself that I didn’t press the stupid doctor harder and make him look up my history, etc, but I felt so deflated by his tone and assholyness, and I was still so tired, that I just gave up. Anyhow, back to bed.