Meanwhile back in the world of diabetes. It seems like I’ve written about just about every aspect of my health except the one I thought would be the most significant – my diabetes. I’ll have a quick catch up now on account of having a check-up this last Monday.
It’s hardly surprising I’ve written little about this condition because I haven’t had an appointment with nursey for probably about two years. This on account of the pandemic. I was supposed to have a telephone discussion with another diabetic nurse a few weeks ago but they never called so given my readings are quite high I breathed a sigh of relief and waited for them to get in touch.
Which they did, but not the new nurse, but the old one who’d retired and gone to Alaska. This was a pleasant surprise. She came back because the surgery was short of staff but I like her because she has a sense of humour, is realistic with her demands and doesn’t nag me. So yes, good to see her.
But before the meeting it was a return visit to the surgery as a whole, my third in a month. I like the new approach – they don’t let sick people into the surgery other than in ones and twos. Much more civilised. Considering they don’t answer the phone and you continually get the ‘we are very, very, very busy’ message, (that’s how they keep the numbers down), I was interested to see how often the phone rang.
All I can report is that in the twenty minutes I was waiting for my appointment the phone rang twice. Not excessive I wouldn’t have thought. Even so she’s (the receptionist) a bit grumpy. I had received a text asking me to make an appointment to have a flu jab. A bit early I thought but if that’s what they want, I’ll cooperate. So I said on arriving can I book a flu jab.
She regarded me with scorn, huh, she scoffed, we haven’t even got the vaccine in yet. I calmly pointed out that the surgery had texted me asking me to make an appointment. Have you, she said? I’ve been on holiday. How nice for you I thought but did not say. She summoned a colleague who confirmed they were indeed taking bookings for scumbags and malfeasants (is that a word ?) like me.
Feeling vindicated I sat down and idly scanned the walls. I began to get a clue of their difficulties on checking out the photos on the notice board of ‘your GPs’. The last time I looked there were about 12 doctors up there, this time there were 6 and spread out to make them look more.
And then I was in the office of my supposedly ex-diabetic nurse. I said do you want me to keep the mask on? I don’t care what you do, I’m keeping mine on because I’ve got a streaming cold. I’m having a lousy day, I’m fed up and I expect all my patients today to cheer me up. You see what I mean about the sense of humour. At least I assume she was joking, maybe not.
Anyway over to me and my test results. They weren’t inspiring but she seemed to take them in her stride and I certainly did. I was expecting her to say, with figures like these you need to be back on insulin. This was my worse fear and I already had my response worked out – no.
I hadn’t dieted for 18 months (as in book above) or whatever it was, to come off insulin to go back on it now. But no she said, I think you’d better take your Glicazide every day rather than when you think it necessary. Normally a change of medication like this would require a doctor’s consultation. But this time, it was, oh, just increase it and come back in November and we’ll do another blood test.
Obviously making this kind of decision off the bat (her bat), obviously raised her self-esteem and me mindful of her initial instruction to cheer her up, was happy to comply. It raised my self-esteem as a bonus. Anything rather than going back on insulin.
When I couldn’t feel the feather or whatever it is tickling the soles of my feet, she said I think I’ll refer you to the foot clinic. I wanted to help but felt compelled to point out that I was already visiting the foot clinic. I can only go so far in cheering her up, much as I like her.
Anyway there it was. Once again my mother’s mantra of always think the worse then life can only pleasantly surprise you, proved correct. I had been expecting a hard time and a serious review of my medication and or diet.
And instead I got a minimal increase in one tablet and I played my small part in cheering up this, no doubt over-worked, (in spite of the lack of phone calls) National Health worker. Funny old business, life.