I'm bringing the blog back to London today, where as you can see things are looking very autumnal. It's a good thing I could write a couple of posts looking back at significant trips and memories, because not much has been happening here. Just work and home, work and home. And home hasn't been very interesting because Dave had to work several nights this week -- so it's basically been me on the couch with Olga, watching "The Lincoln Lawyer" and eating a can of baked beans and a fried egg sandwich.
I did go to the hospital on Thursday morning for my blood tests, and they've all come back normal. So whatever is causing my raised calprotectin levels (389 on the last test) isn't affecting my blood counts, kidney or liver function or anything else. Which I suppose is a good thing, but it deepens the mystery. Also, I'm feeling not so great, which may partly be due to anxiety about the calprotectin -- which measures intestinal inflammation -- but could be other things too. My obvious concern, as I've written before, is colon cancer, but it would be very odd (but not impossible) to have cancer only four months after a clear colonoscopy, and a total of three clear colonoscopies in the last eight years.
Now I'm waiting for a consultation with the NHS gastroenterologists, which is supposed to happen after they review my case on Nov. 1. I'm going to call my health insurance company and see if I can speed things up by going private.
Fun, right?!
Anyway, my blood draw on Thursday morning made me slightly late for work, which always throws my boss into a tizzy because since my co-worker's departure at the beginning of the month we're down a person. I took a bus back to work, but the bus pulled over in Belsize Park with instructions for the driver to wait a bit to space out the service. We sat for a while and I was dying for a coffee, so I got off and went to Costa for a take-away cup, and figured I'd catch the next bus.
The next bus was mighty slow in coming, though, so I did what I never do and caught a cab. The driver was so intent on telling me about his upcoming fishing trip to France, where he camps with friends and catches carp out of a stocked pond in Normandy, that he missed the turn to school and we had to turn around. Aside from that little mishap, I can see why people take taxis. It felt positively luxurious and it got me to school much faster than the bus.
When I came home Thursday night I mowed the lawn, which may be the last haircut it gets for the rest of the year.
Now, I'm looking forward to a restful weekend and more "Bleak House," which I have ignored most of this week.
Oh, and remember that water project on our street? Well, the project is done, the workers have gone and they've collected and removed most of their signs -- but look what they left at the bottom of the hill! Honestly! I am not taking responsibility for these. They're far enough away from our house that they can stay there forever, as far as I'm concerned. (And they might.)
The leaf colours are wonderful.
ReplyDeleteThe same happens here with 'temporary' street signs. One that really annoys me is where speed limits are reduced, usually from 60km/h to 40, and the 40 sign has the words new speed limit, and can stay there for years.
Why is it these public agencies can't retrieve their signs? It must cost them money!
DeleteThere is a good documentary on gut health on Netflix. You could watch that or read one of the gut health books out at the moment, Dr Rossi I think springs to mind. You would gain some insight if you saw a nutritionist but the NHS dont seem to have joined the dots yet that nutrition is important.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the recommendation. I think my nutrition is generally quite good but I don't do probiotics or anything like that. Anyway, I'll take a look.
DeleteLove the street view; very fall-ish.
ReplyDeleteI have never noticed street signs like those staying up once the work is finished here. Strange, since they're rather large signs.
I know! It's not like they're easily misplaced. I found another one this morning that's been up since June!
DeleteI have had a serious cab habit since my college days, when I discovered the peace to be found inside a yellow cab cruising through the city street as compared to the jam packed cacophony of the subway. You will get this geography: at the time I was working at 50th and Third, doing a summer internship at Random House, which required me to navigate 3 trains twice a day, and go through both Times Square and Grand Central morning and evening at rush hour. One day I left work and a yellow cab pulled up in front of me, letting off a passenger. On impulse, I got in, arrived home in a serene mood, and have taken cabs ever since, even when money was tight. It’s why even when broke I never felt poor. After all, I was still traveling around the city in cabs. Who does that? And for decades. I’m glad your blood tests came back okay, and you likely don’t have colon cancer given your clear colonoscopies, but I hope to get to the root cause of what ails you soon, and can treat it fully. I liked Lincoln Lawyer, but haven’t yet watched season 3.
ReplyDeleteI'm still on the first season of "The Lincoln Lawyer," so I have a ways to go! I get what you're saying about cabs, and it's great you treat yourself that way. I am way too stingy, but Dave takes cabs every time he has a medical appointment and I know it makes them much easier.
DeletePerhaps because I have always lived in a part of the country where such things as taxis (or buses for that matter) don't exist, every ride in one has been full of anxiety on my part. I always worry about them going in the wrong direction or leaving me at the wrong location and then having to walk from there.
ReplyDeleteI don't worry about that here, or in the USA, but in some countries cabbies will definitely try to scam you so it's good to be on your guard.
DeleteI really wish they could figure out your calprotectin situation. Has anyone even hazarded a guess? I know it's driving you crazy and i understand that.
ReplyDeleteIt really does look like fall there. So pretty. The hydrangea by the Mini are gorgeous. I'd take the Mini too, if they're giving it away.
No, they have no idea. And they don't seem particularly concerned about it. I wouldn't be either except that I also don't feel up to par.
DeleteAround here the street signs leave on the truck with the workers at the end of the job. They're expensive! I hope you can get your medical mystery solved soon, since it's worrying uou.
ReplyDeleteWell, that's what's so perplexing. I never see signs left behind in the USA, and it does seem a needless expense. How hard would it be to have an inventory and check off all the signs as they're loaded to make sure you've got them all?!
DeleteI bet you will have to text the street workers if those signs are still there in a week, Steve! ;)
ReplyDeleteMy son eats yogurt with probiotics and that seems to help with any gut problems. Have you tried that? Hope your doctor has reassuring advice for you.
I haven't tried any probiotics, no. I really think this is a more serious problem but I suppose they might help with symptoms.
DeleteHealth is always a concern. we worry bout things that are unexplainable.
ReplyDeleteIndeed we do!
DeleteThat last bit made me laugh. If I was a betting person I'd bet that you do actually make every attempt to have those signs picked up. Pretty leaves, something we don't get much of. Maybe it's because it's what I'm used to but I think I prefer the slow drift of leaf loss over having them all fall at once after turning color. I hope they figure out your intestinal issue.
ReplyDeleteI really am going to force myself not to intervene in this sign situation. I have to develop the ability to shrug these things off like everyone else (unless they're directly in front of my house).
DeleteI love that fall street scene!
ReplyDeleteAll that medical stuff keeps us on our toes. I went to the doctor Thursday afternoon and ended up in the ER. It seems I was having what is called cardio flutter so the the doctor sent me straight to the hospital for a cardioversion. It's probably my 4th or 5th time I've had that procedure so I'm kind of used to it. It's just not how I expected to spend my Thursday evening.
Yikes! Well, that was an unexpected surprise. At least you've been through it before so any anxiety was probably greatly reduced. (Hopefully?)
DeleteYour fall color is beautiful!! We're finally starting to get some.
ReplyDeleteKeep in mind that stress can wreak havoc on your body, so try to quit worrying! (yeah, right... if you're like me)
Yeah, that's what I wonder -- how much of my fatigue and other symptoms are due to stress?
DeleteAnd odd though it might seem, could these symptoms be related to your three mild bouts of Covid? Just brainstorming here...
DeleteChris from Boise
It's so wild to me that you have access to so much public transportation. I like living in the "country" but if I want to get somewhere I have to take my own dang self. Ha! Years ago I complained that I couldn't ride a bus & read on the way to work, but audiobooks solved that problem for me.
ReplyDeleteI hope they sort out your gut issue. I never really got a good answer on mine, and then I started taking a new med that really riles things up so who even knows anymore.
Yeah, audiobooks are great for driving. (I think that's what you meant?) And I know what you mean about the gut issue -- at some point you just shrug and roll with the ambiguity.
DeleteYou are well and healthy . That is all.
ReplyDeleteThank you, voice of certainty! :)
DeleteI hope you can get to the bottom of this mystery without too much stress. Beautiful Fall colors. You sound healthy. from the tests you have had so I hope that is so.
ReplyDeleteThe tests certainly suggest that, except for the calprotectin. I have no idea what's going on.
DeleteHere's hoping the NSH appointment is scheduled soon and you can get to the bottom of things. That waiting and not knowing is so frustrating and every day adds to the concern. Your fall is looking a lot further ahead than it did during my visit. I was pleased to see we still have color and leaves when I got home. It won't last but it's nice to see!
ReplyDeleteYeah, I hate the sitting around and not knowing. Always the worst part of any medical issue.
DeleteIt does seem to take forever for companies to pick up their construction stuff, private or public.
ReplyDeleteI hope everything is okay with your bowels (a strange thing to say to someone, I know).
Why wouldn't they just pick it up at the end of the job? When the truck is driving away, hoist up the signs! I don't get it.
DeleteI love those fall colors! Although none of want anything bad in our medical world, mysteries are also very stressful. It feels like something is being MISSED!
ReplyDeleteYeah, exactly. I worry when tests reveal an abnormality and there's no explanation. (And no apparent concern!)
DeleteAnother leaf!! Thank you. I wonder if you will remain patient about that street sign should it stay for weeks . . .
ReplyDeleteI hope you get better, more conclusive results on your calprotectin levels. I have had my share of positive results over the years (considerably higher levels) and have pestered the medical experts and especially laboratory experts about accuracy and reliability etc. whenever I could. There is a lot of research. If you feel the need to check online, dismiss dr google, go straight to https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/ - more reliable.
OK, thanks for the tip! I haven't checked it out yet but I will. I try not to read too much Google because it just freaks me out.
DeleteHaving great lab results is very positive. Inflammation can be caused by so many things. Like you, I would want to know why the level is high. Can you consider consulting with a Functional Medicine MD? They evaluate the whole body and often make determinations otherwise left unchecked.
ReplyDeleteI've never heard of a Functional Medicine MD. I wonder if we have those here in the UK?
DeleteThree colonoscopies in eight years? That is a lot of bowel prep. You're right, it is unlikely to be cancer. It's beautiful in London at the moment. Our trees, the ones that are shedding, are at the half way point of losing their leaves. The wretched dogwood and the maple are refusing to drop anything.
ReplyDeleteYeah, exactly. And lots of FIT tests on top of that, as well as some scans and other things. I mean, if this is cancer, it is hiding like nobody's business.
DeleteA week or worry. For nothing? The tree leaves are gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteI hope for nothing!
DeleteI was reading Mary Moon's post and the comments and now yours and am wondering why all the colonoscopies? Here in Australia you get recommended for one if the "poo test" is positive and if the colonoscopy is clear they don't schedule another one. The only people who have them on a regular basis are those who have polyps removed. I had one after my mother died from colon cancer but I was under 60 and had to pressure the doctor to get me the referral because I wanted to know for sure that I was okay. After it I was told I'd probably never need another one though I still do the regular free "poo test" every couple of years and it's always negative.
ReplyDeleteIn the USA, routine colonoscopies are actually recommended after a certain age -- I think 55? And yes, the "poo" tests as well. I think those are annual, whereas colonoscopies are every ten years. I've had more only because of dicey bowel issues (and I'm hyper-cautious and pay out of pocket).
Delete