current health notes

[redbird]

This is basically for my records, because memory is fallible.

This morning, Sat. Sept. 21, standing long enough to do a few dishes while making tea, the backs of my knees hurt (which has been an issue throughout this), but when I walked into the study, using the cane, I noted the backs of my calves also hurt. I had about as much trouble finding an OK position and getting to sleep as the day before, but slept until past 9 a.m., which is good.

First result from yesterday's blood tests: C-reactive protein is "high." That's an automated result from MyChart, and hopefully Carmen will look at this and the other esults and it will tell her something useful. I looked at the "trends" tab on MyChart, but apparently I haven't had that test within the memory of this medical record system (which is back to sometime in 2017).

Saturday afternoon: I now have all of yesterday's test results, except for the vitamin D. Quite a few are either above or below the normal range, some with color-coded graphs and some that just say things like "9.8 (high)." I hope this gives Carmen something to work with. I asked Adrian, if she looked up what the numbers meant, not to tell me things like "it could be x, y, z, or w," because it would only give me more to worry with/about.

[I intend to be adding to this post as time goes on, and will put most of it under a cut tag.]

Comments

[thistleingrey]

I've had a recent CRP check. I think it isn't terribly useful by itself--basically, is there some cause of inflammation. It needs the context of the other tests you've had.

Glad you could find an okay position for sleeping in.

[redbird]

I have to re-find a position every night, because it involves carefully positioning multiple pillows under my knees, and the pillows shift some while I'm asleep and/or as I get up in the morning. But I am coping.

[pameladean]

Automated MyChart results are certainly a mixed blessing. I was very worried about one red blood cell result, and my doctor told me that the graphs and the high and low readings have to be interpreted in terms of the particular units used -- which isn't always evident. She said the percentage of change in my particular test was within the margin of error, and while the graph they put in with the results showed a dramatic difference, that was for illustrative purposes and it was a very, very slight change. In addition, that test was not particularly useful unless one was anemic, but they included it in the panel in case anemia turned up too.

I've tried to worry less going forward, but it's not easy.

In any case, I hope there is something in there that helps Carmen provide a useful set of solutions to you.

P.

[redbird]

If it's routine testing, of the "we haven't checked this since last year" sort, I don't always look at the automated results.

This is easier with doctors (like Carmen and her colleagues at that practice) who look at the test results reasonably quickly, and then tell me what the results mean, rather than leaving me to guess whether silence means nothing is wrong, or that someone at their office forgot to contact me.

For something like this, where we are looking for "markers of inflammation," so the question isn't whether there's a problem, but why I'm having these symptoms, yes I'm looking.

[pameladean]

I haven't been able to keep myself from looking at those routine results, even though my doctor is also pretty good at getting back to me. It's a good idea, though.

And yes, it's different when one is having symptoms.

P.