At the doctor's - again

Yes, again because on Tuesday I had a call from the surgery telling me that my GP would dearly like to talk to me about my cholesterol level! All that worrying I've done over the years about my blood pressure and it's the cholesterol that's sneaked up on me.
On Keith's advice, I went early, arriving at half past eight so that I would be one of the first patients to be seen, which would have been a good strategy had not the rest of the practice decided to do the same. Next time I go, I shall definitely take a shelf full of books with me, or my Kindle, which has a shelf full of books on it anyway. Two hours later (yes TWO HOURS), I got to see my GP.  At least she is not jealousy-makingly thin and there was a sense of heartfelt empathy as she agreed with me that losing weight is much harder after the menapause. Anyway, she was quite happy with my blood pressure, althought interestingly, she did comment that it had been very high in 2004. (Anyone who scoffs at the idea that teaching is stressful, please take note...) After taking some family history and asking me about my diet and exercise, it only remained for her to type up my prescription for Simvastatin.
"What about diet?" she asked, "What are your weaknesses?" "Well, nothing really," I started to say.
"Do you eat cheese?" "Well yes, sometimes..."
"What kind?" "Er, Red Leicester usually, but I don't ..."
"HA! You'll have to cut down on that, then!"
While I am anxious to do whatever it takes to avoid strokes and heart attacks,   this seems like the first step towards the dreaded senior years and a reminder that the old body does have a finite shelf life, however much I like to think otherwise.
You think I'm being a bit melodramatic here? Of course I am - it's what I do!

10 comments:

Mick's Page 2. said...

Hi Jenny.
I too have to take Simvastatin [40-mgs] One tablet every night, believe me they work with no side effects - takes time a month or so. Main thing is don’t worry. - Mick

Jennytc said...

Glad to hear that they are efective with no side effects, Mick. The accompanying leaflet gives the impression that all sorts of things will happen. ;)

Yorkshire Pudding said...

Do they have any nunneries in North Wales? Joining one could lengthen your life - abstinence and a simple, healthy diet plus tranquil chanting each evening. You'd probably live to be a hundred. Keith could visit you on Saturday afternoons. You would sit behind a screen to talk to him.

Jennytc said...

Being what they might term a fallen women, I doubt if they would have me, YP.:)

Yorkshire Pudding said...

Repent thy sins and thou shalt enter the house of the Lord where he SHALT have thee!
You'd look cool in a dimple!

Jennytc said...

It's a wimple, YP. Actually, I didn't look bad back in the day, but it was a veil, wimples being a tad before my time. ;)

Living the frugal life in France said...

Why not have a look at the dukan Diet. That is low fat, low sugar and protein, plus you can lose some weight at the same time.
Very easy to follow if your head is in the right place
Sue

Jennytc said...

Thanks,Sue. I might look at that.

Jan Blawat said...

I just do a low carb diet and it keeps my blood pressure and cholesterol low and my diabetes totally under control with no medication whatsoever. I know, that sounds like a sales job. It isn't, it's the plain truth. I eat bacon, eggs, butter, cheese. Just don't touch bread, potatoes, pasta, rice, or anything with sugar. Eating low fat does NOT lower cholesterol, there are several recent studies that show that. Now I'll get off my high horse and wish you luck with whatever path you choose. And mostly don't worry about the self-righteous skinny butts in the doctor's office.

Jennytc said...

Thanks for that, Jan. Information and advice on the internet is so confusing!

Plaster board and dust

So, we're still no further forward on the British Gas smart meter front and I've given up making non-existent appointments with them...