I seem to be going through an endless stream of scans and health checks at the moment.
Not because there’s necessarily anything wrong, more I have an amazing doctor who just wants to rule things out.
You know, I’m at that age!
I had some blood tests done back in November and everything was pretty much okay.
But I have high cholesterol.
My diet is good and I have no other symptoms that raise concern, so most likely it’s genetic.
But just to be sure, she wanted me to have a scan to check my coronary artery calcium score.
It’s a CT scan and I must admit, not one I was looking forward to…
It scans your heart and involves holding your breath a few times for about 20 seconds.
Which, as I discovered, is quite a long time.
I’m used to following my breath, not holding it…
But I’m pleased to announce my result was zero – the best you can hope for (although as all the paperwork says, that doesn’t mean I won’t have a heart attack!)
Next on the list was my bone density check.
I’ve already been diagnosed as mildly deficient in Vitamin D, so this was a logical next step.
This scan was much easier and I was able to just follow my breath.
If I need more concentration I usually repeat words to myself such as rising and falling as I breathe in and out.
Or I am calm…
Or even just breath in, breath out.
Anyway, again delighted to report, my results were really good.
Note to self, keep up with strength exercises.
Next on the list was this week’s procedure, and one I have to have every five years.
The dreaded colonoscopy.
To be fair it’s not that bad.
My Dad used to tell (in far too much detail) his stories about going through this… the horrors of having to drink ‘jollop’ and not being able to be far from a toilet etc.
(He had several bouts of bowel cancer from his late 70s.)
But in all honesty the liquid I had to drink is not awful tasting (okay one drink is a bit chemically, but it’s only 250mls).
The worst part for me is having to eat bland food in preparation.
No fruit, brown bread or veggies.
But the prep is one day, and then you’re in hospital for the procedure which is short and sweet – and you know nothing about it (thanks anaesthetic)!
There’s always a bit of waiting around for these things so again my breathing practise is always useful.
But there were a few funny moments this time, that I’m still chuckling about.
First up was the doctor coming to talk to me before the procedure.
He ran through the usual things to maintain good health etc.
Limit red meat.
He nodded with approval when I advised I was mainly vegetarian.
No smoking.
Getting enough sleep.
Maintaining some regular exercise.
Then he said: “Alcohol. The recommendation is two standard drinks a day.”
The journalist in me so wanted to chip in and say, surely you mean the recommendation is no more than two standard drinks a day (with some alcohol free days).
But he was about to do the procedure, so I kept quiet and nodded.
“Hey, my doctor recommends I drink two standard drinks of alcohol a day!”
The anaesthetist also made me laugh.
When I told her I’m a meditation teacher, she kept talking about things being ‘woo’.
Are your friends all ‘woo’ too?
Have you always been ‘woo’?
Considering my husband jokingly calls me and what I do ‘woo woo’ it really doesn’t offend!
Then in recovery, I can’t help myself.
I’m always looking around.
What’s going on, what can I see?
What conversations and odd noises can I hear?
When I noticed something moving behind one of the nurses.
“Oh great to see your not immune from spiders in here then…,” I said.
She looked at me puzzled, “I’m sorry?”
“The spider on the wall behind you…”
To be fair it wasn’t that big, just a medium sized huntsman.
But the poor nurse yelped and rapidly retreated, calling on all the other staff nearby to find someone to remove it.
Eventually one brave soul stepped forward and calmly dealt with the matter.
Luckily no other patient seemed aware of what was happening, or at least didn’t have a spider phobia.
I have friends who I know are so scared of spiders, they would have leapt out of bed and tried to leave the ward immediately!
So there we go that’s been my last month.
And we’re not done yet…
My annual ultrasound and mammogram are in a few weeks.
Then I’m looking forward to a bit of a break.
But in all honesty, I’m so grateul to live in a country with a strong health system.
With doctors who are prepared to push for checks, tests and scans, just in case.
I’m approaching 60 this year…
My Mum died from cancer when she was just 61…
And I’m very mindful of this.
So even though some tests and procedures may not be what we want to have…
Remember, preventon is better than cure.
If you have to go for any medical tests, try to think of something, or somewhere that makes you smile.
Or focus on your breath.
For the few moments of discomfort, it’s worth it.
So you can move on, or get the treatment you need…
To live your life to the fullest.
Ann 🙏