1 hour ago, iantt said:

... Obviously by 60 you can have all sorts of conditions then? 

In my mid 50s, this was the size of my hospital medical file 🤣

On 2/8/2025 at 2:07 PM, StephenFord said:

Absolutely - I'm genuine living proof of that.

Ask her which she would prefer a simple sample test or a CT Colonoscopy 

12 minutes ago, Jimpster said:

Ask her which she would prefer a simple sample test or a CT Colonoscopy 

To be fair, the colonoscopy isn't that bad, around 20 to 30 minutes of being slightly uncomfortable. It's the preparation the day before to empty your bowel totally to allow the camera to see what's going on is the nightmare 🤣

Depends on which of the  3 types of drain cleaner she gets. Moviprep = warm urine, the latest is very sweet and is a lesser quantity but goes down better. The other I cannot comment on. TBF once your empty it's not an issue. If "accidents" are a main thought take it a day early then sip only water on the day.

21 hours ago, StephenFord said:

To be fair, the colonoscopy isn't that bad, around 20 to 30 minutes of being slightly uncomfortable. It's the preparation the day before to empty your bowel totally to allow the camera to see what's going on is the nightmare 🤣

I'd agree with that, I have to say my last one on 23rd December was an absolute hoot, They loved my Xmas card and sweet tub. I enjoyed the video, and thankfully an "all clear" was delivered before the New Year !

Worst thing for me recently was my second cardioversion some two years after my first which lasted 18 months.  Three burn marks on my chest and it only lasted about 6 weeks, so now I live with the AFib.

 

Another successful NHS post...

My partner had lost hearing in both nears now for over 25 years due to a degenerative bone disease (Otosclerosis). Meaning she had to wear 2 x powerful hearing aids.

10 days ago she went into hospital for an operation on her right ear, using a laser the diseased bone behind her ear drum was removed, and a prosthesis placed inside. Her hearing didn't return so we assumed the op had failed.

However, this week she had her post op review with the surgeon, who syringed her ear out, to find that her hearing was now restored! Don't mind saying I shed a tear with such great news.

Consultant says she'll wait a year before discussing doing the same to her other ear.

Another thumbs up for the NHS 👍

@StephenFord brilliant result for you all 👏👏👏

1 hour ago, Turvey said:

brilliant result for you all

'ear 'ear, I'll second that 🎉

An update on the saga of my foot LOL There are complications with low blood circulation caused by diabetes, and the wound I have simply won't heal, and is causing much pain which is constant. I have attended my podiatrist for 15 consecutive weeks now to ensure it doesn't get infected which would have potential dire consequences. Anyway, following a hospital visit this morning, reviewing various scans and having an additional doppler scan, I will now have a 'bypass' operation in my upper leg to improve blood flow, and will be in hospital for 3 to 4 days. Hoping to get a date in about 4 weeks time. There are too many blockages for a stent to handle, hence the artery bypass

Yes, I know this post is very self indulgent, but I'm so glad they can 'fix' me 😁

6 minutes ago, StephenFord said:

but I'm so glad they can 'fix' me

Very good to know that something can be done 👍

I actually have a friend who is a surgeon at a Newcastle hospital who does exactly those type of operations. His daily routine is the regular varicose veins problems, but often gets a call out when at home to deal with serious leg injuries, often car accidents.

Let's hope they can get you fixed up sooner than later. 🙂

I notice that 'Jimpster' has completely vanished from the forum. His profile has been deleted 🤔

He was here in this thread 9th Feb and now gone !!

2 minutes ago, unofix said:

I notice that 'Jimpster' has completely vanished from the forum. His profile has been deleted 🤔

He was here in this thread 9th Feb and now gone !!

He sold his Focus and bought a non-Ford a week or so ago.  He may have asked for his profile to be deleted.

2 minutes ago, TomsFocus said:

He sold his Focus and bought a non-Ford a week or so ago.  He may have asked for his profile to be deleted.

That's odd, if I sold my Focus, I'd still pop on here just to read the latest cure for stop/start issues 🤣

4 minutes ago, TomsFocus said:

He sold his Focus and bought a non-Ford a week or so ago. 

If all the non-Ford owners leave the forum, there will be hardly any one left 🤣

We're all of a certain age when medical problems kick in. I had a very minor heart attack some 8 years ago, had 6 stents and ive been fine since regards that. Was diagnosed 18 months ago with diabetes but my my last test showed i had beaten it HBa1c was down to 38 which is in the normal range. Got my next test next month so hopefully it will still be down. My whole Maternal side of the family had it and it killed my mum at age 68, so have the incentive to do my best to beat it. Skeleton is now falling apart with bone spurs all over my spine and im in constant pain but its bearable atm Tried Tramadol and it worked but bunged me up something chronic so i stopped it, it took over 5 weeks to stop being constipated. So i just bear the pain for now until i see what my next results are. Oh, ive lost nearly 3 stone in the last 15 months or so and that is helping.I currently take about 10 pills a day inc 2 for my heart condition.

2 minutes ago, unofix said:

If all the non-Ford owners leave the forum, there will be hardly any one left 🤣

And ive just paid for the 2 year membership 😂

Just now, Delboy777 said:

And ive just paid for the 2 year membership

Perhaps as we get older FOC should do 6 monthly, monthly, and weekly memberships ? 🤣

1 minute ago, unofix said:

Perhaps as we get older FOC should do 6 monthly, monthly, and weekly memberships ? 🤣

Even daily ones sometimes 😁

 

1 hour ago, Delboy777 said:

Even daily ones sometimes 😁

Stop it, Guys! You're making me regret having bought some green bananas this morning!

My Mrs was referred by her optician for potential cataract surgery some time back. It was 6 months before she got an appointment for an assessment with a consultant, which finally did take place this Tuesday. They confirmed it did need doing, but the waiting list was currently yet another 6 months.

Then the phone rang yesterday offering her an appointment in two weeks time! It's 60 miles away and very early morning but we went for it. Wonder where she'll find some mug to drive her there in the small hours?😀

5 hours ago, Eric Bloodaxe said:

My Mrs was referred by her optician for potential cataract surgery some time back.

I too some years back now was referred by my optician, up to then I didn't realise they had that authority! It's an amazing procedure and I wish your wife well over it. After, at night, she may notice a halo effect when looking at a bright light, but you get use to it very quickly...

2 hours ago, StephenFord said:

It's an amazing procedure and I wish your wife well over it.

Many thanks, Stephen.

Yes, she has been advised about the possible halo effect you mention, but having been married to a virtual saint for 35 years she's probably used to mine by now!😀

The optician does seem to carry a lot of weight in these matters, which I guess is logical. My wife was given the usual choice of venues for the op, but the consultant she saw mentioned a clinic where he does private work (plus some NHS) which wasn't on the "menu" but where she might get done sooner. He said he couldn't refer her there, though - she'd have to go back to the optician and ask him for a referral!

In the event, though, she was offered the early appointment at the NHS hospital as I mentioned.

 

11 hours ago, Eric Bloodaxe said:

My Mrs was referred by her optician for potential cataract surgery some time back. It was 6 months before she got an appointment for an assessment with a consultant, which finally did take place this Tuesday. They confirmed it did need doing, but the waiting list was currently yet another 6 months.

Then the phone rang yesterday offering her an appointment in two weeks time! It's 60 miles away and very early morning but we went for it. Wonder where she'll find some mug to drive her there in the small hours?😀

 

9 hours ago, StephenFord said:

I too some years back now was referred by my optician, up to then I didn't realise they had that authority! It's an amazing procedure and I wish your wife well over it. After, at night, she may notice a halo effect when looking at a bright light, but you get use to it very quickly...

Thanks Stephen and I would be interested in how your wife gets on Roger because when I had my eyes tested a few months ago I was informed that I had very early stages of Cataracts.

I know it can lead to almost total blindness because that's what happened to my Mother, they wouldn't do the procedure on her awake because she had Parkinson's Disease and was too frail to have it done under a General Anaesthetic.

10 hours ago, Tizer said:

I know it can lead to almost total blindness because that's what happened to my Mother,

My own Mum was getting to that point before she passed, perhaps mercifully.

I might be getting to the early stage myself (according to one optician) another said not! Who to believe? I have regular checks anyway, so "watchful waiting" to see what, if anything, develops.

My optician detected early signs of cataracts some years ago (probably at least ten) which he referred to as "Nuclear Sclerosis". I kept putting off doing anything about it because I was worried about the potential problems that can occur post surgery. Eventually it got so bad that my current optician said he couldn't correct my sight well enough to meet the standard for driving. When he tried to photograph my retinas the results were just yellow discs so last year I had to bite the bullet and get it done. Now I was worried the cataracts might be too mature as the consultant said this can sometimes make them difficult to break down with the ultrasonic probe. Thankfully he managed both eyes, a month apart, with no problems and the difference is amazing. I still need glasses for astigmatism correction and some prism to make it easier to converge the images but my visual acuity is better than it's been for a very long time. In the month between the procedures it was noticeable by comparing the two images how yellow everything had become without me noticing.

The procedures were an interesting experience to say the least.

It's six months now and no problems so far I'm relieved to say.