#but have no medical evidence to show for it because every GP we’ve gone to about it has said ‘there’s nothing i can do to help’ | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

blindedbythedarkness · 4 years

Text

A Rant into the Void

I am so fucking sick of my body right now. Actually, no, that’s not the problem at all. I am actually fucking sick of the response of medical professionals to my body. My body itself is doing its fucking best, all things considered.

Put simply, I can’t face going to the doctor anymore. I’m too afraid. Which isn’t exactly a great place to be, mentally or physically, when you have a genetic condition that can (though rarely) result in life threatening complications.

I’ve never fucking liked it. Not one bit. It’s been built into me from a young age to suck things up and carry on. My dad used to passively scold me for ever taking a day off school by reminding me that he never did and telling me about all the days he’d gone to work with one ailment or another. He’s also the reason I’m so afraid of taking any medication now after years of me hearing how “taking paracetamol isn’t good for you. If you take it enough it stops working. It damages your liver too.” Even though painkillers do barely work, I can’t remember the last time I gave them a try. Now I’m older I know that he probably has his own deep seated issues that led to the things he said, but the things he said still stick like glue.

My mum was no better. As a nurse, she never took any shit from me and I would never have been able to skive off school. At one point I went to school for a week with an unknown broken arm, despite my protests. It’s rare that she explicitly called me a “hypochondriac”, but I could always tell that she was exasperated by my numerous visits to the GP, hospital and A&E. It’s only in the past year, now that my EDS has been confirmed for a second time (within the new guidelines) that she’s started to take me more seriously. I still don’t often feel able to tell her about my health concerns though, despite her having (a more mild version of) the same condition. I think she feels guilty for passing it onto me, but her responses usually comes across as frustration and annoyance.

In the past year, my fear of doctors has grown even more. Firstly, now I’ve seen what a real illness faker looks like and does, I’m forever terrified that I look like I’m doing the same. I’ve almost obsessively started taking photographic evidence of my various ailments for fear of being accused of Munchhausen's by a medical professional (despite the difficulty of convincing others of a real case of fii). Given I have also spoken out about this girl, I also live in fear of seeming like a hypocrite. Those close to me say “we know you’re really ill, we’ve seen it, we know you aren’t faking it and you’re nothing like her” but still I can’t shake the fear.

Doctors have been pretty shit lately, too. I’d had bad experiences in the past: a GP that couldn’t identify a broken elbow and a gastro consultant who suggested my pain was all in my head, but for a while I’d had a good run. The past year has been fucking awful though. One particular GP at the surgery has been the cause of almost all of it, to the point where I was going to make a formal complaint before corona got in the way. For the first time ever I had gone to an outpatients appointment alone (something I’d be afraid of due to the potential for gaslighting) and for once the consultant was amazing- he gave me a reason for my pain that had been found on an MRI and reassured me he would explain it all to my GP. However, the consultant had lied. He didn’t write in the letter anything that he said to me and GP soon decided that I was lying about my account, to the point where I questioned my own memory. Contrary to the advice of the consultant, and later my physio (who confirmed what the consultant has originally said), he advised me to walk more to solve my issue. It also took me refusing to leave his room until I got a referral to a rheumatology consultant for him to allow it. That was after him patronizing me consistently and insisting that “there’s no EDS cure you know?” and “physio is your only option”. The arrogant cunt obviously thought his single lecture had taught him more than 10 years learning about this condition had taught me. I knew my rights and got what I wanted, but I live in fear of my record being marked with “fii” or “anxious patient” that would virtually destroy any further chances of me getting treatment.

This becomes a problem, of course, when I seem to acquire a new co-morbidity or complication every month at the minute. A few weeks ago I had it confirmed that I have a bladder (and potentially pelvic) prolapse. The doctor I had spoken to before the examination though was Dr. Self Important Prick, and he had seemed doubtful of the whole thing. So even though it was proven, I’m still too afraid to call again. This week I have had a bingo card full of the symptoms of a cerebrospinal fluid leak (and not for the first time). I don’t know what to do though. Given the susceptibility of EDS patients to them, I’m fairly certain that’s what it is. Given it’s recurring, I’m also pretty sure I need to see someone. But it’s unstoppable force meets immovable object: if I go in there having done my research I seem like a hypochondriac, yet one study showed that 0% of csf leaks are diagnosed correctly the first time. These are the complications of living with a rare condition. It’s impossible to walk the fine line between advocating for yourself and seeming like a fake because you weren’t a whole chapter in the doctor’s textbook.

So here I am. Fed up. Angry at myself for not having the balls to get myself the help I need and angry at the medical profession for scarring me so badly. And with a lovely clear, metallic, currently unidentified liquid dripping down the back of my throat.

Since it seems these rants may get more regular, I’ve made a dedicated page to fill with my void rants @thatangryedsbitch

15 notes · View notes

dnlfitness · 5 years

Text

Benefits of exercise in your daily life

Check this out on https://endsmedia.stream/benefits-of-exercise-nhs/

Benefits of exercise in your daily life

Credit: JackF / Thinkstock Step right up! It's the miracle cure we've all been waiting for. It can reduce your risk of major illnesses, such as heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and cancer by up to 50% and lower your risk of early death by up to 30%. It's free, easy to take, has an immediate effect and you don't need a GP to get some. Its name? Exercise. Click on the links below to find out if you're doing enough for your age:

early childhood (under 5 years old)

young people (5 to 18 years old)

adults (19 to 64 years old)

older adults (65 and over)

Exercise is the miracle cure we've always had, but for too long we've neglected to take our recommended dose. Our health is now suffering as a consequence. This is no snake oil. Whatever your age, there's strong scientific evidence that being physically active can help you lead a healthier and happier life. People who exercise regularly have a lower risk of developing many long-term (chronic) conditions, such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, stroke, and some cancers. Research shows that physical activity can also boost self-esteem, mood, sleep quality and energy, as well as reducing your risk of stress, depression, dementia and Alzheimer's disease. "If exercise were a pill, it would be one of the most cost-effective drugs ever invented," says Dr Nick Cavill, a health promotion consultant.

Health benefits

Given the overwhelming evidence, it seems obvious that we should all be physically active. It's essential if you want to live a healthy and fulfilling life into old age. It's medically proven that people who do regular physical activity have:

up to a 35% lower risk of coronary heart disease and stroke

up to a 50% lower risk of type 2 diabetes

up to a 50% lower risk of colon cancer

up to a 20% lower risk of breast cancer

a 30% lower risk of early death

up to an 83% lower risk of osteoarthritis

up to a 68% lower risk of hip fracture

a 30% lower risk of falls (among older adults)

up to a 30% lower risk of depression

up to a 30% lower risk of dementia

What counts?

To stay healthy, adults should try to be active every day and aim to achieve at least 150 minutes of physical activity over a week through a variety of activities. For most people, the easiest way to get moving is to make activity part of everyday life, like walking or cycling instead of using the car to get around. However, the more you do, the better, and taking part in activities such as sports and exercise will make you even healthier. For any type of activity to benefit your health, you need to be moving quick enough to raise your heart rate, breathe faster and feel warmer. This level of effort is called moderate intensity activity. If you're working at a moderate intensity you should still be able to talk but you won't be able to sing the words to a song. An activity where you have to work even harder is called vigorous intensity activity. There is substantial evidence that vigorous activity can bring health benefits over and above that of moderate activity. You can tell when it's vigorous activity because you're breathing hard and fast, and your heart rate has gone up quite a bit. If you're working at this level, you won't be able to say more than a few words without pausing for a breath.

Media last reviewed: 3 August 2018<br /> Media review due: 3 August 2021

A modern problem

People are less active nowadays, partly because technology has made our lives easier. We drive cars or take public transport. Machines wash our clothes. We entertain ourselves in front of a TV or computer screen. Fewer people are doing manual work, and most of us have jobs that involve little physical effort. Work, household chores, shopping and other necessary activities are far less demanding than for previous generations. We move around less and burn off less energy than people used to. Research suggests that many adults spend more than 7 hours a day sitting down, at work, on transport or in their leisure time. People aged over 65 spend 10 hours or more each day sitting or lying down, making them the most sedentary age group.

Sedentary lifestyles

Inactivity is described by the Department of Health as a "silent killer". Evidence is emerging that sedentary behaviour, such as sitting or lying down for long periods, is bad for your health. Not only should you try to raise your activity levels, but you should also reduce the amount of time you and your family spend sitting down. Common examples of sedentary behaviour include watching TV, using a computer, using the car for short journeys and sitting down to read, talk or listen to music. This type of behaviour is thought to increase your risk of developing many chronic diseases, such as heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes, as well as weight gain and obesity. "Previous generations were active more naturally through work and manual labour, but today we have to find ways of integrating activity into our daily lives," says Dr Cavill. Whether it's limiting the time babies spend strapped in their buggies, or encouraging adults to stand up and move frequently, people of all ages need to reduce their sedentary behaviour. "This means that each of us needs to think about increasing the types of activities that suit our lifestyle and can easily be included in our day," says Dr Cavill. Crucially, you can hit your weekly activity target but still be at risk of ill health if you spend the rest of the time sitting or lying down. Find out how to build physical activity and exercise into your day, whatever your age or situation. For a summary on the health benefits of being more active, check out this Department of Health infographic (PDF, 500kb). Page last reviewed: 11 June 2018 Next review due: 11 June 2021 Source

#health #healthy living

0 notes