KatT's Journal

[KatT]

Basically I need to report immediately if I have abnormal pain anywhere.  Not be my stubborn self and endure until it passes or end up in a worse situation 

She also gave me a blood test request that I have to do every four month. So I took the opportunity today, while I was at the vampires for A1c, to ask if they did all the tests she requested and the answer was no.

So it will be at the hospital every 4 months and will do some digging on what these new tests are for

Family was ma parents...still need to advise my brother but he has his hands full with the huge storm we just had so I will wait till this gets resolved.

[Forest Walker]

Oh, I see.  Pain is an indicator of a clot, and if you report the pain early, then maybe you are dealing with a clot while it is small and can be managed.  I think that's it, right?  Is there any other way to be detecting clots before pain begins?

Good job telling your parents.  That must have been difficult to talk about and difficult to hear.  But they would want to know and to be in this whole experience with you.

[Caroline]

Oh, I see.  Pain is an indicator of a clot, and if you report the pain early, then maybe you are dealing with a clot while it is small and can be managed.  I think that's it, right?  Is there any other way to be detecting clots before pain begins?

As far as I know you can only check the INR, the time it takes for the blood to become solid, like when you hurt yourself and blood is coming out, then it will take a minute or so to start clotting. If you are on aspirin or bloodthinners this takes longer. Checking the clotting time is a measure on how good the bloodthinner works for you.

Good job telling your parents.  That must have been difficult to talk about and difficult to hear.  But they would want to know and to be in this whole experience with you.

I totally agree on this point with you.

[KatT]

Oh, I see.  Pain is an indicator of a clot, and if you report the pain early, then maybe you are dealing with a clot while it is small and can be managed.  I think that's it, right?  Is there any other way to be detecting clots before pain begins?

Good job telling your parents.  That must have been difficult to talk about and difficult to hear.  But they would want to know and to be in this whole experience with you.

Oh, I see.  Pain is an indicator of a clot, and if you report the pain early, then maybe you are dealing with a clot while it is small and can be managed.  I think that's it, right?  Is there any other way to be detecting clots before pain begins?

As far as I know you can only check the INR, the time it takes for the blood to become solid, like when you hurt yourself and blood is coming out, then it will take a minute or so to start clotting.  If you are on aspirin or bloodthinners this takes longer. Checking the clotting time is a measure on how good the bloodthinner works for you.

Good job telling your parents.  That must have been difficult to talk about and difficult to hear.  But they would want to know and to be in this whole experience with you.

I totally agree on this point with you.

There are a few blood tests that can help determine if there is a coagulation issue such as PT, PT-INR, Factor V assay, platelet counts, thrombin time, etc

Every time I ended up in the hospital (except for heart attack I believe) for a severe lupus flare, they do a test to rule out Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) which is D-Dimer.  

So if I have abnormal pain in legs or chest...I need to act right away.  I still need to check out the tests that she ordered.....I haven't gone yet....my last visit at the hospital for blood tests was a traumatic adventure and took around 5 hours if I remember correctly. 
    

I did get the result of the A1C today.  No diabetes so no Ozempic.  Was scratching my head as my A1C is lower despite drinking more ice caps for the past few months....must be the blood pressure medication that lowers it.

[Forest Walker]

Ugh!  5 hours at hospital for blood tests.  That's awful.  I hope that was a one-off and won't happen again.  

I didn't know what an ice cap was and looked up images.  Iced Cappuccino!     I thought it would be some Canadian beverage, an impenetrable round of ice floating over a drink, mimicking a frozen pond.  Those cold winters!

[KatT]

I will find out for my next  blood tests if 5 hours is the standard....hope not.  They certainly won't beat Dynacare which is usually about 20 minutes.

Do you have Tim Hortons in your area?  I know there are a few in the states.  Try one....they are delicious all year round 

[D Foster]

Got quite addicted to the iced coffee at Timmies when I was there.
I have just got a call from the doctors and I have to go for a blood test Thursday, hope that I am a bit quicker than you were.

[Wooley]

So I've gone from not knowing Tim Hortons to seeing three shops this week in the UK ?, can't wait to try it!!

[KatT]

Got quite addicted to the iced coffee at Timmies when I was there.
I have just got a call from the doctors and I have to go for a blood test Thursday, hope that I am a bit quicker than you were.

In terms of waiting times once you're at the hospital.....our system is pretty bad in Quebec, if it's quick, it's because of luck!  Hope it is a lot quicker for you  

So I've gone from not knowing Tim Hortons to seeing three shops this week in the UK ?, can't wait to try it!!

I didn't know they had some shops elsewhere than in Canada and the States..... the coffee is pretty mild so if you like strong coffee, I would not recommend it but you MUST try a small Iced Cappuccino......not an Iced Coffee which is very different.

[Caroline]

Got quite addicted to the iced coffee at Timmies when I was there.
I have just got a call from the doctors and I have to go for a blood test Thursday, hope that I am a bit quicker than you were.

In terms of waiting times once you're at the hospital.....our system is pretty bad in Quebec, if it's quick, it's because of luck!  Hope it is a lot quicker for you  

So I've gone from not knowing Tim Hortons to seeing three shops this week in the UK ?, can't wait to try it!!

I didn't know they had some shops elsewhere than in Canada and the States..... the coffee is pretty mild so if you like strong coffee, I would not recommend it but you MUST try a small Iced Cappuccino......not an Iced Coffee which is very different.

I checked if we have Tim Hortons over here, but we haven’t ……yet. I have seen the line “Tim Hortons coming to Europe”