Today I have to go to the hospital for the sixth and last of my six-monthly ‘infusions’, ie mini-chemo sessions. I can’t believe it’s six months since the last time, which followed a year after the previous one, because the one I should have had this time last year was cancelled due to Covid restrictions. But this time – this time – should definitely be the last – or at least, the last one related to the breast cancer which I had in 2016/17 (who can ever predict about the future?). It’s also the last of the series of medical appointments (for various conditions) which I’ve had over the last few weeks – the last that are on the calendar, anyway, given that I haven’t yet heard back about the results of the heart monitor, or had a call from the GP about my second Covid vaccination, though it’s about ten weeks since the first one. I’m expecting the surgery to call about that, as they did with the first one, given that it’s supposed to be done within twelve weeks, but other people I’ve spoken to (though not with my GP) have either booked both appointments online, or were given the second appointment when they had their first.
I had a phone consultation with the doctor on Thursday, about my cholesterol, and the blood test I had for that, and she said that it’s still a lot better compared with what it was when they first flagged it up in late 2019, and to carry on with the current pills at the current dosage, but I should try to get more cardio-type exercise, which needs to be more strenuous than just more walking. A least she didn’t tell me I had to give up cheese, though I have been trying to cut down. She didn’t know anything about the heart monitor, in fact she wasn’t the same doctor who sent me for it, but when I made the appointment I was told it would be a long wait for an appointment with the other one. In fact I only had this consultation because when I rang the surgery to book a blood test in advance of today’s infusion (to save an extra trip to the hospital), the receptionist told me there was a note on my file to say that I needed to book a consultation with the doctor. In the event she (the doctor) was clearly just looking at my records and giving out some fairly general advice, but I don’t say that as a criticism. I have met her several times when I used to live in the flat, and always got on well with her, it’s just that she’s not the one I’ve been seeing about this cholesterol/heart stuff.
It is all quite confusing, but I guess if the blood tests had shown anything serious, they would have been more proactive in getting in touch. In fact they seem to have got things pretty well organised in the circumstances.