Poor Lucie does not react well when the atmospheric pressure is low. Although her Horton's disease (giant cell arteritis) seems to be under control, she now suffers a lot of arthritic pains in hips, knees and shoulders. Whether the above conditions are linked - who knows? A small investment in a barometer might give us warning of what she can expect and prepare for. Then, when the pressure starts to go down she can reach for the bottle of pain killers in good time.
Regular visits to her hospital treatments has become quite a feature of our lives and we have certainly got to know the D137 to Rennes and to the 'Rocade' (the Rennes ring road - east and west.) We normally try to combine such visits with some shopping.
Recently, after a rather a nasty 'event' at 5am - Lucie had to deal with me having a 'fit' of some kind (a TIA?) which rendered me unconscious and hospitalized for a few hours. I am now having various tests to my blood vessels and other matters shown up on the MRI scan which revealed a couple of 'lesions' on what is left of my brain! The shock to my psychological welfare is the only pain I have had to endure. I have never been 'sick' before! Now it's my turn to get real!
Once again, we cannot fault the French health service for reacting so well to our plights. Apart from the almost immediate MRI scan that I had, my blood, arteries and veins have been tested and I am booked in for a colonoscopy on 6th January and an appointment with a cardiologist on the 29th January. Our lovely local GP is determined to get to the cause of the problem. She has put me on statins and asparin as a precaution at least until my appointment with the heart man in January. So far, apart from a slightly uneven heart beat and the lesions - nothing significant has been of found ! and I am feeling both fit and well on the whole and have tremendous confidence in my treatment.
Most recent update on my treatment 8th Feb 2020
Been to the cardio today (7th Feb) ( with Lucie to help translations) and now have a gadget attached to me in various spots on the chest. Another appointment with the same young Dr on Monday 10th 9.30am who will examine the weekend results from this gadget. Also today, had an ultrasound examination by him (very impressive equipment!) which disclosed that I have actually got an aorta which is 17.5% too large! (should be 40mm diameter?) Also something of a weak left ventricle. Sounds much worse on paper and he seemed not to be too worried. Most of it age related stuff - ie can do my daily exercises (but cut out the press-ups and the more violent anaerobics) and act as normal but I have to reduce my blood pressure (now averaging 138/77 over the last 7 days) because otherwise this could facilitate another episode. He also advised for some exclusions to my diet which are common knowledge to all. ie no butter or trans-fats, no salt if possible and reduced alcohol to one glass of wine per day. Hopefully, with the prescribed beta blockers (5mg daily) along with a daily dose of asparin and 5mg statins things will become safer. Might as well stick to beer? Bigger glass etc.