Medical issues

From http://ianrstewart.blogspot.com/

Last night I was back to Albyn Hospital to see the doctor who did the endoscopy. He was quite happy - no ulcers, no cancer, but he showed me the photographs he took of the lumps at the foot of my stomach, caused by my daily aspirin - they're the ones that are causing the discomfort and bad taste. He described the stomach as a kind of food blender - once it had done all its work and mushed everything up, it would all drop down to the bowel below:

He initially suggested I should carry on taking Omeprazole, which lines the stomach and prevents the aspirin from doing further damage. However, when I enquired whether there was any alternative to taking yet another drug for the rest of my life, he said yes - I could change from dispersible aspirin to enteric coated aspirin, which doesn't dissolve properly until it's past the stomach and in the bowel. I said I would like to try this and he agreed. However, if I ever have to take any other pain-killers/Ibuprofen etc - as I will when I get my right knee replaced - then I will have to go back on Omeprazole - probably starting a couple of weeks beforehand.

This morning it was my annual visit to the Cardio Clinic in Banchory. The nurse always has problems finding a vein to draw blood from, but this morning it was even more difficult. She gave up on my left arm and eventually found blood on the right. Perhaps the chest infection/man flu I've been suffering from made things worse? My blood pressure was really low - 100/60 - she wondered whether I felt faint? It was no surprise that my weight was worse than last year - up 3 kgs at 87 kgs. I blamed Australia!

I decided I would try a few holes of golf this afternoon - it was nice to get out in the fresh air again, but I couldn't manage a full round. I've also cancelled tomorrow morning's medal.

At tea time tonight, more medical - or specifically, dental - problems. My implant came out when I was clearing the gap between my teeth after our steaks. It looks like it just glues on to the rod:

Enough about my failing body - I'm off to the pub.