Why the internet is sometimes a bad thing

[lnr]

As some of you may recall I took part in a clinical study at Addenbrookes in December, where amongst other things they took some blood samples. I was told I wouldn't find out the results of those unless there was anything to worry about.

Last Thursday I received a letter dated and franked the 17th March, which said that while my blood was mostly normal (and blood sugar in particular was fine) they were a little concerned about my blood calcium levels. Normal levels are apparently 2.1 to 2.5 and my reading was 2.55. They wanted me to get my GP to do another test, and if that showed worrying levels they'd talk to me about it.

So on Friday I got a local taxi firm to take me down to the health centre in Shelford and back (3 quid each way) and registered with the practice and waited until a doctor could see me to explain the situation and take the required blood. Which he did very competently, and also advised me that the 4-6 weeks til I should cycle again was probably wise, given the repetitive nature of movement when cycling and the fact it's a pretty serious injury really.

Anyway today the GPs gave me a call and they've asked me to go back tomorrow morning and give them some more blood samples, including a fasting one, which means nothing to eat and drink apart from water after midnight tonight. No prob.

The trouble is of course I looked up hypercalcaemia on the internet, and found that one of the main causes is cancer, and now I'm much more worried than I might otherwise have been. Drat. I could really do without this right now!

PS Thanks all for nice thoughts. I really am only a little worried about it, and writing about these things often helps. And I am at least mildly amused by how easy the internet makes it to be a hypochondriac :)

Comments

[feanelwa.livejournal.com]

Eek - good job they spotted it just in case. I hope the cause is something less serious!

[lnr]

So do I :)

Apparently the *most* common cause is to do with your parathyroid glands, and sounds a bit more easily treatable, but still a bit alarming. I'm not sure if there are also very uncommon cases where it's not caused by anything alarming and they can just treat the excess calcium itself rather than something more drastic.

[bopeepsheep.livejournal.com]

It can be a result of vitamin D working more efficiently - if your diet is high in VitD/calcium you can absorb more than normal. (It's also a common result of long-term immobility but I don't think your current injury counts as 'long-term'! *g*)

[perdita-fysh.livejournal.com]

See my first hit was dead reassuring:
http://www.parathyroid.com/high-calcium.htm

When everything started tasting bitter last spring (way before I was pregnant) the top likely cause after pregnancy or tooth abscess (quickly ruled out) was Malaria! It's easy to let teh interweb lead you down a road of panic, you have to chill!!! *&)

[lnr]

I'd find it more reassuring if they didn't spend so much time ranting! And of course if there were a non-surgical treatment. At least it sounds as though if it is hyperparathyroidism then the surgery doesn't have to be very invasive: though it's hard to tell what the UK approach to the disease is from that site.

[vyvyan.livejournal.com]

Coincidentally, I've just got back from a fasting blood test at my GP's (for which 4 vials of blood were needed!). But I needed to fast from 8pm last night, rather than midnight - how odd.

[lnr]

I've had fasting blood tests done before for diabetes checking, and the advice has varied between 9pm and midnight, so I'll probably aim to make sure I have a fairly early dinner just in case :) I don't usually eat much after then anyway.

[artela.livejournal.com]

I'm always told 8pm the night before, but it will depend on your normal metabolism - I'm going to fast from earlier in the day for my tests next year as I know I have a slow metabolism and I think it may be skewing the results.

[lnr]

Well, I finished dinner about 8:15, so that's probably good enough.

[tigerfort.livejournal.com]

*hugs*. Never look up your symptoms on the webternet, it's always frightening. Hopefully, it'll turn out to be something much less scary!

[j4.livejournal.com]

Erk. *hugs* I hope your fears are unfounded, but glad they're checking it out anyway.

Re looking up symptoms on the internet, I am always reminded of the opening of "Three Men in a Boat" (http://www.literaturecollection.com/a/jerome/three-men-boat/1/)... :-}

[lnr]

Thanks, I really enjoyed reading that :) (I think if I'm going to read the whole book I should find a paper copy though)

[j4.livejournal.com]

It's such a good book for a sunny day (& shouldn't be too hard to find a cheap edition, available in wordsworth classics etc -- actually I think I have a spare copy, can have a look tonight?).

[lnr]

It's probably not worth the postage! 1.99 with free next day delivery from amazon (since I gave up and signed up to Amazon Prime earlier this year). They had lots of copies from a penny each on Marketplace but that's 2.75 postage so not worth it. Thanks for the offer though :)

[uisgebeatha.livejournal.com]

Erk! *hugs* I'm sure it'll turn out to be something entirely non-serious.

And agree with the not looking symptoms up on t'internet. Every time I've used the hilarious NHS Direct it says I've either got meningitis or, er, meningitis. I think it's broken :P

[ms-cataclysm.livejournal.com]

I would be anxious too -am pouring gin down internet connection now.

[lnr]

I don't recommend that, it might do something horrid to your IP packets. And don't worry, I have plenty at home anyway (though I've just run out of tonic there's still plenty of orange juice).

[1ngi.livejournal.com]

Oh hon *hug* Try not to worry - I home it all turns out to be ok. All the best and keep us in the picture xxx

[angua.livejournal.com]

I'm sure it will be fine but *hugs* anyway

[burkesworks.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't panic unduly, but keeping 'em crossed anyway. Big *hugs* (((((lnr)))))

[juggzy.livejournal.com]

Thinking of you

x

[atreic.livejournal.com]

*hugs*

Let us know how it goes!

[monkeyhands.livejournal.com]

Good luck! I'm sure it will be fine, though.