Diagnosis; Tension Headache/ Stress Headache

It's been a couple of weeks now that I am having headaches every day. Visited the GP twice already. On my first check up, the doctor said my headache was due to sinusitis as people commonly have it here this time of year. I was prescribed with nasal spray (to be sprayed 2x daily in both nostrils) and pain reliever (Cocodamol 15mg codeine and 500 mg paracetamol). I thought the medications seemed promising, but after all, the pain reliever wasn't very good. I mean the side effect..makes me sleepy, nauseated and worst constipated for days. So I stopped it and taking it doesn't seem to cure my headache anyway. Been off sick from work for days, I always feel tired, sleepy and terrible headaches starts in the middle of the day throughout. If I haven't had my period, I would say I am pregnant. But nuh, I am not so I had to visit the GP again. For the 2nd time the GP suggested I have to have an eye test as headaches still persist and it's doesn't seem to be sinusitis.
And so right away I booked an appointment for an eyes test at Boots pharmacy. All seemed very well as I got a £10.00 eye test voucher from them so I only have to pay £10 instead of £20, great saving!*wink* I had the appointment this morning and still all is well, nothing is wrong with my vision. The optometrist suggested that I have to go back to my GP AGAIN as she reckon it's a TENSION headache. In short I am stressed :( and so for the final test I have to book a blood test (Fasting Blood Count) appointment in the hospital. hopefully I could do it next week before coming back to work. Why I am stress? For what reasons? I tell you next time :(

Cervical Screening Test

A couple of days ago I received a letter from the NHS saying that my CST (Cervical Screening Test) is now due and have to book it in our local surgery on or before 10.02.2012. This test is for all women between 25 to 64 every 3 years. It's my first time although I don't think I qualify as I'm not yet 25, but never mind this test is very helpful anyway. *wink*.
According to the letter, this test is to make sure that our cervix (neck of womb) is healthy, or if not, NHS could offer necessary treatment. This is to avoid the cervical cancer which very common among women.
And so earlier this morning I booked an appointment for the CST at 2:30. I went to the surgery with the thought that I only have to be injected as what my dear sister said. Five minutes of waiting was over, my name was called and so I got inside the Treatment room. The nurse explained to me the procedure, and this is what it is according to her leaflet;

How is the Smear test done?

• A doctor/nurse will gently open your vagina so they can see your cervix.
• They then use a wooden stick called a spatula, or thin brush, to gently scrape off some cells from the surface of the cervix.
•  The cells are sent away and looked at under a microscope to see if any are abnormal.

Not so nice procedure isn't it? Uncomfortable and undignified I suppose but it's for our own good. My test wasn't done, not because I was out off by the procedure but because of my menstrual period. whew! The nurse said better leave it for 1-2 weeks to clear as they may not see enough cells on this time. So I have to come back again in a couple of weeks.Hope and pray it'll be normal! It says result usually takes 6-8weeks.

If you want to know more about Cervical Screening Test, click here. Hope it'll help you! Cheers!

Diagnosis: Achilles Tendinitis

Yesterday I wasn't able to do my half day shift due to this on and off swelling and pain of my ankle in the lower bit of the fibula. I had this 5 or 6 yrs ago and as far as I can remember it only occurred twice during that period. Just every time I strain my leg too much or if the gets so weather. I haven't had it so far when I arrived here in England even though how cold the weather here. Until these last few weeks when I started working, as my job requires a lot of walking and standing so that might be the case so far. I thought it is like an arthritis thing so I didn't mind, and just this week I got it almost everyday and it starts in the middle of my shift and gets worst at the end of the day. So today, I decided to book a check up in our local surgery and luckily I got an early day appointment. Dr. Jianfeng Guo was my attending physician, good thing cos she's an Asian. And her diagnosis was Achilles Tendinitis. She prescribed me of an ointment to be put tid (3x a day)and a certain painful stretching exercise that  I have to do bid (2x a day). Hopefully these things will work cos it's not very good limping when I'm at work due to the pain..*sigh*

The Burrs are Sick :( :(

Last night was a horrible night for us especially for my hunny. As we were about to sleep, bunny complained that his tummy feels a bit painful in the abdomen part and he said he might have indigestion. He often have indigestion I noticed, so I didn't worry much. I let him took gaviscon and hoped it'll be better. But unfortunately things got worse, he started to be sick and vomited all the food he ate. I think we stayed for 2 hours in the toilet because he kept being sick every 10 minutes. I was really worried cos he seemed to have vomited all electrolytes in his body, I'm afraid he'll be dehydrated by then and nothing in the medicine cabinet I could let him take to stop him from being sick or at least oral rehydration to replace the electrolytes he lost. I thought things just got worse and worse so I woke his parents to see what we can do cos seems like every time he drinks water like anything he put in his tummy he just threw it out. MIL thought it might be a bug cos she said she felt she has indigestion too. And I remembered we ate the out of date yogurt for pudding that night so I thought it might be that I don't know. It was just 3 days out of date and it taste fine when we ate (lol), and I'm feeling alright. Anyways things settled for a bit, MIL said bunny could have a rest in the lounge on the sofa so it would be easy for him to reach the toilet when he feels sick again. We put ice cream can beside bunny so he could used it when he's sick and I laid a foam in the lounge as well so I could keep watch of him. Oh dear it just got worse and worse, bunny vomited every 30 minutes, and so I'm awake every 30 minutes too to clean up, rub his back and refill the hot water and water he's drinking. I think things got settled at 10 in the morning. I woke up 7 am and little did I know MIL and FIL has been sick too. In fact my FIL passed out in their room after he took water downstairs. MIL said he's not been well since then, and so bunny and FIL didn't come to work today, worst is garndpa rang early in the morning and he said he's got diorrhea! Haay what is happening? Is it a bug, I don't know. I just keep praying things will be better soon, none of them had eaten since breakfast, bunny is settling a bit, he's regaining his lost sleep. He said he might have something to eat in a while and will have shower too..Praying this will be over soon, and oh I'm gonna pop in the nearby store to se if they have this Dioralyte, oral rehydration for my bunny..thinking as well what he can have for lunch! *sigh*

I need an Eye Check up

I've got problems with my eye seems two weeks now. Last week my right eye was very sore and itchy and stayed for days (blog here). And this past few days I noticed that the upper bit of my eye where the nose line starts hurts like it''ll gonna drop if I look done. I thought it was something to do with my sinus cos it seems like it. But last weekend my eye was a bit painful, after staying a long period in the computer. It gives me heartburn and can't stay that long anymore int he pc. Until yesterday it was really bad, and now it is worst. I tried to put chilled cucumber on it, MIL offered me a soothing eye mask, I washed it with optrx and took paracetamol. It lessens the pain a bit,but still feels like really strain and heavy.

 Was thinking maybe I really need an eye check up. So I started browsing the internet for the nearest, available eye test centre and I found Vision Express which offers half price of the eye exam fee and10% discount on prescription glasses. It's located in Canterbury high street (town centre) which is not too far from our place. I'll talk to my bunny about this and see what he reckons.

Sore Eye

Image via Wikepedia

How was your weekend everyone? It's nearly over and Monday again back to work and back to school again! My weekend went well, it was great actually. I'll blog about it a bit later and share some photos as well of what we were up to. Anyways it's a bit of nuisance this right eye of mine. It is sore, and so itchy. It started yesterday as we got home. I noticed it was so red and I remember when I was about to have shower that day, there was a slight redness already. I washed it with optrex (eye wash bunny is using) before going to bed. I was a bit worried cos usually if you have sore eye a pile of (muta) formed in your eyes to the point that you can't open it. I experienced it once when I was in primary shcool. But luckily it wasn't that bad. I think in case, I used my eyes too much. From what I read conjunctivitis (don't know though if mine is conjunctivitis) is sometimes caused by eyestrain or viral or bacterial infection. I think mine is both, I sctartched and with my dirty finger and strain cos I spend too much time in the computer. It's getting better now, thanks to optrex!

Indigestion Problem

My bunny is having an indigestion problem this past few days. I'm getting a bit worried because it gives him sleepless nights and makes him feel uneasy especially if he's at work. Last Friday night he never slept well due to this problem and Sunday night again, and then yesterday he complained about it while he was at work. In fact he didn't finish his lunch cos he said he gets full easily and feels like his tummy was bloating. So I researched about Indigestion problem yesterday, and I found out from the Home Remedies website that Stress and Anxiety causes indigestion. I'm not giving any stress to my bunny this past few days, I've been good.(hehe) So for sure it's from work cos one of his colleagues resigned so he does most of the work and school term just started 3 weeks ago so each day he's packed of students asking him to install or fix this or that. Fast eating without chewing properly, Heavy meal, Consuming excess alcohol, Smoking, Pregnancy, Peptic ulcer,Anti-inflammatory drugs, Changes in lifestyle, Diseases that affect digestive organs  are the following that causes indigestion.

So to avoid indigestion, Avoid large meals, take small and frequent meals. Increase water intake and drink herbal tea. Abstain from smoking and alcoholic beverages. Avoid tea, coffee and other drinks that contain caffeine. Avoid hot spicy and fatty foods. Restrict intake of chocolates. Oh dear I don't like the chocolate restriction, lol. But bunny have to follow, so he's abstaining from having hot choc for our night drink,he's having honey,vanilla and chamomile tea instead. Because I found out that herbal tea's and ginger tea after meal are good for indigestion. And if you want an instant relief put a baking soda in water and drink it.

Dengue Emergency Call

I had a chat with my sister just minute ago and received another bad news about the dengue invasion in our town back in the Philippines. It's been spreading horrendously in our barangay. Last week a relative of ours lost her 7 year old daughter due to dengue and a highschool student from the catholic school were I studied died also. And today my sister said one of our neighbour lost their son due to the same cause. Oh dear that made me so nervous now. Because that means my nieces and nephew isn't safe as well and I guess my entire family cos anyone can be affected. I can't remember this Dengue fever had been this deadly and worse when I was there. well maybe because population there had been increasing. I'm really worried now and told my sister that if they could bring the kids somewhere, maybe in Bacolod to my brother's house. Oh Lord please keep them safe and all the people as well. Now it isn't a thing to ignore, our  town is in Dengue Emergency Call.

What  is  DENGUE FEVER?

Dengue fever is a disease caused by a family of viruses that are transmitted by mosquitoes. It is an acute illness of sudden onset that usually follows a benign course with symptoms such as headache, fever, exhaustion, severe muscle and joint pain, swollen glands (lymphadenopathy), and rash. The presence (the "dengue triad") of fever, rash, and headache (and other pains) is particularly characteristic of dengue. Other signs of dengue fever include bleeding gums, severe pain behind the eyes, and red palms and soles.

How to Prevent Dengue?

1. Step 1: Implement community vector control programs. This is essential because the only means of preventing dengue is to avoid being bitten by an infected mosquito.

1. Step 2: Eliminate potential breeding grounds for the vector mosquitoes. This includes even small amounts of stagnant water, especially those around human habitation. Pots and old tires should be kept empty and even water in flower vases should be changed regularly.
2. Step 3: Stay out of areas where dengue is endemic. This is not a very practical means of prevention because this would include most sub-temperate areas of the world. Apply mosquito repellents containing N,N-diethyl-3-methylbenzamide (DEET) to the skin when outside in these areas. Spray an insecticide containing permethrin to protective clothing.
3. Step 4: Remain indoors as much as possible in rooms with air conditioning or effective screening. Use indoor insect repellents. Mosquito netting at night is not a deterrent because Aedes mosquitoes bite during the day.
4. Step 5: Monitor the progress on dengue vaccines. A safe vaccine has been developed and is undergoing clinical trials. An effective vaccine will need to provide immunity to all four serologic types of the dengue virus.