Blood and Wine

I have managed to secure the offer of a cytology test via my GP: Quote the email

“You can certainly have the cytology screen done on the urine. Mr Hammonds’ (the Urologist) opinion is that it is too insensitive to be reliable, apart from in very highly malignant cases. This means essentially that whilst a positive test is likely to be significant, a negative test does not reassure either of us that there is not a cancer there.”

There are a few things I want to address before deciding whether to have one. Some of these are technical issues, others philosophical. The later need addressing first, else there’s no test. However as the technical issues have finite goals and outcomes they can actively be resolved and so take the focus and action. The philosophical issues will resolve themselves automatically by sitting back and relaxing, they cannot be resolved by analysis but more by weight of feeling.

Technical:

• Timing: Take a sample that has a lot of blood and is cloudy and has bits. I note from the initial blood sample there were no casts in the specimen.
• Find data on results relative to stages etc.
• Find data on the specifics of the test. Can it be a DIY process?

Philosophical:
The main issues here are as to the reason for having the test.

• Curiosity
• What would happen next
• What to family think as I’m under pressure to act to their desires and ‘benefit’

30th May 09:24 Well I’ve heard Vyaj has had her final exam plus I’m feeling more positive so I’m inclined to have the cytology just for curiosity. However I will no doubt mull over this change and see what underlies it and consider the consequences. Most of such will be done subconsciously.

31st May 09:50 Have emailed Dr McCormick

6th June 09:33
From: carepathonline.com

Your doctor may order urine cytology if you have blood in your urine and a definite cause of the bleeding has not been identified. The medical name for blood in the urine is hematuria. It has many causes, including strenuous exercise, too much stress, infection, kidney and bladder stones, and even cancer. When there is blood in your urine, it is important to identify what part of your urinary tract the blood is coming from so any problems can be properly diagnosed and treated.

From: wisegeek.com

Another important aspect in the discipline of cytology is examining cell interaction. By studying how cells relate to other cells or to the environment, cytologists can predict problems or examine environmental dangers to cells, such as toxic or cancer-causing substances. In humans and other multi-cellular structures, cytology can examine the presence of too many of one kind of cell, or the lack of enough of a certain kind of cell. In a simple test like a complete blood count, a laboratory can look at white blood cells and identify the presence of an infection, or it may examine a low level of certain types of red blood cells and diagnose anemia.

-:- 10:05 Just emailed the above as follows:
“Hi. I’m about to have a cytology examination of urine to assess if I have cancer of the bladder, as I have haematuria. My ‘Doctor’ is under the impression that only cancer cells will be looked for.

I found that
“it is important to identify what part of your urinary tract the blood is coming from” from http://www.carepathonline.com/Topic.aspx?Nav=0&Rel=166 and
“of certain types of red blood cells” from your web site.

Accordingly, checking for cancer cells is not the only or better option.

If no cancer cells are found, then knowing where the blood comes form is very significant.

The fact that there is this option to check the red blood cell type means I can provide two samples.

One with obvious (gross) haematuria so that the blood cells can be easily available for analysis and a second, clear sample, as my Dr said the blood may interfere and obscure the cytologist in the search for cancer cells.

Can you please confirm that there are different types of red blood cells and direct me to any on-line or other reference, so I can present such to my Dr.

Thank you”

19th May 01:51 Worked fairly hard on 18th including last pull of Japanese Knotweed, cleared the bund from the boat to the copse of Giant Hogweed, plus had a visitor which was a bit stressy. Felt very twingie, a cold twingie if that makes sense. Relieved that the urine test was fairly low. -:-18:32 Dug up lots of Hogweed today. Still feeling the cold twinge?? -:- 22:08 Trying to teach someone web design and get bad feelings when I get frustrated. Hot outside of my lower abdomen and cold inside?

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Key to data

Blood: Cells/µL

• N = negative, L = less than, M = more than
• Haemolysis: ± = >10, + = >25, ++ = >80, +++ = >200
• Non-haemolysis: *, **,

Visual { V=very, L=little, Y=yellow, A=Almost, N=No Colour, C=Cloudy}

Taste { N=neutral, V=very, L=lightly, b=bitter, a=acidic, s=sweet, t=salty }

Date Time	pH	Blood	Visual	Taste	Notes
18May 08:28	6.6	N*	Y	at
19May 01:41	6.0	M+*	Y	at	Been feeling twingie. Expected worse
19May 08:45	6.0	L±*	LY	at	Still feeling twingie. Expected worse
20May 08:03	6.0	N	Y	at	Still twingie. Expecting worse!
20May 15:59	6.1	MM+++	LB C	abt	See Diary. Taste of rust/iron
21May 07:37	6.0	M++	Y	a	See Diary
22May 08:05	6.0	M+++	LB C	a	See Diary
23May 13:07	7.1	*	Y	t
24May 06:47	7.1	N	Y	at

I haven’t managed to assess this yet. I called Mandy Miller thinking she was working with the suppliers in Slough. I haven’t received a reply, so today I have emailed nmp22@matritech.com. -:- Must call Mandy Miller of ‘Kyowa Hakko’ again (01753 566020)

16th May 10:07 Have just called Mandy wasn’t available but someone else will look into it for me. Will call Germany Found 0049 761 478330. (http://www.matritech.de/) See if I can speak to Joe Hephler again.

Joe wasn’t available but it was confirmed that the NMP22 uses the same goat - anti mouse derivative. I was told that no immunoassay can function without some animal derived antigen.

I am taking Chinese Medicine as I’ve been offered some by a friend, Verity. I have called the supplier, Dr Hua’s Chinese Herbs 0207 2581538 to ensure they are vegan and to enquire about their use. I can find out what they are used for via the web and will try different ones roughly each fortnight. The quantity recommended and provided per ‘bottle’ last about a week in some case a few weeks.

So this week, 11th May to 17th may I’m trying Xiao Yao Wan, meaning Free and Easy Wanderer. It supposed to help relieve stress, which seems a good idea and is sometimes called the ‘Happy Pill’.

30 May
Taking RenShen JianPi Wan until 7th June.

12 June
Taking Liuwei Dihuang Pian for 15 days.

27 June
Started taking Pifubing Xuedu Wan. At 20 twice a day they will last until 1st July.

May 11th 08:02
Well I expected a poor pee showing after yesterday so not a good start to the ‘week’ but hopefully it can only get better. -:- 13:10 Not feeling too good? -:- 16:50 Feel more twingie and tired. -:- 18:55 Not checking pee yet as colour is off. May check later tonight after eating etc.

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