All the fun of the fair (not)

So… it turns out I’m not just getting old 🧓

I’ve not been feeling what you could call tip top of late, and it turns out there are one or two good reasons for that. After a lot of too-ing and fro-ing, many (many) blood tests, it turns out I am deficient in Vitamin B12 (and B9), and severely deficient in Vitamin D.

What’s worse is at least one of those deficiencies has been in place for ages. I had some private medical tests last year which didn’t flag either deficiency, although subsequent scrutiny of the numbers (using my newfound knowledge of what constitutes normal and what doesn’t) indicates they were already low. So that was money well spent (not).

Although it may seem unconnected, for a couple of years now I’ve had trouble with swollen feet. It’s worse during the hotter months of the year, but even in the cooler months, they’ve not shrunk back fully. All manner of things have been blamed – a salty diet, carrying excess weight, having a sedentary job being to the forefront. But this year, as we were moving, the swelling became extreme – so I consulted a doctor. Blood tests were taken to check for cardiac insufficiency, but once that was ruled out, the interest in getting to the bottom of it waned. So when, after completing a series of B12 injections, my feet shrunk back to normal, I was gobsmacked – if delighted. Less delighted I’d gotten rid of a lot of lovely footwear before moving thinking this was my new normal… but being positive, shopping for new shoes is a price I’m prepared to pay 😉

Swollen feet isn’t one of the listed symptoms of B12 deficiency, although if you ask specifically, it is confirmed as an uncommon one. There are indicators this may mean more tests, but that’s yet to come. I don’t know anyone else who’s experienced this symptom, but then everyone I know who’s had B12 injections tells me they felt immediately not only better, but fantastic – whereas I’m still waiting… To be fair, it’s true that none of them were severely deficient in Vitamin D too, so I guess I’m going to have to be patient waiting for that particular boost to arrive.

In the interim, my body decided to join the party…

Out of the blue, my left leg intermittently refused to bear weight, which led into my bad (left) knee flaring. Sadly, this (eventually) led to a parting of the ways with my Osteopath, as she has become increasingly chaotic and I’ve not felt safely “held” in my treatments. The fact of the matter is my knee does need a replacement. I’d assumed a replacement was to be the course of action when I had surgery 5 years ago, but the surgeon was confident (or arrogant – you choose 😏) that only a repair was called for… until immediately after surgery that is, when he sheepishly informed me literally as I was coming round from the anesthetic that it would, in fact, need replacing🙄

Then, as if that wasn’t enough, my stomach reacted badly (I’ll spare you the gruesome details) to the folate and Vitamin D tablets, so I’m now waiting for a consult to identify an alternative supply method to tablets. While we do get free healthcare in the UK, the system is struggling, and every step moves really slowly…

When we moved, I chose to remain with our previous doctors as I’d been happy with the service received to date. But these lengthy waits and the multitude of glowing references I’ve heard for the local medical practice means I’ve started the process to transfer over – especially as they don’t seem to be suffering with the same long waiting periods. Having to do so much waiting has been a right PITA, I’m not going to lie. I am well & truly done with the bumper car ride, and more than ready for a gentler and smoother ride.

As you can tell, my plan for getting stuff done didn’t quite work out, so I thought I’d return and get some entertainment from blogland while I wait for my feel better boost to arrive 🙂

Do you regard yourself as a patient person? Or are you like me – patient with some stuff but not others? Which do you find harder – the waiting or the doing?

© Debs Carey, 2025