Another health and wellbeing update from me today. A few months ago I recorded that I’d been to see my general practitioner (GP) and he referred me to pathologists for some pathology tests. The results reflected that I was a typical adult man in Australia. I’m overweight. My waist circumference is too large. My fasting insulin three months ago was a warning that I was following my father and paternal grandmother into diabetes mellitus. Just as worrying, my cholesterol and lipids plus my mild hypertension, all pointed to metabolic syndrome.
Health and wellbeing update
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I’m due to see my GP on Monday so I had some follow up tests last week authorised by specialist pathologists in an accredited pathology laboratory. My cholesterol and lipids are much the same although the total cholesterol is now within the normal range, and my low-density lipoproteins (LDL) have gone up and my non-high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol remained outside the normal range. If you’re not familiar with the non-HDL cholesterol (non-HDLC) it is a result obtained by subtracting the HDL from the total cholesterol. It’s a useful marker because the LDL alone is not always useful because it can appear to be low in some individuals who are at risk of atherosclerotic disease.
The good news is that my fasting insulin wasn’t abnormal this time, however, my ferritin continues to climb. I wonder if it’s all the kale, kale sprouts, spinach, and cabbage I’ve been eating. I wonder what my GP will say next week.
Another odd complication
I nearly didn’t get to my appointment to have my blood collected. As I was trying to drive out of the carpark the security gate wouldn’t open. It had been stuck in a position leaving a gap about the width of an average-sized person. I couldn’t drive to work. I really needed to get to work so I could walk to the pathology collection centre.
It was 6 am, it was too early to call a friend so I called a taxicab. I got to work and got to the pathology collection centre in time.
I found out later in the day that thieves had entered the building and on trying to exit, they hacked the control unit to the security gate and managed to getaway.
¿My reaction to “adversity” was to eat a comforting breakfast. A bacon and egg wrap with barbecue sauce from the Urban Bean Espresso Bar.¿
The Royal Queensland Show
The Royal Queensland Show which is also known as The Ekka is on at the moment. I visited Brisbane this weekend to see my children and parents and to take my children to The Ekka to have some fun.
As far as health and wellbeing are concerned, I put a dent in my healthful eating plan by eating a box of hot chips and gravy and a few Strawberry sundaes. I mean, I had to have more than one sundae given the money goes to medical research at The Prince Charles Hospital in Chermside.
Strawberry Sundae time at the #ekka #thecommongood @thecommongoodau 
Flying noodles 
The Ekka FMX 
Tom Cat Monster Truck 
Me and a strawberry sundae
I enjoyed some free tasting plates and kombucha in the Woolworths pavilion, followed by a great round of racing pigs. We then went to see some exhibits including the cake decorating and photography. We had one Strawberry Sundae in the afternoon before we found a spot on Machinery Hill to prepare for EkkaNITES which is the evening entertainment show. The evening entertainment includes stock demonstrations, lots of horse work, precision driving, monster trucks, freestyle motor cross, and fireworks. I love the evening show at The Ekka.
It was pretty cold on Saturday night. I mean it wasn’t horrible Canberra-cold, but it was chilly. It was also windy with westerly winds gusting up to 40 kilometres per hour.
After the evening entertainment, we wandered through sideshow alley, ate another Strawberry Sundae, bought some show bags, and then left for home.
ManFlu
ManFlu has struck and this week my nose has been dropping like a tap when it isn’t it is so congested that I’m mouth breathing.
Fortunately, I don’t have the symptoms of influenza, like a fever, muscle aches and pains along with a bad headache. I probably have an infection with something like a rhinovirus.
With so much Influenza A virus infection going around at the moment, I’m glad I was immunised early this year. While I know vaccine-failure does occur, I have confidence in the concept of vaccination that I make sure I avail myself of the annual influenza vaccination. I’m of an age and health status where I believe annual influenza vaccination is warranted.
The information in the bar graph below is freely available on-line. You can see 2019 is looking like it may approach the case numbers of 2017 which was a pretty bad year for influenza in Australia.
The statistics for laboratory-confirmed cases of influenza this year have been interesting. It looks like quite a few Australians have also had a dent to their health and wellbeing as a result of infection by Influenza A virus.
I participated in a video-recorded panel discussion this week and my greatest concern was my nose suddenly dripping with snot or the need to blow my nose or a sudden coughing fit. Fortunately, nothing too untoward happened.
What have I watched this week?
I have watched very little on TV this week apart from news bulletins. It’s been so cold I’ve been going to bed early (like 7.30 pm) and because of the ManFlu, I’ve not been feeling the best anyway. Spending the weekend in Brisbane with my family also meant TV was relegated to unimportant status.
What have I listened to this week?
Like TV, I haven’t listened to anything outstanding or worthy enough to mention here. I did listen to a few tech, photography, and Star Trek podcasts, but it was pretty much run of the mill sort of stuff.
What have I eaten and photographed this week?
Videos
Photographs
This is a gallery of photographs. Click on one image and scroll through the rest of them.
The lamb’s fry (liver) in the Shearer’s Classic breakfast from Cafe 63 in Westfield Chermside (see the image in the gallery) was really nice. It’s been a long time since I’ve enjoyed some liver.
Monday tea. Pan-fried salmon with a salad of cabbage, carrot, fennel, and date. #yummylummy #foodphotography #lowcarb Salmon, Cabbage, Carrot, Fennel, Dates, Lemon juice, Olive oil, Red onion G’day food lovers, I have to begin fasting tonight for blood tests tomorrow. I need to have my cholesterol and triglycerides checked. With a mandolin and making sure I wore safety gloves I shredded some red cabbage, red onion, carrot, and fennel. I sliced some dried dates and combined everything with a mixture of lemon juice and olive oil. I prepared the salmon by massaging rice bran oil all over the salmon with my hands. I put the salmon skin-side down on a cold frypan and then turned up the heat source to as high as possible and set a timer for five minutes. When the skin started to brown and smoke, I titrated degree of heat with the amount of smoke. I cooked the salmon on the skin side for 5 minutes. I then flipped it over and cooked it for another 1 minute. I served the salmon on top of the salad on a plate. Have a good night. Bye. 
Slow cooker shin, celery, and carrot 
Tuesday tea. Leftover slow cooker shin, carrot, and celery with Dijon kale sprouts, green kale, and red cabbage. #yummylummy #foodphotography #lowcarb #slowcooker Shin, Carrot, Celery, Kale, Kale sprouts, Cabbage, Dijon mustard, Butter, Cream, Blood limes G’day food lovers, Today had a bit of drama. I was shut in due to thieves and I had to catch a taxicab to work at 6 am. I then had some blood collected for some routine tests before I see my GP next week. All I’ve been thinking about after fasting last night is a big dinner of leftover shin. In a saucepan I placed the leftover shin, carrot, and celery, plus the kale sprouts, green kale leaves, and red cabbage. I put the lid on and cooked everything on a low heat for 10 minutes. I added some butter and cream and allowed the sauce to reduce. I served everything on a bowl with some halved blood limes. Have a good night. Bye. 
Celery, Carrot, Coon cheese, and Dates 
The Owl Statue on Tuesday morning Bacon and egg wrap with barbecue sauce and a flat white coffee after fasting for 12 hours and having a problem getting to work 
Wednesday tea. Horseradish corned beef with cabbage, kale sprouts, and spinach. #yummylummy #foodphotography #lowcarb Corned beef, Spinach, Kale sprouts, Cabbage, Horseradish cream, Cream, Avocado, Brie, Tomatoes G’day food lovers, My head cold is getting worse. I needed comfort food. I emptied a tin of corned beef into a frypan and cooked it until it started to take some colour. I added a good dollop of horseradish cream and tossed in some kale sprouts, red cabbage, and cherry tomatoes. I put the lid on the frypan and cooked that for 3 minutes. I then tossed in a handful of spinach leaves and a splash of cream and cooked that for another 3 minutes. I served the meal in a bowl along with some triple cream brie and avocado cheeks. Have a good night. Bye. 
Celery Carrot Coon Dates 
Coffee and work on Friday 
Garran Kitchen chicken, deep fried duck, and sichuan lamb 
QF1554 Qantas Cous cous pumpkin feta 
Cafe 63 Shearer’s Classic Liver, Bacon, Potato rosti, Poached eggs, Hollandaise sauce, Onion rings Flying noodles Strawberry Sundae time at the #ekka #thecommongood @thecommongoodau Me and a strawberry sundae 
Farmhouse Kedron Farmhouse breakfast Bacon, poached eggs, Hollandaise sauce, Relish, Sourdough bread toast 
Farmhouse Kedron Farmhouse breakfast Bacon, poached eggs, Hollandaise sauce, Relish, Sourdough bread toast
Yummy Lummy this week
Because I’m away there isn’t a Yummy Lummy post this week. Hopefully next week I’ll share something with contributes to my health and wellbeing.
The cookbook
Like everything else, when I’m too busy, feeling cold, feeling unwell, and not around, the cookbook didn’t get a look in. I’m not sure whether there will be a health and wellbeing theme to it.
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Final thoughts
- How often do you see you GP?
- Do you get worried when you see some abnormal pathology test results?
- Have you ever been to The Ekka? What did you think?
- How is your health and wellbeing at the moment?
Sorry to hear you haven’t been well.
I have been healthy and I made sure I had a flu injection before winter.
I visit the doctor once a year for a checkup and blood tests other than that I have only had one other visit in the previous year when I broke my humerus. That was a visit to emergency and then two visits to a specialist for follow up.
Thanks, Heather. Sorry for the delay in getting back to you. For some reason, your comment went to Spam. I’m feeling a lot better now. I wish summer would arrive though 😃
Must admit Gary I did smile when I read your first paragraph about you saying you and overweight (not just that of course) but then seeing your first photo of you and an ice-cream sundae !! haha
I would not attend The Ekka and not have a Strawberry Sundae (or two or three).
You made it to The Ekka again this year! So glad you managed to go in spite of Manflu. You look very happy eating the strawberry sundaes – a well deserved treat for eating so well 😀 Hopefully the Manflu blows over soon if it hasn’t yet. I think it’s so important for all of us to go to the GP once a year for at least a full blood test. Health is so important.
Like you, I wish it was warmer this time of the year. Melbourne has been cold.
Thanks, Mabel. It was a great weekend, although, Brisbane was chilly with westerly winds.
I now feel substantially better compared with last week. I think it must have been all the strawberries 😂😂😂
Mind you, I woke up with a sore throat this morning, but that could have been all the dust I swallowed on Saturday night while watching monster trucks and freestyle motor cross.
Good to read, that you take good care of your health, Gary.
As you might know, I’m in for regular controls very often. For now, the GP’s talk about that the Q-fever got into my bones, why my Arthritis are developing in fast speed.
Thanks Irene. I hope you continue to improve and recover from your chronic Q fever.
Thank you Gary.
Hope you’re feeling better soon Gary. That’s good news about your fasting insulin result. What is ferritin – is that iron? But is that good or bad that it is climbing – as I thought those iron veggies were good for us. I suppose it’s all about moderation though. My son had influenza A in 2017 when he was 9 – he was so sick. I only see my GP if I think I need antibiotics which is rare – prob only once every year of two. I really need to have a proper check up, especially as I carry weight around the middle, but I’m too scared to. Surely if I just eat more kale everything will be alright 😉 No I’ll go to the GP.
Have never been to the Ekka, but I have been to the Sydney Royal Easter Show many times. The Ekka is probably less stressful!
Cheers.
Ferritin is a molecule which carries iron and in iron overload states like hæmachromatosis, it is often raised. My free unsaturated iron is normal. Ferritin can also be elevated as a result of acute and chronic inflammation. Another inflammatory marker was tested and it is normal. One other important reason for en elevated ferritin in malignant disease like lymphoma. I’ll see what my GP thinks.
For many years, I neglected seeing a GP unless I was really unwell or worried. I need to be better at the regular check up thing.
I’ve been to the Sydney Royal Easter Show a few times. It could be because I’m a Queenslander, but I think the Ekka is bigger and better.
Thanks for explaining that Gary. I hope all is ok for you.
I need to get into regular health check-up mode. I treat my car better than I treat myself!
I also think I should get myself to an Ekka so I can compare the two for myself! 🙂
Thanks, I hope so too 😃
I wish there was a bloggers collective which funded travel to all the major shows around the country 😂
Wouldn’t that be amazing! Maybe we need to set up a bloggers’ society and apply for a grant on the premise of promoting events and therefore the economy 🙂
It would be cool. After a year here, we could ask for funding for an international version and do state and county fares in the US.
And eat deep-fried butter on a stick 🙂
I’m happy to tour the world eating deep-fried foods 😂🤣
Ahh so good! 😊