Maarten Vasbinder lives in Isaan. His profession is general practitioner, a profession that he mainly practiced in Spain. On Thailandblog he answers questions from readers who live in Thailand.
Do you have a question for Maarten and do you live in Thailand? Send this to the editor: www.thailandblog.nl/contact/ It is important that you provide the correct information such as:
- Age
- Complaints)
- History
- Medication use, including supplements, etc.
- Smoking, alcohol
- Overweight
- Optional: laboratory results and other tests
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Dear Martin,
We in Thailand are very grateful for all the professional advice you give us. I have already used your advice a number of times, now just one more question.
Next month I will be 78. I am 1,75 m, 85 kg and drink one or two beers a day. Quit smoking two years ago, but still crave it, very huh.
Always worked hard physically and because I haven't been feeling so lively lately, I had another blood test done, here are the results.
I don't use any medication, only sometimes aspro for pain and a sleeping tablet, because I often lie awake for too long. There are days when I have to urinate in short bursts, but there are also days when I urinate at normal times and have no pain at all, just discomfort.
My cholesterol is a bit on the high side.
I would like to hear your advice.
Many thanks in advance.
Regards,
H.
*****
Dear h,
Good to hear from you again. This bowel surgery is new to me. Or did I not read carefully? What was going on? Diverticulitis?
Your blood results are fine and I would put the cholesterol out of my mind. That is absolutely irrelevant here. Kidney function is very good for your age. So no worries either.
The urination problems will probably be related to an enlarged prostate. You can take finasteride for this, which reduces the size of the prostate. However, the effect only occurs after six months.
Tamsulosin (0,4 mg) is suitable for faster relief. Take it in the evening, as it can lower blood pressure. Keep an eye on that. When getting up, sit first, then put the legs out of bed and then stand, to avoid orthostatic hypotension (low blood pressure when standing up), resulting in dizziness. Tamsulosin works after about three weeks.
Your hemoglobin is a little on the high side. Drink a lot, but not in the evening and avoid food and any supplements with a lot of iron. Have another Complete Blood Count done in three months.
How are the hips?
Due to the Covid delusion, many people's zest for life has decreased. It has been replaced by fear, or something in between. Don't be fooled. Despite all the wild stories, there was no more going on than with a serious flu. Only during the flu did the press not turn on and the doors were not locked. There are of course more reasons for decreasing zest for life, such as old age, constant ailments, pain and so on.
If you have any further questions, please let us know.
Yours faithfully,
Dr. Maarten