A Quick High-Fibre Meal
I have been told that because of my uncomplicated pancolonic diverticular disease, I should try to stick to a high-fibre diet.
So how about beans on toast followed by strawberries?
Note.
- I use Heinz Snap Pots as it cuts the washing up.
- The beans had 7.4 g. of fibre.
- The bread had 5.25 g. of fibre.
- The yoghurt had <0.5g. of fibre.
- The strawberries had 9.5 g. fibre.
- That is a total of 22.2 g. of fibre.
I used a teaspoon to stir the beans, but then I use a lot of teaspoons, when I’m cooking.
I’ve Just Had An MRI Scan And I’ve Got A Pain In My Foot
I will try and use the AI functions of Google to make some sense of the title of this post.
These are the questions I asked.
Why Is My Left Foot Painful After An MRI Scan Of My Brain?
Google gave this AI Overview.
A foot pain after a brain MRI is likely unrelated to the scan itself. MRI scans are not known to cause pain in extremities, though some patients may experience temporary discomfort from having to lie still for an extended period. It’s more probable that the pain is coincidental, or due to another underlying issue unrelated to the MRI, such as a pre-existing condition or new injury.
Note.
- It is a hot day.
- I did a fair bit of walking to get to and from the MRI Scan.
- I don’t think it was lying still for an extended period.
- I felt a bit dehydrated after the scan.
Overall, my left foot is occasionally in pain and red. Certainly more often than my right! It doesn’t appear to be red today.
Can An MRI Scan Make You Dehydrated?
Google gave this AI Overview.
While MRI scans themselves don’t cause dehydration, staying well-hydrated is important, especially if contrast dye is used. Drinking plenty of fluids after an MRI with contrast helps flush the dye out of your system. Though dehydration can occur naturally, it’s not a direct effect of the MRI itself.
I didn’t have any dye.
But I was desperate for a drink, so I went into the first cafe, that I passed and had a coffee and cake.
Can An MRI Scan Stimulate Blood Flow?
Google gave this AI Overview.
While MRI machines don’t directly stimulate blood flow in the sense of causing it to increase, they can visualize and measure blood flow. Functional MRI (fMRI) specifically detects changes in blood flow related to brain activity as the brain uses more oxygen in active areas, leading to increased blood flow to those areas. Standard MRI can also be used to visualize blood vessels and assess blood flow, but it doesn’t directly cause the flow to change.
As I have now changed my shoes and socks to my slippers and the pain has disappeared, I suspect it was the new shoes.
I wrote this post, to show the quality of the answers of artificial intelligence to simple medical questions.
From my knowledge of data analysis, I suspect there’s much more to come with medical diagnosis using AI. Especially, if you login to a medical diagnosis computer system, that has details of your medical history.
I always remember my first B12 injection, after I had been diagnosed with coeliac disease.
Do Dry Eyes Make It Difficult To See?
My first eye test was performed by a friend’s father in a shed in his garden.
But he was a retired senior eye surgeon from Ipswich Hospital.
He told me, that I had the driest eyes he’d ever seen and that he didn’t think I’d ever be able to wear contact lenses.
The second part of his statement has proved to be true, but what does Google AI think of the first part?
I asked Google AI, the question in the title of this post and received this answer.
Yes, dry eyes can make it difficult to see, causing temporary blurred vision that often improves with blinking. This happens because the tear film, which keeps the eye’s surface lubricated, is insufficient or of poor quality, which affects focus. Dry eyes can also lead to other vision problems, such as sensitivity to light and reduced contrast sensitivity.
That certainly fits my experience.
I find that having a hot bath every morning and putting my head under water and then opening my eyes and giving them a good rinse. This was recommended to me, by an ophthalmologist and then approved by my GP.
Can A Glass Of Orange Juice Act As A Laxative?
I’ve just had a dramatic demonstration that it does work, so I asked Google AI, the question in the title of this post and I received the following answer.
Yes, a glass of orange juice can act as a mild laxative due to its fiber content (especially with pulp) and the flavonoid naringenin, which may have a laxative effect. It also provides hydration, which is crucial for soft, regular bowel movements.
As, in this weather with low pressure, I seem to be suffering from constipation more than usual, I’ll make sure I always have orange juice in the fridge.
Orange juice is also a good alternative, as in Can You Take A Dulcolax With Uncomplicated Pancolonic Diverticular Disease?, I found I couldn’t take my usual laxative, as I have been diagnosed with uncomplicated pancolonic diverticular disease.
Does Low Barometric Pressure Lower Blood Pressure?
I’m writing this post, as the barometric pressure has been low for a few days and my blood pressure has been as follows.
- Friday – 109/81/80
- Saturday – 120/47/78
- Sunday – 123/84/77
- Monday – 114/54/81
- Tuesday – 118/80/73
- Wednesday – 105/75/84
- Thursday – 108/81/74
- Friday – 107/56/70
The pressure had been going up and down all week, with two storms and quite a bit of rain.
So I asked Google AI the question in the title of this post and received this answer.
Yes, low barometric pressure can sometimes lower blood pressure, particularly systolic blood pressure, though the relationship can be complex and varies by individual and season. Studies have shown an inverse relationship, meaning as barometric pressure drops, blood pressure can also decrease. However, other factors can also influence this, and some research suggests a more complex “U-shaped” relationship where both very low and very high pressures may be associated with changes in blood pressure.
That’s fairly conclusive.
This paper on the National Library of Medicine, which was entitled Evaluation Of The Impact Of Atmospheric Pressure In Different Seasons On Blood Pressure In Patients With Arterial Hypertension, is referenced.
Is It Advantageous For Student Doctors To See Patients Earlier In Their Careers?
I’m asking this for a friend.
I asked Google AI the question in the title of this post and received this answer.
Yes, it is advantageous for student doctors to see patients earlier, as it can increase motivation and confidence, provide a better theoretical understanding, and help them develop clinical and communication skills earlier. Early patient contact also helps students build professional identity, gain comfort with patient encounters, and better understand the realities of being a physician, which can also improve patient experiences and facilitate the transition to becoming a junior doctor
That all sounds pretty sensible to me.
These are some thoughts.
Could The Same Philosophy Be Used For Other Health Professionals Like Nurses, Pharmacists And Radiographers?
I don’t see why not!
I actually feel, this philosophy might be already being used by the City University, who train radiographers at Homerton Hospital in Hackney.
I Was Used By University College For Interview Practice
A few years ago, I spent four nights in University College Hospital.
- I had my own single room.
- They wanted to do a few more tests.
- So one of the Senior Tutors asked if I’d mind being interviewed by student doctors for practice.
As I said, I wouldn’t mind, I was interviewed by four student doctors over two nights.
It certainly relieved some of my boredom and at least two of the students had never met a coeliac before.
Conclusion
I believe this patient/student interaction could be used very much to the advantage of both groups.
Can You Take A Dulcolax With Uncomplicated Pancolonic Diverticular Disease?
I was suffering from constipation this morning, as the low barometric pressure was drawing the water out of my body.
So I wondered if I could safely take one of my usual Dulcolax tablets.
I asked Google AI, the question in the title of this post and received this reply.
You should not take Dulcolax with uncomplicated pancolonic diverticular disease, especially during a flare-up, without first consulting a healthcare provider. Stimulant laxatives like Dulcolax can be risky and may cause issues, such as gastrointestinal problems or increased risk of perforation. Instead, a healthcare provider will likely recommend consulting them for advice on which constipation treatments, if any, are appropriate, such as bulk-forming laxatives if your diet is insufficient.
I didn’t take any Dulcolax tablets.
But I’ve just hydrated myself with a bottle of Adnams Ghost Ship 0.5% Beer and it did the trick!
Can Uncomplicated Pancolonic Diverticular Disease Make My Left Foot Go Red?
In My Unusual Feet, which I wrote in February 2022, I showed this typical picture of my feet.
Note how the left foot is redder than the right.
This prompted me to ask Google AI, the question in the title of this post and I received this answer.
No, uncomplicated pancolonic diverticular disease itself is not likely to cause a red left foot, though it’s possible for pain to radiate to the legs. A red foot would be a symptom of a different issue, and could be related to complications from the diverticular disease, such as sepsis (a severe infection), or another unrelated condition like poor circulation or an infection. It’s important to see a doctor to determine the cause of the red foot and rule out a more serious problem, especially if you have symptoms like fever or severe pain.
As sepsis is mentioned, if it happens again, I’ll see a health professional.
Does Injecting Disinfectant Cure Covid?
I wrote this post to test one of Trump’s most famous pieces of advice.
I asked the question of Google AI and received this answer.
No, injecting disinfectant does not cure COVID-19 and is extremely dangerous, potentially lethal. The idea is a harmful myth that was widely debunked by medical and scientific experts during the pandemic.
The language is fairly clear too.
The Anonymous Widower 