General Medical issues thread

[drron]

LDH can rise in any inflammatory condition so hard to nail down to just one of your problems.
In the late 60s we were just getting used to CPK to follow heart attacks. Prior to that LDH was used as well as non specific markers such as ESR and WCC.

 

[Quickstatus]

Low protein is non specific but consistent with recent illness
lymphocytes can be low as a result of infection
Not something to be specifically concerned about

 

[RooFlyer]

Could be in LTIL thread.

I got bitten on the foot by a leech a few days ago, and being on blood thinners, I knew it would be a battle to heal.

In spite of me elevating it, and pressing on it from time to time, it bled for 24 hours (not much, but eventually soaking every dressing I put on it, many times over) but stopped overnight. Off and on the next day. This morning it restarted in earnest and the advice is that if its still bleeding after a day, seek medical advice.

I felt very silly, but I went into my doctors in Hobart asking for a nurse to look at it and dress it properly, and anything else suggested.

Nurse saw me after abt 5 mins wait. Very sympathetic and cleaned the wound. She asked my GP to step in (against my protests) and he looked at it and basically confirmed what the nurse was doing. Very 'no worries' attitude to the unscheduled 5 min consult (I'm obviously a valued customer ).

Thing dressed, bound up and I was on my way.

Bulk billed (very unusual for this practice!).

 

[RooFlyer]

Who knows flas hback personally? I am very worried.

He's back; just took a break (sensible!).

 

[tgh]

I was just plain ecstatic to end my year on blood thinners and have great sympathy for the poor souls stuck with them permanently.
Better that the alternative but still a pita...

 

[Quickstatus]

One thing that gets leeches off is salt

 

[RooFlyer]

One thing that gets leeches off is salt

The little bugger found its way into my boot, unseen. Did his thing and dropped off. Took my boot off later to a blood-soaked sock.

Anyone? I have seen AFF members interact with him who seem to know him in UK.

See a couple of messages ago

 

[VPS]

Could be in LTIL thread.

I got bitten on the foot by a leech a few days ago, and being on blood thinners, I knew it would be a battle to heal.

In spite of me elevating it, and pressing on it from time to time, it bled for 24 hours (not much, but eventually soaking every dressing I put on it, many times over) but stopped overnight. Off and on the next day. This morning it restarted in earnest and the advice is that if its still bleeding after a day, seek medical advice.

I felt very silly, but I went into my doctors in Hobart asking for a nurse to look at it and dress it properly, and anything else suggested.

Nurse saw me after abt 5 mins wait. Very sympathetic and cleaned the wound. She asked my GP to step in (against my protests) and he looked at it and basically confirmed what the nurse was doing. Very 'no worries' attitude to the unscheduled 5 min consult (I'm obviously a valued customer ).

Thing dressed, bound up and I was on my way.

Bulk billed (very unusual for this practice!).

me - he's OK

 

[andye]

Any of the brains trust have a suggestion for these numbers being out of normal range?

To me these are repeat in a month or two results. People are outside the 'normal' ranges 5% of the time and they return to normal range more often than not

 

[prozac]

To me these are repeat in a month or two results. People are outside the 'normal' ranges 5% of the time and they return to normal range more often than not

Thanks. LDH has been high bi-monthly for 10 months. With that in mind, and a clear PET scan 6 months ago, any other thoughts?

 

[JohnK]

Dad is not having much luck.

Earlier in the week he couldn't urinate but when he did there was blood in the urine.

Wayfaring caused an infection in the bladder which has then caused bleeding. He the developed blood clots in the bladder which prevented him from urinating. Doctors saying his haemoglobin was doemwn by half and they gave him blood transfusion and after a few days he started to improve and urine.

Warfarin the problem. Dangerous medication.

 

[andye]

Dad is not having much luck.

Earlier in the week he couldn't urinate but when he did there was blood in the urine.

Wayfaring caused an infection in the bladder which has then caused bleeding. He the developed blood clots in the bladder which prevented him from urinating. Doctors saying his haemoglobin was doemwn by half and they gave him blood transfusion and after a few days he started to improve and urine.

Warfarin the problem. Dangerous medication.

Besr wishes to your father and hope he recovers quickly
All the anticoagulants carry risks but the things they prevent (strokes, pulmonary emboli and DVTs) are usually worse.
My approach to anticoagulants is that they don't cause bleeding in themselves, just make any bleeding worse. Still need to find out what is causing the bleeding

 

[mrsterryn]

Edited

 

[Seat0B]

I just had my first Shingrix vaccination about 10 days ago and boy did I have a sore arm. And a headache. For three days. My arm is usually pretty bad after tetanus, but this was much worse. And the pharmacist helpfully (!) told he that most people say the second shot is even worse .

At least I didn’t have to pay $320 per shot even though I am under 65 because it’s free to people of any age with leukaemia.

 

[prozac]

I just had my first Shingrix vaccination about 10 days ago and boy did I have a sore arm. And a headache. For three days. My arm is usually pretty bad after tetanus, but this was much worse. And the pharmacist helpfully (!) told he that most people say the second shot is even worse .

At least I didn’t have to pay $320 per shot even though I am under 65 because it’s free to people of any age with leukaemia.

Good luck with the 2nd. I don't recall it being worse than the 1st.

Edit:
Is Mr Seat 0A getting vaccinated?
The Australian Immunisation Handbook recommends shingles vaccination for specific groups including:

• people aged 50 years and over
• immunocompromised people aged 18 years and over
• people aged 50 years and over who live in the same household as someone who has a weakened immune system.

 

[Pushka]

I just had my first Shingrix vaccination about 10 days ago and boy did I have a sore arm. And a headache. For three days. My arm is usually pretty bad after tetanus, but this was much worse. And the pharmacist helpfully (!) told he that most people say the second shot is even worse .

At least I didn’t have to pay $320 per shot even though I am under 65 because it’s free to people of any age with leukaemia.

Yes. My experience too. Unfortunately the second one, for me, was worse. Just give yourself a couple of quiet days afterward. And Panadol.

 

[zig]

I also found the 2nd vaccination to be much worse. In fact the first one just gave me a bit of a sore arm, but the 2nd put me in bed for 24 hours. Definitely don't make any plans for the couple of days after the vaccination so that you have the time to rest.

 

[cove]

We had the shingles shots in California 6 months apart at our local pharmac_ at the back of Ralph’s supermarket. No issues at all.
I remember my mother got shingles and was laid low with it for a long time in her seventies. We chose America because the Shingrix shots had not been released in Australia at that time. That was about 8 years ago.

 

[ellen10]

Yes my first shot I had the very sore arm and headache. And I had heard the reports of the second shot being worse. But probably similar to the first shot but a bit milder.
These vaccinations are so random how they affect people.
Hoping your second shot symptoms are milder.

 

[zig]

We had the shingles shots in California 6 months apart at our local pharmac_ at the back of Ralph’s supermarket. No issues at all.
I remember my mother got shingles and was laid low with it for a long time in her seventies. We chose America because the Shingrix shots had not been released in Australia at that time. That was about 8 years ago.

My mother also had a bad experience from shingles in her 70’s which was the reason I paid to have Shingrix rather than wait until the government allowed me to have it at no cost. I also saw a few work colleagues really struggle with it so it was something I wanted to avoid if possible.
My vaccinations were 2 months apart. I wonder if there is any evidence indicating a longer time frame between vaccinations reduces side effects?