General Medical issues thread

[Pushka]

Yes. Thinking about this a friend of my son died from meningococcal virus. He played football for his school Saturday and was best on ground. Attended a 21st that night. Felt unwell on the Sunday and went home as his parents were in NY and his grandparents were in looking after him and his younger siblings. Sunday afternoon he was still unwell and went to bed. His grandparents heard a bang and that was him falling out of bed. Took him to Hospital where he lapsed into coma and on life support while his parents flew back home from the States. Can you just imagine the terror of that flight. Awful. He was taken off life support a couple of hours after his parents arrived back and died.

 

[love_the_life]

Yes. Thinking about this a friend of my son died from meningococcal virus. He played football for his school Saturday and was best on ground. Attended a 21st that night. Felt unwell on the Sunday and went home as his parents were in NY and his grandparents were in looking after him and his younger siblings. Sunday afternoon he was still unwell and went to bed. His grandparents heard a bang and that was him falling out of bed. Took him to Hospital where he lapsed into coma and on life support while his parents flew back home from the States. Can you just imagine the terror of that flight. Awful. He was taken off life support a couple of hours after his parents arrived back and died.

It can be so quick, you feel for everyone, especially the poor grandparents.

My niece was another sudden death. Just dropped dead on the toilet. Found by her young daughters. The 6 yr old rang 000.

On a lighter note, I have new 'ears' so my hearing should be somewhat improved

 

[get me outta here]

Yes, terrible. It has occurred to me that if I had to drive a long or even a short distance suddenly due to my daughter's accident or something urgent, that I would not be fit to drive I'd be so anxious and totally distracted.

snip... . Can you just imagine the terror of that flight. Awful. He was taken off life support a couple of hours after his parents arrived back and died.

 

[JohnK]

All you can can do is live your life and appreciate each day - no one knows what lies ahead.

True but very sad for those left behind especially the parents. No one should have to bury their children.

 

[Milboo]

I lost a friend several years back - late 20s. Fit, healthy and active and it was an asthma attack.

 

[Flying mermaid]

True but very sad for those left behind especially the parents. No one should have to bury their children.

it was very devastating for the whole family.

 

[love_the_life]

it was very devastating for the whole family.

Yes, I can imagine.
In my niece's case, she was a single mum with 2 little girls from 2 relationships. My brother and SIL used to have a lot to do with the girls. After her death the children went to live with their respective fathers and one cut off all contact with brother - terribly sad. Things have improved a bit now though it took quite a few years and the girls do see each other.

 

[Flying mermaid]

Yes, I can imagine.
In my niece's case, she was a single mum with 2 little girls from 2 relationships. My brother and SIL used to have a lot to do with the girls. After her death the children went to live with their respective fathers and one cut off all contact with brother - terribly sad. Things have improved a bit now though it took quite a few years and the girls do see each other.

That is terribly sad

 

[cove]

Our friends heart stopped beating. By the time the Ambos arrived it was too late despite cpr by her partner. The ICU specialist said that even in hospital the chance of a full recovery is 6% for that condition.
Sad times for all of her friends.

 

[Quickstatus]

My niece was another sudden death. Just dropped dead on the toilet.

I dont understand why but anecdotally there seems to be a connection with an urge to go to the loo and then suddenly dropping dead. Seen it several times in hospitals... My grandmother was one but she was home. Said she needed to go to bathroom, stood up to go, and then suddenly expired.

Our friends heart stopped beating. By the time the Ambos arrived it was too late despite cpr by her partner. The ICU specialist said that even in hospital the chance of a full recovery is 6% for that condition.

Sad times for all of her friends.

Some CPR is better than no CPR, Some baulk at the mouth to mouth bit so the Resuscitation Council said even chest compressions alone is better than nothing. Effective CPR is very difficult with one person CPR.

When able, apart from doing the poo test for the over 50s, everyone should give blood and learn to do CPR - rinse and repeat annually.
There is always a course near you!
http://www.stjohnnsw.com.au/training/

Edit: And sign up as an organ donor. You dont need them when you die.

 

[bosox76]

Our friends heart stopped beating. By the time the Ambos arrived it was too late despite cpr by her partner. The ICU specialist said that even in hospital the chance of a full recovery is 6% for that condition.
Sad times for all of her friends.

Without knowing the exact rhythm/condition your friend was in I'd still say that 6% is a bit low by today's standards. The survival rate (ie. surviving to discharge from hospital) these days is around 20-25% for in hospital cardiac arrests and around 12-16% if out of hospital (assuming prompt bystander CPR in both scenarios).

 

[cove]

Yes I realise that both of us need to get a CPR update. No time like the present to have an update.

 

[bosox76]

Yes I realise that both of us need to get a CPR update. No time like the present to have an update.

CPR or basic life support is definitely a simple skill that everyone should learn. As stated above you don't even need to do mouth to mouth anymore. Just chest compressions. The tricky bit is don't do it too fast or too slow. Most people get a surge of adrenaline and think that 100 times a minute is way faster than it actually is. Updates are important and recommended. Even health professionals don't get updates often enough. Luckily for me it's mandated I do an advanced life support update every 2 years.

Just realised that above you also wrote full recovery as opposed to recovered well enough for discharge. I'm not sure what the ICU doctor that day meant by full recovery as this is very subjective but generally if one is able to walk out of hospital and be able to return to work in some capacity or live reasonably independently then we'd pretty much call that full recovery even if there are some "minor" residual deficits.

 

[Quickstatus]

CPR or basic life support is definitely a simple skill that everyone should learn. As stated above you don't even need to do mouth to mouth anymore. Just chest compressions. The tricky bit is don't do it too fast or too slow. Most people get a surge of adrenaline and think that 100 times a minute is way faster than it actually is. Updates are important and recommended. Even health professionals don't get updates often enough. Luckily for me it's mandated I do an advanced life support update every 2 years.

I think most of the SIMS and real life emergencies I have attended show that most people are not fast enough. It is also very tiring - the "quality" of chest compressions deteriorate over time. Most last for about 2-3 minutes. That's 200-300 compressions and a lot of you think about it. And most don't compress hard enough. Effective CPR may break some ribs.

Realistically in the end no one is going to pull you up for doing 90 or 110/min.

Anyone signed up yet for a CPR course? Just do it!

 

[cove]

I realize my last course was in 1987/88 at our previous residence. I have left it way too long.
At work we have the machine with the paddles that works close to automatically but that won't cover the other 120 hours of each week when I am out and about.

 

[Pushka]

This year I've had 2 nasty coughs that linger on and on. Usually I would get a bad cold maybe every 2 years. Currently in the midst of the second one. Can't sleep much. I've tried all the usual 'treatments' but not antibiotics. I'm guessing it's the effect of plaquenil on the immune system - dampening it down. But makes me susceptible to the things it should fight. Really thinking about stopping plaquenil so I can get on top of the current one. Don't see the point in going to the GP as it's most likely viral. I sound like JohnK. . And yes I had the flu shot about 8 weeks ago.

 

[Cynicor]

I realize my last course was in 1987/88 at our previous residence. I have left it way too long.
At work we have the machine with the paddles that works close to automatically but that won't cover the other 120 hours of each week when I am out and about.

And the defib only works between CPR, and only for shockable rhythms. TV has led people to believe that anything can get a shock but lots relies on CPR until you get a shockable rhythm back again.

 

[Milboo]

This year I've had 2 nasty coughs that linger on and on. Usually I would get a bad cold maybe every 2 years. Currently in the midst of the second one. Can't sleep much. I've tried all the usual 'treatments' but not antibiotics. I'm guessing it's the effect of plaquenil on the immune system - dampening it down. But makes me susceptible to the things it should fight. Really thinking about stopping plaquenil so I can get on top of the current one. Don't see the point in going to the GP as it's most likely viral. I sound like JohnK. . And yes I had the flu shot about 8 weeks ago.

I know a couple of people who have been stuck with what is being called the 3 month cough - it just keeps going. Not fun. I also know 2 people who've ended up with pneumonia so maybe a GP visit is warranted?

I got one of my rare colds this week - my immune system kicks them out pretty promptly after 2 days but still have the chesty cough. There is nothing ickier than that taste you get in your mouth :shock:

 

[Pushka]

I know a couple of people who have been stuck with what is being called the 3 month cough - it just keeps going. Not fun. I also know 2 people who've ended up with pneumonia so maybe a GP visit is warranted?

I got one of my rare colds this week - my immune system kicks them out pretty promptly after 2 days but still have the chesty cough. There is nothing ickier than that taste you get in your mouth :shock:

Yes, that is exactly me in the old days. Rare colds that get licked quickly. I really am putting off going to the GP as we are travelling to Europe next week and well, I just dont want to stop this trip overseas like I did this time last year for health reasons. I dont think I have pneumonia as I dont have a temperature and I think the tiredness I am feeling is genuine lack of sleep. Anyway, am not taking plaquenil for a few days and will buy some echinacea which is usually a no no for auto immune stuff.

 

[Quickstatus]

General note to families. If your kid breaks their arm today and needs op don't expect me to write a medical cert allowing them to fly today OS. I know it's school holidays.....