General Medical issues thread

[cove]

Have just had my quarterly blood test so anything I do today will not count for another 3 months. Hello bubbles and chocolate.

 

[Flying mermaid]

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

This is exactly what happened to my mother. She didn't want to wait for the nurse (she was in hospital), got up to go to the bathroom and dropped dead with a massive heart attack. Given she had stage 4 breast cancer (in her bones and probably elsewhere), it was probably a blessing. It did mean we didn't get to see her though, as we were booked to fly in 2 days time.

 

[love_the_life]

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...

I have heard that said as well.

 

[bosox76]

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!

I found in sims and real life that people with previous training tend to go too fast because they're very conscious of needing to be somewhere between 90-110/min whereas people who've never done a course before tend to be slow as you've said. Totally agree that effective CPR often breaks ribs especially in frail elderly patients. It's not a good feeling. Also agree that no one will pull you up as long as you're trying. The great thing about the sims is that it reminds you how long 2 mins feels between cycles of Defib shocks and meds.
And yes. Just do it everyone.

 

[Flashback]

Have just had my quarterly blood test so anything I do today will not count for another 3 months. Hello bubbles and chocolate.

My old man recently passed a fairly significant number of blood donations, they had a bit of a presentation for it with a few other donors who had made a similar feat.

 

[bosox76]

My old man recently passed a fairly significant number of blood donations, they had a bit of a presentation for it with a few other donors who had made a similar feat.

Have just had my quarterly blood test so anything I do today will not count for another 3 months. Hello bubbles and chocolate.

I might be wrong but I think Cove was talking about having a blood test (ie. cholesterol, sugar etc.) not blood donations but it's awesome that your dad is a donor. We need more like him.

 

[cove]

Yes they won't take my chemical enhanced blood even though I wanted to be a donor. My blood has some additives thanks to my cardiologist. The newish drug is Inpler and it is working well now but it took several weeks to get used to the change. I certainly would not want to switch to a substitute but it was close because Alpha Pharm ran out for 2 months.
Meanwhile I think I am classified as a high risk blood donor so they say NO.

 

[Quickstatus]

With both you get a needle and they suck your blood.
But with one you get a good feeling, biscuit and a drink and the other possibly bad news and a bill

 

[cove]

Just had a lovely piece of chocolate that won't register for 3 months. No biscuit for me.
Now to wait for the good news on the results seeing I increased my exercise and decreased my weight.

 

[Princess Fiona]

I found in sims and real life that people with previous training tend to go too fast because they're very conscious of needing to be somewhere between 90-110/min whereas people who've never done a course before tend to be slow as you've said. Totally agree that effective CPR often breaks ribs especially in frail elderly patients. It's not a good feeling. Also agree that no one will pull you up as long as you're trying. The great thing about the sims is that it reminds you how long 2 mins feels between cycles of Defib shocks and meds.
And yes. Just do it everyone.

Haha!!
Stayin' Alive works for me and Vinnie Jones for the British Heart Foundation nails it

 

[cove]

Thanks for that!

 

[Pushka]

Haha!!
Stayin' Alive works for me and Vinnie Jones for the British Heart Foundation nails it

Isn't another suggestion 'another one bites the dust'?

 

[bosox76]

Haha!!
Stayin' Alive works for me and Vinnie Jones for the British Heart Foundation nails it

I love that video. Thought it was really smart of the BHF and always wondered by the NHF didn't do something similar on mainstream media. However I believe that a recent study showed that those that "sung" whilst doing CPR actually performed less optimal CPR than those that didn't. I think it's about being distracted and focusing on the tune rather than the compressions. Still I thought it was a great idea and as stated above. Some CPR is better than none.

 

[love_the_life]

Isn't another suggestion 'another one bites the dust'?

I think I was taught 'Row row row your boat....'

 

[JohnK]

Pharyngitis / Laryngitis again.

Started Thursday/Friday as a mild cold and worsened over the weekend to the point where I have lost my voice. Blocked/stuffy nose and an occasional bad dry cough. The flight last night wasn't too good with ears constantly blocked.

Thought I had a spare course of antibiotics lying around but have not been able to find. I'll visit GP later today.

 

[QF WP]

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!

I have been requested to do one by my sons AFL club, so that I can be the alternate "First Aid" officer for his team (wife of coach is nurse). No chance for me to give 4 hours of any day at this stage of the financial year. We're now more than half way through the year but I'll probably do it in July.

That'll teach me to mention to one of the Committee that I was previously a Surf Lifesaver and had done a St Johns Ambulance course when we had our kids

 

[QF WP]

Just looking at another thread and this post from Steady is right on topic for this thread: http://www.australianfrequentflyer....iew-from-my-office-63414-167.html#post1656020

 

[JohnK]

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.

Like JohnK? Hmmm.

Welcome to the world of auto-immune issues. It would appear your auto-immune condition has surfaced recently. My auto-immune condition surfaced in my late teens. These are the types of things to expect. Your body fights the virus/bacteria but traces of the virus/bacteria last for weeks/months.

The laryngitis/pharyngitis I had in February lasted ~6 weeks and barely 3 months later it strikes again. I went to see GP earlier today and my tonsils are severely inflamed again. Had I known I would have these issues regularly in my adult life I would have had tonsils out in my teens but they never gave me problems in those days.

Go to see your GP. Don't put it off. And if you cancel another trip then you cancel another trip. Your long term health is more important than some bucket list.

 

[Pushka]

Like JohnK? Hmmm.

Welcome to the world of auto-immune issues. It would appear your auto-immune condition has surfaced recently. My auto-immune condition surfaced in my late teens. These are the types of things to expect. Your body fights the virus/bacteria but traces of the virus/bacteria last for weeks/months.

The laryngitis/pharyngitis I had in February lasted ~6 weeks and barely 3 months later it strikes again. I went to see GP earlier today and my tonsils are severely inflamed again. Had I known I would have these issues regularly in my adult life I would have had tonsils out in my teens but they never gave me problems in those days.

Go to see your GP. Don't put it off. And if you cancel another trip then you cancel another trip. Your long term health is more important than some bucket list.

I've had hashimotos since my twenties - the immune system basically newked my thyroid and I have abysmal thyroid function and have been on 150 - 200 mcg thyroxine for ever! On the cruise I recently took with love_the_life I completely forgot to take the tablets with me (did remember the high blood pressure ones, the blood thinner, plaquenil and proton pump ones) and my nails did not grow at all and not did my hair - and still havent really kicked back in yet. And I felt so cold. So it has been a while for me too but it started with a local organ and not the systemic issues that you have had. My niece is just 30 and she has been battling the systemic ones for years.

But good news is I am much better and last night didnt cough much so I feel like a million bucks. Hope you do too soon. What a pair of duffers we are

 

[JohnK]

But good news is I am much better and last night didnt cough much so I feel like a million bucks. Hope you do too soon. What a pair of duffers we are

It hasn't been fun but could have been worse.

I still remember my first hospital visit with severe infection when I was 23. Then a couple of years later had pneumonia. Doctors at the time didn't realise these were related to my condition.