General Medical issues thread

[wandering_fred]

Come on guys and girls. 70 is the new 50..........

It takes me about the same length of time (two weeks) to shed the traveling excess as it did 15 years ago.

And skin cancer will prevent you from donating blood for at least 5 years.

Just wandering

Fred

 

[TheRealTMA]

I was going to but apparently having cancer currently makes one ineligible.

Interesting isn't it that the modern model and methodology says that one has many many 'cancers' in one's life. Some are cut off, some treated, most just dealt with by your immune system without your conscious knowledge. It's only the last one or two that are your demise. Plus 'cancer' is now being delineated into individual mutations that can be treated with more specificity, if you are lucky.

 

[wandering_fred]

To cover the topic that TheRealTMA opened

Just wandering

Fred

https://science.slashdot.org/story/...arnessing-the-immune-system-clears-key-hurdle

 

[cove]

Now that our immediate family have had issues with the "widow maker " artery blocking in 3 of us we are getting the rest of our family checked. It may turn up nothing but because life is not a dress rehearsal I think it is worth the checks.

 

[VPS]

Bugger, that rules me out then:

[h=2]Can I take part?[/h]You can take part if you're an Australian resident, 40 to 74 years of age, and have never been diagnosed with cancer.

Damn it, I've had cancer

About to lose a client who found out 3 weeks ago he has metastatic cancer throughout his chest. He had a tumour removed from his lung many years ago and also had prostate cancer about 5 years ago. He has refused treatment and now in palliative care. Been able to organise his affairs for him with his niece (next of kin) as he never married or had kids. It'll be sad to see him go but he has accepted his demise (as he was a heavy smoker until ~15 years ago).

Damn it, I've had cancer - me too but all clear for nearly 39 years!!

 

[drron]

I lost the ability to eat whatever I wanted and not put on weight at about the age of 7.

 

[Flying mermaid]

Come on guys and girls. 70 is the new 50..........

It takes me about the same length of time (two weeks) to shed the traveling excess as it did 15 years ago.

Fred

Tell my bathroom scales that Everyone's metabolism is different, but mine definitely slowed down at 50 and was even worse at 60. I do the same amount of exercise, but probably less running ragged round the kids. It was a particular shock to Mr FM who could eat what he liked when he liked and never put an oz. He was 50 kg when I met him and married life did slowly bring him up to 55kg. He stayed that until well into his 50s and then suddenly ballooned to 64 kg . He is very bitter at having to watch what he eats, but manages to keep it at 60kg now.

 

[rogerkambah]

Next scan in 3 weeks time. On referral note onco was asking radiologist for very specific details on size(s) and location(s) of remaining node(s) with a view to surgery.

As I found out when I looked at the site
Oh well.
Hope things are going along OK RK
.

 

[rogerkambah]

Interesting isn't it that the modern model and methodology says that one has many many 'cancers' in one's life. Some are cut off, some treated, most just dealt with by your immune system without your conscious knowledge. It's only the last one or two that are your demise. Plus 'cancer' is now being delineated into individual mutations that can be treated with more specificity, if you are lucky.

Well that is the beauty of medical science and the development of different drugs specifically to treat particular cancers. I marvel at the ingenuity of scientists to target particular cells. Just hoping I can make a comeback from stage 4. Seems to be working atm.

 

[Milboo]

A migraine on a Friday night is a sure fire way to put a dampener on the weekend. The Coca Cola (caffeine and sugar) cancelled out the sleepy effects of panedeine forte.

Today I just feel washed out and had a bad headache lurking, and then come and go but now it's settling back in. Neck is stiff too.

 

[suze2000]

I hope you are feeling better today Milboo...

 

[JohnK]

[In general]Treatment of sore throat with antibiotics ignores the fact that bacterial causes are not the most common cause of pharyngitis. Viruses are the most common cause, bacteria less so. I really think good old penicillin is the way to go but only after a swab confirms GABHS (group A Beta hemolytic strep). Usually a swab will return a result in 1-2 days. I do think too much antibiotics are prescribed for this condition unnecessarily. The only thing with penicilin is compliance because it requires 4 doses per day for 10 days.[/In general]

JohnK, if not getting better I would suggest getting a throat swab.

You could be right regarding viral infections but I can't take a chance to wait and see doctor then wait results for swab. The majority of the time antibiotics are successful.

Also at the moment I am not doing too well. Sore throat, difficulty swallowing, dry mouth/throat. Rightly or wrongly I started Amoxycillin Friday night and showing signs of improvement already. Hope 1 course enough.

 

[Pushka]

You could be right regarding viral infections but I can't take a chance to wait and see doctor then wait results for swab. The majority of the time antibiotics are successful.

Also at the moment I am not doing too well. Sore throat, difficulty swallowing, dry mouth/throat. Rightly or wrongly I started Amoxycillin Friday night and showing signs of improvement already. Hope 1 course enough.

I understand what you mean. MrP is the same with sinus infections. A simple cold turns into full on sinus infections. So he needs to act on the first sign that it is turning bad.

Urinary Tract infections. Nasty for us - if you've had one you will know how poorly they can make you feel. I can go from feeling normal one minute then *like that* I know I have one. If I have quick access to a Dr within one dose I get relief within a couple of hours. The usual otc alkalinisers don't work for me once I've got symptoms. It's the main reason I have a general antibiotic with me when travelling. Not for a cold or gastro but for these.

 

[suze2000]

One thing that's bothering me JohnK is that your supposed recovery due to antibiotics might just be because your own immune system has finally got on top of the virus in question.

I'm not sure how true it is but a my GP once told me that if you look at your throat (use a torch and a mirror) and it's stripey it is most likely a virus making you sick, if it's all-over red, or if there's pus, it's most likely a bacterial infection. I'm not sure how correct this is, but the doctors reading this thread might be able to advise. I have found it a good rule of thumb when considering going to the doc though.

 

[rogerkambah]

Redacted due to Cynicor's more informed post #2278.

 

[whatmeworry]

If I am not coughing up yellow/green stuff, then I am better off letting my immune take care of it. Constant antibiotic use stuffs up your gut flora and recent studies suggest your gut flora is very important for your overall immune system.

 

[Cynicor]

Some element of truth suze2000, but both generally get better with no treatment.
The immunosuppressed are a special case so JohnK's case is impossible to know without being his doc.

 

[Cynicor]

The colour of mucous/sputum etc having any bearing on it being bacterial or viral has been thoroughly disproven too.

There's actually little that can differentiate, clinically, without tests that are mostly unneeded because these things both resolve.

 

[Pushka]

Some element of truth suze2000, but both generally get better with no treatment.
The immunosuppressed are a special case so JohnK's case is impossible to know without being his doc.

Totally agree with that. JohnK and I are both on immunosuppressant treatment. This is my first Winter on it and have had the worst colds ever. Previously I would get one every 18 months or so. And no need for antibiotics. I've now had 2 hackers in 3 months plus two UTI's. But lupus/APS more under control. Hmmm. Fix up one thing and create another.

Wore my mittens here in Warnemunde Germany as fingers were going bloodless again. At least this time my nails weren't painted red - that makes them look really vampirish!

 

[Milboo]

I hope you are feeling better today Milboo...

Yes thank you. I got about 15 hours sleep last night (not uninterrupted!) which was exactly what I needed.