General Medical issues thread

[Flying mermaid]

Well back from the GP and at the moment not going back to work until at least Friday.

I feel like death warmed up.

My GP had a student so the examination was very thorough which is always good. I'm happy to let students practice on me and learn under supervision.

seems to be a nasty flu this year. It has been 3 years since I last had even a cold, but I went down quite badly this year. Didn't bother with a doctor, but spent a day in bed and Mr FM got out the dehumidifier for quite a few nights. Makes a huge difference in getting a good night's sleep. I had a headache and sore throat for quite a few days, but didn't realise I was coming down with anything, because I so rarely do!

 

[Flying mermaid]

Dentist tomorrow as I seem to have lost a filling (either that or the tooth broke) . I don't have a good track record when it comes to dentists so hopefully this one will be OK. Not sure if I need to take out a mortgage for the expected fees yet.

Daughter has second lot of hip surgery on Monday. It's been 13 months since the original surgery to repair labral tears and still not fixed. Scans don't show up anything but she's had cortisone, physio and all the rest so something is not right there somewhere. She's a bit young for a hip replacement.

we are very happy with the dentist we have had for a few years now, but charges are high. Generally I think we pay a lot more in Canberra for dentists. I have broken two teeth, both times when travelling, so I made my dentist go through my teeth and do crowns for any "likely" candidates for breakages.

Hope all goes well with your daughter.

 

[Hvr]

seems to be a nasty flu this year. It has been 3 years since I last had even a cold, but I went down quite badly this year. Didn't bother with a doctor, but spent a day in bed and Mr FM got out the dehumidifier for quite a few nights. Makes a huge difference in getting a good night's sleep. I had a headache and sore throat for quite a few days, but didn't realise I was coming down with anything, because I so rarely do!

I agree it is a nasty flu. Am feeling a little better but still sore and weak. Back to the GP tomorrow and will see if I'm fit enough for work on Friday.

I had swine flu in 2006 and that took me a few months to get back to 100%

 

[Flying mermaid]

I agree it is a nasty flu. Am feeling a little better but still sore and weak. Back to the GP tomorrow and will see if I'm fit enough for work on Friday.

I had swine flu in 2006 and that took me a few months to get back to 100%

good to hear you are on the mend. Sounds like an extra day off wouldn't go astray though. Long term better to recuperate properly rather than rushing back and getting sick again.

 

[love_the_life]

I fell asleep while getting a scale and clean once 
Apparently I have a gentle dentist.

That's the bit I hate - it always hurts!

 

[JohnK]

Dentist tomorrow as I seem to have lost a filling (either that or the tooth broke) . I don't have a good track record when it comes to dentists so hopefully this one will be OK. Not sure if I need to take out a mortgage for the expected fees yet.

Saw advertising for Smile dentist for new customers. No gap if you are covered or $195 for a check-up and clean. My goodness. That usually takes less than 30 minutes when I go twice a year. Ridiculous charges.

 

[love_the_life]

I agree it is a nasty flu. Am feeling a little better but still sore and weak. Back to the GP tomorrow and will see if I'm fit enough for work on Friday.

I had swine flu in 2006 and that took me a few months to get back to 100%

I wouldn't be rushing back to work if you can help it. Even another day can make all the difference; don't want to relapse.

 

[Flashback]

Saw advertising for Smile dentist for new customers. No gap if you are covered or $195 for a check-up and clean. My goodness. That usually takes less than 30 minutes when I go twice a year. Ridiculous charges.

About £17 here....

 

[love_the_life]

An update on our friend who has advanced bowel cancer. We were preparing for his death before Christmas as he was brought by ambulance from the coast to TCH. It is almost a Lazarus performance - he has returned home, has a specific 'made for him' chemo treatment and the secondary tumours in the liver have shrunk by about 70% or more. Not only that but he is eating and putting on weight and was well enough to drive to Adelaide recently. It's amazing and wonderful to see that he has got this extra time. I think one of the problems was that he was rushed into a colostomy early on but never really was able to manage it. He had it reversed (successfully) and is much happier in himself. Not to deny, it has been a very rocky road for both him and his partner but things are just so much better at present.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Saw advertising for Smile dentist for new customers. No gap if you are covered or $195 for a check-up and clean. My goodness. That usually takes less than 30 minutes when I go twice a year. Ridiculous charges.

Yeah. It's expensive. Although my local dentist near work provides a standard 'non-health-insurance' check-up and clean for $99.

Other than that, Thailand is the place. Crowns USD250. Root canals same price. You need to know a good dentist there (fortunately one of my good friends is one). Apparently taking impressions for crowns is completely digital now!

 

[JohnK]

Other than that, Thailand is the place. Crowns USD250. Root canals same price. You need to know a good dentist there (fortunately one of my good friends is one). Apparently taking impressions for crowns is completely digital now!

Trust is a good thing. I am not that sure about Thailand especially after what happened with my wife after the birth of our daughter but cost is a huge factor.

I need 3 implants. The quote from my dentist her is ~$5000 for each one using Titanium implants. I am not getting them done at that price. I have seen prices in Thailand from ~THB40000 (~$1500) each but guessing that is porcelain. May be able to get a discount for doing 3 but again not sure I want to do all 3 at once in case I am not happy with the work.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Trust is a good thing. I am not that sure about Thailand especially after what happened with my wife after the birth of our daughter but cost is a huge factor.

I need 3 implants. The quote from my dentist her is ~$5000 for each one using Titanium implants. I am not getting them done at that price. I have seen prices in Thailand from ~THB40000 (~$1500) each but guessing that is porcelain. May be able to get a discount for doing 3 but again not sure I want to do all 3 at once in case I am not happy with the work.

There are two different products here. The implant does into the jaw - the post on which the crown is later attached. Those should be titanium, and they do the same in Thailand. You get the posts inserted and then wait about three months before they can attach the crown. The crowns come in several different types... gold (which is arguably the best, but suited to back teeth only), and porcelain infused on metal. The latter is most common, hard wearing and matches your current teeth in terms of colour.

What your dentist may have quoted $5000 for sounds like the titanium implant and the crown. The implant around $3000, the crown about $2K. In thailand I think the implants are about $1500, which may or may not include the crown (which are about USD250 each).

If you are based in Australia, the main problem is that the implants cost around $3000 - or $2000 after rebate from private health. This really isn't that much cheaper than Thailand (if you go for the top of the line titanium). So the cost of the airfare to thailand, plus accommodation etc etc it works out about the same (especially if you get some money back from private). Plus... if there are any problems, your dentist is local.

Thailand is great for crowns, dirt cheap compared to Australia, and the quality is identical IF you choose top of the line. Thailand can do it much cheaper with inferior quality if that's what you want. By way of comparison, a family member needed a four tooth bridge over two implants. Australia was going to charge AUD16000. Thailand could have done it 'on the cheap' for $800, or matching the exact same quality as Australia (same german manufacturer) for $3000. So the savings were worth the trip plus 7 days accommodation in thailand.

Thailand is all about choosing your dentist. The major dental hospitals all have top trained dentists and use the same equipment - if not better - than Australia. Some smaller dental clinics match the hospitals, but this is really where you need to know your dentist... not just pick a clinic that happens to be around the corner.

For you, going to thailand frequently, you could probably get it all done there.

 

[whatmeworry]

If cooking managed to destroy all bacteria and one prevented any from getting on before storage, the food could keep indefinitely, assuming you kept out fungal spores too.

Realistically this is impossible, so food will go mouldy if it doesn't spoil form bacteria because these things are airborne and everywhere.

In terms of reheated food, a few of the common culprits are always there but not killed fully/enough by cooking. You might reduce an initial population of 100k to only 200, but then they reproduce.
Refrigeration slows this process down, and room temp ->30-40C is their maximal reproduction rate. So the longer it's left out, the quicker it spoils, but food left in the fridge also spoils eventually.

Reheated meat spoils quicker than carbs because it's often harder to kill the bacteria and it starts with more.
Rice and such often has bacillus cereus which is ok at the start but over repeated reheatings reproduces until it makes you sick.

Halal butchered meat also has more bacteria then regularly butchered meat.

 

[Cynicor]

Halal butchered meat also has more bacteria then regularly butchered meat.

I couldn't say, I may do some research if I have time at work. Not sure why this might be true, but it is possible if not refrigerated as immediately after killing.

 

[whatmeworry]

I couldn't say, I may do some research if I have time at work. Not sure why this might be true, but it is possible if not refrigerated as immediately after killing.

Slaughter methods are different. The Halal process allows more faecal contamination into the blood stream despite a compromise on the Halal slaughtering method.

 

[JohnK]

For you, going to thailand frequently, you could probably get it all done there.

I need to check again but from memory the cost of the implant and crown here was around $5500 and with rebates from Medibank private brought that down to around $5000. I don't have top cover extras and need to check again.

I believe the cost in Thailand for implant and crown is around THB40000 but that could well be the lower quality stuff. I'm happy with porcelain crown. It wouldn't cost me any extra as I already travel there 3-4 times/year. My concern would be which dentist to use. I know a few people who can actually recommend a good dentist. I would need to visit those dentists and do some homework.

Costs in Australia way too high especially with bridges.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

The 40k baht should be pretty good top of the line. You can start with the dental hospitals, the major ones are all good. But easy to google and get reviews. The smaller ones as you say, really need a good recommendation. I have one for bangkok in Sathorn if you need it one day, feel free to PM me.

Re crowns, gold is supposedly better. And, cheaper. go figure.

 

[Renato1]

I had major back surgery back in late April after one of my discs collapsed and disappeared back in early March (which is why I've been absent from here for many months). A week and a half after coming home, just as I was getting better, my wife got an impinged nerve in her spine. After three weeks of agony, despite the pain-killers, she had her back surgery in mid June.

And we were booked to fly out on a three month European vacation on 16 August.

Unfortunately, our recoveries haven't been as rapid as initially suggested. It looks like we'll have to cancel the trip, as my wife is in a lot of pain after a slight bit of walking.
We shall see how our claim on CBA credit card insurance pans out.
Regards,
Renato

 

[Renato1]

I need to check again but from memory the cost of the implant and crown here was around $5500 and with rebates from Medibank private brought that down to around $5000. I don't have top cover extras and need to check again.

That's good value. After getting money back from Extras cover, I was out of pocket around $6500 per implant.
Regards,
Renato

 

[Pushka]

Best of luck Renato. Did you suffer nerve damage? I had same surgery 30 years ago but nerve impingement (basically a crush injury to spinal nerves) means I still have a numb right foot on little toe and next toe and calf. I still get back spasm if I do chores that need me to bend over - gardening and vacuuming are the worst.
Anyone who tells you that recovery is quick has not had this surgery. But I have learnt to manage and now travel heaps but cannot get coverage for related spine injury even 30 years later. Also a heat pad will become your best friend.