General Medical issues thread

[cove]

My GP gets my pathology results in a day and my copy comes by snail mail. This meant he emails me before my snail mail arrives.

 

[VPS]

Regarding pathology results, you are legally entitled to them. Pathology companies should release them to you, however they often will wait until you have had time to discuss with the referring doctor (for example, you have a biopsy that shows an aggressive malignancy - they do not want to give you those results until you have been given the diagnosis in person).

"The College acknowledges that a patient is legally entitled to a pathology report that has been performed for or on their behalf."
https://www.rcpa.edu.au/getattachme...Release-of-Pathology-Results-to-Patients.aspx

Now if only patients would stop requesting we give them back their gallstones, or their placenta. It's a major pain in the butt, and really a health risk.

Friend was offered her uterus but politely declined

 

[Pushka]

Now if only patients would stop requesting we give them back their gallstones, or their placenta. It's a major pain in the butt, and really a health risk.

I didn’t ask him to but the neurosurgeon gave me the remnants spinal disc I ruptured a few years ago. He was impressed by the size.

 

[JohnK]

Walking wreck today. Took a Naprosyn at 7:00am and only started taking effect around 11:00am but still a lot of pain. Forgot the Panadeine forte. Golf was difficult.

The inside of my left elbow is still very sore. Happened pulling/pushing 3 bags and also carrying laptop bag to airport around 3 weeks ago. Must have strained tendons/ligaments?

 

[Pushka]

PSA tests not covered by Medicare? Bollocks to that!

 

[Quickstatus]

Friend was offered her uterus but politely declined

Many patients ask for the metal screws used in their broken bones after they are removed. Hospital policy is no because it’s of some infection risk issue

I can’t see why not - just soak it in some disinfectant alcohol.

.....

PSA tests not covered by Medicare? Bollocks to that!

Covered by Medicare once a year. However it can be done more frequently (under Medicare) under certain circumstances

....

Walking wreck today. Took a Naprosyn at 7:00am and only started taking effect around 11:00am but still a lot of pain. Forgot the Panadeine forte. Golf was difficult.

The inside of my left elbow is still very sore. Happened pulling/pushing 3 bags and also carrying laptop bag to airport around 3 weeks ago. Must have strained tendons/ligaments?

Is the pain on the bony bit on the inside of the elbow?. I suspect you got Golfers Elbow. It’s an injury to the muscle as it attaches to the medial epicondyle. Incorrectly thought to be overuse or necessarily due to playing Golf
The muscles affected would be any of the muscles that makes the wrist flex and turning of the forearm (probation) - your thumb is adjacent to your body when standing up and arm by your side

Physios should fix

 

[whatmeworry]

PSA tests not covered by Medicare? Bollocks to that!

Some have argued that PSA tests have been overused and not entirely accurate at picking up aggressive prostate cancers.

Unfortunately, the two large and definitive randomised clinical trials designed to properly assess whether this test (that many Australian men over 50 years old have had performed at least once) can significantly reduce the death rate from early prostate cancer were published in 2009 and have shown close to zero benefit for having the test (see here and here).

PSA screening is a public health disaster, says cancer doc - Croakey

 

[whatmeworry]

@rogerkambah my Dad came home last Friday. Just an update on his meds. In the morning he is receiving 2x10mg Slow Release Morphine tabs and one 15 mg Morphine Sulphate tab at night. Half a 5mg Oxycodone during the day when needed every four hours. 3 different things for constipation.

They have stopped him using aspirin and potassium chloride after his "small" heart attack in June but is still on Metoprolol for the heart.

They stopped his Bicalutamide but is still on the Goserelin Acetate implant for the prostate cancer. Saw his Oncologist today, and his PSA was around 800 in August ( )but has now fallen to 100 a week ago.

With his PSA levels now falling and now presumably stopping the cancer, it now means he isn't eligible for the 177 Lutetium PSMA trial at Peter Mac which has been having good results in ridding the body of Prostate Cancer and Secondary Cancers.

Despite the bulk of the trial being conducted in Melbourne, 177 Lutetium PSMA is not available privately in Melbourne but can be done in Perth, Sydney and Brisbane at a cost of ~$9600 per cycle, with 2-4 cycles required.

 

[rogerkambah]

I'm sure you're glad to have your dad home, and its good that his PSA has dropped markedly, but as you say the result is that he is no longer eligible for the Peter Mac 177Lutetium trial.

He must have a fair bit of (bone) pain given the coughtail of pain reduction drugs he is on though. Like most advanced cancers it seems that one just has to be patient, hope for the best and see what happens.

@rogerkambah my Dad came home last Friday. Just an update on his meds. In the morning he is receiving 2x10mg Slow Release Morphine tabs and one 15 mg Morphine Sulphate tab at night. Half a 5mg Oxycodone during the day when needed every four hours. 3 different things for constipation.

They have stopped him using aspirin and potassium chloride after his "small" heart attack in June but is still on Metoprolol for the heart.

They stopped his Bicalutamide but is still on the Goserelin Acetate implant for the prostate cancer. Saw his Oncologist today, and his PSA was around 800 in August ( )but has now fallen to 100 a week ago.

With his PSA levels now falling and now presumably stopping the cancer, it now means he isn't eligible for the 177 Lutetium PSMA trial at Peter Mac which has been having good results in ridding the body of Prostate Cancer and Secondary Cancers.

Despite the bulk of the trial being conducted in Melbourne, 177 Lutetium PSMA is not available privately in Melbourne but can be done in Perth, Sydney and Brisbane at a cost of ~$9600 per cycle, with 2-4 cycles required.

 

[Deleted member]

PSA tests not covered by Medicare? Bollocks to that!

My brother had his PSA test recently, he returned a score of 14. I think Medicare rebates are the least of his problems.
P.S. my result was .6 ( up from .5 three years ago)

 

[Pushka]

My brother had his PSA test recently, he returned a score of 14. I think Medicare rebates are the least of his problems.
P.S. my result was .6 ( up from .5 three years ago)

It surprises me that such an important test isn’t free.

 

[Quickstatus]

Well its covered under Medicare for once a year.
Its an important test but there are significant limitations - especially when overdone. As a screening test no more than once a year should suffice.

 

[Pushka]

Well its covered under Medicare for once a year.
Its an important test but there are significant limitations. As a screening test no more than once a year should suffice.
As I said its also covered under certain other circumstances.

See that's weird. MrP had one done recently and its the first in a year both calendar and 12 months, and the path lab sent him an invoice for $50 and a stamp on it saying it wasn't covered by Medicare.

 

[JohnK]

Is the pain on the bony bit on the inside of the elbow?. I suspect you got Golfers Elbow. It’s an injury to the muscle as it attaches to the medial epicondyle. Incorrectly thought to be overuse or necessarily due to playing Golf
The muscles affected would be any of the muscles that makes the wrist flex and turning of the forearm (probation) - your thumb is adjacent to your body when standing up and arm by your side

Physios should fix

The pain is not near the bone. I had tendonitis in the same elbow around 12 years ago and gave up ten pin bowling. That pain was on the outside of the elbow parallel to the forefinger/middle finger.

This pain is on the inside. It feels like soft tissue/ligament and continues about 3-4 cms up the bicep. It feels tight when bending arm.

Seriously no time for physios. I have 2 other concerns that need to be looked at first. My left knee was quite swollen on weekend and making noises everytime I kneeled and got up. Actually struggled to get up and felt like giving way a few times. Also the inside of the upper thighs and pelvis are in extreme pain.

I need to do some sort of scans and will see the GP.

 

[drron]

If he is over 50 it should be free-
Prostate cancer screenings | Medicare.gov

 

[Pushka]

If he is over 50 it should be free-
Prostate cancer screenings | Medicare.gov

Yep, it should have been free.

 

[Quickstatus]

The pain is not near the bone. I had tendonitis in the same elbow around 12 years ago and gave up ten pin bowling. That pain was on the outside of the elbow parallel to the forefinger/middle finger.

This pain is on the inside. It feels like soft tissue/ligament and continues about 3-4 cms up the bicep. It feels tight when bending arm.

Seriously no time for physios. I have 2 other concerns that need to be looked at first. My left knee was quite swollen on weekend and making noises everytime I kneeled and got up. Actually struggled to get up and felt like giving way a few times. Also the inside of the upper thighs and pelvis are in extreme pain.

I need to do some sort of scans and will see the GP.

Geez body falling apart. Need a new one

 

[whatmeworry]

The pain is not near the bone. I had tendonitis in the same elbow around 12 years ago and gave up ten pin bowling. That pain was on the outside of the elbow parallel to the forefinger/middle finger.

This pain is on the inside. It feels like soft tissue/ligament and continues about 3-4 cms up the bicep. It feels tight when bending arm.

Seriously no time for physios. I have 2 other concerns that need to be looked at first. My left knee was quite swollen on weekend and making noises everytime I kneeled and got up. Actually struggled to get up and felt like giving way a few times. Also the inside of the upper thighs and pelvis are in extreme pain.

I need to do some sort of scans and will see the GP.

Your knee/hip symptoms sounds like my mum's symptoms. She is due a knee replacement.

 

[JohnK]

Geez body falling apart. Need a new one

Yes please. Where do I sign up?

Your knee/hip symptoms sounds like my mum's symptoms. She is due a knee replacement.

Mum has similar issue. I was hoping to avoid knee replacement but may not have a choice if this continues.

 

[whatmeworry]

Yes please. Where do I sign up?


Mum has similar issue. I was hoping to avoid knee replacement but may not have a choice if this continues.

My Best advice, if you're not eligible for private, get on the public waiting list, as it may take 2 years.