General Medical issues thread

[Flying mermaid]

It's been a good news/bad news day.
Good news - Friend with pulmonary fibrosis had a very positve/hopeful diagnosis from the respiratory surgeon. Some more tests but seems it is not aggressive and she is likely to have many more years before it makes life difficult.
Bad news - friend with stage 4 bowel cancer scans have shown a new very large tumour in liver as well as smaller ones elsewhere. Is back in hospital while they decide how to treat it, though it's inoperable. They are trying to keep positve but must be worried. We saw him about a month ago and he was feeling great. They had planned two trips o's in the next few months.

sorry about the bad news

 

[Flying mermaid]

Picked up a nasty cold somewhere, I'm starting to sound like a broken record, think it was warmer in Wales last week than currently here in Canberra.

Yup - I turned the floor and the central heating back on today. Probably an overkill but I was cold and miserable and so were the fur babies.

 

[JohnK]

I agree with quickstatus.To get the right treatment you need to have the correct diagnosis.So I would also suggest that the knee joint is aspirated and the fluid analysed.

That doesn't sound so good when you put it that way.

 

[JohnK]

Give your knee/leg/hip time to recover - thankfully you're not playing golf again until next week. Playing both weekend days probably didn't do it any good. Continue to do your stretches. Probably find that thing will be better by next week- or perhaps you'll have to hire a cart

Here's my dilemma.

I'm nearly 53. I know at some point my body won't allow me to play golf. I don't believe I have reached that point yet.

So what do I do? Have a rest? How long? The joint pains will never go away. I have been playing through the pain since I was 22. Most days are ok but some of the time my body won't let me swing. When that happens then just enjoy the walk. In saying that though I have not quite come across this sort of pain in the past and in the area that generates the power in the swing for a left hander. I was playing on one leg on Saturday/Sunday.

I'm planning on playing golf in Chiang Mai on Saturday afternoon and then 3 games in Pattaya from Monday-Wednesday. Will use a cart for all 4 games and ask for medical exemption where cart is allowed on fairways and near greens.

I don't know what else to do. In March 2000 I finished a game of golf after fracturing my ankle on the 3rd hole and birdied the 4th hole. Will never forget that day. Still stubborn to this day.

 

[Major]

Just visited my GP and mentioned we were going to Sri Lanka next year. He then said we needed to look at injections for Hep A & B, Typhoid, Cholera and other diseases. Also tablets for Malaria.

Is all that stuff really necessary ? I didn't think Sri Lanka was that bad.

 

[Pushka]

Just visited my GP and mentioned we were going to Sri Lanka next year. He then said we needed to look at injections for Hep A & B, Typhoid, Cholera and other diseases. Also tablets for Malaria.

Is all that stuff really necessary ? I didn't think Sri Lanka was that bad.

Are you staying in a resort or going jungle? MrP did get a nasty tummy upset there in July but I didn’t. It wasn’t cholera. He ate sushi and I didn’t. Drink bottled water, wash your hands frequently - all the usuals. When we went to SL in the mid ‘80’s we got the works but not this time. It’s really up to you.

 

[Flying mermaid]

Just visited my GP and mentioned we were going to Sri Lanka next year. He then said we needed to look at injections for Hep A & B, Typhoid, Cholera and other diseases. Also tablets for Malaria.

Is all that stuff really necessary ? I didn't think Sri Lanka was that bad.

I would do hep a and typhoid. I didn’t think Sri Lanka was a malaria risk anymore so this is a bit strange. We go to a travel doctor and I find they push the world onto you but in many cases the risk is negligible, or only if visiting rural villages, not staying in tourist places. Always worth doing your own research - I find the American CDC travel vaccination advice good, as it is less commercially motivated.

They tried to push malaria tablets on us when visiting South Africa, which was ridiculous.

Just went and found this. Health Information for Travelers to Sri Lanka - Traveler view | Travelers' Health | CDC

 

[Major]

Booked thru Luxury Escapes. Mostly Jetwing accomm.

 

[Pushka]

I would do hep a and typhoid. I didn’t think Sri Lanka was a malaria risk anymore so this is a bit strange. We go to a travel doctor and I find they push the world onto you but in many cases the risk is negligible, or only if visiting rural villages, not staying in tourist places. Always worth doing your own research - I find the American CDC travel vaccination advice good, as it is less commercially motivated.

They tried to push malaria tablets on us when visiting South Africa, which was ridiculous.

Just went and found this. Health Information for Travelers to Sri Lanka - Traveler view | Travelers' Health | CDC

I’m covered for antimalarials with Plaquenil!

 

[whatmeworry]

I’m covered for antimalarials with Plaquenil!

I heard gin and tonic is a quite a good antimalarial.

 

[drron]

Unfortunately you would have to drown your gin to get an adequate dose of quinine.

 

[JohnK]

Ibuprofen or anti-inflammatories were probably the cause of mothers gastritis and her loss of blood. As I said before Ibuprofen is not good for gut health and cartilage regeneration.

Mum had same issue recently and spent a week in hospital.

Doctors have told her to reduce the use of Naprosyn SR1000 and also prednisone especially if she is going to take antibiotics for infections. Not a good coughtail of drugs.

 

[Pushka]

I heard gin and tonic is a quite a good antimalarial.

Yep. I’m doubly covered then. It’s the quinine in both and why the Brit’s drank it in the tropical Colonies.

Unfortunately you would have to drown your gin to get an adequate dose of quinine.

Or just have lots of G&T’s. It’s bitter stuff.

 

[drron]

I drink tonic water straight at times.quite good for cramps.

 

[JohnK]

I agree with quickstatus.To get the right treatment you need to have the correct diagnosis.So I would also suggest that the knee joint is aspirated and the fluid analysed.

GP did not show any interest in my theory of pseudogout or aspiration and analysis. I'm off to Thailand tomorrow. What next? Wait for hip x-ray in 2 weeks?

 

[suze2000]

I'd recommend you give the golf a break. Seriously.

 

[whatmeworry]

I drink tonic water straight at times.quite good for cramps.

Some drink pickle juice for cramp.

 

[Milboo]

I'd recommend you give the golf a break. Seriously.

Yep

Fix the hip and I reckon the knee will come right. The body compensates for issues in one area which places strain on others.

 

[Milboo]

Just visited my GP and mentioned we were going to Sri Lanka next year. He then said we needed to look at injections for Hep A & B, Typhoid, Cholera and other diseases. Also tablets for Malaria.

Is all that stuff really necessary ? I didn't think Sri Lanka was that bad.

I don't recall having anything! That said I was covered for Hep A and B and Typhoid already from other trips. Definitely did nothing for malaria.

 

[JohnK]

I'd recommend you give the golf a break. Seriously.

That's not going to happen anytime soon. Seriously.

For what it's worth physio has not mentioned giving golf a break. Far from it. Keep playing and keep moving joints were his words.

Knee still swollen quite badly. Now started clicking/ringing when I walk which is driving me nuts.