General Medical issues thread

[JohnK]

Hi John,
Maybe change your Doctor to a less preachy type? I don't mind when they are preachy about something real - like Neurophen not being much good for people as they turn 80. But when it is just a general Puritanical preachiness - that one will often not get from other more relaxed Doctors - then I'm not too happy.

Difficult to find a doctor that prescribes Panadeine Forte or similar.

I now have to find an extra hour in an already busy life to go and get a prescription for tablets that should be over the counter. May ask my parents to help out.

 

[Renato1]

Difficult to find a doctor that prescribes Panadeine Forte or similar.

I now have to find an extra hour in an already busy life to go and get a prescription for tablets that should be over the counter. May ask my parents to help out.

When I think about it, I've only ever gotten Panadiene Forte from dental specialists.

On the other hand, Doctors are happy to prescribe Tramadol slow release tablets (100mg, 150mg and 200mg). With my recovering back situation, I found the 100mg tablet, when broken into four 25mg bits and using just one bit - was far better pain relief than several regular Panadiene were.

For the most part, I'm off the Tramadol now (unless I do lots of hard work like chainsawing) and just using cheap Ibuprofen from Woolworths.
Regards,
Renato

 

[Milboo]

I have never had issues getting panedeine forte and mysendol forte from my doctor as I get migraines.

I’ll be grabbing some extra boxes of OTC this weekend as I try and stick to that vs the prescription drugs.

 

[Milboo]

You know your MRI results are not going to be great when the doctor surgery calls and tells you the report is back and was I planning on coming in and seeing Dr X?

Suspect knee surgery is now on my horizon

 

[JohnK]

When I think about it, I've only ever gotten Panadiene Forte from dental specialists.

I love Panadeine Forte. Gives 3h 55m of peace.

I'v been trying the generic Paracetamol/Nurofen tablets recently. They are ok for very minor things like headaches.

 

[Renato1]

The operations never end in our household;
Today I'm having minor knee surgery to correct Churchman's Knee (what one is left with after a bursa goes haywire and floods). While the knee is okay most of the time, it is disconcerting when occasionally I feel my leg is about to buckle. The surgeon says it is a simple operation, and that I should be able to again kneel on my knee straight after the operation.

Yikes - another $900 out of pocket experience.
Cheers,
Renato


P.S. Double Yikes - operation cancelled till next month due to an infection.
Anyhow they gave me a big plate of fruit and sandwiches before I left to go home, so it wasn't a total loss.

 

[cove]

Have to see my very thin cardiologist next month. I keep thinking that he must not like food. Just a regular check up once a year. No issues that I know of so I shouldn’t get nervous.

 

[VPS]

Can anyone recommend a good BP monitor or probably ones to avoid

 

[Denali]

Difficult to find a doctor that prescribes Panadeine Forte or similar....

No problem for me. I always do a medical stock up before a holiday. Panadeine Forte, Keflex antiboiotic, Bactrim/Bactroban lotion ect.

I will say I rarely, rarely use the Panadeine but have had to use the anitbiotic and Bactrim once when OS.

Happy to have for just in case and not have to use. If Im home and sick, will see Dr and not self treat.

 

[Limewood]

My friend has a carcinoma on his foot, the doctors wanted at first to cut it out and do a big skin graft, a week later they changed it to radiotherapy (due to its size) where he had to attend for treatment 5 days a week for 6 weeks. He did some research and found a possible solution (so cancelled the radiotherapy) by using baking soda, coconut oil mixed into a paste placed onto the legion and covered with gauss with white vinegar placed on the wound once per day.

I saw him last about 3 weeks ago and again yesterday, he told me about the above and then showed me his foot, I was totally astounded to see the carcinoma had reduced in size by I guess 90% and now hardly noticeable but also the inflammation around it had near disappeared, now normally I'd say non professional medical treatment is like snake oil but to see his results was really amazing. He advised me he has to continue on for another 3 weeks and hopes by then it has totally disappeared, only time will tell.

 

[Pushka]

My friend has a carcinoma on his foot, the doctors wanted at first to cut it out and do a big skin graft, a week later they changed it to radiotherapy (due to its size) where he had to attend for treatment 5 days a week for 6 weeks. He did some research and found a possible solution (so cancelled the radiotherapy) by using baking soda, coconut oil mixed into a paste placed onto the legion and covered with gauss with white vinegar placed on the wound once per day.

I saw him last about 3 weeks ago and again yesterday, he told me about the above and then showed me his foot, I was totally astounded to see the carcinoma had reduced in size by I guess 90% and now hardly noticeable but also the inflammation around it had near disappeared, now normally I'd say non professional medical treatment is like snake oil but to see his results was really amazing. He advised me he has to continue on for another 3 weeks and hopes by then it has totally disappeared, only time will tell.

That’s impressive. Can carcinomas infiltrate though? And not be visible until later?

 

[JohnK]

Good start to 2018.

Common cold past 8 days. Started as sore throat and then blocked nose and cough. Flights on Friday and Sunday were not fun with blocked ears. Exhausted Sunday night. No signs of getting better either.

 

[tgh]

Can anyone recommend a good BP monitor or probably ones to avoid

We are on our second Omron monitor, cuffs can be problematic as they seem to age and then don't hold.
There is no way to qualify the readings , but as bp is quite labile , the readings are just a guide.
One important use for your own monitor is to use the readings to ameliorate the white coat syndrome that probably helps drug companies sell a lot of medication that is not really needed.

 

[Limewood]

That’s impressive. Can carcinomas infiltrate though? And not be visible until later?

Good question, I have no idea, I meant to ask him how would one know if its gone or still active if it disappears?

 

[VPS]

We are on our second Omron monitor, cuffs can be problematic as they seem to age and then don't hold.
There is no way to qualify the readings , but as bp is quite labile , the readings are just a guide.
One important use for your own monitor is to use the readings to ameliorate the white coat syndrome that probably helps drug companies sell a lot of medication that is not really needed.

Thanks - I must admit I do suffer from white coat syndrome - no idea why though.

 

[JohnK]

Pain 5-10cms to left of belly button. More like sharp surface pain. Bowel? Muscle/nerve spasm? Appendix is other side right?

 

[tgh]

Pain 5-10cms to left of belly button. More like sharp surface pain. Bowel? Muscle/nerve spasm? Appendix is other side right?

maybe your kidneys have quit from Analgesic overload…..

 

[JohnK]

maybe your kidneys have quit from Analgesic overload…..

Analgesic overload? LOL. I have never overloaded on analgesics. I try to avoid taking analgesics as much as possible but occasionally they are necessary like today which leads to my next silly question.

Noticed pain again in the left bicep near the elbow yesterday and worse this morning. Took 400mg Ibuprofen, 1000mg Paracetamol and 45.6mg Codeine and it did nothing for the pain. Tear in the bicep? Ligament or tendon pain? Generic medication could also be the issue. This pain has been on and off for 2-3 months so may need x-ray/scan.

Any clues?

 

[VPS]

How do people keep medication cold when travelling internationally. Qantas said they are not allowed to put things in refrigerated storage for me but offered ice

 

[Pushka]

How do people keep medication cold when travelling internationally. Qantas said they are not allowed to put things in refrigerated storage for me but offered ice

Other than most thyroid replacements, what other medications require this? It would certainly be a difficult thing to manage.

It wasn’t known that thyroid meds needed refrigeration until a few years ago. I’d already been taking them for a long time. They can be left out of the fridge but cool for around a month but I wonder why the requirements changed and what was the issue with those taking it prior.