General Medical issues thread

Well I'm sad, very sad, my friend that was diagnosed with liver cancer last year has been told to "get his affairs in order", the chemo hasn't helped, but he is remaining very philosophical and he says what will happen, will happen, he has been feeling much better off the chemo and has more energy than before, he hasn't been told what sort of time frame he has, but knowing him as I have for over 50 years he'll make the most of it.

This seems appropriate and time for another bottle of red. :(

 
Saw a physio this week to have my abs assessed. Very minimal separation (was less than 1cm immediately after delivery) but not yet allowed to do any weights or ab-targetted workouts. Cycling it is then.
 
Cossie said:
Well I'm sad, very sad, my friend that was diagnosed with liver cancer last year has been told to "get his affairs in order", the chemo hasn't helped, but he is remaining very philosophical and he says what will happen, will happen, he has been feeling much better off the chemo and has more energy than before, he hasn't been told what sort of time frame he has, but knowing him as I have for over 50 years he'll make the most of it.

This seems appropriate and time for another bottle of red. :(

Click to expand...

Sorry to hear about this Cossie. While we all hope it will, sometimes chemo just doesn't work.
Glad to hear that your friend is having a new lease on life away from the ravages of the chemo side effects. I expect you and he have got some good times still to be had and you can celebrate your 50+ years of friendship. That in itself is an achievement. You must have met him in kindy,
Time to break out the good stuff.
 
Cossie said:
Well I'm sad, very sad, my friend that was diagnosed with liver cancer last year has been told to "get his affairs in order", the chemo hasn't helped, but he is remaining very philosophical and he says what will happen, will happen, he has been feeling much better off the chemo and has more energy than before, he hasn't been told what sort of time frame he has, but knowing him as I have for over 50 years he'll make the most of it.

This seems appropriate and time for another bottle of red. :(

Click to expand...
Sorry to hear this Cossie. Friend of ours who. died a bit over 12 months ago decided to discontinued his chemo at the end. It was making his life misery and was only going to add a few weeks in the end. A big decision but the right one in the circumstances. Is this the friend who lives down the coast? Hopefully you will be able to visit or at least talk to him in the next week or so. Hard because you are off overseas again soon. Hugs.
 
Milboo said:
@Pushka - I know you’re not in Sydney but was wondering if you had any names for excellen Rheumatologists in Sydney? Have a friend looking.
Click to expand...
The only way I got onto mine was my sister in law who works in a large Public Hospital. I’ll look into recommendations in a lupus Fb group and get back.
 
Milboo said:
@Pushka - I know you’re not in Sydney but was wondering if you had any names for excellen Rheumatologists in Sydney? Have a friend looking.
Click to expand...
So a very quick check and these are just posted in the last few hours.
Professor Allan Sturgess at St George Hospital - rated as amazing and he listens.
Dr Johnson in Richmond, you pay for the initial consultation then he bulk bills - he gets 2 mentions
Professor Bird moore park. Paid for first appt then bulk bills

I’ll check deeper.

More
Dr Carlos El Hadad in Campbelltown.
Dr Bird in Kogarah
Dr Graham in Liverpool.
 
Last edited:
Pushka said:
So a very quick check and these are just posted in the last few hours.
Professor Allan Sturgess at St George Hospital - rated as amazing and he listens.
Dr Johnson in Richmond, you pay for the initial consultation then he bulk bills - he gets 2 mentions
Professor Bird moore park. Paid for first appt then bulk bills

I’ll check deeper.

More
Dr Carlos El Hadad in Campbelltown.
Dr Bird in Kogarah
Dr Graham in Liverpool.
Click to expand...

I assume that's not St George's hospital in Tooting in London........ they have a good stroke centre there, they looked after Mrs FB after she had one.
 
So I'm back for round 2? 3? 4? I've lost count now :)

It's strange how it comes and goes though, i.e. had this thing on Sunday, then gone again largely by Monday, then back again this morning (Friday). Hm.
 
Friend's 'partner' with oesophageal cancer is very poorly. In hospital again and palliative care have said he could pass quite soon. Only 4 and a bit months since diagnosis. His daughter has been contacted as she is NoK and will be the one to make any decisions. Hopefully they will move him to the hospice in the next day or so. :(
Never got to retire, went straight from work to terminal illness. Life can be s**t sometimes.
 
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After LtL and Cossie’s friends my problems seem very minor :(.

First my good news - latest cholesterol tests

total cholesterol 4.5, HDL 2, LDL 2.2 and trigs .73- amazing what not being totally dehydrated will do :)

General rheumatological tests came back negative. However CRP and ESR elevated (48 and 83) and bone scan showed inflammation in the joints. Diagnosis is Statin induced PMR and yes it is a thing - apparently there is a study using the WHO database which shows a correlation between statins and PMR. Quite rare and I guess I have a genetic disposition, or my age or something. Most people taking statins would not develop PMR. What is a bit annoying is I don’t need Statins, as I don’t have clogged arteries. Anyway we decided against corticosteroids- I feel I have improved a heap in the last month and I am prepared to put up with a bit of pain and stiffness. Extreme tiredness is annoying, but I am having lots of rest. Am trying to do a bit of Tai Chi again to get strength into the muscles and flexibility to the joints.

Then I have the results of the 1 day Holter monitor. Still have to do a 7 day one and an echo, but things probably won’t change. This all started in February when I had an MRI to see if there were any issues as I had had double vision for a few years and my optician thought it would be a good idea. The MRI didn’t show any tumours, but did show I had had a stroke. My GP followed guidelines and put me on Statins, which then caused all the other problems. What the monitor showed is that my heart isn’t beating properly, (ventricular and atrial ectopic), so basically the blood sloshes around, forms a clot which ends up causing a stroke. Probably going to end up on xarelto but will let the cardiologist make the decision in July. Currently on low dose daily aspirin.
 
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Flying mermaid said:
After LtL and Cossie’s friends my problems seem very minor :(.

First my good news - latest cholesterol tests

total cholesterol 4.5, HDL 2, LDL 2.2 and trigs .73- amazing what not being totally dehydrated will do :)

General rheumatological tests came back negative. However CRP and ESR elevated (48 and 83) and bone scan showed inflammation in the joints. Diagnosis is Statin induced PMR and yes it is a thing - apparently there is a study using the WHO database which shows a correlation between statins and PMR. Quite rare and I guess I have a genetic disposition, or my age or something. Most people taking statins would not develop PMR. What is a bit annoying is I don’t need Statins, as I don’t have clogged arteries. Anyway we decided against corticosteroids- I feel I have improved a heap in the last month and I am prepared to put up with a bit of pain and stiffness. Extreme tiredness is annoying, but I am having lots of rest. Am trying to do a bit of Tai Chi again to get strength into the muscles and flexibility to the joints.

Then I have the results of the 1 day Holter monitor. Still have to do a 7 day one and an echo, but things probably won’t change. This all started in February when I had an MRI to see if there were any issues as I had had double vision for a few years and my optician thought it would be a good idea. The MRI didn’t show any tumours, but did show I had had a stroke. My GP followed guidelines and put me on Statins, which then caused all the other problems. What the monitor showed is that my heart isn’t beating properly, (ventricular and atrial ectopic), so basically the blood sloshes around, forms a clot which ends up causing a stroke. Probably going to end up on xarelto but will let the cardiologist make the decision in July. Currently on low dose daily aspirin.
Click to expand...
It's interesting but just last week I heard of a friend of a friend (if that makes sense) who was finally diagnosed with statin induced myositis.
Hopefully you'll be able to resolve the heart issue - doesn't sound wonderful.
 
love_the_life said:
It's interesting but just last week I heard of a friend of a friend (if that makes sense) who was finally diagnosed with statin induced myositis.
Hopefully you'll be able to resolve the heart issue - doesn't sound wonderful.
Click to expand...
Sorry to hear about your friend (or friend of a friend). I am just getting old from the sounds of it - my GP seemed to think medication would work well. Need to do some reading, as it’s not an area I know much about :)
 

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