General Medical issues thread

[Hvr]

Others ask did I really have the flu,

I'm starting to get angry with people who ask if I was really sick when I take time off work. My doctor said I wasn't fit for work, issued a certificate and to me that's the end of the story.

I'm rarely sick but when I am, I cop it hard, especially as I get older and need more recovery time.

 

[prozac]

I'm starting to get angry with people who ask if I was really sick when I take time off work. My doctor said I wasn't fit for work, issued a certificate and to me that's the end of the story.

I'm rarely sick but when I am, I cop it hard, especially as I get older and need more recovery time.

Years ago, I had a serious work injury, serious for me, not for the publicly listed company I worked for. At one stage I was in hospital on an antibiotic drip for a related staph infection and asked Mrs prozac to phone work and explain I'd possibly be off work for a while. On Sunday night the manager called and asked if I would be in to work in the morning!

 

[suze2000]

I recently had an ACL reconstruction and am looking forward to resuming full duties at work, but I'm being told (by my manager) that because I find it painful to do ONE thing (which I think I can find a workaround for), which I'd only have to do a couple of times a week at most, she's not going to allow me to resume full duties. The irony is that her refusal to approve this creates a staffing hole she'll have trouble filling. *sigh*

 

[Hvr]

but I'm being told (by my manager)

Surely your manager should be required to obtain medical guidance about limiting your duties?

 

[suze2000]

Surely your manager should be required to obtain medical guidance about limiting your duties?

Yes, I will be consulting with my physio about it soon and if she says it's okay, I'll be allowed.

 

[RooFlyer]

Going to the Stans and a couple of other places in a fortnight, so off to my Travel Doctor today (who also happens to be my regular GP). The trip will take us to some pretty remote places for a couple of days, a couple of times (as in no hotels, but 'homestays' and, in one case, yurts), so I wanted a 'belt and braces' assessment, especially re the couple of long term conditions I have.

Rabies came up on the checklist. I've never had that shot and believed that you could get it 'afterwards' in case you were bitten.

What I learned:

* A LOT more than dogs can give you rabies, if they are carriers

* If you get the virus, and if not vaccinated either before or within a couple of days afterwards, you are dead in about 10 days. Now, some here may nit-pick on the timing and ultimate outcome, but I was left in no doubt that if I was going somewhere remote and to a country where rabies is carried, then vaccination could be a life-saver.

* The timing window of any 'afterwards' vaccination is limited. Has to be within a couple of days, and its likely only carried in larger medical centres. After that, too late. And its a course of post-vaccinations over about a week or so. So, if you are nipped by almost anything, its an urgent trip to a city and abandon the holiday (would you want to take the risk and do nothing?)


So that made getting the rabies vaccine a no brainer for me. I started the course of 3 shots over 3 weeks (or, in my case over 2 weeks); reasonably expensive, but for me great peace of mind. Oh, if I get bitten, I still need to get to a medical centre for the post-vaccinations, but I have probably 5 or more days to get there. Still a hassle, but not life-fearing.

And the doc (because he knows me & my history very well) kindly wrote out a couple of other scripts that will enhance my travel first aid kit Don't worry - we have a good understanding, as I do of the stuff I'm carrying - what to mix and not mix etc

 

[prozac]

Going to the Stans and a couple of other places in a fortnight, so off to my Travel Doctor today (who also happens to be my regular GP). The trip will take us to some pretty remote places for a couple of days, a couple of times (as in no hotels, but 'homestays' and, in one case, yurts), so I wanted a 'belt and braces' assessment, especially re the couple of long term conditions I have.

Rabies came up on the checklist. I've never had that shot and believed that you could get it 'afterwards' in case you were bitten.

What I learned:

* A LOT more than dogs can give you rabies, if they are carriers

...

Have a good trip RooFlyer. Informative regards rabies. I have been to Georgia and never occured to me to get a vaccination. Mind, I think rabies is throughout Western Europe also but animal health generally is probably better.

Since I have had my health issues I have started to think about what I need to do regards travel health insurance when i am able to travel again.
Everyone feel free to chime in. Who to use for travel insurance and what costs can I expect?

 

[sinophile888]

Since I have had my health issues I have started to think about what I need to do regards travel health insurance when i am able to travel again.
Everyone feel free to chime in. Who to use for travel insurance and what costs can I expect?

I'd start with insureandgo.

 

[Denali]

Going to the Stans and a couple of other places in a fortnight, so off to my Travel Doctor today (who also happens to be my regular GP). The trip will take us to some pretty remote places for a couple of days, a couple of times (as in no hotels, but 'homestays' and, in one case, yurts), so I wanted a 'belt and braces' assessment, especially re the couple of long term conditions I have.

Rabies came up on the checklist. I've never had that shot and believed that you could get it 'afterwards' in case you were bitten.

What I learned:

* A LOT more than dogs can give you rabies, if they are carriers

* If you get the virus, and if not vaccinated either before or within a couple of days afterwards, you are dead in about 10 days. Now, some here may nit-pick on the timing and ultimate outcome, but I was left in no doubt that if I was going somewhere remote and to a country where rabies is carried, then vaccination could be a life-saver.

* The timing window of any 'afterwards' vaccination is limited. Has to be within a couple of days, and its likely only carried in larger medical centres. After that, too late. And its a course of post-vaccinations over about a week or so. So, if you are nipped by almost anything, its an urgent trip to a city and abandon the holiday (would you want to take the risk and do nothing?)


So that made getting the rabies vaccine a no brainer for me. I started the course of 3 shots over 3 weeks (or, in my case over 2 weeks); reasonably expensive, but for me great peace of mind. Oh, if I get bitten, I still need to get to a medical centre for the post-vaccinations, but I have probably 5 or more days to get there. Still a hassle, but not life-fearing.

And the doc (because he knows me & my history very well) kindly wrote out a couple of other scripts that will enhance my travel first aid kit Don't worry - we have a good understanding, as I do of the stuff I'm carrying - what to mix and not mix etc

My doc is similar with giving me a couple of scripts - most meds I end up throwing away once expired but good to have for just in case. Disposed of antibiotics on the weekend that expired.

Re rabies. Blows my mind when I see people playing with the monkeys or street dogs and then they act all surprised when bitten and told to get checked out in case of rabies. Cambodia and idiot tourists comes to mind. Stay away from the local wildlife.

 

[tgh]

I'd start with insureandgo.

Read and understand the pdf v e r y carefully , words have meanings… caveat emptor

 

[tgh]

Most folks do not have the Rabies shot because it is expensive and can be a bit uncomfortable.
Imo the peace of mind was worth it, but others mmv

 

[prozac]

I'd start with insureandgo.

Read and understand the pdf v e r y carefully , words have meanings… caveat emptor

If not insureandgo then who do you insure with for medical issues tgh?

 

[Pushka]

You can get rabies from squirrels anywhere I believe. Not Australia though. English niece was bitten by a monkey in Bali and knew she had to start the shots immediately and did so. I’ve told the kids that if they are bitten by any warm blooded animal then immediately go to a good Hospital. Assuming there is one close by.

 

[Flying mermaid]

You can get rabies from squirrels anywhere I believe. Not Australia though. English niece was bitten by a monkey in Bali and knew she had to start the shots immediately and did so. I’ve told the kids that if they are bitten by any warm blooded animal then immediately go to a good Hospital. Assuming there is one close by.

Or scratched - as you might recall I was scratched by a cat in Istanbul and ignored it. When I came back to Australia and mentioned it to the travel doctor when getting malaria tablets for another trip all hell broke loose and she reported it to ACT Health, who within 24 hours had me doing the full rabies treatment, even though it was 3 months later.

Mr FM had the rabies vaccinations before our African trip last year - he didn’t find it uncomfortable. I didn’t find the treatment too bad - I think it’s better than it used to be.

 

[tgh]

I spent some time reading policy wording across a range of providers before buying our last policy.
Our annual policy is with Allianz , more expensive but tending more to broad form wording than others.
We do have fairly limited medical extra's added on which is sometimes the key
It's probably a harsh reality that for some folks any available insurance is good insurance...

 

[Renato1]

Years ago, I had a serious work injury, serious for me, not for the publicly listed company I worked for. At one stage I was in hospital on an antibiotic drip for a related staph infection and asked Mrs prozac to phone work and explain I'd possibly be off work for a while. On Sunday night the manager called and asked if I would be in to work in the morning!

That's pretty astounding.

By way of contrast, on several occasions in the Public Service I had staff come back to work after being off on sick leave. They gave me their leave form to sign with attached Doctor's certificate. Whereupon I looked at them and told them to get the hell out of here, as their certificate said they were still sick - they'd misread it and come back a day early.
Regards,
Renato

 

[Renato1]

I haven't been posting here much lately.

A month ago I was hit with a bad back, and I couldn't sit down anywhere for more than two minutes for a week and a half (but I could happily go shopping or do mowing). Turns out I have two slightly impinged nerves in my spine. My Doctors tell me I should eventually improve, while I live each day on Lyrica and Tramadol. I have improved slightly, as I can sit at my computer for 15 minutes or so now.

Anyhow, my problem is that we're flying off to Tunis in a few weeks. I think I'll be using a lot of pain killers that flight.
Cheers,
Renato

 

[ellen10]

@Renato1 I hope your back continues to improve for your flights. I once flew home with a broken coccyx (I didnt know it was broken at the time). Sitting on long haul is bad enough with complications.

 

[Renato1]

@Renato1 I hope your back continues to improve for your flights. I once flew home with a broken coccyx (I didnt know it was broken at the time). Sitting on long haul is bad enough with complications.

Thanks Ellen,
Ouch - my wife had a broken coccyx too a long time back. She wasn't very happy for over a year.

Fortunately, I'm flying with Qatar and their A380s have a fairly big open area for walking around at the front of the plane. This may be my first trip where I spend more time standing up than sitting down.
Cheers,
Renato

 

[Hvr]

Ouch - my wife had a broken coccyx too a long time back. She wasn't very happy for over a year.

Was it an interesting tale?




In all seriousness it sounds quite painful.