General Medical issues thread

[Pushka]

Have got a sore throat, nose running and coughing a lot. Had to go home from work this evening because I was ill. Will see a GP ASAP and hopefully ok before my next shift on Wednesday.

Will just sit here in the warm and quiet with OTC cold/flu relief.

If it’s just a cold then no need to see a GP. Just sit it out. I’m not even tempted to visit one unless it’s been a week and doesn’t improve within that time. I’ve had this one for a week now with similar symptoms and it’s improving now. There’s nothing they can do for a cold.

 

[Hvr]

If it’s just a cold then no need to see a GP.

Because I've missed a Friday and Saturday night shift my employer requires a certificate.

I rang as soon as the clinic was open and got an appointment. No drugs prescribed, just keep hydrated and use Panadol/Nurafen as required, not less than four hours between doses.

Got a recommendation for a cough suppressant and another appointment Wednesday.

 

[love_the_life]

Because I've missed a Friday and Saturday night shift my employer requires a certificate.

I rang as soon as the clinic was open and got an appointment. No drugs prescribed, just keep hydrated and use Panadol/Nurafen as required, not less than four hours between doses.

Got a recommendation for a cough suppressant and another appointment Wednesday.

Some pharmacists now will give a medical certificate though have never used them.

 

[Pushka]

Because I've missed a Friday and Saturday night shift my employer requires a certificate.

I rang as soon as the clinic was open and got an appointment. No drugs prescribed, just keep hydrated and use Panadol/Nurafen as required, not less than four hours between doses.

Got a recommendation for a cough suppressant and another appointment Wednesday.

Fair enough, it sounded like you just left work early one shift and not back at work until Wednesday next week so no need for a certificate.

 

[Hvr]

Some pharmacists now will give a medical certificate though have never used them.

If push had come to shove I've known my pharmacist for >20 years so maybe she could have done it. Always something to remember.

 

[Katie]

Check up with the naturopath on Friday. Going quite well on this detox, but I am really missing coffee. Coping OK without wine and steak. Lost a few kilograms, which is not surprising with a restricted diet made up mostly of whole foods with practically nothing that’s processed.
Did a hair test for “sensitivities” to around 600 products (not an allergy or intolerance test). The results recommend I basically go gluten-free and dairy-free, and avoid chicken and kangaroo (other meats are OK).
Could all be a pile of bollocks, but I’ll see how I feel if I pursue eliminating these items after I get home from a trip to the US.
My skin is definitely clearer, but given I’m taking roaccutane, it could be the medication mostly influencing the skin results. I also feel like I’m blowing my nose less/having fewer rhinitis symptoms. I had never calculated how often I blow my nose (am allergic to dust and cat dander), but it feels less often. My environment at home and work is no more clean than it was.

This week I get to add lamb and veal to my meat repertoire!

 

[Pushka]

Check up with the naturopath on Friday. Going quite well on this detox, but I am really missing coffee. Coping OK without wine and steak. Lost a few kilograms, which is not surprising with a restricted diet made up mostly of whole foods with practically nothing that’s processed.
Did a hair test for “sensitivities” to around 600 products (not an allergy or intolerance test). The results recommend I basically go gluten-free and dairy-free, and avoid chicken and kangaroo (other meats are OK).
Could all be a pile of bollocks, but I’ll see how I feel if I pursue eliminating these items after I get home from a trip to the US.
My skin is definitely clearer, but given I’m taking roaccutane, it could be the medication mostly influencing the skin results. I also feel like I’m blowing my nose less/having fewer rhinitis symptoms. I had never calculated how often I blow my nose (am allergic to dust and cat dander), but it feels less often. My environment at home and work is no more clean than it was.

This week I get to add lamb and veal to my meat repertoire!

My DIL is currently breast feeding and young bubs has a few digestive issues so she’s now extremely careful in what she eats. Lots of healthy whole foods, no dairy at all, no spicy food. She is allowing herself alcohol now. And she looks fabulous. Not sure about weight loss as she’s not much past the birth but her skin is so clear and healthy. No coffee either. She never ate much meat so that wasn’t an issue for her to go without.

 

[suze2000]

Did a hair test for “sensitivities” to around 600 products (not an allergy or intolerance test). The results recommend I basically go gluten-free and dairy-free, and avoid chicken and kangaroo (other meats are OK).

A HAIR test? What on earth? Never mind, I googled it.

the Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy states:

These tests include cytotoxic food testing, Vega testing, kinesiology, allergy elimination techniques, iridology, pulse testing, Alcat testing, Rinkel's intradermal skin testing, reflexology, hair analysis and IgG food antibody testing. Not only do these tests lack any scientific rationale, but have been shown to be inaccurate and unreliable in published studies.

I'm not sure I'd put much store in that.

But this brings me back to my biggest bugbear about naturopaths. It's always guaranteed that if you go to a naturopath they will tell you to give up wheat and dairy. Always. I don't know anyone who's been to one and not been told that. And you will always lose weight on an elimination diet as you generally have no idea what to eat. The first week I did FODMAP I lost 5kg because I was so sick and I was afraid to put anything in my mouth that would make it worse. Put it all back on as soon as I figured out what was "safe" too. I actually do follow one on FB, but that's because everything I ever saw him write in the FODMAP FB group was based on his readings of actual scientific studies, and agrees with all the actual medical science that I know.

 

[Katie]

A HAIR test? What on earth? Never mind, I googled it.

the Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy states:

I'm not sure I'd put much store in that.

Hence why I said it wasn't an allergy or an intolerance test.

I'm quite sick of the dermatologist's preference for ongoing antibiotics or Roaccutane to resolve this skin issue (and even he's said they don't know what causes rosacea, though there's apparently some link with eating spicy food and chocolate, and drinking red wine/alcohol). Various skin cleansers and moisturisers haven't made a jot of difference.
I am intrigued how the gut microbiome might be an influencing factor in my skin condition. I am just sharing my experiences, adding to various other anecdotes here, but will refrain from doing so in the future.

 

[VPS]

Hence why I said it wasn't an allergy or an intolerance test.

I'm quite sick of the dermatologist's preference for ongoing antibiotics or Roaccutane to resolve this skin issue (and even he's said they don't know what causes rosacea, though there's apparently some link with eating spicy food and chocolate, and drinking red wine/alcohol). Various skin cleansers and moisturisers haven't made a jot of difference.
I am intrigued how the gut microbiome might be an influencing factor in my skin condition. I am just sharing my experiences, adding to various other anecdotes here, but will refrain from doing so in the future.

Please continue to let us know how you get on - I suffered from rosacea for years and laser did seem to help but it seems to have cleared up on it's own and still eat spicy food lots of alcohol and chocolate

 

[Pushka]

Isn’t a product called Moo Milk supposed to help with skin issues?

 

[suze2000]

I am intrigued how the gut microbiome might be an influencing factor in my skin condition. I am just sharing my experiences, adding to various other anecdotes here, but will refrain from doing so in the future.

I'm sorry I did not mean to suggest your experience is invalid. I'm am a cynical scientist and will be interested to hear how you go over the next year or so.

 

[blackcat20]

Went for my annual skin check today as I had a couple of moles I wanted the doc to look at. They're fine but turns out my BCC has come back. Treatment was cream at the start of 2018. Now I have a referral for a plastic surgeon...

 

[love_the_life]

Went for my annual skin check today as I had a couple of moles I wanted the doc to look at. They're fine but turns out my BCC has come back. Treatment was cream at the start of 2018. Now I have a referral for a plastic surgeon...

Was that the one on your shoulder?

 

[blackcat20]

Was that the one on your shoulder?

Yes. She wasn’t keen to cut it out given the lack of flesh, and still isn’t, hence the referral. Just one more scar for my collection.
I’ve got two more spots on watch, I have to go back in three months to see if they’ve changed.

 

[Milboo]

Ask them about Photo Dynamic Therapy or PDT for it. Not the most pleasant to have but better than surgery.

 

[cove]

I can still remember my MIL having no body scars at 85 but she has made up for it over the next 8 years. I have friends who have scars that look like a ban the bomb on their fronts. Then the melanoma surgical scars can be very large.
Surgery can be a life saver so don’t worry about cut marks.
One of my friends had a sarcoma removed just in time after a niece grabbed his arm while playing. The growth was removed just before it had reached the bone. He is now clear from a reoccurrence but still gets tested.
The best one is my heart transplant man who has had about 15 years additional life. He has been doing legendary work with his charity foundation.

 

[blackcat20]

Certainly not bothered by scars, I already have four. Though two aren't visible to most people. Id prefer a scar over skin cancer any day of the week.

 

[Major]

Certainly not bothered by scars, I already have four. Though two aren't visible to most people. Id prefer a scar over skin cancer any day of the week.

I am not concerned at all about scars. With one melanoma and more than 60 SCC's / BCC's excised over the years, scars are the least of my worries

 

[Antoallison]

I had a Melanoma removed nearly a year ago from my shoulder ... and that was a wake up call.

I don’t mind the scar at all, figure it saved my life in the long term and made me vigilant in inspecting for any changes in other moles and bumps.

Being Anglo-Saxon has it’s drawbacks. Not that I had ever sunbaked, but I had often been a bit lazy about applying suncream, wearing a hat in the relentless Perth sunshine.