General Medical issues thread

[Katie]

Had a bit of a drama queen moment last night, but also the fastest emergency experience and cheapest hospital parking ever!

I went for a walk after work, and at some point a moth (??winged insect of some kind, not a grasshopper, but I didn't really get to inspect it from inside my eyeball and while swatting it away) flew into my eye. I kept walking and got home 30 or so mins later. Had a shower, and was reading my iPad before dinner when I noticed my vision wasn't great from that eye. I had a semi-circle of light showing up in it, and I could only read in other parts of my field of vision.

Sat down to dinner, decided not to eat, Dr Googled retinal detachment (it's been in my head ever since getting floaters in my early 20yrs and the ophthalmologist mentioned it). Called a relative to come and be with the 13yo, and Mr Katie took me to Bris Northside Emergency. Of course, didn't think about Covid issues until we got there, but they let me in and let him come in with me. I think I was one of only two patients there!
Doctor checked my eye, anaesthetic, got one of those giant cotton tips and checked out my eye lids, then a dye dropper. Everything so far was normal, and he chose not to dilate and do further tests. I'm on strict orders to come straight back if I get a recurrence.

His best guess of what happened - a bit of leg, antenna or wing was stuck in my eye and refracting the light. And it worked its way out. A relief, and I feel dramatic, but I also know retinal detachment is a serious issue not to be ignored.

Parking cost $4.80 - less than 30 mins. Incredible.

 

[Pushka]

Had a bit of a drama queen moment last night, but also the fastest emergency experience and cheapest hospital parking ever!

I went for a walk after work, and at some point a moth (??winged insect of some kind, not a grasshopper, but I didn't really get to inspect it from inside my eyeball and while swatting it away) flew into my eye. I kept walking and got home 30 or so mins later. Had a shower, and was reading my iPad before dinner when I noticed my vision wasn't great from that eye. I had a semi-circle of light showing up in it, and I could only read in other parts of my field of vision.

Sat down to dinner, decided not to eat, Dr Googled retinal detachment (it's been in my head ever since getting floaters in my early 20yrs and the ophthalmologist mentioned it). Called a relative to come and be with the 13yo, and Mr Katie took me to Bris Northside Emergency. Of course, didn't think about Covid issues until we got there, but they let me in and let him come in with me. I think I was one of only two patients there!
Doctor checked my eye, anaesthetic, got one of those giant cotton tips and checked out my eye lids, then a dye dropper. Everything so far was normal, and he chose not to dilate and do further tests. I'm on strict orders to come straight back if I get a recurrence.

His best guess of what happened - a bit of leg, antenna or wing was stuck in my eye and refracting the light. And it worked its way out. A relief, and I feel dramatic, but I also know retinal detachment is a serious issue not to be ignored.

Parking cost $4.80 - less than 30 mins. Incredible.

It’s hard not to react to vision issues but my pivot point is whether something happened immediately prior to having the issue and then waiting to see if it sorts itself out. I had one blurred eye the other day but had been wiping them immediately prior and was concerned but a few hours later it cleared.

 

[rogerkambah]

Had a visit to the radiation therapy team to measure up etc so my lung can be irradiated at the end of the month.
We are lucky in CBR that the oncology dept is right next to the multi-story hospital carpark.
Due to CV19 the carpark was so empty that we parked on the ground floor.
Parking is free.

 

[blackcat20]

Had a bit of a drama queen moment last night, but also the fastest emergency experience and cheapest hospital parking ever!

I went for a walk after work, and at some point a moth (??winged insect of some kind, not a grasshopper, but I didn't really get to inspect it from inside my eyeball and while swatting it away) flew into my eye. I kept walking and got home 30 or so mins later. Had a shower, and was reading my iPad before dinner when I noticed my vision wasn't great from that eye. I had a semi-circle of light showing up in it, and I could only read in other parts of my field of vision.

Sat down to dinner, decided not to eat, Dr Googled retinal detachment (it's been in my head ever since getting floaters in my early 20yrs and the ophthalmologist mentioned it). Called a relative to come and be with the 13yo, and Mr Katie took me to Bris Northside Emergency. Of course, didn't think about Covid issues until we got there, but they let me in and let him come in with me. I think I was one of only two patients there!
Doctor checked my eye, anaesthetic, got one of those giant cotton tips and checked out my eye lids, then a dye dropper. Everything so far was normal, and he chose not to dilate and do further tests. I'm on strict orders to come straight back if I get a recurrence.

His best guess of what happened - a bit of leg, antenna or wing was stuck in my eye and refracting the light. And it worked its way out. A relief, and I feel dramatic, but I also know retinal detachment is a serious issue not to be ignored.

Parking cost $4.80 - less than 30 mins. Incredible.

Emergency departments are great at the moment, I took Miss TC last week and we were straight in. We spent three hours there but well worth it (including masks and multiple temp checks for both of us).

 

[Flying mermaid]

Had a bit of a drama queen moment last night, but also the fastest emergency experience and cheapest hospital parking ever!

I went for a walk after work, and at some point a moth (??winged insect of some kind, not a grasshopper, but I didn't really get to inspect it from inside my eyeball and while swatting it away) flew into my eye. I kept walking and got home 30 or so mins later. Had a shower, and was reading my iPad before dinner when I noticed my vision wasn't great from that eye. I had a semi-circle of light showing up in it, and I could only read in other parts of my field of vision.

Sat down to dinner, decided not to eat, Dr Googled retinal detachment (it's been in my head ever since getting floaters in my early 20yrs and the ophthalmologist mentioned it). Called a relative to come and be with the 13yo, and Mr Katie took me to Bris Northside Emergency. Of course, didn't think about Covid issues until we got there, but they let me in and let him come in with me. I think I was one of only two patients there!
Doctor checked my eye, anaesthetic, got one of those giant cotton tips and checked out my eye lids, then a dye dropper. Everything so far was normal, and he chose not to dilate and do further tests. I'm on strict orders to come straight back if I get a recurrence.

His best guess of what happened - a bit of leg, antenna or wing was stuck in my eye and refracting the light. And it worked its way out. A relief, and I feel dramatic, but I also know retinal detachment is a serious issue not to be ignored.

Parking cost $4.80 - less than 30 mins. Incredible.

Master FM once had the handle of a badminton racquet bashed into his eye. It shattered the contact lens in his eye. We were in Sydney at the time and took him to the Randwick eye hospital where they had to pick out the bits of contact lens. I had to keep him flat on his back for days to stop the retina detaching. Trying to do that with a teenager in a rented apartment was interesting, particularly once any pain disappeared and he couldn’t see the point. Thank goodness for audio books!

 

[rogerkambah]

Master FM once had the handle of a badminton racquet bashed into his eye. It shattered the contact lens in his eye. We were in Sydney at the time and took him to the Randwick eye hospital where they had to pick out the bits of contact lens. I had to keep him flat on his back for days to stop the retina detaching. Trying to do that with a teenager in a rented apartment was interesting, particularly once any pain disappeared and he couldn’t see the point. Thank goodness for audio books!

I had a friend whose retinas both detached at the same time. This was many years ago while she was in Kenya doing PhD research. She had to get back to the UK. Treatment in those days was to glue them back on - not so successful and she had a lot of trouble with night vision.

 

[prozac]

Around 10 yrs ago, mucking around with the cat and she swiped at me, sticking a claw into my eye. I grabbed her paw and trying to keep her calm, waited for her to retract the claw, which fortunately she did without much encouragement. Looking in the mirror my eye was blood red so drove to my GP. Upon inspection he said the claw had gone in and out cleanly just missing the pupil. I went home with eye drops and had no issues.

 

[ellen10]

Had a visit to the radiation therapy team to measure up etc so my lung can be irradiated at the end of the month.
We are lucky in CBR that the oncology dept is right next to the multi-story hospital carpark.

My son was a registrar at Canberra hospital in the radiation oncology unit for 4.5 years. (He still has many friends and colleagues there).
He then went to London for two years to work in clinical trials for lung cancer through the UK. After that he returned to work at our local hospital in the radiation oncology cancer centre.

 

[prozac]

Back next week for another angioplasty #6. I am pretty certain what the outcome will be (fractured stent) so packing for a longer stay.

 

[Katie]

The emergency doctor just called as a TeleHealth followup. Asked a lot of questions to establish that it does seem to have been a one off, reassured me that I wasn't being dramatic about getting it checked out. I made him laugh when he asked about floaters and vision, I said "No more floaters than usual". Well, I couldn't say that I had no floaters, because that would be a fib.

 

[prozac]

You'll only hear this once, I was wrong. Had the angioplasty this morning. The stent which had previously fractured (twice) had not fractured again. That's nice because it was my suggestion that fixed it. However all the other stents have restenosis and the left main ascending is 80-90% blocked. All this since January! So no more restenting. They do not know what is causing it. I had a haematologist consult this afternoon and no solution there either. Nurse came in with instructions to take "lots of blood", and that is what she did, 13 vials of it. By-pass happening on Tuesday and hopefully that won't block, apparently they do not... in normal people.

 

[cove]

Prozac we are all different but I can tell you that I had bypass surgery in 1994 with 4 grafts and I am still alive and going ok.
i have to take some heart function drugs but you get used to it. My youngest favourite son was 2 years old and is now a 27 year old adult.
After the operation I had 2 amazing technicolor dreams whilst in ICU probably from the anaesthetic so you might get to know that you can dream in colour rather than sepia or black and white.
You will have every right to be more decisive on buying and paying for stuff. My wife was really supportive and that was a great help in my quick recovery.
You need a bit of luck and you need to follow the instructions you are given after leaving hospital.
One of my old surfing mates is not doing that post bypass and his behaviour is risky.

 

[Pushka]

You'll only hear this once, I was wrong. Had the angioplasty this morning. The stent which had previously fractured (twice) had not fractured again. That's nice because it was my suggestion that fixed it. However all the other stents have restenosis and the left main ascending is 80-90% blocked. All this since January! So no more restenting. They do not know what is causing it. I had a haematologist consult this afternoon and no solution there either. Nurse came in with instructions to take "lots of blood", and that is what she did, 13 vials of it. By-pass happening on Tuesday and hopefully that won't block, apparently they do not... in normal people.

May I ask as I know nothing - what is blocking them each time?

 

[drron]

Well my good story on Coronary artery bypass was a fellow who had his bypass at 52.one of the first in Australia.I was looking after him in his 80s.He hadn't had any further heart problems.He took to exercise in a good way.At age 89 he decided to go to the World Senior games.He wanted to make sure he was fit so wanted a stress test.well he was fit enough being able to do 21 minutes on the treadmill using the Bruce Protocol.that level is basically running up a steep hill.A qantas pilot had to be able to do 9 minutes to pass his /her medical in those days.
A year later he held the world record for running at every distance up to a mile for over 70s.

 

[prozac]

May I ask as I know nothing - what is blocking them each time?

2nd time was supposedly plaque coming back through the stents. Another 2 times (t least) a fractured stent. This time cardio mentioned regrowth through the stents so not certain myself. In hind sight it might have been handy if he could have taken a sample to confirm. Maybe my body is rejecting the stents by growing through them. I'm an engineer so it is a bit out of my field. I will ask today. Had another 11 vials blood taken this morning so they are testing for everything.

Edit: Pushka Cardio tells me the arteries are growing back through the stents and rapidly. Not unheard of but not common. Pointed out a few narrow sections on the images and said "this is why I did not want you going home, if you were out walking and one of these blocked it would be all over". I guess I shouldn't have mowed the lawn the day before the op.
Will be seeing a Lipid specialist as an outpatient to try and find an answer as it effectively rules out ever having another stent.
In-case you were wondering, my cholesterol is 3.1 and LDL 1.1 .

 

[moa999]

Alerted from another thread, thought I'd add myself to the AFF haemochromatosis list.

Family history and was gene tested in my teens and said to be compound hetro (two half genes) (think it's about 1 in 50 Aussies) which is higher risk.

Recent blood test had me in the 600s. Bunch of fortnightly lets over 12 months ago got me back under 200 (normal 20-300 for men), and I'm now on the RedCross Lifeblood Therapeutic program donating quarterly, so at least my blood goes somewhere better than the garbage bin.

(Note the blood is not used directly due to the highish iron rates and non-voluntary status, but is used for other products and testing)

 

[drron]

I was very fortunate as before moving to QLD as I was a regular blood donor-75 donations.
moving to QLD I needed some blood tests for an insurance policy.Back in the 90s in QLD they had iron as one of the tests in the biochemical screen.Mine was high and turned out i was a homozygote.After diagnosis the Red cross would no longer accept my blood.Some was used by the patthology company in standardising things such as INR tests but most was apparently used by the pathologist as rose fertiliser.

I ended up being featured in a long article in the Weekend Australian magazine in the mid 90s.

 

[prozac]

Alerted from another thread, thought I'd add myself to the AFF haemochromatosis list.

Family history and was gene tested in my teens and said to be compound hetro (two half genes) (think it's about 1 in 50 Aussies) which is higher risk.

Recent blood test had me in the 600s. Bunch of fortnightly lets over 12 months ago got me back under 200 (normal 20-300 for men), and I'm now on the RedCross Lifeblood Therapeutic program donating quarterly, so at least my blood goes somewhere better than the garbage bin.

(Note the blood is not used directly due to the highish iron rates and non-voluntary status, but is used for other products and testing)

Do you have Scottish or Northern European ancestry? I carry one gene, you need 2 to tango via genes C282Y and/or H63D carried by one or both parent.

 

[moa999]

homozygote.After diagnosis the Red cross would no longer accept my blood

Have you checked that recently. RedCross now has an app that a haemotologist can access.

Do you have Scottish or Northern European ancestry? I carry one gene, you need 2 to tango via genes C282Y and/or H63D

Elements of Welsh and Scottish. But mostly traced through first fleet arrivals.

As above I'm compound hetero - so carrier of C282Y And H63D

 

[drron]

There are now a few other genes implicated with iron overload.But in those of Celtic origin the C282Y is the predominant abnormal gene.
believed the H63D is Mediterranean in origin but the Romans spread it around so we do have the compound heterozygotes.Mrsdrron is a carrier of the H63D gene but didn't pass that on to our son.