General Medical issues thread

[Quickstatus]

TSH in the forties

Lots of people battle to get the TSH down. Can be such a PITA.

now tell me why my stents block in 6 weeks

You are not alone. Lots of my vascular colleagues have stopped putting in leg stents. They just block up. (coronary stents not included)

 

[prozac]

Lots of people battle to get the TSH down. Can be such a PITA.


You are not alone. Lots of my vascular colleagues have stopped putting in leg stents. They just block up. (coronary stents not included)

7 angioplasty in 18 months. Each time coronary stents blocked or the one stent that fractured 3 times plus a dissected LAD.

 

[prozac]

Wishing all my fellow Medical Issues thread contributors a BETTER 2021.

Despite my ongoing issues I can honestly say 2020 was actually a very good year for me. What started out as a dire situation carried over from previous years ended up as a great result. I can only view 2020 in a positive light. I have good expectations for 2021, I hope the the same for the rest of our select group.

 

[RooFlyer]

Eye update, after my second operation to repair a torn retina.

From December 4:

General Medical issues thread

Maybe? I think I've had one of those. My left eye is also way up on the pressure test the emergency doctor did - it measured at 38 thingybobs, and my right eye is within range, something like 18 thingybobs. See an Optometrist or better still an Ophthalmologist.

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

Well, that was optimistic. The bubble finally disappeared on Jan 10 - exactly 2 months after the second operation. It was small and unobtrusive for the last 2 weeks. Still got a number of small floaties, which I didn't expect. Apparently they can last for months.

So, currently normal vision, using multifocal glasses. I've used 24/7 soft contacts for decades and would like to go back to them, but I'll be having a cataract operation or two within a year so may not bother. Think I'll see the optician.

 

[RooFlyer]

Oh, and while I'm at it, a health insurance update.

After my second op in early November, I overnighted in a nearby hospital (op was at a day surgery place).

A week before Christmas, I happened to look at my health fund claims record and noticed that the day surgery for the second op was 'not paid' and the overnight place was "In process" a month later. The surgeon and anaesthetist had been paid Hmmm. I called the health fund to see what was up. The guy put me on hold a couple of times and couldn't figure it out, so said they would get back to me.

Never did. Last week I went to check on status. The overnight hospital had been paid, but the day surgery was still "Not paid". I was surprised the day surgery place hadn't been after me.

I called the health fund again. First told that the case had been 'closed' (!! - no one told me!!) and then again lots of hold trying to figure out what was up. Finally found out that the hospital had entered the 'wrong code'. I was told to either leave it until the hospital woke up, or I could call and prompt them.

So I called the day surgery. "Oh! they haven't paid!" (nearly 2 months after they put in the claim). I told them what the issue was, according to the health fund. They reckoned they used the right codes, so I left them to duke it out.

But bless the private health cover with top hospital. In all, 2 emergency operations done the next day and same day, total bills $12,683, I paid $1,000. My premiums are abt $2,500 pa and I always use about $1,500 or optical, dental etc.

.. and I discovered that I'm earning 'Rewards Points' with the fund! (Redemption value about as good as Qantas )

 

[rogerkambah]

Finally had the lesion above my left eyebrow excised by an occulo plastic surgeon who visits CBR ( and I believe Wagga) so saves patients travelling to SYD. Looks a bit untidy, but maybe will be better when sutures are removed.
Reason I waited so long was I was hoping to be off chemo but CT scan in December indicated otherwise.

 

[love_the_life]

Finally had the lesion above my left eyebrow excised by an occulo plastic surgeon who visits CBR ( and I believe Wagga) so saves patients travelling to SYD. Looks a bit untidy, but maybe will be better when sutures are removed.
Reason I waited so long was I was hoping to be off chemo but CT scan in December indicated otherwise.

At least done now and it is surprising how they do settle down and improve over time - will start out red and gradually fade.
Hope chemo is going as well as can be expected - never a walk in the park.

 

[RooFlyer]

I've used 24/7 soft contacts for decades and would like to go back to them, but I'll be having a cataract operation or two within a year so may not bother. Think I'll see the optician.

Optician is getting me some trial soft contacts to see how they go - my operated eye prescription has changed a lot, and more astigmatism. Interestingly, its no longer recommended to wear soft contacts 24/7 (whichvI did, for a month each pair, with a weekend with them out until the next pair went in) , due to studies showing increased risk of inflammation, infection etc. I never experienced any of that.

I found getting contacts out every night major PITA when I went through that phase years ago.

 

[TheRealTMA]

Optician is getting me some trial soft contacts to see how they go - my operated eye prescription has changed a lot, and more astigmatism. Interestingly, its no longer recommended to wear soft contacts 24/7 (whichvI did, for a month each pair, with a weekend with them out until the next pair went in) , due to studies showing increased risk of inflammation, infection etc. I never experienced any of that.

I found getting contacts out every night major PITA when I went through that phase years ago.

Best of luck. As a POI, why not just wear glasses?

 

[RooFlyer]

Best of luck. As a POI, why not just wear glasses?

I wore glasses for about 10 years, from a teenager, then went to hard contacts when I was in the NT tropics because of sweat and fogging with glasses going in and out of aircon. PITA. Went on with contacts afterwards, but once tried glasses again when the contacts couldn't adjust for astigmatism properly - tried the photosensitive ones, didn't like 'em (slow to adjust for rapid changes into bright light / dark). Then to 24/7 soft contacts 20 years or so ago and then with glasses over them for reading for the past 5 years.

Now, wearing glasses all the time since my op (2 months), I still find its a PITA - can't wear sunglasses, don't like clip-ons, not going to pay for photosensitive ones when all will be redundant in under a year when I get cataracts done. Sweaty in the heat (yes, we do have some), can't wear them swimming (loss risk) ...

I guess its just a personal preference - I'm totally used to contacts, which are now engineered superbly (for astigmatism & other stuff) and adaptable to more environments.

 

[rogerkambah]

I wore glasses for about 10 years, from a teenager, then went to hard contacts when I was in the NT tropics because of sweat and fogging with glasses going in and out of aircon. PITA. Went on with contacts afterwards, but once tried glasses again when the contacts couldn't adjust for astigmatism properly - tried the photosensitive ones, didn't like 'em (slow to adjust for rapid changes into bright light / dark). Then to 24/7 soft contacts 20 years or so ago and then with glasses over them for reading for the past 5 years.

Now, wearing glasses all the time since my op (2 months), I still find its a PITA - can't wear sunglasses, don't like clip-ons, not going to pay for photosensitive ones when all will be redundant in under a year when I get cataracts done. Sweaty in the heat (yes, we do have some), can't wear them swimming (loss risk) ...

I guess its just a personal preference - I'm totally used to contacts, which are now engineered superbly (for astigmatism & other stuff) and adaptable to more environments.

I wore multifocal specs all and everyday for 15 years. I would put them on awakening and remove just before sleep. Even though the script changed I found that eventually nothing was clear.
In 2019 I had my cataracts removed and now don't wear glasses except when reading on my phone.
I could finally use non script sunnies. Bliss.

 

[Pushka]

I wore multifocal specs all and everyday for 15 years. I would put them on awakening and remove just before sleep. Even though the script changed I found that eventually nothing was clear.
In 2019 I had my cataracts removed and now don't wear glasses except when reading on my phone.
I could finally use non script sunnies. Bliss.

Note to self. Get cataracts done. Which type of Doctors to people visit for such work? Have a GP visit next Wednesday.

 

[TheRealTMA]

Note to self. Get cataracts done. Which type of Doctors to people visit for such work? Have a GP visit next Wednesday.

Opthomologist. Generally easy ops. Recommended!

 

[rogerkambah]

Note to self. Get cataracts done. Which type of Doctors to people visit for such work? Have a GP visit next Wednesday.

I got a referral from my optometrist to an ophthalmologist, but I'm sure you could get one from your GP. (Not sure whether you actually need one or not though - someone here will know).
Interestingly the first thing that the occulo plastic surgeon did at my first consultation (post 6366) was look into my eyes at my cataract jobs. This threw me a bit as I wasn't there for anything to do with my eyes.
However, he said they were a good job and asked who did them - a local, David Dickson.
Then he said, 'and what are you here for today'.

 

[love_the_life]

Note to self. Get cataracts done. Which type of Doctors to people visit for such work? Have a GP visit next Wednesday.

Sometimes the GP or optometrist can be reticent to provide a referral as they will deem the cataracts not bad enough to require treatment.

 

[Pushka]

Sometimes the GP or optometrist can be reticent to provide a referral as they will deem the cataracts not bad enough to require treatment.

The Optometrist was happy to recommend as she was surprised at how quickly it had changed from the last film. (I have to go annually because the Plaquenil I am on can cause deposits on the Retina in some people and the Rheumy told me I was due for another annual check last time) My new GP at Henley Beach (I've moved on from the group who discovered the blood clot) is really good. She has also offered me a Chronic Illness Health Care plan which gives me a few free sessions a year of allied health services to manage anything Lupie. No other GP has offered that before.

 

[RooFlyer]

I got a referral from my optometrist to an ophthalmologist, but I'm sure you could get one from your GP. (Not sure whether you actually need one or not though - someone here will know).

Sometimes the GP or optometrist can be reticent to provide a referral as they will deem the cataracts not bad enough to require treatment.

Yes, referral is necessary - "ophthalmologist" is a fancy name for an eye surgeon.

They shouldn't hold back on a referral, as its the specialist who is best positioned to judge, unless, of course, you are a perfectly healthy under 30!

As an aside, whenever I go into my ophthalmologist for a post-op check, and even the first consult, his staff did the full battery of tests on both eyes - he likes to know what might be coming!

 

[RooFlyer]

She has also offered me a Chronic Illness Health Care plan which gives me a few free sessions a year of allied health services to manage anything Lupie. No other GP has offered that before.

Are the sessions free, or more heavily subsidised? My 'Health Care Plan ones are the latter. Maybe its a different thing...

 

[Pushka]

Are the sessions free, or more heavily subsidised? My 'Health Care Plan ones are the latter. Maybe its a different thing...

I understand they are free. Chronic Illness? I haven't developed one yet - I have to visit their Practice Assessment person who develops the plan that is signed Off. But Covid hit and I haven't made that appointment yet.

 

[RooFlyer]

Chronic Illness? I haven't developed one yet -

May that continue but I think that 'chronic' is used in the sense of 'continuing' rather than 'really bad'.