General Medical issues thread

[Pushka]

Seems odd. Something like that would be an emergency treatment at the local emergency department

Agree but she was positive and in the Covid Clinic so their systems weren't able to adapt. She wasn't allowed into usual emergency and even though her mum worked there, their hands were tied in, well, bureacracy. Ask @drron about the state of SA Health. Covid positive people are only allowed to knowingly go into Covid clinics at a couple of hospitals.

 

[drron]

However it should have been a simple matter for someone to deliver the requisite vials of Vit K to the covid ward. Even if they had to leave them at the door and ring for someone to collect them. That is not only hopeless but incompetent and probably negligent. I didn't think SA Health could get any worse but obviously I was wrong.

 

[Pushka]

However it should have been a simple matter for someone to deliver the requisite vials of Vit K to the covid ward. Even if they had to leave them at the door and ring for someone to collect them. That is not only hopeless but incompetent and probably negligent. I didn't think SA Health could get any worse but obviously I was wrong.

Absolutely agree. It isn't rocket science. But there was no system 'in place' for that to happen. The nursing staff were very frustrated. They knew it was wrong but their hands were tied.

The CE of SA Health was sacked today.

 

[drron]

Absolutely agree. It isn't rocket science. But there was no system 'in place' for that to happen. The nursing staff were very frustrated. They knew it was wrong but their hands were tied.

The CE of SA Health was sacked today.

Mind you the previous administration oversaw the pathetic system when i worked in SA.

 

[Pushka]

Mind you the previous administration oversaw the pathetic system when i worked in SA.

Entrenched for a few years now.

 

[drron]

But back on a medical topic the first complete human genome has been published.

Scientists publish the first complete human genome

Scientists on Thursday published the first complete human genome, filling in gaps remaining after previous efforts while offering new promise in the search for clues regarding disease-causing mutations and genetic variation among the world's 7.9 billion people.

www.reuters.com

 

[Quickstatus]

The CE of SA Health was sacked today.

Pretty sure he wasn’t sacked or stood aside/down. IIRC he got a better offer - as in he pulled the trigger himself

complete human genome has been published.

Is there an AFF gene?

 

[Pushka]

Pretty sure he wasn’t sacked or stood aside/down. IIRC he got a better offer - as in he pulled the trigger himself


Is there an AFF gene?

No, contract cancelled along with three other CE's due to change in Government here last week. Will be paid out.

 

[Quickstatus]

If I refused to administer Vit K for INR 8 or refer to someone who can giving the excuse that the pt has covid, I’m pretty sure I would be hauled up before a tribunal

 

[Pushka]

If I refused to administer Vit K for INR 8 or refer to someone who can giving the excuse that the pt has covid, I’m pretty sure I would be hauled up before a tribunal

It was very frustrating for all concerned I can tell you. It seems like people can be unwell or die of anything else but Covid in SA and that's ok.

 

[CaptainCurtis]

I saw the cardiologist today, who is happy for me to start weening off the ivabradine and colchicine. I'm not sure how to feel to be honest. On one hand, it's great news that he has confidence in my improvement. But on the other hand, I still feel like my heart rate is slightly too high (or not back to normal) and I am getting minor bouts of pain since resuming mild exercise. Cardiologist was not alarmed by either of these concerns. I think I will get my planned trips in April and May behind me before weening off the medication.

He did mention I'm at risk of the pericarditis recurring if (i.e. when) I catch COVID, although I guess there is not a whole lot I can do about that.

 

[Katie]

The teen tested positive to Covid on Sunday. Have just taken Mr Katie to Prince Charles for a PCR test, and I had one as well. He's got early cold signs, and I have a slight sore throat. I figure if our day 0 for quarantining has to be reset, let's try to get all positive together. And then the teen can emerge from their bedroom.

I'm not sure if Covid stuff should be in the General Medical issues thread??

Anyway, Mr Katie got his results back on Friday, he was positive. Had a distant rello who's a nurse tell me on FB to immediately isolate him and the teen from me. I couldn't figure out how to get the spare room clean enough for him to sleep and work and hang out there, and thanks to us quarantining and sharing a study, we'd been sharing the same room basically 24hrs/day for the prior 4 days, so what was the point of starting to isolate now. Not sure if that was the wrong or right decision. Shrug.

I did a RAT on Sat night due to cold symptoms, was negative. Went to get a PCR on Sunday, got positive result Monday afternoon. So, 13 days of home quarantine/iso for me!

Teen was allowed to emerge in the world on Monday, they immediately went into town to buy books and comics. All masked up, per Qld Health requirements. Mr Katie should be allowed out on Friday, if he has no symptoms/no worsening symptoms.
Very glad to have help from friends with walking the puppy, as you're not meant to walk the dog while in quarantine/iso. :/ Slight problem that our puppy is so well toilet trained now, he only poops on walks/at the dog parks. Hasn't pooped in our yard in a couple of months!!

 

[Major]

Went to visit my optometrist a couple of weeks ago for a check up. She noticed an abnormality on the inside of my lower eyelid and suggested I see a skin cancer doctor. Fortunately the following week I had my 6 monthly skin cancer check up and gave the Doc her letter with details of her examination.
My skin cancer guy agreed there was an issue and took a biopsy. The result came back as positive for a BCC.
I now have an appointment with a skin cancer reconstruction specialist surgeon in a couple of weeks.

I hope the damage is not too severe.

 

[Quickstatus]

skin cancer reconstruction specialist surgeon

Eyelid skin cancer treatment require for best results a ophthalmic surgeon with sub speciality quals in “oculoplastics”

 

[ellen10]

My husband had a BCC removed from in front of his ear. He was referred to a skin cancer reconstruction specialist. He was told the area was very sensitive and there are a lot of nerves there that if damaged could cause a face drop. He had a skin graft from his neck.

Stitches are now out but wound still weeping especially after sleep.

 

[prozac]

Went to visit my optometrist a couple of weeks ago for a check up. She noticed an abnormality on the inside of my lower eyelid and suggested I see a skin cancer doctor. Fortunately the following week I had my 6 monthly skin cancer check up and gave the Doc her letter with details of her examination.
My skin cancer guy agreed there was an issue and took a biopsy. The result came back as positive for a BCC.
I now have an appointment with a skin cancer reconstruction specialist surgeon in a couple of weeks.

I hope the damage is not too severe.

Sounds like this was a very lucky and timely catch!

 

[drron]

Australia is starting a pilot program to screen for 3 common genetic diseases that cause serious problems.

Hereditary breast and ovarian cancer: high risk for breast, ovarian and prostate cancers due to DNA changes in genes that include BRCA1, BRCA2 and PALB23

Lynch syndrome: high risk for colorectal, endometrial, ovarian and other cancers due to DNA changes in genes that include MLH, MSH2 and MSH64

Familial hypercholesterolaemia: increased risk for coronary heart disease due to DNA changes in genes that include LDLR, APOB and PCSK9, causing very high cholesterol levels from an early age6

Population DNA screening for medically actionable disease risk in adults

Australia to take a world-first step towards offering preventive DNA screening through the public health care system

www.mja.com.au

 

[Hvr]

Had a small skin lesion checked today by the doctor, and his student. Always happy to let students learn and practice under supervision.
Will apply an antibiotic cream for five days and then be reexamined to determine future action.

Was asked if they could do a full body check. Of course, listening to the doctor explain to the student about how to do it consistently was quite interesting. I have a large body so lots to examine. Nothing found.

 

[Quickstatus]

Nothing found.

Nothing found would have been a fail.

To pass a student needed to have mentioned the relevant “negatives” in the context of the particular patient.

For example, in a cardiac exam, the student would have to at least say there is a heart (via “heart sounds dual, apex beat palpable etc”) Nothing found implies no heart found which is a definite fail

 

[Pushka]

Australia is starting a pilot program to screen for 3 common genetic diseases that cause serious problems.

Lynch syndrome: high risk for colorectal, endometrial, ovarian and other cancers due to DNA changes in genes that include MLH, MSH2 and MSH64

Population DNA screening for medically actionable disease risk in adults

Australia to take a world-first step towards offering preventive DNA screening through the public health care system

www.mja.com.au

The lady I went to lunch with yesterday has Lynch. She didn't know this until she was 60, because while her mother died in her fifties it was presumed to be lifestyle. She only found out when her 30 year old son was diagnosed with very advanced bowel cancer that had metastised into bladder. He had significant chemo before they could even attempt surgery. Six months later he had a 12 hour surgery that took so much bowel and bladder. He also experienced nerve damage in his arm leaving it paralysed because of the surgical process where he was suspended, to operate.

It's been three years now. He goes into hospital several times a year for issues of kidney function, infections, stent repairs, etc etc. He married a few months later (engaged before the discovery) and they were successful in having a child through IVF. Every embryo is screened. They had a boy and are trying for a second. However last round (last week) four of the 6 potential embryos had Lynch syndrome. Along with the cost of IVF it costs them $800 per embryo to be screened.

Genetic testing of my friends family found that only she, in a family of four siblings, and her son, in a total of around 10 cousins, had the syndrome.

My friend now has had a preventive hysterectomy and has constant colonoscopies and breast scans.

It's a devasting one. And Covid has been awful for them. So much so that even though I had no symptoms and no known contacts, I did a RAT before meeting them. And we ate outside. Masks worn inside when ordering.