General Medical issues thread

[Pushka]

Thanks @RooFlyer and @Quickstatus. I can't wait for it to kick in. Feel like I've been hit by a truck. And no, not Covid. . I realised today that all my auto immune stuff kicks in in January. DVT. Vertigo. And this is my present this year. Must be the sun. Rheumatologist was fabulous, just a quick email to her office and her response in 24 hours - she isn't in that office until Thursday. My life flashed ahead 20+ years yesterday because of all the usual personal care things I couldn't do. Not a good thing to do. . Can't walk up stairs. Getting out of a car is crazy painful. Can't raise arms without pain. Can't bend down to do stuff Seems to be systemic. It's been three weeks now and I'm done with it. Just better not be myositis. Blood tests don't repeat the ANa as that's already been positive for three tests now. Just the usual inflammatory markers. Kidney function etc.

Dr has a two week plan of 15mcg (or mg or whatever it is) for a week then down to 12.5 for a week then call her. And of course all the blood work again tomorrow.

I've had a few cortisone shots. Frozen shoulder. Trigger thumb. Think I prefer tablets.

 

[ausfox]

We have finally left residencial rehab and look forward to running the metal detectors at airports. As we both have several pieces of metal hidden within we are going to light up the lights.
My question to our learned minds is, should we carry copies of our X-rays to show the security personnel?

 

[Quickstatus]

effect on kidney function

No effect on kidney function except water retention

But lots of other ones
Insomnia
Weight changes mainly weight gain
Fluid retention
Mood change
Irritability
Hallucinations
Facial hair gain
Etc etc

Long term
osteoporosis
Thinning of skin
Thinning of hair
Abnormal deposits of fat in face shoulders
Cushing (moon face) appearance
Etc etc

 

[Pushka]

We have finally left residencial rehab and look forward to running the metal detectors at airports. As we both have several pieces of metal hidden within we are going to light up the lights.
My question to our learned minds is, should we carry copies of our X-rays to show the security personnel?

Summoning @drron. It's a consistent theme in his TR. hopefully things improve for you at home. Such a stressful, and painful time for you both.

Post automatically merged: Jan 18, 2023

No effect on kidney function except water retention

But lots of other ones
Insomnia
Weight changes mainly weight gain
Fluid retention
Mood change
Irritability
Hallucinations
Facial hair gain
Etc etc

Long term
osteoporosis
Thinning of skin
Thinning of hair
Abnormal deposits of fat in face shoulders
Cushing (moon face) appearance
Etc etc

. I'm already on diuretics but still swell. How not fair it thins scalp hair and deposits it on your face!

 

[Quickstatus]

running the metal detectors at airports. As we both have several pieces of metal hidden within

Wont consistently light up

Just let them know if it does- they will likely put you through the MM wave one rather than metal detector

I would not worry. Maybe a doctors letter and keep X-ray picture on phone? But neither of these are official enough for them not to secondary check you

Mrs QS has a metal rod in her leg and screws, it has never activated anything

How not fair

Great drug but lots of side effects, most of the scary ones only if you take for months to years

 

[drron]

@Pushka sounds a bit like Polymyalgia Rheumatica. Treatment is steroi_s so I suspect your rheumatologist suspects it is the cause, steroi_s often work dramatically. I well remember a fellow who came into hospital bed ridden with pain. 25mg of prednisone that night and in the morning felt back to normal.
Diagnosis is clinical suspicion in a patient over 50 with a high ESR and CRP which are then monitored.

Polymyalgia Rheumatica

Information about polymyalgia rheumatica: what it is, getting diagnosed, treatment options, and facts patients should know.

www.rheumatology.org

And @ausfox I have a metal knee and always set off security. So I ask for the body scanner if there is one so I don't have to take belt and shoes off.
Mrsdrron does have a fair bit of metal in an ankle - 2 plates and 12 screws. Sometimes sets of the alarm but often doesn't.

 

[Pushka]

Polymyalgia Rheumatica

Information about polymyalgia rheumatica: what it is, getting diagnosed, treatment options, and facts patients should know.

www.rheumatology.org

This article and this in particular:

• The typical polymyalgia rheumatica symptoms (what you feel) of PMR are aching and stiffness about the upper arms, neck, lower back and thighs.
• These symptoms develop quickly and are worse in the morning.

are exactly as I described to the Rheumatologist yesterday.

 

[JohnK]

Great drug but lots of short term and long term permanent side effects if taken too long

Great drug and extremely useful used as a sledge hammer.

Saw rheumatology last month.

"I'm in extreme pain. Extreme discomfort"
"We'll see you again in 4 months"

For what? You're not doing anything.

"Can you please give me a prescription for prednisolone?"
"No, you shouldn't be taking that as it will make you put on weight"
"So what do I do for the pain, inflammation that can last for days giving me limited movement?
"We'll see you again in 4 months. Anything else?"

I'll be 59 next month. I don't care about the side effects of prednisolone. I care about what little quality of life I can get.

When the back flares up or the hip or the neck or any other joint these can last for days. It's not fun. Pain killers do nothing. The only thing that does anything is prednisolone. Usually 10mg-12.5mg is enough but sometimes I may take a second dose.

Just as well I can get prednisolone without doctor prescription but I'm interested in the 25mg tablets not the 5mg. It's OK, I'll make do with the 5mg tablets and limit doses to 10mg.

 

[Quickstatus]

What diagnosis did they give you @JohnK ?

 

[JohnK]

What diagnosis did they give you @JohnK ?

Which one? Take your pick.

- ankylosing spondylitis
- Sacroiliitis
- Osteoarthritis
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- gout
- tendonitis
- bursitis
- spinal stenosis
- curved spine (very noticeable now)

I had to laugh when one of the specialists refers to my chronic back pain as mechanical. Yeah right. It's not like physiotherapy or walking help. In fact walking makes my back pain worse.

Physiotherapist recommended arch support shoes instead of the cheap sneakers I buy. Oh yes I do have flat feet too which would have a great to get out of army duty. I bought a pair of $240 arch support shoes. What a waste of money. Arch and heel hurt.

Life can be cruel. Not quite living hell but not far from it. Any thoughts on where I can source a new body?

 

[Quickstatus]

Which one

Apart from prednisone, what other pills have you been given?

 

[JohnK]

Apart from prednisone, what other pills have you been given?

None. I do have Panadeine Forte which I don't use often.

 

[Pushka]

None. I do have Panadeine Forte which I don't use often.

Surprising you aren't on any medications to treat the RA. Not even plaquenil? That's a staple.

 

[Quickstatus]

None

There are other meds other than prednisolone.
Such as Imuran, methotrexate, hydroxychloroquine, and then there are the ones with names ending in -mab

 

[JohnK]

There are other meds other than prednisolone.
Such as Imuran, methotrexate, hydroxychloroquine, and then there are the ones with names ending in -mab

Oh apologies. I've been on a few different -mab over the years for rheumatoid arthritis and continue to this day. We've tried Humira, Infliximab, methotrexate etc.

Humira was probably the best and regret changing. Infliximab was useless. I've used up more than half the lifetime recommended dose of methotrexate so that's out as there's a risk of cirrhosis of the liver. Celebrex did nothing and loading up 4gm paracetamol a day for 3 months did nothing. Mum was on some of these before me as well as Naprosyn SR1000.

There's no magic cure. And having multiple conditions does not help.

 

[prozac]

@Pushka sounds a bit like Polymyalgia Rheumatica. Treatment is steroi_s so I suspect your rheumatologist suspects it is the cause, steroi_s often work dramatically. I well remember a fellow who came into hospital bed ridden with pain. 25mg of prednisone that night and in the morning felt back to normal.
Diagnosis is clinical suspicion in a patient over 50 with a high ESR and CRP which are then monitored.

Polymyalgia Rheumatica

Information about polymyalgia rheumatica: what it is, getting diagnosed, treatment options, and facts patients should know.

www.rheumatology.org

And @ausfox I have a metal knee and always set off security. So I ask for the body scanner if there is one so I don't have to take belt and shoes off.
Mrsdrron does have a fair bit of metal in an ankle - 2 plates and 12 screws. Sometimes sets of the alarm but often doesn't.

As the owner of a pacemaker I always try to avoid the security gate. Is this the right course of action?

 

[RooFlyer]

Apart from prednisone, what other pills have you been given?

Perhaps you should’ve asked “what medications have been prescribed”?

 

[Quickstatus]

There's no magic cure.

No there is not.
And I understand / empathise with you re your fears re the Rona especially with the immunosuppressive.

Geez as you said you need a new body.
Likely the rheumatologist is worried about the amount of predjisolone you are on

prescribed”?

Given is a shorter word
But in reality, I don't use the word prescribed - it's an habitual thing to keep the patient conversation less "technical" and of course some meds are not prescribed. In Asia many prescription meds can be bought without prescription. Some are given by others - families etc. another word can be "taken"

 

[JohnK]

No there is not.
And I understand / empathise with you re your fears re the Rona especially with the immunosuppressive.

Geez as you said you need a new body.
Likely the rheumatologist is worried about the amount of predjisolone you are on

I'm not sure what sort of quantities of prednisolone are harmful but as an example this year I've had 12.5mg in total. The rest of the time I suffer in silence. I consider myself responsible and not reckless.

The immunosuppresants have been an issue for 24 years not just the past 3 years.

 

[Pushka]

I'm not sure what sort of quantities of prednisolone are harmful but as an example this year I've had 12.5mg in total. The rest of the time I suffer in silence. I consider myself responsible and not reckless.

The immunosuppresants have been an issue for 24 years not just the past 3 years.

Only 2.5 tablets? Would that even do anything?