General Medical issues thread

[Quickstatus]

faux heat waves the youngies

Yes bad weather, heatwaves, floods, bushfires never happened before or never as bad

"This is the worst heatwave since 2022"

 

[prozac]

Yes bad weather, heatwaves, floods, bushfires never happened before or never as bad

"This is the worst heatwave since 2022"

Love it when they quote highest temp in "127 years", I think the report was some time ago.

 

[Quickstatus]

highest temp in "127 years

While ignoring the higher temp 128 yrs ago

 

[RooFlyer]

While ignoring the higher temp 128 yrs ago

Which shows that the trend of higher maxima is downwards

 

[Pushka]

Yes bad weather, heatwaves, floods, bushfires never happened before or never as bad

"This is the worst heatwave since 2022"

Not sure what they've done interstate but now a heat wave in SA is a few days over 30 in a row. Pathetic. The whinging when it gets to 38 and this year and last, it's just been a day and then it cools. However, this week is looking very fierce.

Let's not go into air conditioned cars, houses, shopping malls, and all the other mod cons. We used to sleep on the front lawn. Wet towels for during the night. Fans. Actually the new fans are rather good. Quiet.

Sons air cond broke down in the new year. Bedside themselves for a couple of weeks. I reminded him when he was a child our house didn't have airconditioning. But things are hotter now it seems.

 

[prozac]

Not sure what they've done interstate but now a heat wave in SA is a few days over 30 in a row. Pathetic. The whinging when it gets to 38 and this year and last, it's just been a day and then it cools. However, this week is looking very fierce.

Let's not go into air conditioned cars, houses, shopping malls, and all the other mod cons. We used to sleep on the front lawn. Wet towels for during the night. Fans. Actually the new fans are rather good. Quiet.

Sons air cond broke down in the new year. Bedside themselves for a couple of weeks. I reminded him when he was a child our house didn't have airconditioning. But things are hotter now it seems.

The home we moved into last year has a/c units and this is the first time we have ever had air conditioning.

Which shows that the trend of higher maxima is downwards

In the 1970's the big issues reported at the time were scientists worried about global cooling.

 

[RooFlyer]

In the 1970's the big issues reported at the time were scientists worried about global cooling.

indeed, at school, we were taught by our hotshot science teacher straight from USA about the “icehouse effect”. Pollution articulates in the air reflecting radiation, causing the earth’s surface to cool.

 

[prozac]

indeed, at school, we were taught by our hotshot science teacher straight from USA about the “icehouse effect”. Particulates in the air reflecting radiation, causing the earth’s urface to cool.

It was a calculated 1C drop that led to the demise of dinosaurs. We will all disappear quicker if the earth cools. I keep saying that top of the list to combat global warming is to reduce the world's population. If we reduced it by half we might be on the right track. Funnily enough, no-one wants to discuss that remedy of climate change action.

Again in the 1960s -70s it was scientists like David Suzuki who discussed programs to control population in countries like India where transistor radios were offered to men in exchange for vasectomies. I gather the radios were probably coveted for listening to the cricket which in itself is a secondary form of birth control.

 

[Quickstatus]

Actually the new fans are rather good

Yep also have several roof fans - not the passive Whirly birds

no-one wants to discuss that remedy of climate change action.

the Microsoft guy is keen on that idea.

 

[Pushka]

It was a calculated 1C drop that led to the demise of dinosaurs. We will all disappear quicker if the earth cools. I keep saying that top of the list to combat global warming is to reduce the world's population. If we reduced it by half we might be on the right track. Funnily enough, no-one wants to discuss that remedy of climate change action.

Thought I read that the worlds population is about to peak then will decline.

 

[prozac]

Thought I read that the worlds population is about to peak then will decline.

Already happening in China apparently where the concern is an aging population and fewer young people to care for them.

 

[Quickstatus]

worlds population is about to peak then will decline.

I read that the growth is slowing but it is still growing so long as population growth is above zero

 

[docjames]

It was a calculated 1C drop that led to the demise of dinosaurs. We will all disappear quicker if the earth cools. I keep saying that top of the list to combat global warming is to reduce the world's population. If we reduced it by half we might be on the right track. Funnily enough, no-one wants to discuss that remedy of climate change action.

Again in the 1960s -70s it was scientists like David Suzuki who discussed programs to control population in countries like India where transistor radios were offered to men in exchange for vasectomies. I gather the radios were probably coveted for listening to the cricket which in itself is a secondary form of birth control.

There were similar population control programs (perhaps without the cricket/radios) in Indonesia in the 70’s too.

 

[Cossie]

Already happening in China apparently where the concern is an aging population and fewer young people to care for them.

And the elderly aren't happy that their rights to decent medical and health care are being eroded.

https://www.npr.org/2023/02/16/1157407890/retirees-china-protest-health-insurance-reform

 

[prozac]

And the elderly aren't happy that their rights to decent medical and health care are being eroded.

https://www.npr.org/2023/02/16/1157407890/retirees-china-protest-health-insurance-reform

China’s elderly protest against health insurance reforms

Cash-strapped local authorities seek savings after high cost of battling Covid

www.ft.com

And at a time when a head of lettuce costs a king's ransom is it a time for Soylent Green.

 

[cove]

I just completed a National Seniors survey on the various factors affecting our lives. Lots of health questions and costs of living items.
i do get the feeling that many folks are struggling with the latest cost of living and are defering medical and dental visits.

 

[tgh]

i do get the feeling that many folks are struggling with the latest cost of living and are defering medical and dental visits

I have never seen life so easy , it could not last and sadly must end in tears… Lord Rees Moggs great reckoning may be nigh.. brrrrr...
Will the socialists support the 3 pillars or will they let the banks go naked in the street begging for alms

 

[TheRealTMA]

And at a time when a head of lettuce costs a king's ransom is it a time for Soylent Green.

Is that you Harry?

 

[prozac]

Is that you Harry?

You mean this Harry reference?

Thankfully I have been Spared.

 

[Quickstatus]

It can be very difficult to traverse the medical system for a lot of people. (The point of the post is at the bottom...)

Friend - went to hospital with Lurgy and abdo pain in December last year
CT abdomen - showed some enlarged lymph nodes
Sent home - no indications for admission - he was a "walking wounded" and "self caring"
Advised to see GP if not getting better and given appointment to see haematologist after new year

Got better, but the issue of CT not discussed.
Went OS for planned holiday 7 days after presentation to A&E

Came back in Jan
Rang GP to enquire about CT scan issue
GP organised some blood tests and rang above haematologist re appointment date - given mid Feb.

Rang me after seeing the haematologist (10 min consultation) who said repeat scan in a couple months.
He felt like in limbo/treading water and said no one is taking ownership of the issue.

I organised bloods, an MRI, then a PET, then appointment for biopsy with a surgeon and then another haematologist.
All within a week. I didn't call in favours but wrote referrals to specialists - he made all the appointments himself. I made sure all correspondence went back to primary GP for medicolegal reasons as I am not his GP.
The second haematologist saw him yesterday with all the test results and spent 1hr 15min in the consultation. Night and day compared with the first.

Feeling cranky as this could have all been sorted out more efficiently and maybe quicker. Though to be fair the delay likely does not make any difference.
Im sure there are lots of other patients in limbo beingshunted around the place. I didn't advise friend to get another GP. I'll leave up to him as he is obviously quite insightful.

I also don't like acting in this capacity. It is the GP's job to help patients negotiate the medical system.
Unfortunately only 15% of new graduates want to be a GP. It is such an important cog in the wheel, but the whole system is being eroded when the best graduates all want to specialise in something else. The medicare rebate paying less than a hair dressers appointment is one issue.