General Medical issues thread

[andye]

I've seen photos of the machine. Looks very similar to MRI including the claustrophobic aspect. I struggle to lie flat on back for more than 5 minutes. Not sure how I'll get through 75 minutes.

Appointment next Thursday. I can go and see the machine first and if I'm not comfortable I can cancel. They don't provide medicine. I'm not sure 2 xanax is enough but I've never taken 3 xanax.

The machine I had mine in was much less confining than an MRI and even less than a CT. Mine took about 30 minutes. Doubt you'd need xanax if it's similar

 

[Pushka]

https://www.ncirs.org.au/sites/default/files/2021-07/Zoster vaccine for Australian adults fact sheet_19 July 2021_Final.pdf



Okay - that works

This doc explains all the shingles vaccines - who should get what - immunity duration and schedule.
Page 5 covers many Q’s posted upthread

Thankyou that's helpful. Seems very unfortunate that those who cannot take the free shingles vax due to being immunocomprised aren't given free access to the safe one. It's not a choice in their case. One of the three recorded deaths using the free one was on the same, but lower dosage meds than I'm on.

 

[MARTINE]

Thankyou that's helpful. Seems very unfortunate that those who cannot take the free shingles vax due to being immunocomprised aren't given free access to the safe one. It's not a choice in their case. One of the three recorded deaths using the free one was on the same, but lower dosage meds than I'm on.

I agree
As always if you have the means you have greater choices
Not right .. just is

 

[JohnK]

This is my theory too. If you stop doing everything then everything stops.

That was my theory too but what happens when you can't do something? Force it?

Rheumatology appointment yesterday. Park car at the mall. Walk outside and head towards hospital. Pain in lower back and hamstrings feel tight and knees sore. Keep walking. Circulation in legs is now troublesome. Legs tight. Pain in lower back, above hip is excruciating. Feels like a bulge there and quite noticeable when walking. Have to stop. Less than 500 metres.

Ok keep walking, another 200 metres and that was challenging. Stop again before going into hospital.

Ok only 100 metres or so to go. At outpatients now. Queue of around 4 people. Took almost 20 minutes and standing up waiting was painful.

At this point I don't want to walk anymore. I am really struggling to put one foot in front of the other. I'm not even 60 yet and this is going downhill fast. No one knows what's wrong.

And for those that think exercise is the answer need to find another answer as that answer is worn and tired just like me. I'll be glad when this simulation is over. This is torture....

 

[Pushka]

Teh rheumatologist would surely have observed this so were they able to provide advice and treatment?

 

[love_the_life]

I wan't sure but checking my vaccination statement I received Zostavax in 2017

I had Zostavax as well - last year. Hopefully will cover me enough.

 

[JohnK]

Teh rheumatologist would surely have observed this so were they able to provide advice and treatment?

As the rheumatologist said all my issues are "vocal" not properly diagnosed so they're not sure on the treatment to try next.

Am I imagining the pain? Not at all. The bloods are normal apart from HLA-B27. In facts bloods are almost perfect.

Ankylosing spondylitis. Sacroiliitis. Ostearthritis. Tendonitis. Bursitis. Gout. Plantar fascitis. Curved spine. Other forms of arthritis. Chronic weight gain causing other chronic issues in cartilage, bones and muscle.

So where to next? How do you treat above conditions? It's not just one joint. It's the whole body.

- Tendonitis/bursitis require rest.
- weight gain, mechanical type of issues require movement/exercise
- Osteoarthritis puts an end to any thought of exercise

I really miss golf. That was the balance needed to keep some form of sanity. It kept my mind off all these issues. It's tough. I think lesser people would have given up a long time ago.

 

[Pushka]

As the rheumatologist said all my issues are "vocal" not properly diagnosed so they're not sure on the treatment to try next.

Am I imagining the pain? Not at all. The bloods are normal apart from HLA-B27. In facts bloods are almost perfect.

Ankylosing spondylitis. Sacroiliitis. Ostearthritis. Tendonitis. Bursitis. Gout. Plantar fascitis. Curved spine. Other forms of arthritis. Chronic weight gain causing other chronic issues in cartilage, bones and muscle.

So where to next? How do you treat above conditions? It's not just one joint. It's the whole body.

- Tendonitis/bursitis require rest.
- weight gain, mechanical type of issues require movement/exercise
- Osteoarthritis puts an end to any thought of exercise

I really miss golf. That was the balance needed to keep some form of sanity. It kept my mind off all these issues. It's tough. I think lesser people would have given up a long time ago.

Swimming then.

 

[prozac]

As the rheumatologist said all my issues are "vocal" not properly diagnosed so they're not sure on the treatment to try next.

Am I imagining the pain? Not at all. The bloods are normal apart from HLA-B27. In facts bloods are almost perfect.

Ankylosing spondylitis. Sacroiliitis. Ostearthritis. Tendonitis. Bursitis. Gout. Plantar fascitis. Curved spine. Other forms of arthritis. Chronic weight gain causing other chronic issues in cartilage, bones and muscle.

So where to next? How do you treat above conditions? It's not just one joint. It's the whole body.

- Tendonitis/bursitis require rest.
- weight gain, mechanical type of issues require movement/exercise
- Osteoarthritis puts an end to any thought of exercise

I really miss golf. That was the balance needed to keep some form of sanity. It kept my mind off all these issues. It's tough. I think lesser people would have given up a long time ago.

Sorry to hear this latest news @JohnK. As @Pushka suggests, water exercise will at least be weight neutral. Maybe you need a good referring doctor to look you over with fresh eyes.

 

[JohnK]

Sorry to hear this latest news @JohnK. As @Pushka suggests, water exercise will at least be weight neutral. Maybe you need a good referring doctor to look you over with fresh eyes.

Thanks @prozac.

It's not about being weight neutral. Swimming might be good for someone who is fit and wants to get fitter. I know someone who was swimming well into their 80's.

Swimming does not motivate me. I would need to find somewhere to swim, drag myself along and force myself to swim 4-5 days a week. It's difficult enough doing simple 5-10 minute exercises the physio gives, I'm not even going to try swimming. Firstly I cannot swim. Secondly I would need to fight chronic shoulder pain to swim.

I'm not feeling sorry for myself but if If I'm going to put myself through pain I may as well force myself to walk an hour or so each night. And note we're not talking about 1 week or 1 month. We're talking about lifestyle change but it's not as simple as that either. I'm in extreme pain. It's not laziness. It's difficult to explain and hardly anyone understands.

 

[prozac]

Thanks @prozac.

It's not about being weight neutral. Swimming might be good for someone who is fit and wants to get fitter. I know someone who was swimming well into their 80's.

Swimming does not motivate me. I would need to find somewhere to swim, drag myself along and force myself to swim 4-5 days a week. It's difficult enough doing simple 5-10 minute exercises the physio gives, I'm not even going to try swimming. Firstly I cannot swim. Secondly I would need to fight chronic shoulder pain to swim.

I'm not feeling sorry for myself but if If I'm going to put myself through pain I may as well force myself to walk an hour or so each night. And note we're not talking about 1 week or 1 month. We're talking about lifestyle change but it's not as simple as that either. I'm in extreme pain. It's not laziness. It's difficult to explain and hardly anyone understands.

You can walk in a pool John. Less weight on your bits and pieces and the resistance of the water gives a good muscle workout.

 

[drron]

Exercising in a pool is not just swimming. Walking in a pool especially if heated can be done usually with a lot less pain.

 

[blackcat20]

I did a lot of walking in a warm water pool when pregnant, a great way to get exercise while taking off the weight of the belly.

 

[prozac]

All the rehab after both my shoulder ops was in the pool, and no it wasn't swimming but resistance exercise.

 

[Pushka]

Thanks @prozac.

It's not about being weight neutral. Swimming might be good for someone who is fit and wants to get fitter. I know someone who was swimming well into their 80's.

Swimming does not motivate me. I would need to find somewhere to swim, drag myself along and force myself to swim 4-5 days a week. It's difficult enough doing simple 5-10 minute exercises the physio gives, I'm not even going to try swimming. Firstly I cannot swim. Secondly I would need to fight chronic shoulder pain to swim.

I'm not feeling sorry for myself but if If I'm going to put myself through pain I may as well force myself to walk an hour or so each night. And note we're not talking about 1 week or 1 month. We're talking about lifestyle change but it's not as simple as that either. I'm in extreme pain. It's not laziness. It's difficult to explain and hardly anyone understands.

Exercising in a pool rather than swimming. If you are serious about a lifestyle change then maybe that’s it.

 

[Quickstatus]

I'm in extreme pain

Sorry to hear @JohnK
Unfortunately forums are hard to really explain what you are experiencing on a daily basis.

Do try Hydrotherapy, it's not swimming but it is very beneficial. Hydrotherapy occurs in a hydrotherapy pool which is warm.

I don't know your full situation but maybe discuss with your GP if NDIS can assist.

 

[JohnK]

Sorry to hear @JohnK
Unfortunately forums are hard to really explain what you are experiencing on a daily basis.

It's hard to explain to anyone what one experiences even to a doctor. It's also difficult trying to gauge just how bad other people are to be able review their recommendations.

It's not just one type of pain. There are many and even I don't understand all of them. The pain is mostly excruciating. There are times where I feel like passing out from the pain. That's not good. I've been hurting most of my adult of life but I never thought I'd find myself in this situation at 59 but to be fair it was worse a lot earlier.

There are days when I wake up where I cannot move. Stiffness everywhere. This can last anywhere from a few hours to a whole day and even to the next day. It's a struggle to lift the legs and put one in front of the other. It's a chore walking from my desk to the kitchen/bathroom with each about 3-4 metres away. It's a chore standing. It's a chore sitting. It can even be a chore laying down. Yes I'm not exaggerating. It's torture.

There are times where my fingers are swollen and I cannot make a fist. I took a photo last year when I was in Thailand and the doctors Ive shown just stared in disbelief. There are times where that swelling goes up past the wrist, up the forearm to the elbow. Tight to the point where it's uncomfortable. It feels like every moving part is locked in place and trying to get free.

Oh and the main thing. I'm never pain free. There is always some part that's in quite some pain. Trying to make one area comfortable makes another uncomfortable. The best day is when I'm able to just ignore the pain and try my best to get on with the day. Luckily my tolerance to pain and discomfort is quite high and these good days outnumber the bad days. For how long this will continue is anyone's guess.

 

[love_the_life]

Based on your age and high level of pain which is disabling, you may want to apply for NDIS support - as you get older if you don't have NDIS you will need to rely on the aged care system and I can tell you, the level of support is much less under that, Your GP and other medicos will be able to help you in the application process, or you can find advocates to assist (a quick google search).

 

[JohnK]

Based on your age and high level of pain which is disabling, you may want to apply for NDIS support - as you get older if you don't have NDIS you will need to rely on the aged care system and I can tell you, the level of support is much less under that, Your GP and other medicos will be able to help you in the application process, or you can find advocates to assist (a quick google search).

If I'm not mistaken NDIS in Australia is under tremendous strain. Dad has been on NDIS for quite some time. They come and take him to appointments and do some simple things around the house. Mum applied for NDIS recently and was approved but all providers are full.

I saw GP earlier this week. I said to him the time has come for me to apply for disability parking permit. He agreed.

If I get to the point where I need constant care I will retreat to my house in SanPatong and pay for home care. What wife cannot do, home care can do. Think I can do this for less than AUD10,000/pa. We've already started taking measures by putting money aside in Thailand for later.

 

[love_the_life]

Yes there are pressures on the NDIS but if you do decide in the future live in Australia and leave it too late, you will miss any chance of being accepted/eligible. Many of your conditions would not be covered under the aged care system but would always remain a health system issue. But as you say, you already have plans.