General Medical issues thread

[prozac]

All best wishes, prozac. You'll be good.

Your image reminded me that my radiologist firm had sent me a link to my latest. Just a foot issue, nothing too dramatic - but I think its freak'n amazing that you can go into their site, bring up all your imaging and just scroll through it with all the tools. But I don't use the tools - too scared I'll stuff something. Just scroll through the 3D MRI imagery (in this case).

View attachment 340647

When you think of all the bones in a foot it's like asking for something to go wrong and amazing it generally does not. Then if you break just one bone in the big toe then starting and stopping, and changing direction are all greatly affected.

 

[ellen10]

Great news @prozac , wishing you all the best for the next stage of your treatment.

 

[prozac]

Great news @prozac , wishing you all the best for the next stage of your treatment.

Thank you @ellen10 .

 

[Flyfrequently]

Heart was squished and lower left lung collapsed. Every now and then the heart would start thumping like it was coming out of my chest. I asked Mrsprozac, "Can you see this" She say, "nup". But it certainly felt like it was banging away.

Thank you @JohnK

So good to hear you are coming to the end of rigorous treatment @prozac.
It is quite a journey - kudos you and Mrs P for your strength and positivity, and for sharing your personal experience with us.

 

[Pushka]

Cataract 1 done this afternoon and Cataract 2 on its way early tomorrow morning if No 1 looks ok. Can confirm the only gap was the hospital (NIB Qantas) was $500 and just for first visit. Rather weird being somewhat relaxed and cognisant of what was happening.

 

[Quickstatus]

cognisant of what was happening.

Was the anaesthetic just eye drops?

 

[Pushka]

Was the anaesthetic just eye drops?

No, they inserted a needle between the eye and the top of the nose and consequently I have a head made of wood, but it's starting to wear off. I must say I was in two minds about having second one straight after the first but I actually quite enjoyed the experience. Had a nice little nap before the needle was inserted. But the anaesthetist said they lighten the sedation after the needle has gone in and in surgery as they think it's best for patients to have some kind of awareness by then in this type of surgery. Weirdly I don't think I heard anything but my other eye was definitely open so I could see. Now a few weeks of eye drops four times a day.

 

[VPS]

Cataract 1 done this afternoon and Cataract 2 on its way early tomorrow morning if No 1 looks ok. Can confirm the only gap was the hospital (NIB Qantas) was $500 and just for first visit. Rather weird being somewhat relaxed and cognisant of what was happening.

wow that's quick. I waited a few weeks before I did the second one. Hope you're feeling OK

 

[Quickstatus]

.
In my anaesthetic term I did one of those - "see one do one" type of thing.

Half asleep is no good - like trying to get a drunk to obey commands

 

[Pushka]

wow that's quick. I waited a few weeks before I did the second one. Hope you're feeling OK

Feeling fine. The eye is a little weird. A bit of double vision. Apparently everyone today having their first is also having their second tomorrow.

Post automatically merged: Sep 13, 2023

wow that's quick. I waited a few weeks before I did the second one. Hope you're feeling OK

Feeling fine. The eye is a little weird. A bit of double vision. Apparently everyone today having their first is also having their second tomorrow.

Ha ha. Did you see that! I didn't press reply twice but look what happened.

 

[prozac]

... Can confirm the only gap was the hospital (NIB Qantas) was $500 and just for first visit. ...

You weren't worried about being bumped?

 

[love_the_life]

Mr LtL was 4 weeks between eyes - partly because of availability at the private hospital downstairs and partly to make sure there were no problems or infection. One day seems incredibly quick but will make it easy to see once they settle.

 

[Pushka]

Mr LtL was 4 weeks between eyes - partly because of availability at the private hospital downstairs

That's so convenient. I can understand people waiting. Just to make sure. I sure won't be driving tomorrow.

 

[OZDUCK]

A few weeks ago I stupidly managed to get a lump of meat stuck in my throat. It was my own fault as I had cooked a Rendang and a few pieces were not covered by the sauce when cooking and became overcooked and tough. I obviously did not cut one up properly and it refused to go into my stomach. Anyway I had to go to an ER and ended up with a gastroscopy to push it down. While I was there they did an ECG and blood tests because I had a pain in my chest - as far as I was could feel it was actually caused by the lump of meat stuck halfway down - but they were being sensibly cautious as I am 69 and fat.

The ECG picked up a slightly 'wrong' heartbeat. Also the blood test recorded a rise in my troponin levels that could indicate that a heart attack had occurred. The on-call cardiologist thought that the increase in the troponin levels was actually possibly caused by the throat paroxysms I had suffered. But again to be safe I went off to see a cardiologist and happily the 'off' heartbeat was of no significance. He booked me in for a echocardiogram and a contrast CT scan of my heart. Fortunately they both came back all clear and showed a healthy heart. There is no sign of any damage or valve problems. There is also no sign of blockages in the heart arteries. I also had a calcium score test and I came up with a score of 6 which is apparently fairly good. But I have begun a, successful so far, weight loss campaign. I am still riding my bike 5-6 days a week - but I reduced the intensity on the cardiologists advice while I was waiting for these results. I have now been I can resume my old levels - obviously without being silly.

The only ongoing problem was that during the gastroscopy the doctor discovered that my stomach acid was too acidic and had caused some inflammation in the lower oesophagus. I had actually seemed to have more heartburn of late than normal and this was obviously the reason. Anyway I am now on Rabeprazole, a proton pump inhibitor, and the heartburn etc has since gone. So I guess my bad attempt at chewing was a, much, disguised blessing.

As an aside, I am a nuisance for anyone trying to put in a catheter or take blood samples. Everyone who has tried to do so has said that I have 'very deep veins'. When I donated blood the nurses used to pass me onto the most experienced nurse who could usually get it right the first time while they often left me with a bruise. When I had this contrast test the poor nurse got very flustered as her first attempts at putting in a cannula in my right arm failed. She had to use my left arm instead and that one worked. I ended up with a lovely big bruise on the right arm.

 

[Quickstatus]

A few weeks ago I stupidly managed to get a lump of meat stuck in my throat

Could be apocryphal but I reckon the incidence of oesophageal food bolus goes up on Father's Day. Great GrandDad gets taken out on Father's Day from the retirement village to a BBQ. Boom, food bolus.

One home remedy for Food Bolus is to drink Coca-Cola or a fizzy drink to try encourage it down. The Emergency Drs use it. Apparently Coca-Cola is the most fizzy

 

[love_the_life]

That's so convenient. I can understand people waiting. Just to make sure. I sure won't be driving tomorrow.

Though the 4 weeks was just a bit too long. The longer it went on, the more pronounced the difference between the eyes became so it was hard to look at anything.

And on a different note, I have had a sore shoulder for quite a few weeks. In my inimitable fashion, I have tended to try to ignore it but succumbed and did go to GP who diagnosed a frozen shoulder, mercifully not too bad at the moment though she did say movement was very limited. Have some anti-inflam for 3 months to help. At least it will get better.....eventually.

 

[Cossie]

If I remember correctly, I only had drops for my cataract.

 

[love_the_life]

If I remember correctly, I only had drops for my cataract.

Two types - antibiotic and steroi_ - starting at 4 times per day for the first week or so,

 

[Pushka]

Two types - antibiotic and steroi_ - starting at 4 times per day for the first week or so,

Yep. I have three for first week then the steroi_ drops for another three weeks. Up early now for second one. The first eye is so much clearer today so no more double posts. Still a bit of a haze but expect that is normal. Lights are no longer starbursts.

 

[Quickstatus]

I'll

Two types - antibiotic and steroi_

I think @Cossie meant anaesthetic drops for the op