General Medical issues thread

[prozac]

Sounds like patellofemoral arthritis? - arthritis in the joint between the thigh bone and the kneecap bone,
Or a patellofemoral bursitis?


Fungilin Lozenges - requires a script


Nilstat (Nystatin) Drops available without a script. Reminder to read the instructions - its not supposed to be immediately swallowed

Got it round the wrong way. See how confusing all the meds are?!
MrsProzac reckons older patients and some patients on their own must find it very difficult to stay on top of their medication regime.

I will ask my Dr to give me that when I see him on Monday if things aren't any better. How long do the mouth ulcers usually last? I guess I naively thought they would go when the chemo stopped, but

I think ulcers are all but gone, but still lots (hundreds?) of imperceptible cracks in the mouth lining. This becomes really apparent when when you eat anything containing even a mild amount of chilli. I am still chilli averse at this time.
And still taking meds for reflux (pantoprazole plus Nizac when needed) which is better but no gone. Specialist says it could take a few months before this settles.

 

[prozac]

When I have aphthous ulcers it certainly feels like my throats on fire

Thrush?

 

[prozac]

Congratulations. Big milestone and I hope you have a successful outcome.

Thank you @Seat0B . Wishing you success also. I start next phase treatment in around a month. Wishing you success with your ongoing treatment @maia200.

 

[VPS]

Thrush?

no you can actually see the ulcers in my throat and they are very painful and make you feel rubbish

 

[Seat0B]

And still taking meds for reflux

I have this too. So weird. My medical team thought I had reflux a few years back but the medications did not improve my symptoms. So in June I had a 96 hour monitoring with a Bravo capsule and was told definitively that I did not have reflux and could stop taking them - after 5 years.

And now, I definitely do have reflux. Currently just taking Gaviscon because I refused the Nexuim again, but I might have to reconsider.

There are so many shocks and surprises on this journey.

 

[JohnK]

Sounds like patellofemoral arthritis? - arthritis in the joint between the thigh bone and the kneecap bone,
Or a patellofemoral bursitis?

You're probably right. I've been struggling up and down stairs for long time now and getting worse. Depressing reading possible rehabilitation. Forget exercise as an option.

I've just finished playing golf in the heat in a cart. My feet are throbbing. The heal feels like a steel rod going through it. That and plantar fascitis doesn't leave much hope.

It's all downhill from here.

 

[prozac]

I have this too. So weird. My medical team thought I had reflux a few years back but the medications did not improve my symptoms. So in June I had a 96 hour monitoring with a Bravo capsule and was told definitively that I did not have reflux and could stop taking them - after 5 years.

And now, I definitely do have reflux. Currently just taking Gaviscon because I refused the Nexuim again, but I might have to reconsider.

There are so many shocks and surprises on this journey.

Ask for Pentoprazole. I take twice daily. When this did not handle the reflux I was prescribed Nizac too which I take in the middle of the day if needed.

 

[Quickstatus]

Thrush

Can cause ulcers but the Aphthous ulcers are not due to thrush

It's all downhill from here.

How you going with weight loss?. Any luck?

 

[Quickstatus]

older patients and some patients on their own must find it very difficult to stay on top of their medication regime.

Get the pharmacist to make a Webster Pack

 

[prozac]

Get the pharmacist to make a Webster Pack

Thanks @Quickstatus but I am on top of it.

 

[drron]

@love_the_life there's always someone worse off than us and we whinge.

I know I do more than my fair share of whinging but even if nothing is major it can still be debilitating.

There must be some tendon above the knee? Quadriceps tendon? It's been giving me trouble for a long time when I'm sitting. Extreme pain when I'm seated and need to move the leg to a different position. If I put hand just above the left knee to support this was fine. The same when I tried to get up from seated position.

The past few weeks I've noticed this has gotten worse to the point now where it almost feels like its locked/frozen in place making getting up even more difficult. This is extremely uncomfortable. Some days I'm almost in tears from the pain and discomfort.

Last night I was sitting down eating and must have somehow missed that left knee was locked and when I tried to get up there was this loud cracking noise. I was in a lot of pain and limping for 5 minutes or so.

So whatever condition is there has not yet been diagnosed. If I said there is not a spot on the body that does not have chronic pain people wouldn't believe me. Doctors have asked many times where it hurts and I say everywhere and they just look at me as if I've misunderstood the question.

So what do you do? It's too much for any one person to cope. I do not want to be on medication daily. Way too many joints with issues for cortisone injections in each joint. I wish there was an easy answer but doesn't look like I'm going to find one. Each day is becoming more and more of a struggle.

@JohnK you h ave described the history of my right knee exactly. I had a soccer injury at age 14 and unknown to me I had torn my medial cruciate ligament. 14 year olds in minor grades never got medically examined. Intermittent pain usually above the right knee and every now and then it would lock up. Gradually the pain got worse and the locking more frequent until the morning I was leaving our NY apartment to go on a walk with our Big Apple Greeter. Most severe pain ever and very little movement of the knee.
Xrays of the knee had just shown severe osteoarthritis but a MRI showed that my MCL was cactus and eventually a knee replacement. After a week no more problems and I have a greater range of my right knee than the left knee. So maybe ask your doctor if an MRI might be suitable especially if you can remember an injury in earlier years.

 

[JohnK]

How you going with weight loss?. Any luck?

Up and down as always.

The doc recommended Saxenda some time back but that's something like $500 a shot and no guarantee. The doc has now said I qualify for this new weight loss medication but no further details. Need to follow up.

@drron no injuries as a youngster that I'm aware. Just all the -itis conditions from late teens early 20's.

 

[JohnM]

Thank god, now in my mid-70s and how glad am I that I have always positively detested sport...

 

[cove]

Coming up for my 3 yearly colonoscopy and then the knee replacement. This getting into mid seventies is really proving up to be a lot of fun…..for the medical fraternity.
Walking bone on bone will be over now in less than 4 weeks. I still remember the surfing accident back in 1984.

 

[prozac]

Anyone been through chemo / going through and experienced the hair loss and grow-back phenomenon?
I am not bothered by the hair loss but now my chemo has ended I was wondering.
1. How soon after chemo can you expect hair regrow, proper hair, not this bum-fluff stuff?
2. Did you regrow different hair texture, colour, blah blah blah?
3. Did you grow hair back where previously you had lost some?

 

[VPS]

Anyone been through chemo / going through and experienced the hair loss and grow-back phenomenon?
I am not bothered by the hair loss but now my chemo has ended I was wondering.
1. How soon after chemo can you expect hair regrow, proper hair, not this bum-fluff stuff?
2. Did you regrow different hair texture, colour, blah blah blah?
3. Did you grow hair back where previously you had lost some?

Not from personal experience but two female friends hair texture and colour was very different.

Good luck

 

[Seat0B]

Coming up for my 3 yearly colonoscopy and then the knee replacement. This getting into mid seventies is really proving up to be a lot of fun…..for the medical fraternity.
Walking bone on bone will be over now in less than 4 weeks. I still remember the surfing accident back in 1984.

I have had both my knees replaced - first one in 2003 (in my early 40s) and the second in 2015 and I have not looked back. It’s a big surgery and a long recovery - 12 months is not out of the question, but for me it’s been a game changer. To be free of arthritic bone on bone pain when walking or even rolling over in bed at night is so wonderful.

Do your physio, even when it hurts and you don’t want to. If offered, take the 10-14 day residential rehab option at the end of your hospital stay and follow that with an outpatient program 3 x 1/2 days a week for 6 weeks. Then get into the gym and build some muscles. You will have low days for sure, but it is so worth it in the end.

Post automatically merged: Sep 20, 2023

Anyone been through chemo / going through and experienced the hair loss and grow-back phenomenon?
I am not bothered by the hair loss but now my chemo has ended I was wondering.
1. How soon after chemo can you expect hair regrow, proper hair, not this bum-fluff stuff?
2. Did you regrow different hair texture, colour, blah blah blah?
3. Did you grow hair back where previously you had lost some?

Not yet! I have just started to lose my eyelashes. No one is quite sure whether I will lose my hair or whether I will just experience “hair thinning” whatever that means. Following with interest.

 

[prozac]

Not yet! I have just started to lose my eyelashes. No one is quite sure whether I will lose my hair or whether I will just experience “hair thinning” whatever that means. Following with interest.

I thought, wrongly, I'd confound opinion and my hair would stay. Clumps started pulling out in 2nd week of chemo so I got the clippers out same day. I think it would have been patchy by the end of 3 weeks. Eyebrows disappeared by 2nd cycle and it looks a bit funny. Body hair has thinned or gone completely depending on part of body. Still have hair on all limbs. Hope this helps.

 

[Pushka]

Update on cataract surgery. Had post ops visit today. Close vision is basically perfect. I'm gathering all my reading glasses I had everywhere and bundling them up to put into an optical recycling depot. There are, umm lots as I had one in each main room, one in handbag, one in car and ditto to the place at port broughton. Just the cheapie ones so they have their magnifying number on them and which I can now see. . I can read font size 6 which is apparently the smallest font size for printing, as I read that in the text for that font.

I think the ophthalmologist was a little concerned she hadn't the desired impact on long vision. I could work that out myself. I can't wear off the rack sunglasses as I found out on the weekend. She described it as determining the balance between close and long vision and she'd likely erred on close vision. Which of course was my reason for visiting her and so reassured her I was happy with the outcome. Just off to the optician tomorrow to get some script sunnies. I already have the frame for glasses I'd never worn - raybans but with the old lens in place. I'm tempted not to tell them about the surgery and see their reaction when they can see my vision has changed.

So really pleased I went through the process. Still the only charge was for the private hospital expense. Follow up today was no charge and nor is one in January as she is doing research and wants data from patients. Not necessary for me just optional.

 

[Pushka]

no you can actually see the ulcers in my throat and they are very painful and make you feel rubbish

I was getting those for a year or so in my throat. Back and forwards to the Dr but she said viral no antibiotics. But then eventually I got chicken pox that started in my throat - didn't know that at the time I was back at the GP, same same viral, but then two days later, blisters everywhere. So they were actually chicken pox blisters that didn't break through to significant pox for months. Even the GP didn't pick it.