General Medical issues thread

[blackcat20]

Good old Ginger to the rescue again for Hyperemesis Gravidarum (plus the rest)

I found ginger did nothing for me, I was on a rotation of restavit and zofran and still chucked my guts half hourly all night.

 

[Quickstatus]

I found ginger did nothing for me

This unfortunate pt had all that plus more. But luckily it seemed to have settled down with Ginger but at 1000mg 4 tines a day.
Likely will need tube feed moving forward as she lost over 12kg

On the flip side its said that Hyperemesis is a sign of a good pregnancy providing the mother manages to hang in there without too much weight loss etc

 

[maia200]

My sister’s hair grew back completely grey (was 50% before) was very tight curls for about 1 year then went back to her usual waves

I have grown my hair back however it is much thinner than it was. Have not noticed extra grey hairs....but I am probably grey anyway....the hairdresser sorts that out for me.

@prozac , @Seat0B and others - mouth ulcers post chemo or persistent mouth ulcers due to illness, and chronic mouth ulcers

This is something the Palliative guys use

Kenalog oral paste. Its a thick paste - put it in before retiring for the night (its a topical steroi_)
As usual check with your (non AFF) health care professional
No prescription required

Thank you.

 

[maia200]

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.

I take this daily too and have had no problems with the steroi_s I am on as well.

 

[maia200]

B

Try insureandgo. For a premium they cover all my whacky things.

They won't cover cancer though, as it is pre-existing.

 

[maia200]

Such sound advice. I was all set to take it up (I'm only 62) when I sold my business in 2017. Had a couple of grand years in 2018 and 2019 and then....we all know what happened to 2020-2021 (several trips booked for 2020 cancelled and refunds fought). Travelled again at the end of 2022, had Japan locked in for 5 weeks in Jan/Feb 2023, and looking at other trips - maybe Korea, visit to Seat Son etc. And as followers on AFF know, just a few weeks before my shock diagnosis, I was deep in the throes of planning a cruise to the northern lights for the 120 years of marriage celebration (hubby and I and his 2 sisters and their hubbies all hit 40 years in 2024). So I was trying hard to honour this advice. But it hasn't worked out for me - so far.

Hence my interest in insurance. I fully anticipate that I will have a decent remission after this all settles down and I really want to be able to travel, but now I am worried about the impact of this medical situation on my ability to get insurance at all, and then what the premiums will be.

Edit for spelling

Generally no insurance company that I have found will cover you for cancer. I have phoned many including referrals on this site. I now travel with insurance for everything else but my pre-existing is now a mile long! However I found that TID would cover me for Osteoporosis (side effect, amongst others from treatment) when for eg. Covermore, Insure and Go, Insure1, Qantas, Allianz, 1Cover, Southern Cross, HCF (current health fund)....and others would not cover me for this.

Post automatically merged: Sep 25, 2023

I'm with Avant . I didn't know that. I'll check

Treatments can be global and specific. Global would be weight loss, oral steroi_s and other antimetabolites such as methotrexate, TNF blockers etc etc. Specific would be injections and surgery. Diagnosis also similar.

@JohnK I appreciate that your medical condition sounds very complicated. Do you have a good GP?

Avant - is this just for medical professionals or anyone?

 

[maia200]

Did they tell you about chemo brain? I lost a bit of the more big words vocabulary for a couple of years. It’s almost mostly back now but memories are hazy in some bits. It’s a thing . So when lost for the right word I just say you know the “thingy” problem solved.

I have that, even when I look at things, I just don't know what they are....eg.. today my headboard. Could not fathom out what the word was. It is awful from someone who is normally articulate. However I am getting used to it and just move on and sometimes with family, just point or say well 'that thing above the bed'. Not stressed about it anymore.

 

[MARTINE]

Generally no insurance company that I have found will cover you for cancer. I have phoned many including referrals on this site. I now travel with insurance for everything else but my pre-existing is now a mile long! However I found that TID would cover me for Osteoporosis (side effect, amongst others from treatment) when for eg. Covermore, Insure and Go, Insure1, Qantas, Allianz, 1Cover, Southern Cross, HCF (current health fund)....and others would not cover me for this.

Post automatically merged: Sep 25, 2023

Avant - is this just for medical professionals or anyone?

Unfortunately medical only - you or spouse

 

[maia200]

Unfortunately medical only - you or spouse

Ok thank you. I had not heard of it.

 

[prozac]

I take this daily too and have had no problems with the steroi_s I am on as well.

I was on 100mg pred, really messed me up... and the taste!!! Now 4 weeks since last chemo infusion, still need pentoprazole but mouth much improved. Nasal passages still puffy.

 

[maia200]

I was on 100mg pred, really messed me up... and the taste!!! Now 4 weeks since last chemo infusion, still need pentoprazole but mouth much improved. Nasal passages still puffy.

The taste of preds.....yuck, every morning....

 

[Pushka]

I was on 100mg pred, really messed me up... and the taste!!! Now 4 weeks since last chemo infusion, still need pentoprazole but mouth much improved. Nasal passages still puffy.

Gosh. High dose. How do you wean down from there!

 

[prozac]

Gosh. High dose. How do you wean down from there!

Just stopped. They tell me the chemo was also a high dose.

 

[maia200]

Just stopped. They tell me the chemo was also a high dose.

Did you have no side effects when you just stopped? I had to wean off very slowly because when I tried to go quicker I was as stiff as a board and couldn't move ...that was most unpleasant.

 

[prozac]

Did you have no side effects when you just stopped? I had to wean off very slowly because when I tried to go quicker I was as stiff as a board and couldn't move ...that was most unpleasant.

Some stiffness in back of thighs and glutes, but I had that right through treatment. Early on I gave some interesting responses to people pushing trolleys into me when shopping. Seems the minute you lose your hair you become a target.

 

[JohnK]

I keep forgetting

+1

I keep forgetting what I've forgotten....

 

[Seat0B]

I take this daily too and have had no problems with the steroi_s I am on as well.

I started pentoprazole today after a couple of very rough days of regurgitation, coughing and heartburn. I hope it kicks in quickly.

 

[TheRealTMA]

I started pentoprazole today after a couple of very rough days of regurgitation, coughing and heartburn. I hope it kicks in quickly.

one of the best ones. Been using it for years.

 

[prozac]

I started pentoprazole today after a couple of very rough days of regurgitation, coughing and heartburn. I hope it kicks in quickly.

Make sure you have enough prescription pentoprazole, and perhaps one other if not enough. This was one of the worst aspects of my treatment, besides poor mouth health.

 

[Pushka]

Just stopped. They tell me the chemo was also a high dose.

Gosh. Even on just 15mg I was told to wean down over a year as the body shuts down cortisol and it has to remember to start making it again.

Pantoprazole works very quickly. Well, it does for oesphageal scleroderma.