General Medical issues thread

[TheRealTMA]

You definitely shouldn't be added to MHR automatically. I joined when it first started out and it’s been fantastic. Being able to access your health history and all the pathology and scans etc in one place when going to a new doctor is really handy.

No, I did not mean MHR itself but the new system VPS mentioned.

 

[Quickstatus]

I checked with head pharmacist at the hospital.

60day script available for no more than $30 PBS price + dispensing fee

A script is only a 60 day if the script says 60 days. It has to be a 60 day script, any scripts written prior to the activation of the 60 days policy is not eligible - while they can give you 60 days worth it is still 2x30 day scripts and invoiced as such

 

[Pushka]

I checked with head pharmacist at the hospital.

60day script available for no more than $30 PBS price + dispensing fee

A script is only a 60 day if the script says 60 days. It has to be a 60 day script, any scripts written prior to the activation of the 60 days policy is not eligible - while they can give you 60 days worth it is still 2x30 day scripts and invoiced as such

Well just hope SHC is approved then.

 

[love_the_life]

We are probably a bit different to many - don't mind paying a premium for scripts from the chemist virtually across the road - small business and worth the extra money to try and ensure they stay, especially as we are getting older. To not have to drive to dr, pathologist, dentist and pharmac_ is important for us. Anyway the difference is usually about a couple of cups of coffee. YMMV.

 

[Pushka]

We are probably a bit different to many - don't mind paying a premium for scripts from the chemist virtually across the road - small business and worth the extra money to try and ensure they stay, especially as we are getting older. To not have to drive to dr, pathologist, dentist and pharmac_ is important for us. Anyway the difference is usually about a couple of cups of coffee. YMMV.

Tend to agree and there is a drive to Chemist Warehouse that really isn't worth it as it's not my usual shopping hub. But there aren't any chemists in walkable distance here anyway. So pick the location that means the most convenient.

 

[JohnK]

Anyway the difference is usually about a couple of cups of coffee. YMMV.

I recall the local pharmac_ had Pantoprazole priced at $23 while Discount pharmac_ matched any price they could verify which was $6-$8.

12 times a year x $15 difference is a lot of money.

Then throw-in Crestor, metformin, panadeine forte, antibiotic etc and I'll find a pharmac_ that is the cheapest. Most of them deliver for free anyway.

 

[Quickstatus]

small business

Chemist Warehouse

a lot of chemists are not small businesses. The brothers that own CW are billionaires

 

[JohnK]

I didn't realise I needed to factor weight into hernia operation. Apparently I have a BMI of 47 and have been sent away to lose 10kgs and come back in 4 months.

So GP says we need to get onto Ozempic ASAP. There's no guarantee anyone can lose weight that much quickly on Ozempic anyway. Ozempic works best with diet and exercise. There's those 2 words again. Forget exercise and its not easy to trick the body with diets.

 

[Pushka]

a lot of chemists are not small businesses. The brothers that own CW are billionaires

Yep. Most of them are likely chain ones. Maybe even those we think are small just aren't. Just branded to make it seem like it.

Post automatically merged: Oct 21, 2023

I didn't realise I needed to factor weight into hernia operation. Apparently I have a BMI of 47 and have been sent away to lose 10kgs and come back in 4 months.

So GP says we need to get onto Ozempic ASAP. There's no guarantee anyone can lose weight that much quickly on Ozempic anyway. Ozempic works best with diet and exercise. There's those 2 words again. Forget exercise and its not easy to trick the body with diets.

Maybe it's to reduce strain on the repair work? And potentially even a requirement of the anaesthetic to have people under a certain BMi?

 

[cove]

My anaesthetist gave me a pre-op inquisition on Sunday before my knee replacement surgery on Monday. I appreciated her being so thorough. I lost 6 kgs in the 2 months I waited for the surgery.

 

[Quickstatus]

@JohnK
BMI that high poses several risks including anaesthetic (breathing, airway) and surgical (infection, failure of repair)

 

[Lynda2475]

I didn't realise I needed to factor weight into hernia operation. Apparently I have a BMI of 47 and have been sent away to lose 10kgs and come back in 4 months

If you have health insurance google "Healthy Weight for Life" it's a free (assuming you have had insurance for 12 months) 12 or 18 week program that is there to help people lose weight before surgery or to reduce stress on joints if have arthritis.and a BMI above 28.

 

[love_the_life]

a lot of chemists are not small businesses. The brothers that own CW are billionaires

Agree - this one is but more to the point it is the convenience of the location.

 

[JohnK]

@JohnK
BMI that high poses several risks including anaesthetic (breathing, airway) and surgical (infection, failure of repair)

So what's worse? Risks from anaesthetic/surgery or leaving hernia untreated?

The Junior doctor did say we know it's not easy to lose weight. No kidding? If losing weight was so easy we wouldn't have a problem with obesity. It's not like anyone wants to remain obese.

 

[Pushka]

So what's worse? Risks from anaesthetic/surgery or leaving hernia untreated?

The Junior doctor did say we know it's not easy to lose weight. No kidding? If losing weight was so easy we wouldn't have a problem with obesity. It's not like anyone wants to remain obese.

Maybe - 'first do no harm' comes into play.

 

[Flyfrequently]

We were on higher salary last year and above the limit but that isn't the case this year so hope they work that out with the paperwork.

Also the threshold was increased by about $8k @Pushka

 

[Flyfrequently]

It's free on a medical care plan my Doctor told me. Five visits. Just randomly picking a physio - it clearly isn't.

Many docs and their staff don't quite always get that bit right
Hospital Concussion Clinic advised getting care plans, it will be free they said.

My grandson with post concussion syndrome sees multiple allied health providers - had to explain to daughter there will most likely be out of pocket expenses - another case of " Mum, you were right"!

 

[Quickstatus]

Risks from anaesthetic/surgery or leaving hernia untreated?

Definitely risk from anaesthetic/surgery unless hernia is incarcerated (stuck)

 

[Flyfrequently]

Well just hope SHC is approved then.

 

[ellen10]

So my brother in law who moved back from the UK went to our local doctors. They don’t have Medicare yet.
Consult was $155.
Then had to go for a fasting blood test, about 6 itests listed (which usually is free for us). It cost $355!
We are very lucky to have Medicare, I know a lot of complaints about Medicare rebates, but the alternative is a lot of money.