General Medical issues thread

[RooFlyer]

@jgm - so it was an infection? Or irritation from the (?imperfect, ?faulty) implant? Surprised neither showed up in blood tests.

 

[prozac]

I'm now 5 1/2 months post reverse shoulder replacement. For the past 6 weeks the shoulder has been red and physio advised me to see GP who sent me for an ultrasound and blood test which didn't show up anything. It got worse in the next few days so he put me onto antibiotics. The redness would almost disappear in the morning but come back during the day. Then on Monday I woke up with a large red lump on the shoulder, so headed into A & E. They admitted me straight away and I had an ultrasound and CT scan yesterday, and an aspiration under ultrasound and they got 15 (?) ml out of it but the rest was too thick to get out.

As I have no real issues apart from the shoulder, they've let me go home, and am booked in next Thursday for a wash out and clean up. The ortho registrar told me they will change the replaceable parts of the implant which surprised me as I didn't thought it was just two solid parts.

The hard part is that I will have to start again with 6 weeks immobilisation again. Also I'll have to convince the surgeon that I'm OK to go skiing mid January (might have to promise not to do bumps).

That must feel very disappointing. I've had 2 reconstructions and a bicep tenodesis, due another on the untouched shoulder and prob a tenodesis as well...just so you know where I am coming from.

I'd be surprised if you could, or should, ski in January, Feb or March as it requires a certain degree of predictable shoulder movement and strength, not to mention the inherent risk. In my experience you are a minimum 12-18 months recovery post reconstruction, though I do not know about reverse replacement. I rehabbed with some people who had reverse replacement and they were no further advanced than anyone else. I did significant pre-surgery gym work and it still took a while to recover.

My tips: A V8 juice bottle makes the best shower assist bottle. After the initial surgery recovery a large pillow placed part way down your body as a bolster is great to roll onto without placing pressure on the shoulder...good for having a change of position. Ibubrofen and panadol work well together, get rid of the oxycodon as soon as you can. Horrible stuff.

All the best with your recovery.

 

[jgm]

@jgm - so it was an infection? Or irritation from the (?imperfect, ?faulty) implant? Surprised neither showed up in blood tests.

Infection. Seems to be fairly localised.

 

[jgm]

I'd be surprised if you could, or should, ski in January, Feb or March as it requires a certain degree of predictable shoulder movement and strength, not to mention the inherent risk. In my experience you are a minimum 12-18 months recovery post reconstruction, though I do not know about reverse replacement. I rehabbed with some people who had reverse replacement and they were no further advanced than anyone else. I did significant pre-surgery gym work and it still took a while to recover.

All the best with your recovery.

I skied this year 10 weeks post surgery at Mt Buller. The shoulder didn't give me any problems, but the lack of snow made it a bit boring. Before the replacement, I skied in Canada early this year, and I had even less movement with the state the old joint was in, although I did have strength in it. As long as I keep clear of moguls, I really only use my arms for timing with pole plants.

 

[Seat0B]

Well now that I am few days into my first Covid experience, still with awful coughing, coughing up some cough, headaches and congested nose. But the nights are the worst, sleeping propped up is the best and now I have shared it with my husband!

He has had a telehealth appointment and because of a few other conditions is eligible for the antivirals. We will see how that goes.

I feel for you @ellen10 and hope it passes quickly. It's the pits when you are both crook.

 

[TheRealTMA]

Got the results of my PET scan after melanoma on wrist. Was not overly concerned after biopys but concerned that they would find other things! Seems no cats or dogs and that I'm neuter.

 

[prozac]

I skied this year 10 weeks post surgery at Mt Buller. The shoulder didn't give me any problems, but the lack of snow made it a bit boring. Before the replacement, I skied in Canada early this year, and I had even less movement with the state the old joint was in, although I did have strength in it. As long as I keep clear of moguls, I really only use my arms for timing with pole plants.

That's not long at all.

 

[love_the_life]

Well now that I am few days into my first Covid experience, still with awful coughing, coughing up some cough, headaches and congested nose. But the nights are the worst, sleeping propped up is the best and now I have shared it with my husband!

He has had a telehealth appointment and because of a few other conditions is eligible for the antivirals. We will see how that goes.

Hope you manage to recover soon - no fun being sick when the weather is warm (or any time really, just seems worse when it's warm and sunny). Mr LtL caught my covid a couple of days after I came down but luckily we had very mild cases as I was able to WFH after a day or so.

 

[Quickstatus]

thought it was just two solid parts.

4 parts

1 metal plate fixed to the scapula (aka shoulder blade) with screws.
1 metal half sphere fixed to metal plate

1 metal stemmed plate inserted into the humerus (AKA upper arm bone)
1 polyethylene type socket fixed to stemmed plate

Reverse means the ball and socket is reversed.
Ball is now on the scapula and socket is now on the humerus instead of the other way round in a normal shoulder.

Invented by the French in the 80s. Better than standard (the opposite of reverse) especially if joint was severely arthritic and also if rotator cuff weak/degraded/torn

If infected they may replace some or all of the parts. They may also remove all the parts and leave it then come back later once infection sorted out - a 2 stage revision

Infected joint prosthesis can be a very long affair with potentially many months of antibiotics - even weeks of IV at hospital/home followed by months of oral antibiotics.

Not for the faint hearted.

 

[Seat0B]

Finally, some good news on my blood tests. Most of my various parameters (WBC, RBC, MCV, MCH, MCHC, platelets, MPV, neutrophils and monocytes are all in the "two consecutive readings in the green zone" which he wanted before he would let me out into society. I still have low lymphocytes, but only by a smidge, and high RDW, but it is declining steadily and is also only a smidge above the top of normal. My liver is happy and my kidneys only a bit grumpy. That is 9 weeks from end of chemo.

So this is all very promising. I see doc again on 8 Dec and I am hoping that he will loosen the reins on me a bit and that Ijust might make it to Japan at the end of January after all.

I am still easily tired out though, so it's probably good to be forced to take things a bit easy.

 

[ellen10]

Finally, some good news on my blood tests. Most of my various parameters (WBC, RBC, MCV, MCH, MCHC, platelets, MPV, neutrophils and monocytes are all in the "two consecutive readings in the green zone" which he wanted before he would let me out into society. I still have low lymphocytes, but only by a smidge, and high RDW, but it is declining steadily and is also only a smidge above the top of normal. My liver is happy and my kidneys only a bit grumpy. That is 9 weeks from end of chemo.

So this is all very promising. I see doc again on 8 Dec and I am hoping that he will loosen the reins on me a bit and that Ijust might make it to Japan at the end of January after all.

I am still easily tired out though, so it's probably good to be forced to take things a bit easy.

Very happy to hear that you have some good news from your tests.
You have certainly had a very trying time. I hope that you continue to feel better and can enjoy some of your favourite things, Best wishes.

 

[Seat0B]

feel better and can enjoy some of your favourite things

This period of confinement has really shown me (much like the COVID lockdowns did too) that I do not need much to be happy - the main things are definitely time with my family and friends, and the ability to go out for simple pleasures like a coffee in the sun. As soon as I was allowed a couple of weeks ago to start minimal "cautious social contact with a small range of healthy people", the very first thing I did was visit and hug my 89 year old mum, followed the next day by my daughter and granddaughter. This week I added 2 friends into the mix. I'm pretty happy. The possibility of travel is now probably the next thing on my wish list - to see Seat Son and skiing.

 

[ellen10]

Thank you for your kind words of encouragement @Quickstatus and @love_the_life .

Yes not much fun with both of us dealing with the Covid and whats worse husband seems to have a milder case than me (not that he would admit it!
I had a bad case of RSV back in August which seems to have weakened my normally healthy resilience.

 

[Quickstatus]

encouragement @Quickstatus

I think you meant @Seat0B

 

[Seat0B]

I think you meant @Seat0B

We've had avatar confusion @Quickstatus - I think you and I have discussed that before

 

[LinaLee]

This period of confinement has really shown me (much like the COVID lockdowns did too) that I do not need much to be happy - the main things are definitely time with my family and friends, and the ability to go out for simple pleasures like a coffee in the sun. As soon as I was allowed a couple of weeks ago to start minimal "cautious social contact with a small range of healthy people", the very first thing I did was visit and hug my 89 year old mum, followed the next day by my daughter and granddaughter. This week I added 2 friends into the mix. I'm pretty happy. The possibility of travel is now probably the next thing on my wish list - to see Seat Son and skiing.

@Seat0B I so totally get it.

I tried to convince the oncologist that I’m good to take a week of skiing in Japan between chemo doses

The way he tried to school his reaction to nuetral and say bad idea at the same time made up for the denial for my own good …. I was a huge challenge for medical team always asking many questions n assumptions they applied to make a decision

After each review I bet they can’t wait to show me the door but very good at hiding it

 

[MARTINE]

Finally, some good news on my blood tests. Most of my various parameters (WBC, RBC, MCV, MCH, MCHC, platelets, MPV, neutrophils and monocytes are all in the "two consecutive readings in the green zone" which he wanted before he would let me out into society. I still have low lymphocytes, but only by a smidge, and high RDW, but it is declining steadily and is also only a smidge above the top of normal. My liver is happy and my kidneys only a bit grumpy. That is 9 weeks from end of chemo.

So this is all very promising. I see doc again on 8 Dec and I am hoping that he will loosen the reins on me a bit and that Ijust might make it to Japan at the end of January after all.

I am still easily tired out though, so it's probably good to be forced to take things a bit easy.

I am so pleased to read you are getting better @Seat0B. Wonderful news and great that you are enjoying the simple things in life. All the very best for your ongoing recovery

 

[Quickstatus]

avatar confusion

Ok as a community service
I'll change to Aperol Spritz

 

[ellen10]

I think you meant @Seat0B

Yes sorry @Seat0B !

 

[love_the_life]

Finally, some good news on my blood tests. Most of my various parameters (WBC, RBC, MCV, MCH, MCHC, platelets, MPV, neutrophils and monocytes are all in the "two consecutive readings in the green zone" which he wanted before he would let me out into society. I still have low lymphocytes, but only by a smidge, and high RDW, but it is declining steadily and is also only a smidge above the top of normal. My liver is happy and my kidneys only a bit grumpy. That is 9 weeks from end of chemo.

So this is all very promising. I see doc again on 8 Dec and I am hoping that he will loosen the reins on me a bit and that Ijust might make it to Japan at the end of January after all.

I am still easily tired out though, so it's probably good to be forced to take things a bit easy.

Excellent news. It is great to get those results and hopefully you will get your travel in. Just need to take it very easy and not aim for too much. We were in Singapore not long after we had covid and found we were very easily tired so just vegged a lot really.