General Medical issues thread

[Quickstatus]

does the Da Vinci unit have other uses?

Complex endometriosis and other gynaecological

Kidney

Prostate

Colorectal

Gallbladder - single port (one keyhole only)

 

[RooFlyer]

Gallbladder - single port (one keyhole only)

After I had my vitrectomy (repairing torn retina of eye) I read up on the instrument he used. Forget details, but it was a 'robotic' type. In some context I used the term 'keyhole surgery'. The ophthalmologist, laughed somewhat contemptuously (but in jest) at general surgeons' 'keyholes'.

His incisions (in the white of the eye) were c.1-2mm and his main tool to cut up and remove any floating gunk within the eye caused by the tear, plus any blood and, ultimately the fluid in the eye would have been like the vitrectomy probe below - 27 gauge (<0.5mm) & capable of +20,000 cuts per minute while sucking the gunk out. Check out the video

HYPERVIT® Dual Blade Vitrectomy Probe | Alcon Professional

The HYPERVIT® Dual Blade Vitrectomy Probe at 20,000 CPM with beveled tip enhances stability during vitrectomy surgery. Learn more about its capabilities today.

www.myalcon.com

 

[Quickstatus]

Instead of "mine bigger than yours" a lot of surgeons are "mine is smaller than yours"

 

[jgm]

I'm now home again after just over a week in hospital. The infection was all through the implant which has now been completely removed. So I now only have a spacer for a shoulder. I have a sling on the left arm and a pravena attached to the shoulder, a pick with a baxter bottle which has to be changed daily on the right. I am on the intravenous antibiotics for at least another week, and then tablets long term. The current plan is to review in 3 months, and then decide if they do another implant, either full or partial, or just leave me with the spacer.

My skiing trip in January is now off.

 

[Quickstatus]

spacer

Where the implant used to be. What caused the infection?

pravena

A mini suction device to get the air and excess fluid if any out of the dressing

Pick...baxter bottle

Antibiotics via the PICC - peripherally inserted central catheter - a long drip inserted in the upper arm above the elbow hospital and long enough to go into the main vein in the chest. Does not need to be replaced for months
Sounds like you got the hospital in the home

skiing trip in January is now off.

Sorry to hear

 

[Seat0B]

I'm now home again after just over a week in hospital. The infection was all through the implant which has now been completely removed. So I now only have a spacer for a shoulder. I have a sling on the left arm and a pravena attached to the shoulder, a pick with a baxter bottle which has to be changed daily on the right. I am on the intravenous antibiotics for at least another week, and then tablets long term. The current plan is to review in 3 months, and then decide if they do another implant, either full or partial, or just leave me with the spacer.

My skiing trip in January is now off.

oh that is very tough news, and I am sorry to hear it. Wishing you the best possible outcome.

 

[Bundy Bear]

Gjm, Having to cancel a oversea trip is not fun.

Since I was at the doctors last week got some blood tests to check my iron levels.
Ferritin 290, saturation 56, those who know will know.
In another blood test showed red cell macrocytosis was 105, has always been high but hit over100 this time, suggesting low B12 levels, another blood test to check on that.

And I have a really bad big toe nail infection, Dr Google has a few theories, running doesn’t help and also a weak immune system.

I think any major running is on hold until after Christmas

 

[prozac]

Just bought a new car and surprised to read in the owner's manual that radio waves from the car transmitting antennas for keyless entry and push-button start can affect the operation of implanted pacemakers and defibrillators. Advice to keep 22cm away from the transmitting antennas. Guess I better not hug the car.

 

[Cossie]

A particular person on here should have a read of this. cough that hospital staff have to put up with… Can’t see too many computer/IT people having to deal with things like this, but of course ymmv.

‘My life changed for the worse that day’: Why Julie can’t go to work any more

Nurse Julie Carey had witnessed many acts of violence and aggression by patients. But after an incident in January, she could no longer set foot inside her hospital.

www.smh.com.au

And this. Burnt out, bullied and threatened: Why our health workers are in crisis

 

[drron]

And doctors but often bullied by their senior colleagues.

Doctors in distress: Why demanding lifestyle puts young medicos at risk

Two years after Tash Port took her own life, her mum still struggles to comprehend the pressure the young doctor was under. So does the medical profession, as it confronts the alarming rate of suicide among young female doctors.

www.theage.com.au

Back in 1974 I was president of the RMOs Association of NSW and we took the NSW Health commission to court after they refused to negotiate a new contract. They lost in a very big way. We were the first doctors in Australia to be granted the 40 hour week plus got a pay rise of 100%. It was reduced to 95% on appeal.
So what is the situation for junior doctors now around Australia. A majority are afraid to claim overtime and those that do usually don't have the claim approved. And this is just over 49 years since the decision was handed down.

Going back 8 years and I was working in Tasmania. The hospital I was working in was a toxic place. All of the full time physicians had retired. One was admitted for psychiatric treatment for 6 months. No new appointee stayed for more than 3 months. One of the senior doctors who was not working as a physician but was a member of the RACP (college of Physicians ) was one of the major problems. Another full time medico decided to leave and as a parting gift put in a formal complaint of the bully. No one backed him up so I did. The RACP was informed as they were having a year of the bully program. Their answer -we can't do anything.
Fortunately the Director of Medical services resigned as he couldn't take the heat and his replacement was an ex Army doctor. He sacked the bully. The result for me was that although for the next few years they relied on having 3 locum physicians at all times my applications were turned down for the next 6 years. Didn't worry me as then Launceston Hospital asked me to come over and worked there for most of the next 8 years.

So Hospital Administrations, government Health bureaucracies and even the medical organisations have never really stood up for the frontline health staff.

 

[Pushka]

A particular person on here should have a read of this. cough that hospital staff have to put up with… Can’t see too many computer/IT people having to deal with things like this, but of course ymmv.

‘My life changed for the worse that day’: Why Julie can’t go to work any more

Nurse Julie Carey had witnessed many acts of violence and aggression by patients. But after an incident in January, she could no longer set foot inside her hospital.

www.smh.com.au

And this. Burnt out, bullied and threatened: Why our health workers are in crisis

Can't read it as paywalled but can assume the story.

 

[MARTINE]

Just bought a new car and surprised to read in the owner's manual that radio waves from the car transmitting antennas for keyless entry and push-button start can affect the operation of implanted pacemakers and defibrillators. Advice to keep 22cm away from the transmitting antennas. Guess I better not hug the car.

…and wasn’t a Rolls Royce stolen in UK with some form of device that overcame security for the car. (It looked like a coathanger)

 

[Flashback]

…and wasn’t a Rolls Royce stolen in UK with some form of device that overcame security for the car. (It looked like a coathanger)

JLR cars are constantly being stolen over here plus the occasional BMW and Merc.

 

[prozac]

JLR cars are constantly being stolen over here plus the occasional BMW and Merc.

We have quite a local car theft problem being reported weekly on the local fb community group. Thieves break into your home at night and take your car keys that you've conveniently left on the kitchen benchtop or hall table to steal your mainly quick car. These go to warehouses out western Sydney to be used later in crimes, usually crime gang hits.
Earlier this week 2 nongs broke into Jeff Fenech's inner-city home and took the keys to his car. When they got outside they discovered they had the wrong keys and could not steal the one they wanted. I would like to have been a fly on the wall if Jeff had woken up.

 

[tgh]

I would like to have been a fly on the wall if Jeff had woken up.

Why.. he could not touch them.. nobody can and it smells….
A professional pugilist damaging sweet slightly misguided youngsters , the new age magistracy would crucify him

 

[Seat0B]

Good news in time for Christmas - saw my doc yesterday and he has declared remission! As you might imagine, I am very happy right now. The whole appointment was just good news - by now I am conditioned to expect bad news at every visit, so it was just weird. But there was no bad news at all.

So, my immune system is now "as good as anyone else's" and I am allowed to do whatever I want, eat whatever I want, hug whoever I want, go wherever I want ... so weird after the strict rules that have applied, but so good.

So my trip to Japan is back on again. i got insurance cover for all my pre-existing conditions ( 2 knee replacements and the leukaemia) with Easy Travel and they only charged me about $400 for the privilege of being able to insure pre-existing conditions for a 1 month trip to Japan - so I am pretty happy about that - total costs $1700 including ski cover and unlimited cancellation cover. Less happy with my credit card insurance (Westpac and ANZ), where they have declined to insure any pre-existing conditions (that they have previously covered) because, you know, leukaemia really affects knee replacements....I could understand if they said "nope, not touching the leukaemia" but I really do not understand why now they regard my knees as uninsurable....

So much trip planning and organising to do now, very happy!

Doc expects I will get 5-7 years of remission, maybe more if I am lucky, and then will have to do the whole chemo thing again, but that is something to think about another day.

yay!!!!!

 

[MARTINE]

Good news in time for Christmas - saw my doc yesterday and he has declared remission! As you might imagine, I am very happy right now. The whole appointment was just good news - by now I am conditioned to expect bad news at every visit, so it was just weird. But there was no bad news at all.

So, my immune system is now "as good as anyone else's" and I am allowed to do whatever I want, eat whatever I want, hug whoever I want, go wherever I want ... so weird after the strict rules that have applied, but so good.

So my trip to Japan is back on again. i got insurance cover for all my pre-existing conditions ( 2 knee replacements and the leukaemia) with Easy Travel and they only charged me about $400 for the privilege of being able to insure pre-existing conditions for a 1 month trip to Japan - so I am pretty happy about that - total costs $1700 including ski cover and unlimited cancellation cover. Less happy with my credit card insurance (Westpac and ANZ), where they have declined to insure any pre-existing conditions (that they have previously covered) because, you know, leukaemia really affects knee replacements....I could understand if they said "nope, not touching the leukaemia" but I really do not understand why now they regard my knees as uninsurable....

So much trip planning and organising to do now, very happy!

Doc expects I will get 5-7 years of remission, maybe more if I am lucky, and then will have to do the whole chemo thing again, but that is something to think about another day.

yay!!!!!

Dear @Seat0B I am so happy for you
Enjoy your good news and wishing you all the best

 

[SuePa]

Good news in time for Christmas - saw my doc yesterday and he has declared remission! As you might imagine, I am very happy right now. The whole appointment was just good news - by now I am conditioned to expect bad news at every visit, so it was just weird. But there was no bad news at all.

Best news I've heard all day! That's wonderful.
Enjoy your Christmas and have a fantastic time in Japan.

 

[cove]

We have a massage chair like you see in airport corridors. Now don’t try it if you have a pacemaker fitted.
@Seat0B that is wonderful progress.

 

[LinaLee]

Good news in time for Christmas - saw my doc yesterday and he has declared remission! As you might imagine, I am very happy right now. The whole appointment was just good news - by now I am conditioned to expect bad news at every visit, so it was just weird. But there was no bad news at all.

So, my immune system is now "as good as anyone else's" and I am allowed to do whatever I want, eat whatever I want, hug whoever I want, go wherever I want ... so weird after the strict rules that have applied, but so good.

So my trip to Japan is back on again. i got insurance cover for all my pre-existing conditions ( 2 knee replacements and the leukaemia) with Easy Travel and they only charged me about $400 for the privilege of being able to insure pre-existing conditions for a 1 month trip to Japan - so I am pretty happy about that - total costs $1700 including ski cover and unlimited cancellation cover. Less happy with my credit card insurance (Westpac and ANZ), where they have declined to insure any pre-existing conditions (that they have previously covered) because, you know, leukaemia really affects knee replacements....I could understand if they said "nope, not touching the leukaemia" but I really do not understand why now they regard my knees as uninsurable....

So much trip planning and organising to do now, very happy!

Doc expects I will get 5-7 years of remission, maybe more if I am lucky, and then will have to do the whole chemo thing again, but that is something to think about another day.

yay!!!!!

Yay happy skiing!