General Medical issues thread

[VPS]

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!!!!!

Fantastic news. Go you. I’m a surviver too. It’s a great feeling

 

[Quickstatus]

So my trip to Japan is back on again

Well done @Seat0B , but please don't break a leg while you are over there.

 

[RooFlyer]

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.

Super news!

But now we expect the trip reports to be done sort of as you go or shortly afterwards

 

[Flyfrequently]

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.

yay!!!!!

That is excellent news @Seat0B !
Thank you for sharing your personal journey and now you can look forward to all those good things you have on your radar - especially the hugs

 

[prozac]

We have a massage chair like you see in airport corridors. Now don’t try it if you have a pacemaker fitted.
...

Why is that @cove ? I know I cannot use anything with a TENS facility, but massage too?

 

[prozac]

Fantastic news @Seat0B .
Do you know if TI puts on any loading for cancer?

 

[ellen10]

Such good news @Seat0B ! You have endured a lot and now you can enjoy your holiday trip to Japan. Best wishes

 

[Quickstatus]

but please don't break a leg while you are over there

Dont remember if I recounted Mrs QS story...

Japan skiing Madarao

On way back to lodge.
I took a shortcut at the last second
Mrs QS followed but fell
# tibia just above the cuff of the ski boot

Luckily the Ski Patrol hut was nearby
They came and scopped her up and banana boat her to the hut

In the hut after assesment, they took the boot off
Then tried to manipulate the broken leg into a large splint by lifting the foot
They gave Mrs QS some crutches and said we call taxi
I arrived when the taxi arrived. They wanted Mrs QS to trudge out into the snow into the Taxi - I think about 25m away


I kicked up a major stink:
I asked for ambulance. After some google translation they agreed
The ambulance came up to Madarao with sirens blaring - apparently that is what they do - sirens are on for ALL ambo jobs
They banana boat her to the ambo and then the Ambo rushed down the hill to the hospital as though Mrs QS had a heart attack

Hospital:
Xray - comminuted (meaning broken in several places) # tibia/fibula
treatment - put leg in plaster case
pain killers during manipulation of leg - panadol
leg in cast - crutches and 10 panadol given to go home
I said cast not correct. After another hour of toing and froing, a young nurse realised what i wanted - the case needed to be split to allow for the inevitable swelling. they though I wanted it cut off (imperfect google translation)

Repatriation home:
TI absolutely hopeless
I had to initiate all interactions with TI
I said need to book QF flight back HND-SYD. We had existing QF flights - same airports and J seats, so i was not trying to scam a higher class - just a different departure date.
Basically I told TI that if we departed in 3 days the fares are lower but we have to book the seats NOW. Nothing heard for 24hrs, so I rang them again and said I booked it myself - one way QF J.

JR rail:
Amazing service
Got Mrs QS to Shinkansen station (she was accompanied my Miss QS as well)
A uniformed fellow with white glove rushed out to the car park - he must have noticed her coming up in crutches
Basically escorted her to the particular platform and door. Waited with her until Train arrived
At the next and subsequent stops there was an Attendant waiting to ensure her journey to HND was seamless. Platform change was wheelchair (didn't have to ask)

QF checkin HND:
"Sorry cant take Mrs QS - she has a cast"
But Mrs QS pointed to the split in the cast. OK now. The split was necessary as I said to allow for inevitable swelling on ground and also in the air.

HND lounge:
Lots of Sake

SYD airport:
Wheelchair assistance arranged - but stopped at the glass doors which separated the interior of SYD T1 and the outside.
"I cant wheelchair you to car park" - apparently wheelchairs cant leave the airport precint.
Eventually got attendant to wheelchair Mrs QS upstairs to departures kerbside drop off
Apparently got an earful from the departures kerbside dragons as it was drop off only....



Total painkillers between # and hospital admission:
Panadol
Nurofen ( which i found at a pharmac_)
Lots of wine
Lots of sake
NO morphine or other opiates given for leg manipulation
First dose of morphine was 4 days after the #, when back in Sydney....

The Japanese do not like narcotics....

 

[cove]

Well @prozac it seems that the electronics in a massage chair can mess up a pacemaker. There was a warning that came with our airport style massage chair. We got ours from Costco in Marina del Rey and shipped it to Perth. The manufacturer did the 50 cycle 240 volt conversion Prior to shipment.
i am guessing a person with a pacemaker wouldn’t want to risk seeing the pacemaker signals getting compromised.

 

[Seat0B]

Fantastic news @Seat0B .
Do you know if TI puts on any loading for cancer?

Yes.

 

[Seat0B]

Fantastic news @Seat0B .
Do you know if TI puts on any loading for cancer?

Yes but I don’t know exactly how much. The addition for my knees and he cancer was $400 which seemed fair. I had to confirm no further treatment planned and not waiting for any results but that was all for my type (hairy cell) of leukaemia.

 

[Seat0B]

Dont remember if I recounted Mrs QS story...

Japan skiing Madarao

On way back to lodge.
I took a shortcut at the last second
Mrs QS followed but fell
# tibia just above the cuff of the ski boot

Luckily the Ski Patrol hut was nearby
They came and scopped her up and banana boat her to the hut

In the hut after assesment, they took the boot off
Then tried to manipulate the broken leg into a large splint by lifting the foot
They gave Mrs QS some crutches and said we call taxi
I arrived when the taxi arrived. They wanted Mrs QS to trudge out into the snow into the Taxi - I think about 25m away


I kicked up a major stink:
I asked for ambulance. After some google translation they agreed
The ambulance came up to Madarao with sirens blaring - apparently that is what they do - sirens are on for ALL ambo jobs
They banana boat her to the ambo and then the Ambo rushed down the hill to the hospital as though Mrs QS had a heart attack

Hospital:
Xray - comminuted (meaning broken in several places) # tibia/fibula
treatment - put leg in plaster case
pain killers during manipulation of leg - panadol
leg in cast - crutches and 10 panadol given to go home
I said cast not correct. After another hour of toing and froing, a young nurse realised what i wanted - the case needed to be split to allow for the inevitable swelling. they though I wanted it cut off (imperfect google translation)

Repatriation home:
TI absolutely hopeless
I had to initiate all interactions with TI
I said need to book QF flight back HND-SYD. We had existing QF flights - same airports and J seats, so i was not trying to scam a higher class - just a different departure date.
Basically I told TI that if we departed in 3 days the fares are lower but we have to book the seats NOW. Nothing heard for 24hrs, so I rang them again and said I booked it myself - one way QF J.

JR rail:
Amazing service
Got Mrs QS to Shinkansen station (she was accompanied my Miss QS as well)
A uniformed fellow with white glove rushed out to the car park - he must have noticed her coming up in crutches
Basically escorted her to the particular platform and door. Waited with her until Train arrived
At the next and subsequent stops there was an Attendant waiting to ensure her journey to HND was seamless. Platform change was wheelchair (didn't have to ask)

QF checkin HND:
"Sorry cant take Mrs QS - she has a cast"
But Mrs QS pointed to the split in the cast. OK now. The split was necessary as I said to allow for inevitable swelling on ground and also in the air.

HND lounge:
Lots of Sake

SYD airport:
Wheelchair assistance arranged - but stopped at the glass doors which separated the interior of SYD T1 and the outside.
"I cant wheelchair you to car park" - apparently wheelchairs cant leave the airport precint.
Eventually got attendant to wheelchair Mrs QS upstairs to departures kerbside drop off
Apparently got an earful from the departures kerbside dragons as it was drop off only....



Total painkillers between # and hospital admission:
Panadol
Nurofen ( which i found at a pharmac_)
Lots of wine
Lots of sake
NO morphine or other opiates given for leg manipulation
First dose of morphine was 4 days after the #, when back in Sydney....

The Japanese do not like narcotics....

Ok cautionary tale noted. No short cuts for me! And not going to Madarao this time either.

 

[love_the_life]

Such excellent news @Seat0B !
Enjoy this trip and of course many more well into the future. Yay!

 

[Flyfrequently]

Dont remember if I recounted Mrs QS story...

Japan skiing Madarao

On way back to lodge.
I took a shortcut at the last second
Mrs QS followed but fell
# tibia just above the cuff of the ski boot

Luckily the Ski Patrol hut was nearby
They came and scopped her up and banana boat her to the hut

In the hut after assesment, they took the boot off
Then tried to manipulate the broken leg into a large splint by lifting the foot
They gave Mrs QS some crutches and said we call taxi
I arrived when the taxi arrived. They wanted Mrs QS to trudge out into the snow into the Taxi - I think about 25m away


I kicked up a major stink:
I asked for ambulance. After some google translation they agreed
The ambulance came up to Madarao with sirens blaring - apparently that is what they do - sirens are on for ALL ambo jobs
They banana boat her to the ambo and then the Ambo rushed down the hill to the hospital as though Mrs QS had a heart attack

Hospital:
Xray - comminuted (meaning broken in several places) # tibia/fibula
treatment - put leg in plaster case
pain killers during manipulation of leg - panadol
leg in cast - crutches and 10 panadol given to go home
I said cast not correct. After another hour of toing and froing, a young nurse realised what i wanted - the case needed to be split to allow for the inevitable swelling. they though I wanted it cut off (imperfect google translation)

Repatriation home:
TI absolutely hopeless
I had to initiate all interactions with TI
I said need to book QF flight back HND-SYD. We had existing QF flights - same airports and J seats, so i was not trying to scam a higher class - just a different departure date.
Basically I told TI that if we departed in 3 days the fares are lower but we have to book the seats NOW. Nothing heard for 24hrs, so I rang them again and said I booked it myself - one way QF J.

JR rail:
Amazing service
Got Mrs QS to Shinkansen station (she was accompanied my Miss QS as well)
A uniformed fellow with white glove rushed out to the car park - he must have noticed her coming up in crutches
Basically escorted her to the particular platform and door. Waited with her until Train arrived
At the next and subsequent stops there was an Attendant waiting to ensure her journey to HND was seamless. Platform change was wheelchair (didn't have to ask)

QF checkin HND:
"Sorry cant take Mrs QS - she has a cast"
But Mrs QS pointed to the split in the cast. OK now. The split was necessary as I said to allow for inevitable swelling on ground and also in the air.

HND lounge:
Lots of Sake

SYD airport:
Wheelchair assistance arranged - but stopped at the glass doors which separated the interior of SYD T1 and the outside.
"I cant wheelchair you to car park" - apparently wheelchairs cant leave the airport precint.
Eventually got attendant to wheelchair Mrs QS upstairs to departures kerbside drop off
Apparently got an earful from the departures kerbside dragons as it was drop off only....



Total painkillers between # and hospital admission:
Panadol
Nurofen ( which i found at a pharmac_)
Lots of wine
Lots of sake
NO morphine or other opiates given for leg manipulation
First dose of morphine was 4 days after the #, when back in Sydney....

The Japanese do not like narcotics....

Good thing you know what you are talking about @Quickstatus - imagine how difficult it is to navigate for the uninitiated.
Hope Mrs QS recovered quickly

 

[Seat0B]

Thank you everyone for the good wishes and support offered over the last three months. I may not know you IRL, but I have truly appreciated everyone’s kind and helpful posts. It’s really lovely to see the civil and generous side of the internet on display.

 

[Quickstatus]

magine how difficult it is to navigate for the uninitiated.

Surprisingly, the ER Doc didn't know about splitting the cast - only the ER nurse understood what I wanted.
I also got a weird look when I asked for Mrs QS to be given morphine
I did make sure I was speaking a lot softer and went out of my way to be extra respectful in my interactions - in AU I would have blown my top if someone put a full leg cast on in that context.
The total ￥ for the ER visit was very cheap - less than AUD$200

#never ever put a full cast without splitting it around a broken limb when it just fractured - there is no where for the swelling to go but to eventually squeeze the leg/arm and cut off the blood supply.
#never ever take a short cut

 

[Katie]

(parent of teen venting!!)

Some good news, Teen recently had two MRIs, one on her mid-back and one on her head or around the eyes, due to back pain and some headaches getting close to migraines.
Both found nothing to worry about, but it doesn't explain her pain issues.
I think I've realised what the back issues are from (not just awful posture, but the weight she's carrying in her chest that most don't realise is there due to baggy clothing). Still puzzled about the headaches/eye pain ... though the optometrist said her eyes were slightly dry. I was only allowed to administer eye drops twice to rehydrate, and then she gave up because it wasn't working.

I'm struggling to communicate a few things to her lately - including if you've been hunching over all day, straightening your back won't magically make it stop hurting, you need to eat some kind of nourishing food to have any energy and not feel nauseous (popcorn and seaweed don't count!!), and that maybe you need to try eye drops for a few days before declaring they're ineffective. Oh, and that taking one ibuprofen once a day will not keep certain cyclical lady pain at bay. Nor will taking two and then forgetting to take more until 8 or more hours have elapsed. And she can quote me back on all the things I've told her, and suggested to try to have reminders to take meds. Parenting teens is fun, eh?

On another bright side, the Teen had an iron infusion on Monday morning, tolerated the whole process, and will hopefully be feeling more energetic in a week or two.

 

[Quickstatus]

@Katie I would not be surprised if the headaches are related to the back pain - tension headache due to the posture issue. Depending on age might be worth seeing a Plastic surgeon.

Iron infusions are amazing. Can start to feel better after just a few days (full effect a couple weeks). No need for tedious partially effective iron pills.

 

[Katie]

I'm a big fan of iron infusions, @Quickstatus. I was having them twice a year or so, and they're so much better than the tablets with their side effects.

 

[Quickstatus]

iron infusions

just out of interest, how much was your total cost of getting the infusion?

The Iron is circa $30 via PBS, then there is the facility fee - drips, and related costs, Dr consultation.
Ive heard about $150-$250
Medicare rebate on Dr consultation obviously.

Still $250 maybe once every few years better than having to take the pills.