General Medical issues thread

[Seat0B]

@Katie parenting teens is hard (based on my sample of 2) but it is worth the effort when they turn into wonderful contributing humans (based on my sample of 2). Hang in there.

 

[CaptainCurtis]

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!!!!!

Such great news, enjoy the time in Japan!

 

[mrsterryn]

Wonderful news @Seat0B , enjoy the skiing !!!

 

[Katie]

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.

For the Teen's iron infusion at the GP clinic this week:
$30 for iron from chemist next door
$253 at the clinic, $80 Medicare rebate on that, so around $200 out of pocket.

 

[maia200]

So my latex allergy seems also to have morphed into a surgical tape allergy. Blood test today and have reacted to the tape used, so that I have two bright red rash patches on each side of a white circle which was the cotton swab. One side has quite a significant bruise.

I have this too. I just ask for that really small round Band-Aid that just covers the needle site. I find the red rash patches are so much worse than the needle insert spot.

 

[maia200]

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!!!!!

So, so happy to hear this what good news for Christmas and Japan. Who knows if it will return....no-one...not even statistically. Go and enjoy yourself with the family and friends who will be so relieved . Interesting about the insurance too.

Post automatically merged: Dec 14, 2023

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

That is excellent advice

 

[Pushka]

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!!!!!

How simply wonderful.

We remember those appointments too. Freedom if there's good news then as the next appointment draws near, that feeling of worry again.

 

[OZDUCK]

SeatOB - excellent news. Just watch those buses as you cross the road.

 

[JohnK]

I was in a really bad way yesterday afternoon. Extreme stress and discomfort. I persevered and finally about 8:00pm decided to go to hospital. What a stupid mistake.

Please don't criticise me and don't put me down but my experience was awful. Went to Triage with my wife and daughter behind me. I was polite and well spoken. I said please help me. Triage nurse totally disinterested. She turned around 4-5 times to interact with 2 colleagues about some issue with a patient, just leaving me there talking to myself. Asked me to repeat myself over and over.

Waited over 2 hours and I was extremely uncomfortable and wanted to get out of there. Went to Triage and this time male nurse there. Didn't care why I was leaving. I had to laugh when he said that I know where to go I have problem in future. LOL. Do not go to Emergency. I should have gone to the Medical Centre thats open until 10:00pm. They may have shown more compassion.

I know our Health care is in dire straits but that's ridiculous.

 

[Quickstatus]

I was in a really bad way yesterday afternoon

What was the problem?
Did they do any tests?

 

[straitman]

What was the problem?
Did they do any tests?

Sorry to hear JohnK.

Where are you?

 

[JohnK]

What was the problem?
Did they do any tests?

They did absolutely nothing. I was worried about the hernia. Bloated. Could not pee. No pain but felt like something pushing against bladder. Infection? Possible issue with bowels.

I'm not a doctor. I thought I'd do the right thing and go to hospital. They obviously assessed nothing wrong with me without even checking. I feel better with some rest now. We're flying in a few days so need to monitor and make sure no further issues.

Let's leave it there. My mind still feels cloudy. I don't know where else to go in future if I need help. Perhaps just wait until I collapse and call an ambulance.

 

[andye]

Sorry to hear of your troubles @JohnK
(I did initially post based on a wrong assumption of the problem but deleted)
I'm afraid a 2+ hour wait if presenting with normal observations is not at all uncommon
Hope you did manage to start peeing but sounds like you could do with an ultrasound to check your bladder is emptying fully at least

 

[Quickstatus]

Triage

The Triage is a Lounge Dragon of Lounge Dragons. Nobody gets past the Triage Nurse without the Triage Nurse's say so.

Here is the Triage policy of NSW Health.

The purpose of Triage is to determine level of urgency in order to prioritise medical care to the most urgent first.

I suspect based on their assessment @JohnK, you were Triaged into Cat 5. Basically the "walking wounded" and this Category waits the longest.

While you are waiting, the Triage keeps an eye on you and any change in condition results in a re-Triage into a higher Category.

Sometimes Triage gets it wrong, but in the main works very well. While they will not turn anyone away, the Cat 5 patients often go somewhere else because they are not sick enough or because the wait is very long.

A friend of mine went to the public hospital near me last Friday evening with a cut hand.
Obviously Cat 5
Waited 5 hours
Needed a washout and 5 stitches.

 

[tgh]

Example #1 Walked in and eventually out of emergency with a lacerated hand , hordes lined the hallways , Triage nurse said she had prioritised me but my call (after a couple of hours) was that I lacked the patience , would survive overnight and have the gp check it out the next day.
Example #2 Presented to Emergency/triage with elevated BP.. was immediately assessed and admitted..the process took minutes...
IMo they do a pretty good job...

 

[Quickstatus]

....

Some Private Hospitals offer an Accident and Emergency
Private Health insurance and medicare does not cover Accident and Emergency care because it is deemed to be outpatient care

However it is quicker to get seen
The cost at one place is $330 non refundable by Medicare (except for any Drs consultation fee or tests which can be rebated by MC)

For some people that is better than waiting for hours in a Zoo ( sort of like LAX TBIT checkin in the evening where there is no such thing a F/J checkin)

 

[Quickstatus]

he had prioritised me

Everyone gets prioritised -thats what they say to everyone.

 

[Pushka]

The only time I’ve had to go to casualty for myself the GP called ahead and there was a barouche waiting for me as I told them my name. He’d already given me an ECG so knew I wasn’t going to have a heart attack so suggested a get a taxi rather than wait for an ambulance.

 

[Quickstatus]

ambulance

And turning up in an ambo to A&E does not elevate the Triage Category.

barouche

What hospital provides a Barouche service? With horses?

 

[Quickstatus]

barouche

Gurney.

Ive never heard of it being called Barouche but a quick google search does refer to trolleys = gurney = barouches
Maybe be a South Australian thing? They do speak differently over there...