General Medical issues thread

[prozac]

Yes

Broadly,
ATAGI recommends on the basis of vaccine clinical efficacy/safety - basically technical advice only.
TGA reviews again and is the overall regulator of drugs and devices. If not approved by TGA, supply in Australia is illegal.
PBS recommends on the basis of cost benefit analysis

RSV jab approved by first 2
The third one is an exercise in who blinks first.

Thanks @drron ,@andye and @Quickstatus . My inclination is not to have anymore vax. My immunity has been low since end of chemo ( Sept ) and I am balancing this with seeming inability to get IVIG which was ordered first time 2 weeks ago. Reminds me when I couldn't start chemo because I could not get an appointment for a PET-scan. Very stressful being on an oncology ward and told no hospital will give you access to their nuclear machine. Our health system is in disarray.

 

[RooFlyer]

Broadly,
ATAGI recommends on the basis of vaccine clinical efficacy/safety - basically technical advice only.
TGA reviews again and is the overall regulator of drugs and devices. If not approved by TGA, supply in Australia is illegal.
PBS recommends on the basis of cost benefit analysis

RSV jab approved by first 2
The third one is an exercise in who blinks first.

Given that PBS is asked to approve just about every medicine going, but can't approve them all, I wonder if its reasonable for them to get some data on the RSV vaccine before approving it for subsidy?

 

[Pushka]

Given that PBS is asked to approve just about every medicine going, but can't approve them all, I wonder if its reasonable for them to get some data on the RSV vaccine before approving it for subsidy?

That would be wise, but the vaccination is being pushed out by all the main medical authorities here so people are trying to sort it out then find out the cost. It's like shingles. Tell everyone over 65 it's free but no availability. Still. 6 months later.

 

[JohnK]

So wife still in hospital. Maybe until tomorrow.

The past 2-3 nights while wife's in hospital I've felt pain in lower left shin. Strange pain and put it down to nerve pain but last night the pain started feeling like it was under the skin.

Are you thinking what I'm thinking? Yep left shin is red. Not bright red but still red. Looks like it has started around this old wound that does not appear to heel and dermatology showing zero interest to try and fix. Feels warm to the touch.

So the $6.40 question is to start or not start antibiotic or wait to see a doctor to confirm my diagnosis? My doctor has been out for 1 month and likely out longer. Medical centre is a cr@p shoot. That's 4 infections in 20 months. Looks like these will be regular as mentioned by @prozac.

 

[prozac]

So wife still in hospital. Maybe until tomorrow.

The past 2-3 nights while wife's in hospital I've felt pain in lower left shin. Strange pain and put it down to nerve pain but last night the pain started feeling like it was under the skin.

Are you thinking what I'm thinking? Yep left shin is red. Not bright red but still red. Looks like it has started around this old wound that does not appear to heel and dermatology showing zero interest to try and fix. Feels warm to the touch.

So the $6.40 question is to start or not start antibiotic or wait to see a doctor to confirm my diagnosis? My doctor has been out for 1 month and likely out longer. Medical centre is a cr@p shoot. That's 4 infections in 20 months. Looks like these will be regular as mentioned by @prozac.

Sorry to hear it has come back John. In my experience it is best to get a head start on the infection and commence anti-biotics. You have a fare idea what to do by now.

 

[RooFlyer]

people are trying to sort it out then find out the cost. It's like shingles

I paid for the new shingles vax - this was before it was announces as PBS. So I can see me shelling out for the RSV (if travel doc recommends it). Like others here, I get some respiratory virus that leads to a horrible lingering hacking cough - just ask @Port Power from the Antarctica cruise. Embarrassing for me and not pleasant for those around. Edit: I largely absented myself for meals for the first 2 days

 

[VPS]

I paid for the new shingles vax - this was before it was announces as PBS. So I can see me shelling out for the RSV (if travel doc recommends it). Like others here, I get some respiratory virus that leads to a horrible lingering hacking cough - just ask @Port Power from the Antarctica cruise. Embarrassing for me and not pleasant for those around. Edit: I largely absented myself for meals for the first 2 days

I'm still annoyed about paying for the new shingles vax

 

[Port Power]

I paid for the new shingles vax - this was before it was announces as PBS. So I can see me shelling out for the RSV (if travel doc recommends it). Like others here, I get some respiratory virus that leads to a horrible lingering hacking cough - just ask @Port Power from the Antarctica cruise. Embarrassing for me and not pleasant for those around. Edit: I largely absented myself for meals for the first 2 days

I had the new vaccination for shingles a couple of weeks ago: no charge as it was just after it came onto PBS. I need to have yellow fever again later this year for my world cruise commencing January. Fortunately a local GP clinic keeps itself accredited.

 

[RooFlyer]

I need to have yellow fever again later this year for my world cruise commencing January.

I think whenever your last Yellow fever vaccination was, it’s now regarded as being for life. That was certainly the advice of my travel Doctor two years ago when I asked about getting an update.

 

[prozac]

I think whenever your last Yellow fever vaccination was, it’s now regarded as being for life. That was certainly the advice of my travel Doctor two years ago when I asked about getting an update.

Well it's in my Yellow Book from 40 yrs ago.

 

[Cossie]

Well it's in my Yellow Book from 40 yrs ago.

Still have my British Airways issued one from same time period! I don’t throw anything out!

 

[Bundy Bear]

I went and got my Flu vaccine on Friday, I likely received the RSV after my last US trip wiped me out for a month but read can’t get the shot until I am 60.
Tried some new sunscreen ended up in my eyes that stung for ages, I won’t use that stuff again, serves me right for taken a near beach holiday and forgetting sunscreen.

 

[SuePa]

I had the new vaccination for shingles a couple of weeks ago: no charge as it was just after it came onto PBS. I need to have yellow fever again later this year for my world cruise commencing January. Fortunately a local GP clinic keeps itself accredited.

I was told the same as RooFlyer a few months ago when I visited my travel doctor. Yellow fever vaccination is now considered life-long.

 

[Port Power]

I think whenever your last Yellow fever vaccination was, it’s now regarded as being for life. That was certainly the advice of my travel Doctor two years ago when I asked about getting an update.

It should be done every ten years, if needed, according to my GP. Mine was ten years and nine months ago. I would renew it except for visiting countries still on the list. The vaccination is still required for getting back into Australia as far as I’m aware. I’ll try to find a definitive answer now. The vaccine is something like $150.

 

[Port Power]

Oh, good. I have confirmed that a yellow fever vaccination is considered lifelong. This is from the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care website. A booster is only recommended if there is an outbreak of the disease where you are travelling. Another item ticked off the to-do list!

 

[blackcat20]

Finally recovered from pneumonia last week, only to wake up with a head cold yesterday

 

[Quickstatus]

PET-scan. Very stressful being on an oncology ward and told no hospital will give you access to their nuclear machine.

The SAN has an brand new digital PET scan - donated by the family of a patient of the SAN (was millions of $$$). Outpatients allowed , but then it will cost some $$$. Bulkbilled for medicare eligible scans only and for pensioners who need medicare eligible PET-CT combos

If an inpatient at another hospital, it is possible depending on the circumstances to either 1) get a gate pass and get yourself there, 2) Get the hospital A to ask hospital B. IIRC you did try 2) but got the runaround. I wonder if its Healthscope trying to minimise its costs if you are admitted as a public patient.

its reasonable for them to get some data on the RSV vaccine before approving it for subsidy?

That what the PBS does - hence the perception they are dragging the chain., Many ways to come to different cost benefit outcomes depending on who is providing the analysis

wife still in hospital

and how is Mrs@JohnK

 

[prozac]

The SAN has an brand new digital PET scan - donated by the family of a patient of the SAN (was millions of $$$). Outpatients allowed , but then it will cost some $$$. Bulkbilled for medicare eligible scans only and for pensioners who need medicare eligible PET-CT combos

I was just out of ICU and on the oncology ward. My treating specialist is phoning around to find a hospital willing to accept me on a ambulance transfer for the procedure only without success. Then I start getting personal calls from The San wanting money to check me in for a scan at their hospital. Not prepared to accept me as a hospital patient transfer, only as a PAID walk in. I referred them back to my specialist but they kept calling. Not happy they don't listen.
Taking MrsProzac to San on Wednesday for BA swallow as they are one of the few hospital imaging places with Barium atm. Do you know there is an Australia wide shortage?

 

[RooFlyer]

That what the PBS does - hence the perception they are dragging the chain., Many ways to come to different cost benefit outcomes depending on who is providing the analysis

But I think DrRon said the vax was only approved in Australia in January this year. If that’s the case, I don’t think it’s unreasonable for them waiting for 6-12 months of data before they open the public purse for this thing. Not looking for an argument but just trying to understand the thinking here.

 

[Quickstatus]

I don’t think it’s unreasonable for them waiting for 6-12 months of data before they open the public purse for this thing

That is correct. But often even longer than 12 months. The Shingrix vax is a case in point - it was first TGA registered back in July 2018, finally PBS approved Oct 2023

Barium atm. Do you know there is an Australia wide shortage?

Yes - see here

Also there is a general global shortage on Radiological Contrast

only as a PAID walk in

Yes situations like this require the patient to be self ambulating.
A lot of medicine is unfortunately not patient centric