General Medical issues thread

[Katie]

Great text message from my BFF yesterday - "Cancer free is me!"

She had a few moles/skin bits cut out a few weeks ago, and the one on her tummy tested positive as melanoma. So back to cut more out last week. Really relived the pathology came back so quickly and she wasn't stressing all week waiting for the result.

 

[prozac]

Good news @Katie . I also have some good news. I mentioned a few weeks back I had a $2 coin size hole on top of my head post chemo cream (flourouracil) 2nd treatment. Skin specialist scraped down about 5mm saying it was some type of (probably low grade) cancer. Then he took a biopsy from base of what is now a small crater. Called today and results indicate it is nothing at all, completely benign. I wasn't worried about it per se but good news nonetheless.

 

[Major]

Back from my skin cancer guy. I now have stitches in my throat, chest and back. Not sure but it's about 200 carsinomas and one melanoma excised so far.

 

[Seat0B]

I have conjunctivitis in both eyes - pharmacist said probably allergic rather than bacterial, and likely a result of the crazy high winds we have been experiencing here for the past few days. Not a serious complaint, but I feel miserable.

 

[love_the_life]

Back from my skin cancer guy. I now have stitches in my throat, chest and back. Not sure but it's about 200 carsinomas and one melanoma excised so far.

I remember my mother had many skin cancers removed over the years (a fair skinned dairy farmer's wife). One of the more notable ones was on her top lip. When it was removed she counted 72 stitches on the outside of her mouth. After that she always had a use a straw to drink her tea with as the nerves were damaged.

 

[Pushka]

I remember my mother had many skin cancers removed over the years (a fair skinned dairy farmer's wife). One of the more notable ones was on her top lip. When it was removed she counted 72 stitches on the outside of her mouth. After that she always had a use a straw to drink her tea with as the nerves were damaged.

Dad was similar. He served on warships in the Korean War and they only wore those peak brim hats that did nothing. Sun cream? What was that?. He lost an ear and his face was a patchwork. English parents. But as it was deemed war service and caused by it his Gold Card covered treatment. Because they never wore ear protection he was also deaf and again his hearing aids were covered. So much damage not inflicted by the enemy.

 

[prozac]

I remember my mother had many skin cancers removed over the years (a fair skinned dairy farmer's wife). One of the more notable ones was on her top lip. When it was removed she counted 72 stitches on the outside of her mouth. After that she always had a use a straw to drink her tea with as the nerves were damaged.

We might have already compared notes, where was the dairy farm? Tough life, no days off, early morning and night, hard to get workers if needed.
Message sent.

 

[Seat0B]

I have conjunctivitis in both eyes - pharmacist said probably allergic rather than bacterial, and likely a result of the crazy high winds we have been experiencing here for the past few days. Not a serious complaint, but I feel miserable.

thanks for the support everyone. Happy to report that the eye drops are working. Not cured yet, but much, much better.

 

[Pushka]

thanks for the support everyone. Happy to report that the eye drops are working. Not cured yet, but much, much better.

Eye 'injuries' are particularly painful. And you can't scratch

I had a bacterial infection the week after cataract surgery (the two year old grandchild shared their conjunctivitis with me) but it turned into a secondary infection and was a type that even surprised the ophthalmologist who given the recency of surgery saw me immediately the day I got it. It took hold so fast, within a couple of hours one eye had closed. She did a scraping to test it. Prescribed me three antibiotics and within a day it was so much better.

 

[Seat0B]

And you can't scratch

this plus the eyes being gummed shut are actually the worst bits of it.

 

[Pushka]

this plus the eyes being gummed shut are actually the worst bits of it.

The itch. The itch.

 

[drron]

this plus the eyes being gummed shut are actually the worst bits of it.

Welcome to the world of Allergic Rhinitis/ hay fever. Have had it all my life. As a child when my eyes were gummed together I was always told not to worry it’s just sleepy dirt.
This year does seem to be worse.

 

[zig]

Welcome to the world of Allergic Rhinitis/ hay fever. Have had it all my life. As a child when my eyes were gummed together I was always told not to worry it’s just sleepy dirt.
This year does seem to be worse.

It does seem to be bad this year. I haven't been affected for quite a few years, but have been suffering symptoms this year.

 

[tgh]

An almost perfect 12 month reunion with my hero cardiologist this arvo.
After a thorough ultrasounding and ecg , every metric was great except my bp which was 160
A mercurial temperament can be both a blessing and a curse , labile bp is a pita… it was 109 at lunch time !
I saved my hide with the Omron app on my phone that showed an annual average of 122 and
August so far at 119.
Anyway I have a 12 month leave pass so can't complain .. happy days

 

[Himeno]

Waiting for my neurosurgeon appointment.

Odd set up they have here. It's a newer community health center. Government clinic's sharing space with private GPs.
The receptionist here does the GP stuff, said that the ACT Health receptionist isn't here.


They went over the CT scan from the hospital visit in June. Didn't see anything that could have caused vertigo or migraines. Aneurysm is not currently a concern, small and no risk factors. Follow up scan next year.

 

[RooFlyer]

I have osteoarthritis in my R hand, (as well as R big toe), likely promoted by hemochromatosis.

Worst offender is the metacarpo-phalangeal joint of my R middle finger - 'knuckle'. Had a steroi_ injection about 15 and then 7 years ago - fixed it. Flared up again this year and had a steroi_ injection 4 months ago that went about 80% to giving relief which 'wore off' over the next few months. Had a repeat 1 month ago, before o/s trip and 3 months after the first, which is what my GP said is minimal time spacing between steroi_ injections. Only gave mild relief this time.

Proximal interpalangeal joint of same R middle finger also now a bit painful.

Had an x-ray before I went o/s and am seeing the GP on Monday to see him about it.

He's previously said that there isn't any surgical fixes for the painful knuckle, other than fusion, which ain't gonna happen. I'd be surprised if there isn't something a plastic surgeon couldn't do?

GP says he has exactly the same issue, so I'm inclined to believe him, but are there any other remedies I might press him on / explore when I see him on Monday?

I found this (random) web page to be informative on my situation:

Osteoarthritis in the Hand

What is osteoarthritis?The term ‘arthritis’ is used to describe a swelling in a joint. There are many different types of arthritis, and osteoarthritis is the most common. It is also kno…

fifevirtualhandclinic.co.uk

 

[prozac]

Has anyone bought the book and tried 'The CSIRO Complete Recipe Collection', 400 recipes? Experiences?
My haematologist has been encouraging everytime I put more weight on. My GP shakes his head when I mention this but she says she is happier if I am not loosing weight. However, it is about time and my head is in the right space now.

 

[tgh]

Osteoarthritis is the bane of many lives.
My good knee faltered a few years back (the bad knee had a chunk of meniscus removed 40 years ago), Xrays show typical osteoarthritis with reduced cartilage clearances producing an inflammatory response. Gp proposed Meloxicam and injections when the meloxicam didn't work.

A friend with a stuffed knee had found some relief with Collagen powder so I tried it.
Almost a miracle…The combination of Collagen Hydrolysate and WPI has allowed my to push through the pain and continue to get fair use out of both knees.
My experience is that the more I have worked the knees ( or any joint) the more useful they have been.
Typical 10km/hr walking pace produces pain for the first few k's and then it gives up.
Last round of 2 x 5k two weeks back was fastest to date but produced a very angry knee a few days later and I have been hobbling and grimacing ..BUT.. drug free and still doing my daily chores that usually produce about 13000 steps
This week we will just do one 5 or 6k walk at speed and see how it comes up.

My personal mantra is use it or lose it however this requires some tolerance to self inflicted pain.
Herewith endeth the sermon ( for those who find me a pain..ita… )

 

[Brissy1]

Going to bed. Headache, tickling throat, lethargy, no appetite, muscle aches. Couldn't even concentrate to watch Alan Kohler.
Covid -ve .
Not after advice as I Googled and I think I probably have smallpox or something else fatal or at least something that's really bad for men but not women.
Found some paracetamol.

 

[drron]

But @tgh we are all different. about 30% will benefit from collagen, fish oil etc but i wasn't one of the 30%.
I also subscribe to the use it or lose it so since retiring i have increased my walking markedly but for me the more i walk and the faster i walk the more pain I get.
But from being crippled back in early May I had got up to 14 - 16K steps a day. Then yesterday after about 2000 steps I had to stop with pains in both hips and left ankle. I pushed through and made 14000 steps and had pain a lot of the night. Backed off today with only 12K steps but much more comfortable.