General Medical issues thread

[I love to travel]

What usual methods and why does sleeping meds damage your ears?

Lots of medications can damage your ears they are called ototoxic medications. Methods I have tried are noise therapy, counselling, acupuncture and physiotherapy

 

[Quickstatus]

There are drugs which are ototoxic but I don't believe sedatives fall in that category.

Alcohol can also be ototoxic

 

[whatmeworry]

The Melbourne/Geelong thunderstorm asthma event has now has claimed its 5th and 6th victims. All the EDs were informed last Monday night but only three called a code brown and a fourth Tuesday morning.

Dr Menon said while emergency department staff across Geelong and Melbourne seemed to do "fantastically well" at treating scores of patients on the night, some did not call Code Browns. In some cases, he said these hospitals seemed to do things consistent with a Code Brown, such as call in extra staff, and that it was unclear why they didn't formally call the code.

These hospitals were Geelong, which called one at 7pm, the Austin which called one at 10:10pm and St Vincent's which called one at 11:36pm. The Northern Hospital in Epping called one on Tuesday about 7:30am.

The health department said another 20 people are still in hospitals being treated for sickness stemming from Monday night when unusual weather conditions caused pollen to explode, triggering breathing problems for thousands of people.
The news comes as Fairfax Media can reveal that most Melbourne hospitals did not follow the state's health emergency plan during the unprecedented outbreak last week, despite Health Minister Jill Hennessy likening its impact to 150 bombs going off across Melbourne.
A leading emergency physician has called for hospitals to review their response to the emergency, following reports of potentially fatal ambulance delays, Ventolin shortages, and a queue of 18 ambulances at Sunshine Hospital during the disaster.

Fifth person dies due to extraordinary 'thunderstorm asthma' crisis

 

[JohnK]

Not so good JohnK. Hope it's better soon. Christmas is coming and you don't want to be poorly for that this year

And another occurrence this morning. Took a while to control. This is not good.

 

[rogerkambah]

About 4 months ago my tinnitus stopped, first in one ear and then in the other. It was so quiet. Only lasted 5-6 minutes though until the sizzling recommenced. Don't know what caused it to stop or restart.

 

[Flying mermaid]

About 4 months ago my tinnitus stopped, first in one ear and then in the other. It was so quiet. Only lasted 5-6 minutes though until the sizzling recommenced. Don't know what caused it to stop or restart.

That must really annoy you - pity you can't work out why it stopped.

 

[rogerkambah]

That must really annoy you - pity you can't work out why it stopped.

Yes, I was just sitting down when I noticed the serenity, but while I was enjoying it and thinking of Bonnie Doon, the sizzle restarted.

Being subject to the music/noise emanating from the earpieces of some younger people I know what they have got to look forward to in the future.

 

[cove]

I was encouraged to hear that there are now many treatments for various cancer tumours based on so much research being done on shrinking tumours once they are analysed.

 

[Pushka]

Collected the results of next round of blood tests before Rheumatologist second appointment in a couple of weeks. I get the results from the GP before I see the specialist or email her if no visit booked for next couple of weeks. That way she can respond when it suits her to do so. I trust her judgement completely.

With all things auto immune there has to be two tests as sometimes these things can occur during acute illness etc. and then disappear. The specialist was prepared to call it first time as it was so long after the DVT that if it was positive then, then it wasn't transitory.

Second test came back even stronger than the first. So not sure what that means. I thought with Plaquenil (quietens the immune system) that it might have improved. I had to go off the anticoags before having both tests so as to get a clear result.

I couldn't see my normal GP whom I am 'educating' but another one. I had actually brought in a (second) box of chocolates to thank him for picking up - dare I say, by accident the jugular vein DVT. But his thoroughness did ensure all bases were covered.

The GP I saw today said next time I should get the lab tests in the specialist name so she got the results and I didn't have to have them printed to take them to her. I didn't bother to explain. After a bit of faffing around with some Docs I take things under my own advisement .

Am presuming the anticoags will remain in place. Plus lupus meds. Maybe they might change to further calm the immune system. Maybe methotrexate

My niece who is 29 with lupus now sees my specialist. By chance we are both seeing her on the same day. Her Bell's palsy has returned - she is a lecturer and her face is affected. She is already on methotrexate as she has been on Plaquenil and steroi_s for over 8 years and it isn't controlling it properly. Thankfully she doesn't have the associated blood clotting disorder. Reckon these things are hereditary much?

 

[Quickstatus]

90% lupus are female
90% lupus don't have relatives with lupus.
Identical twins often don't both get lupus.

10% lupus have 1st degree relative with same. A bit less for 2nd degree relos

No gene has been found

 

[Pushka]

90% lupus are female
90% lupus don't have relatives with lupus.
Identical twins often don't both get lupus.

10% lupus have 1st degree relative with same. A bit less for 2nd degree relos

No gene has been found

We are currently running at four generations of women.
Grandmother RA
Mother RA and Hashimotos
Me - Hashimotos, APS, SLE, discoid Lupus. I never had biological children. (And now I know why)
Niece (same family line) - discoid and SLE. Fibromyalgia.

Our rheumatologist is into research.

 

[drron]

Indigenous Australians also have a high incidence of Lupus.

 

[Pushka]

Indigenous Australians also have a high incidence of Lupus.

And African Americans. Seal has discoid. Selena Gomez has SLE.

I'm noticing neurological signs. For instance I prided myself on spelling. Now I can look at words and not know if they are spelt correctly. As an example, the word 'Niece' above. I look at that and try spelling it Neice. Only my spelling correct tells me which it is.

I don't seem to walk in straight lines anymore. If someone is walking towards me I sometimes confuse the situation by chopping and changing. I have brain fog. I lose words as I am about to say them. But am developing strategies. I didn't have a stroke but it does impact on my thinking. As for people's names - forget it!

 

[drron]

Never been good at names so will nearly always use the good old Aussie greeting for blokes-gidday mate.
However if it is someone I have met I can tell them all I know about them even if I haven't a clue about their name.

 

[Pushka]

Never been good at names so will nearly always use the good old Aussie greeting for blokes-gidday mate.
However if it is someone I have met I can tell them all I know about them even if I haven't a clue about their name.

The worst times are when you are chatting to someone (whose name escapes you) and then someone else fronts up and you are expected to introduce them to the other person. I've always been bad at names but have reached a new level where I can remember and say their name one minute and then within seconds - completely forget it.

 

[Quickstatus]

Have you thought about having a cognitive assessment. Takes about 4 hours to do.

 

[I love to travel]

There are drugs which are ototoxic but I don't believe sedatives fall in that category.

Alcohol can also be ototoxic

The world expert on this would disagree with you (and so do my ears) :-| I wish people were more educated about this, there is a future generation out there that are going to have so many issues. Its too late for my ears but I hope this helps someone
























http://hearinglosshelp.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Tinnitus-Drug-List-2016.pdf

 

[Pushka]

Have you thought about having a cognitive assessment. Takes about 4 hours to do.

I'm actually worried about the impact of 'officially' knowing. So letting it slide for a bit

 

[blackcat20]

Apparently the stitches in my nose are starting to fall out :shock:

 

[love_the_life]

The worst times are when you are chatting to someone (whose name escapes you) and then someone else fronts up and you are expected to introduce them to the other person. I've always been bad at names but have reached a new level where I can remember and say their name one minute and then within seconds - completely forget it.

Heck, I don't need Lupus to do that. I've always found it impossible to remember names (even from one minute to the next) and being on the deaf side, in most cases I haven't heard the name anyway (or misheard it which can be somewhat embarrassing).

On a serious note, I bet it is really frustrating for you P.