General Medical issues thread

[rogerkambah]

My wife had a breakdown last night. Screaming and crying. My daughter scared and screaming and crying.

It was one of the saddest moments of my life. I should have seen it coming but didn't think this would happen.

Wife does not want to be here. Wife wants to leave right now. I think she is right. Have asked for time off from work.

Not sure where this nightmare will end. Hope wife seeks medical help sooner rather later.

Sorry to hear about another problem. Could be PND? I'm not quite sure where you and your wife were located when you say she suffered a breakdown, but I suspect in BNE. While I'm sure that you and your wife miss each other terribly when not together, I think that your wife and daughter need a bit more stability in their lives, which it sounds to me that they have in SYD with your mum and dad.

From what you have said previously and given your transient lifestyle it sounds like your BNE accommodation is more a bachelor crash-pad rather than a comfortable family home. While I can understand you wishing to keep your family together with you it may be better for her to stay in SYD rather than BNE, where there is not much for her and she feels isolated, waiting for you to come home from work each day.

PS If I've got the scenario terribly wrong, please accept my humble apologies.

 

[Pushka]

Will your Australian chemist script permit you to transit the incoming customs etc without issues?

Happy wandering

Fred

Who knows. Won't hurt I guess.

 

[love_the_life]

Which reminds me rogerkambah, how are you going these days?

 

[rogerkambah]

Thanx for asking LTL. Just plodding along, one day after another, 75 days on chemo now. The side effects have increased somewhat as the drug has built up in my body. It has been gradual but relentless, but its still manageable, although I feel quite tired often. Don't have any drug 'holidays' with this drug. Don't really know what is happening as haven't had a CT scan yet - now scheduled for third week in January, am hoping for the best.
Saw the onco last week, but it was only a general discussion on side effects really including a suggestion to use loperamide on a daily basis. However, I'm not really keen on that, although I do take it occasionally. Am managing to maintain 75kg, even though I don't feel like eating very much due to taste being so affected. Don't even bother with drinking wine any more due to it not tasting as it should.

 

[love_the_life]

Fingers crossed for January then RK. Take it easy; you're not alone on the wine front there. I find I can't drink the same sort of amounts I used to when younger

 

[Pushka]

Fingers crossed for January then RK. Take it easy; you're not alone on the wine front there. I find I can't drink the same sort of amounts I used to when younger

I know exactly the feeling. I don't feel like drinking most nights and after a couple of glasses I am done. Quite sad really.

 

[love_the_life]

I know exactly the feeling. I don't feel like drinking most nights and after a couple of glasses I am done. Quite sad really.

Oh dear - and you have a AIBP on your cruise! And don't forget QM2. We'll have a very cheap drinks bill by the sound of it.

 

[suze2000]

My wife had a breakdown last night. Screaming and crying.

Hi JohnK, read this earlier and did not know what to say - still don't, except that I am sad to read this, though in a way, unsurprised. She's been through so very much in the last little while, and throw in emigrating on top of that, leaving her family structure behind, it's a lot to deal with even if you haven't been through the medical wringer.

One thing you did say, "hope wife seeks help" - in a strange country she would not even know how to. It's for you to take her to a GP or hospital - take her to the women's hospital in your city because they're best placed to help her and bub. Also, does she have any Thai family here you can get to come spend some time with her? Maybe someone of her own culture will help with feelings of stress and displacement. Going home to Thailand might make her less stressed and should be considered, but for the sake you all three of you, take her to hospital to get some help. Here if you are not leaving straight away, there if you are. And don't put it off, please. Best wishes.

 

[Pushka]

Oh dear - and you have a AIBP on your cruise! And don't forget QM2. We'll have a very cheap drinks bill by the sound of it.

Lots of coffee maybe?

 

[Milboo]

Not happy about the codeine either. I generally always carry a little bag of misc drugs on me in my handbag but sometimes on the weekend I will go out with a small bag or just my wallet, so won't have it.

I have had had ocassions where I've had to make a beeline for the chemist as a migraine starts. If I get meds into me during the aura phase then I avoid the nausea and the worst of it, as well as rebound migraines and the hangover effect.

I had this experience in NYC and best I could get was a medication with caffeine in it. I had a migraine hangover for about 3 days.

The OTC is obviously not as effective as my prescribed stuff but it's better than nothing.

Ah well...will waste the taxpayer money and just have to see my bulk billing doctor more often.

 

[JohnK]

Thanks for all the thoughts.

PS If I've got the scenario terribly wrong, please accept my humble apologies.

Mostly right.

Wife feeling better now. Daughter also happier. Amazing what children/babies can sense.

Not an easy situation. She is home sick. She's not comfortable in Sydney if I'm not there. Totally understand. Huge culture shock. Language barriers.

Think I need to plan shorter stints for her in Australia until she feels more comfortable here. I don't have answers but I can see she misses Chiang Mai. Not necessarily her family or village but more specifically Chiang Mai. I have mentioned about contacting Thais here but that's not it. She feels safe in Chiang Mai. She knows it quite well.

Post Natal depression is taboo in Thai culture. I can't even discuss with her. Maybe I got diagnosis wrong and she is home sick. I can sense the 4 weeks planned in Thailand for Feb-Mar are not enough. May forego return ticket and go back and get them in April for Easter. I don't know. Thought I had the right plan but everything is falling in a heap.

And the stress is not good for me either. Mum and dad want see more of their grand daughter but that may not be possible. Feel powerless. Feel depressed. Try to keep calm. Take it one step at a time.

 

[Pushka]

At this time JohnK, mum/wife and baby needs are paramount. Focus on that and you will know what to do.

 

[Flying mermaid]

Thanks for all the thoughts.


Mostly right.

Wife feeling better now. Daughter also happier. Amazing what children/babies can sense.

Not an easy situation. She is home sick. She's not comfortable in Sydney if I'm not there. Totally understand. Huge culture shock. Language barriers.

Think I need to plan shorter stints for her in Australia until she feels more comfortable here. I don't have answers but I can see she misses Chiang Mai. Not necessarily her family or village but more specifically Chiang Mai. I have mentioned about contacting Thais here but that's not it. She feels safe in Chiang Mai. She knows it quite well.

Post Natal depression is taboo in Thai culture. I can't even discuss with her. Maybe I got diagnosis wrong and she is home sick. I can sense the 4 weeks planned in Thailand for Feb-Mar are not enough. May forego return ticket and go back and get them in April for Easter. I don't know. Thought I had the right plan but everything is falling in a heap.

And the stress is not good for me either. Mum and dad want see more of their grand daughter but that may not be possible. Feel powerless. Feel depressed. Try to keep calm. Take it one step at a time.

it doesn't have to be one thing or the other - probably a combination of home sickness and PND. Maybe something simple to start with, like a mother's group or playgroup, where she can talk to other mothers with babies? What is her English like - is there any language barrier there?

I joined a playgroup when Dr FM was about 6 months old. I had no friends who didn't work and none of them had children anyway and no family around and to be honest I wasn't coping at all. It wasn't PND but a playgroup pretty much saved my sanity. This organisation will be able to help you and also recommend PND playgroups

PND Support Groups

it sounds like you need to be the one to talk to places and get some advice if she doesn't want to do it.

 

[get me outta here]

It can take time for 'immigrants' to feel comfortable. Like cultural immigrants tend congregate for a while in one area to support each other before moving on at some stage when they feel more comfortable and integrated with our strange ways. I'd say she needs more interaction with others to make friends with other women, and babies.

Loneliness is a very sad problem. I found the Breastfeeding Association really supportive and wonderful at a difficult time of a first baby. You can see where the groups are here: https://www.breastfeeding.asn.au/contacts/groups
[FONT=&amp]
Who can attend?[/FONT]
[FONT=&amp]Everyone is welcome to attend their local group. Whether you are pregnant, fully breastfeeding, partially breastfeeding, expressing or bottle-feeding you will be welcomed. Partners, friends and grandparents are also welcome to come along.[/FONT]

Thanks for all the thoughts.


Mostly right.

Wife feeling better now. Daughter also happier. Amazing what children/babies can sense.

Not an easy situation. She is home sick. She's not comfortable in Sydney if I'm not there. Totally understand. Huge culture shock. Language barriers.

Think I need to plan shorter stints for her in Australia until she feels more comfortable here. I don't have answers but I can see she misses Chiang Mai. Not necessarily her family or village but more specifically Chiang Mai. I have mentioned about contacting Thais here but that's not it. She feels safe in Chiang Mai. She knows it quite well.

Post Natal depression is taboo in Thai culture. I can't even discuss with her. Maybe I got diagnosis wrong and she is home sick. I can sense the 4 weeks planned in Thailand for Feb-Mar are not enough. May forego return ticket and go back and get them in April for Easter. I don't know. Thought I had the right plan but everything is falling in a heap.

And the stress is not good for me either. Mum and dad want see more of their grand daughter but that may not be possible. Feel powerless. Feel depressed. Try to keep calm. Take it one step at a time.

 

[JohnK]

From 2018, Codeine will not be available OTC.

That will be painful.

Need to check expiry dates and start stocking up now. GP doesn't want to keep issuing Panadeine Forte scripts so not sure he will be any keener to issue Panadeine Extra, Nurofen Plus or Mersyndol scripts.

And to be honest I don't think my GP needs to decide how often I take codeine. The past 2-3 days the inflammation has been severe and I need codeine to help suppress the pain. Most times I don't need codeine. I can't afford the time to run to GP everytime I need a script.

Oh and let's not forget the increase in the Medicare funding for doctors to issue scripts. My GP doesn't want to treat multiple issues in one appointment. So I will need to see him today for my sore throat and tomorrow for my sore back.

 

[I love to travel]

I think uour GP is more interested in money than care. Medicare item nos are for that reason, multiple issues, different no only one appt required

That will be painful.

Need to check expiry dates and start stocking up now. GP doesn't want to keep issuing Panadeine Forte scripts so not sure he will be any keener to issue Panadeine Extra, Nurofen Plus or Mersyndol scripts.

And to be honest I don't think my GP needs to decide how often I take codeine. The past 2-3 days the inflammation has been severe and I need codeine to help suppress the pain. Most times I don't need codeine. I can't afford the time to run to GP everytime I need a script.

Oh and let's not forget the increase in the Medicare funding for doctors to issue scripts. My GP doesn't want to treat multiple issues in one appointment. So I will need to see him today for my sore throat and tomorrow for my sore back.

 

[Pushka]

I think uour GP is more interested in money than care. Medicare item nos are for that reason, multiple issues, different no only one appt required

I've made the exact same comment. And so often seemingly disparate symptoms are part of the same issue. Esp in autoimmune problems. Isolating each symptom means the cause may never be found.

 

[Cossie]

The boss, i.e. swmbo has had a sore knee for a while, still going to the gym, still gardening and walking and being very active. She had an MRI yesterday, she apparently has a torn medial meniscus and some sort of boil inside as well. She doesn't remember hurting her knee. I thought I had a high pain threshold, seems it is nothing compared to hers.

 

[suze2000]

My GP doesn't want to treat multiple issues in one appointment. So I will need to see him today for my sore throat and tomorrow for my sore back.

Your GP is an coughh*le and you should get a new one.

My GP will go through everything I came for and bill accordingly. $75 for a standard consult, up to $115 for a very long one (think pap smear, or quick crying session). Find one who is willing to do this, it's much better for your own time management, and sanity if nothing else.

Your comments about DW (dear wife) - I think maybe the problem is displacement and language? Are there even any Thai language TV shows on TV here, which might help? (or how are your piracy skills in that regard? Is her need to have you around is a symptom of the loss of familiar supports? ie you are the only thing familiar to her, so she is fiercely attached to you? And no matter if it's taboo or not, she needs to be assessed for post-natal depression. I can guess from your posts that you are aware that mental illness is not something you can just power through or get over if you try harder, and PND is no different. If you take her to hospital (perhaps on the guise of getting the baby a routine checkup, which she should be having anyway to ensure she is growing, not deaf etc etc), you can get DW evaluated at the same time. Translators can be organised ahead of time if need be. It's hard to get help but the consequences of not getting it can be harder. My sister had PND and before she got treatment...well it was when she realised what she was thinking that made her get treatment.

 

[moa999]

My GP will go through everything I came for and bill accordingly. $75 for a standard consult, up to $115 for a very long one (think pap smear, or quick crying session). Find one who is willing to do this

But it's a big increase on $0 bulk billed.

AS someone without any major health issues (thankfully) that's what I tend to use, though realise I need to be in charge of my own health.