General Medical issues thread

[Cynicor]

I believe your GP may continue to prescribe it.. your case sounds like this:
Prevention of recurrent venous thromboembolism
Treatment Phase: Continuing treatment
Clinical criteria:
Patient must have a history of venous thromboembolism.

I am sure your GP wouldn't prescribe it otherwise

GP can prescribe it for whatever they feel like, including headaches/coughs/colds or other such nonsense. (This medication is not for any of those but I've seen quacks prescribe all sorts for crazy reasons. They are often the ones who charge the most).

The PBS will only fund it for that indication with the appropriate streamlined code, however, and most other uses will be off label and need to be appropriately discussed with the patient.

 

[JohnK]

Tough when shortness of breath keeps you awake in middle of the night.

 

[drron]

Tough when shortness of breath keeps you awake in middle of the night.

If it gets better sitting up or getting up and walking around get it checked out today.

 

[JohnK]

If it gets better sitting up or getting up and walking around get it checked out today.

Thanks. Fine today. Think it's just stress. Body struggling to cope again.

 

[drron]

Stress is a diagnosis of exclusion though and too easy to just accept.You have had heart issues and shortness of breath at night is often a symptom of heart disease.If you haven't had an echocardiograph,ultrasound of the heart, in the past it might be worth discussing with your doctor.
Heart failure can also explain failure to lose weight due to build up of fluid.It can be very successfully treated these days.

 

[drron]

It is amazing how a simple slip on a wet path can affect your life.There was first of all the fortunately short time of mobility problems after that tumble in Cornwall then the problem with cellulitus following.I didn't pay much attention to the scaling skin after the cellulitis resolved but now know it was yet another in my collection of health issues-fortunately more of a nuisance than serious.
It became obvious after a while the injury and then infection had precipitated psoriasis when further scaly areas appeared on my arms.Easily controlled by moisturisers and plenty of sunlight.But I have this fairly large area over my lateral left ankle where the injury and cellulitis was.With lots of walking and abrasion from socks in Bangkok the skin started to break down and weep.Fortunately mrsdrron had spent just over 3 months of her nursing training in dermatology-it was where we met.So with her TLC,2 days without going out,leg up and light exposure things are back to where they were.Now expertly bandaged when we go out.

 

[Hvr]

Stress is a diagnosis of exclusion though and too easy to just accept.You have had heart issues and shortness of breath at night is often a symptom of heart disease.If you haven't had an echocardiograph,ultrasound of the heart, in the past it might be worth discussing with your doctor.
Heart failure can also explain failure to lose weight due to build up of fluid.It can be very successfully treated these days.

John with the changes in your life you now have special reasons to look after yourself so you can look after your family.

You want to see your daughter grow into a fine woman. Looking after yourself now by ensuring you get early medical intervention and following their advice will make that easier to achieve.

 

[love_the_life]

It is amazing how a simple slip on a wet path can affect your life.There was first of all the fortunately short time of mobility problems after that tumble in Cornwall then the problem with cellulitus following.I didn't pay much attention to the scaling skin after the cellulitis resolved but now know it was yet another in my collection of health issues-fortunately more of a nuisance than serious.

Glad to hear that it is on the road to recovery and things are better. mrsdrron obviously has it in hand.

 

[JohnK]

Stress is a diagnosis of exclusion though and too easy to just accept.

I've been suffering from depression the majority of my adult life. Must be related to the insulin intolerance/type 2 diabetes?

In the 90's I used to get stomach pains and driving to work at Botany I used to stop at Kyeemagh and turn around and go and see GP at Kogarah. Cardiographs/Ultrasounds etc and nothing wrong. Saw cardiologist and was on Lasix for a number of years. When I had the heart attack I had angiogram and stress test. No issues.

Just need to relax.

 

[Flying mermaid]

I've been suffering from depression the majority of my adult life. Must be related to the insulin intolerance/type 2 diabetes?

In the 90's I used to get stomach pains and driving to work at Botany I used to stop at Kyeemagh and turn around and go and see GP at Kogarah. Cardiographs/Ultrasounds etc and nothing wrong. Saw cardiologist and was on Lasix for a number of years. When I had the heart attack I had angiogram and stress test. No issues.

Just need to relax.

i am sure this is true - I am a high stress person and it can make me quite ill. However things can change as well - while there may not have been issues in the past it does no harm to keep checking as the years go by.

 

[QF WP]

Awful news QF WP. Did the locate the primary?

That's not good news at any time WP. Might be lucky and a false alarm but whatever it is it sounds serious.

Well he had a craniotomy behind an ear with a flap repair and some form of "excision". All the darkened areas (assumed melanoma) were removed but post-op discussion from neurologist was that he didn't think it was melanoma. Awaiting pathology (held up due to staff being away for holidays). Neighbour is home recuperating so haven't seen him yet. He's hoping to fly again...let's see what his employer says

 

[love_the_life]

Well he had a craniotomy behind an ear with a flap repair and some form of "excision". All the darkened areas (assumed melanoma) were removed but post-op discussion from neurologist was that he didn't think it was melanoma. Awaiting pathology (held up due to staff being away for holidays). Neighbour is home recuperating so haven't seen him yet. He's hoping to fly again...let's see what his employer says

Hate the waiting, but can't be helped. Hopefully the news will be good.

 

[suze2000]

Just popped back into the thread to ask JohnK how things are going now - if his wife is feeling better, or he is?

(had a biopsy taken off my leg, but sick of complaining about my health, so I'll expound on that another time)

 

[Flying mermaid]

At the moment our health is good, but the last few months seems to have been consumed by friends and neighbours issues. A very close friend had a kidney transplant (his wife donated a kidney in a paired program) and it really hasn't gone well - he has been in hospital on and off (more on than off) for nearly two months and I have been talking to her nearly daily. I really thought they were over the worst when he went home a week ago, but I had a phonecall last night to say he was back in. They are still confident of saving the kidney but it has been a long haul.

even worse is the little boy next door who was born with a genetic issue that results in a deformed heart. Things were tracking along quite well - he is only 14 months old but has already had multiple serious operations. He was having what should have been a minor op 10 days ago, but it all went horribly wrong and he has massive brain damage. Given his age hopefully he can fight back from at least some of the problems, but it is totally heart breaking and puts all my families' little issues into perspective.

 

[love_the_life]

Sorry to hear about your friends FM.
We have very good friends whose son has received a kidney from each of his parents and now an unknown donor one. He is pretty gapped but seems to get infections regularly and is in and out of hospital. At least he can usually pick when things are going pear shaped and get onto the antibiotics quickly. They can't seem to pin down the source of the infection
Hopefully the little one will be able to make some improvement though it will be a long haul either way.
Our friend with the advanced bowel cancer is hanging on although he has had a number of secondary issues and really things are not good. However, in early December we would have only given him days rather than weeks. Quality of life stinks though as he can't walk or stand and even yesterday the effort of getting him back into bed from the chair he was sitting in led to exhaustion.
The odd twinge (and a slight case of phlebitis in my leg) pale into insignificance.

 

[Pushka]

Best wishes to everyone suffering major issues. But most heartbreaking are those experienced by generations younger than ours.

 

[love_the_life]

Best wishes to everyone suffering major issues. But most heartbreaking are those experienced by generations younger than ours.

So true. But not good for people at any age.

 

[Flying mermaid]

Sorry to hear about your friends FM.
We have very good friends whose son has received a kidney from each of his parents and now an unknown donor one. He is pretty gapped but seems to get infections regularly and is in and out of hospital. At least he can usually pick when things are going pear shaped and get onto the antibiotics quickly. They can't seem to pin down the source of the infection
Hopefully the little one will be able to make some improvement though it will be a long haul either way.
Our friend with the advanced bowel cancer is hanging on although he has had a number of secondary issues and really things are not good. However, in early December we would have only given him days rather than weeks. Quality of life stinks though as he can't walk or stand and even yesterday the effort of getting him back into bed from the chair he was sitting in led to exhaustion.
The odd twinge (and a slight case of cellulitis in my leg) pale into insignificance.

that's interesting about your friend, as a series of infections seems to be the main problem and while he is on antibiotics they can't do much about rejection. Sorry about your friend with cancer .

 

[JohnK]

Just popped back into the thread to ask JohnK how things are going now - if his wife is feeling better, or he is?

(had a biopsy taken off my leg, but sick of complaining about my health, so I'll expound on that another time)

Thanks for asking. Wife feeling better and daughter is doing what babies do best. Although in saying that the Sydney heat is a little too much for them both.

 

[Pushka]

I'm off to a Lupus - Auto immune World conference in MEL in March. There are some wonderful presenters including my specialist plus the Prof who worked on the 'discovery' of APS (auto immune blood clotting - sticky blood - disorder) in England and now practices in the Middle East. Going as a patient as a special for $50USD whereas practioners pay around $550 so a nice discount. Only to find out today my niece is giving a 'patient' plenary. She's quite used to conference presentations as a PhD in sleep disorders 'expert' but not as a patient. I shall appropriately encourage her. She's a little worried.