General Medical issues thread

[tgh]

Becoming ill overseas is a massive risk for us oldies ; we are quite mindful of the issues and they tend to keep us at home..

 

[JohnK]

Not just oldies @tgh.

I had celulitis and I was in Thailand and I had to diagnose for the ER doctors(interns?) and advise that I needed antibiotics on a drip.

Imagine if it was something serious?

I know an expat who lives in Thailand and presented to ER on one weekend with issues and there was no specialist. The ER doctors gave him medication and an appointment with the specialist on Thursday. When he went to see specialist he took medication with him and the first thing the specialist did was throw one of the medications in the bin. Scary.

 

[Major]

Someone recommended I have a pneumonia jab so I started doing some googling and became totally confused.

A single dose of a pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (13vPCV, 15vPCV or 20vPCV) is recommended for all non-Indigenous adults at 70 years of age. There is no preference for either 13vPCV or 15vPCV. It should be noted that 15vPCV and 20vPCV are anticipated to provide benefit against extra additional serotypes compared to 13vPCV.

Non-Indigenous adults aged ≥70 years who did not receive a dose of a pneumococcal conjugate vaccine at 70 years of age are recommended to receive a single catch-up dose of 13vPCV, 15vPCV or 20vPCV as soon as possible.

Non-Indigenous adults aged ≥70 years who have previously received 23vPPV and have not already received a conjugate vaccine are recommended to receive a single dose of 13vPCV, 15vPCV or 20vPCV at least 12 months after their last 23vPPV dose.

Adults aged ≥70 years with risk conditions for pneumococcal disease are recommended to receive a pneumococcal conjugate vaccine followed by additional doses of 23vPPV, as per the schedule for people with medical risk factors. See Recommendations for people with medical risk factors.

I am in my late 70's and not sure what all this means. Have others had this jab ?

 

[pyffii]

yes, went to the GP for the flu vaccination and he then advised that we need the pneumonia as well so that was another visit a few weeks later...a quick jab and now we're all done...no side effects and with the 5th booster think we are now fully covered hopefully

 

[tgh]

In the last few years acting upon gp advice we have both had a pn shot
No idea what sort

 

[TheRealTMA]

Someone recommended I have a pneumonia jab so I started doing some googling and became totally confused.

A single dose of a pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (13vPCV, 15vPCV or 20vPCV) is recommended for all non-Indigenous adults at 70 years of age. There is no preference for either 13vPCV or 15vPCV. It should be noted that 15vPCV and 20vPCV are anticipated to provide benefit against extra additional serotypes compared to 13vPCV.

Non-Indigenous adults aged ≥70 years who did not receive a dose of a pneumococcal conjugate vaccine at 70 years of age are recommended to receive a single catch-up dose of 13vPCV, 15vPCV or 20vPCV as soon as possible.

Non-Indigenous adults aged ≥70 years who have previously received 23vPPV and have not already received a conjugate vaccine are recommended to receive a single dose of 13vPCV, 15vPCV or 20vPCV at least 12 months after their last 23vPPV dose.

Adults aged ≥70 years with risk conditions for pneumococcal disease are recommended to receive a pneumococcal conjugate vaccine followed by additional doses of 23vPPV, as per the schedule for people with medical risk factors. See Recommendations for people with medical risk factors.

I am in my late 70's and not sure what all this means. Have others had this jab ?

We’ve had our pneumoccools.

medical advice via AFF is not to be relied on. Go talk to your GP. Take their advice.

 

[cove]

Having had pneumonia in the US I think that shot is a winner but I am not a doctor.

 

[k_sheep]

I have stepped back from AFF these past 14 days. Had a bit on my plate. Tests ordered by GP had elevated markers on blood tests and Chest Xray indicated a collapsed lung and something else that required investigation. ....

I won't be answering questions as I do not have sufficient knowledge.

Very sorry to hear that. From the text certainly sounds like lymphoma (obvs I can't tell, not formal medical advice lol!) which is very treatable. There seems to be a veritable outbreak of mediastinal lymphomas, I've diagnosed 4 in the last 2 weeks; they all have very dramatic presentations like yours. Normally I get 2-3 a year.

Wishing you a speedy diagnosis and recovery!

 

[Quickstatus]

There are 5 recommended jabs (apart for the Rona) for seniors:

Influenza
Pneumococcal
Whooping cough
Shingles
Tetanus

All the information is here and some info here

 

[prozac]

So travel is out of the question until possibly this time next year give or take a month or two. Just before the more immediate symptoms of my diagnosis emerged I booked SYD-Eu return for myself and MrsProzac. Countdown is now 90 days and I would like to notify Cathay in such a way they return not only my points but also the fees and taxes. This requires some considered medical opinion from someone also qualified in the art of redemption flying. I will pass this on to my haematolgist, who is unfamiliar with flying on points, and she can massage into her own words.

Would anyone be able to help construct such a medical exclusion letter?
Perhaps best to discuss the nuts and bolts of it in a PM?

 

[Skyring]

In the last few years acting upon gp advice we have both had a pn shot
No idea what sort

Probably intramuscular.

 

[Flyfrequently]

Would anyone be able to help construct such a medical exclusion letter?
Perhaps best to discuss the nuts and bolts of it in a PM?

I have sent a PM (I think!)
Hopefully others can contribute for said letter, best wishes to you @prozac

 

[prozac]

Yesterday my scalp became quite sensitive on one side. I gave a tug on my hair, nothing. Today the other side also became sensitive so I gave another tug. Oops, a clump of hair came out. Out with the clippers, now it is all gone. Some people can sport a bald head well. Not me, I think Peter Dutton is my cousin.

 

[JohnK]

What a strange 8 weeks it has been.

Daughter has been pretty much sick since Friday after Easter. Started in Thailand 3 days before we left and has continued here. She has missed 5 or more days of school. Looks like she has had 3 different viral infections with the latest infection metavirus according to swab. Lots of non stop coughing.

Wife was sick for around 2 weeks about 6 weeks ago with one of my daughters viral infections and has currently been sick again for 5-6 days with I'm guessing metavirus although we're waiting on swab results. Started off mild but past 2-3 days non stop coughing. Last night had chills and shaking so hopefully seeing the backend of this infection.

The strange thing is that I've not been sick at all these 8 weeks, well at least no noticeable symptoms. Have immunity already or just lucky? I have been having swelling at base of scalp on right side just above neck so possibly lymph glands fighting off some infection? Waiting on blood test results. Fingers crossed.

 

[Flashback]

Mrs FB's sister was due to fly over here in a few days for her round birthday, looks like it might not happen now as she was rushed to hospital with suspected appendicitis. I'm getting that will be a few days to get over.....

 

[Flashback]

Mrs FB's sister was due to fly over here in a few days for her round birthday, looks like it might not happen now as she was rushed to hospital with suspected appendicitis. I'm getting that will be a few days to get over.....

Turned out to be a little bit worse, perforated bowel. Went in for surgey this evening, but we haven't had any news since. Any of the medicos know how long the surgery should/would normally take? I think Mrs FB is more wary of there having been no update as a friend of hers went in for routine surgery last year and didn't make it out the other side.

 

[Quickstatus]

perforated bowel

Something like this is how long is a piece of string kinda scenario.

One of the most inaccurate ways of trying to predict the outcome of the surgery is the "no one called". No news basically is not good or bad nees, it's just no news until you get some news.

Best wishes @Flashback to your Sil

 

[Flashback]

For some reason (it's a complicated situation) Mrs FB isn't listed as next of kin, so don't think she would have received any updates anyway. Went in for surgery around 2.30pm today I think it was and prior to going in was communicating with Mrs FB via WhatsApp. Radio silence since then so either phone off, battery died (and no way to charge) or something else... Mrs FB quite stressed out so not really sure how to approach things. If she calls I don't think they'll give out any information, either.

 

[Flyfrequently]

Mrs FB quite stressed out so not really sure how to approach things. If she calls I don't think they'll give out any information, either.

Sorry that this is stressful for you both. Perhaps call the hospital and ask switchboard to put you through to her ward/Nurses station.
Can always ask what visiting hours are or other innocent question - good luck with it @Flashback. Hope it is just a communication/technology issue

 

[Flashback]

Sorry that this is stressful for you both. Perhaps call the hospital and ask switchboard to put you through to her ward/Nurses station.
Can always ask what visiting hours are or other innocent question - good luck with it @Flashback. Hope it is just a communication/technology issue

It's nearly 2am here, so I'm thinking I might need to wait till perhaps 8 or 9. I was thinking of trying that but not sure how much they would disclose...