General Medical issues thread

Hmm. That didn’t end well.

View attachment 384922
Currently in RAH. The most stupid of things. Two dishwasher pods got stuck together. I pulled them apart and one squirted full bore in left eye. I washed it out immediately then with eye drops. Then thought. Maybe more needed. Got myself to hospital. Was seen in 15 minutes. Then have had two litrre saline washouts. Because of all the meds they’ve got me an emergency ophthalmology specialist appt in next few minutes. Vision is blurred. The first test showed severe scratches. Its my close vision eye. 😫Just trying to keep a lid on it.
I fixed your original vision.
1715826042949.png
 
Last edited:
I hadn't heard of RAH but on looking it up it took a moment to click you were in SA, Australia not Saudi Arabia
 
I hadn't heard of RAH but on looking it up it took a moment to click you were in SA, Australia not Saudi Arabia
Or South Africa I guess.

Im sorry to leave it hanging. But I've not been well since, and didn't even go on the internet much at all.
After two very uncomfortable days and nights I'm feeling almost normal again.

Well, while many complain about the RAH and public Hospitals, and likely for good reason on occasion, for me the Nursing and Medical staff went above and beyond. I was seen within 20 minutes of arrival and a saline flush started. So those whose toes crawl at putting eye drops in, they flushed a total of 2 litres, drip by drip. I was fine with the first lot but the second almost did me in. The drip is the usual saline drip thing but runs through a small suction type cap placed on the eyeball. Uggh. By this time I was soaking wet as the first lot didn't retrieve the water properly but onto the bed. Small matters. There was supposed to be a drainage sink in the Eye treatment room but a month ago someone removed it. It's like a hair dresser bowl.

In the meantime one male nurse was googling what type of chemicals were in the pod I'd thought to bring. We both worked out it was the blue liquid - Rinse Aid that had squirted. So this excellent nurse then rang up the poisons centre. As this substance is more acidic than alkaline that was a slightly better outcome.

I was then seen by a lovely Irish female Dr. As I'd last attended RAH with the DVT, all my records were available and she understood all my auto immune stuff immediately. Maybe it's changed but I've found that British trained medicoes, the GP kind, seem to have much better understanding of auto immune things and she knew exactly what I was talking about. Given all that, she was able to get me an immediate appointment with the Opthamologist upstairs. So in the wheelchair I had to be taken to the clinic and was seen within 20 minutes after testing my eyes. My vision in the impacted eye was horrible but right eye was perfect.

By now it felt like I had a 3 corner jack stuck in my eye. The Opth said it would be like that for 24 hours and pain killers would be useless. He did use a numbing gel before he put a dye in my eyes and that was bliss. For 20 minutes. He said he felt it was superficial and consistent with splashing but he did not think it would be permanent.

I was able to go home but then think I got a tension headache and for me with that comes vomiting. So feeling wretched and miserable. That finished about 12 hours ago so hadn't eaten or drunk much in 48 hours. But was relieved my vision was so much better. And now I seem to have picked up a cough from the hospital visit but it's just keeping me awake but not bothering me.

I was supposed to go back yesterday for a check but didn't think they'd appreciate me with a vomit bowl 😳 so I cancelled to Tuesday. My eye was so much better that I wasn't too concerned.

This morning I had my first food in a long time, and a cup of coffee. Bliss.

The RAH. When it was built 7 years ago it was the second most expensive building in the world. Second to the Burj Al Arab. Likely that's changed.
Emergency seating is tiny. But the people they have to deal with. Within 5 minutes one angry person started abusing the triage nurse, he had been there for 4 hours by now at which time I was thinking that would be me too. The F and C word. The young nurse kept her cool but this must happen all the time. There are large public areas which are really nice, but the outpatients treatment rooms and waiting rooms are cramped and tiny. The opthamologist office was tiny and jammed full of equipment. Someone had pinched his ph test kits (this assesses acidity of the eyes which is important as I'd been tested multiple times). Always an 8. Slightly alkaline.

So this stupid accident. Husband mentioned what had happened to his EA. She said this had exactly happened to her friend except it went into both eyes. She had to crawl to her phone and call for an ambulance as she couldn't see. So this happens - I'd suggest frequently. Take care all.
 
Last edited:
Good to hear that it seems no lasting damage Pushka but would have been horrible - and painful. At least the health system worked well for you this time which is great. Take care and change the dishwasher capsules to something different (with no liquid bits).
 
So this Statins discussion. While I was in Emergency there was a 45 year old man next to me. He had a stroke three weeks ago but had recovered quickly but was on all manner of new drugs. He had come into hospital again by ambulance because his muscles were extremely painful and basically shutting down. His specialist came down and suspected viral but more likely reaction to the new drugs, particularly the statin. He said it was excellent for reducing cholesterol (his was below risk level) but can react for some people. Poor guy, he was in so much pain and so young. But it did remind me of ancient discussions here.
 
Good to hear that it seems no lasting damage Pushka but would have been horrible - and painful. At least the health system worked well for you this time which is great. Take care and change the dishwasher capsules to something different (with no liquid bits).
I'd just stocked up on the Liquid ones. 😫

Cost to me for all this excellent treatment. Zero. Except for the car parking ticket at $27. My GP charges around $40 just for a usual script review. But the Admin person was around almost immediately wanting my health fund details and had all my particulars pre printed. Last time I went private but was still stuck in a horrible shared ward of 8 people. At least the new RAH only has private rooms.
 
So this Statins discussion. While I was in Emergency there was a 45 year old man next to me. He had a stroke three weeks ago but had recovered quickly but was on all manner of new drugs. He had come into hospital again by ambulance because his muscles were extremely painful and basically shutting down. His specialist came down and suspected viral but more likely reaction to the new drugs, particularly the statin. He said it was excellent for reducing cholesterol (his was below risk level) but can react for some people. Poor guy, he was in so much pain and so young. But it did remind me of ancient discussions here.
There was a previous member (sorely missed) who had a shocking reaction to statins.
 
Sometimes a reaction to statins is a life saver. I had a 40 year old who presented with chest pain but only when he played golf. So I did a stress test Strongly positive at a low work load.
Went down to Brisbane and the angiogram showed 99% blockage of his left main coronary. Stented and he felt more energy than he had had for some time but still got his pain playing golf. Questioned further and it occurred only when hitting the ball. Stopped his statin and the pain disappeared.
Had he not had the reaction to a statin he may well have not survived as t hat artery is known as the widowmaker.
 
Sometimes a reaction to statins is a life saver. I had a 40 year old who presented with chest pain but only when he played golf. So I did a stress test Strongly positive at a low work load.
Went down to Brisbane and the angiogram showed 99% blockage of his left main coronary. Stented and he felt more energy than he had had for some time but still got his pain playing golf. Questioned further and it occurred only when hitting the ball. Stopped his statin and the pain disappeared.
Had he not had the reaction to a statin he may well have not survived as t hat artery is known as the widowmaker.
Yes. That too can happen. But I'd expect having had the stroke that his heart would have been checked then.
Post automatically merged:

There was a previous member (sorely missed) who had a shocking reaction to statins.
Yes. I was thinking the same. That member is not alone.
 
Anyone used fluorouracil on their scalp? I've shaved my hair off in preparation to starting application of fluorouracil cream to my scalp and upper forehead.
What I want to know is what others have done when the go to bed? Do you wash it off so that it does not get all over your pillow and sheets, just let it get on the sheets and wash daily, or do you wear something on your head?
Problem solved. I bought 3 of these skull cap thingies from Amazon. Keeps the ointment off the pillow case and I can wear it under a baseball cap ( I read someone call it a trucker's cap the other day) to make sure the scalp is protected from the sun's UV rays. It is made from thickish lycra, a bit like wearing budgie smugglers on your head.

1716095908901.jpeg
 
So from my relatively short stay of around 6 hours in Emergency last week, for an injury, I'm pretty sure I've picked up RSV. It isn't covid. I've used up all my tests. It isn't the usual body aches of flu. But it is the worst cough I have ever experienced. Last night I slept in a chair as I couldn't stop coughing and it's like a cough you can't get to the end of, if that makes sense. I don't mix much these days, and the Hospital visit was the only major 'event' of the last week. Haven't been near any kids, not even other family including husband as he was elsewhere for a few days. So it has to be the hospital. I'm on Day 5 today, I'm hoping it starts resolving.

My thoughts on a the vax have changed. Just get it done. I am immune compromised. Maybe thats part of the issue.
 
We have had a respiratory illness from our travels.
I had a persistent dry cough for the first few weeks on the Nova but minimal other effects.
Swmbo subsequently became unwell and since arriving home has been vey unwell.
The medical timeline reads poorly as the ships doctor and a good clinic in sfo completely misdiagnosed the seriousness of the infection.
At home she is on two sets of antibiotics ex our local clinic and is now slowly recovering.
It probably true that us oldies tend to be more susceptible but I opine that there are some very active bugs out and about..caveat emptor !!

..edit …No medical suggestion of RSV,, in fact no opinion offered by anyone as to what the bug may be….
 
Read our AFF credit card guides and start earning more points now.

AFF Supporters can remove this and all advertisements

So from my relatively short stay of around 6 hours in Emergency last week, for an injury, I'm pretty sure I've picked up RSV. It isn't covid. I've used up all my tests. It isn't the usual body aches of flu. But it is the worst cough I have ever experienced. Last night I slept in a chair as I couldn't stop coughing and it's like a cough you can't get to the end of, if that makes sense. I don't mix much these days, and the Hospital visit was the only major 'event' of the last week. Haven't been near any kids, not even other family including husband as he was elsewhere for a few days. So it has to be the hospital. I'm on Day 5 today, I'm hoping it starts resolving.

My thoughts on a the vax have changed. Just get it done. I am immune compromised. Maybe thats part of the issue.
You can get a covid/flu/rsv RAT from the supermarket.
 
So from my relatively short stay of around 6 hours in Emergency last week, for an injury, I'm pretty sure I've picked up RSV. It isn't covid. I've used up all my tests. It isn't the usual body aches of flu. But it is the worst cough I have ever experienced. Last night I slept in a chair as I couldn't stop coughing and it's like a cough you can't get to the end of, if that makes sense. I don't mix much these days, and the Hospital visit was the only major 'event' of the last week. Haven't been near any kids, not even other family including husband as he was elsewhere for a few days. So it has to be the hospital. I'm on Day 5 today, I'm hoping it starts resolving.

My thoughts on a the vax have changed. Just get it done. I am immune compromised. Maybe thats part of the issue.
Both Mrsdrron and I have had exactly what you describe. She started coughing 2 weeks ago and I for 6 days. Initially we both had a fever,no energy and decreased appetite. She has basically got over those but the cough continues. I feel a lot better today and cough a lot less. And the RAT tests were negative for Covid.

In other news I have to wait until 6/6 for my nerve injection. however I can do a lot more provided I walk like a hunchback. get some strange looks but my steps per day have gone up from just over 1000 to 6000. Able now to get out in the garden so feeling a bit happier.

last friday was interesting at the Coles. A fellow coming the other way was also hunched over his trolley so I said Sciatica? Yes he replied.
 

Become an AFF member!

Join Australian Frequent Flyer (AFF) for free and unlock insider tips, exclusive deals, and global meetups with 65,000+ frequent flyers.

AFF members can also access our Frequent Flyer Training courses, and upgrade to Fast-track your way to expert traveller status and unlock even more exclusive discounts!

AFF forum abbreviations

Wondering about Y, J or any of the other abbreviations used on our forum?

Check out our guide to common AFF acronyms & abbreviations.
Back
Top