General Medical issues thread

I could be wrong but I think 93 has been mentioned.
That was my dad.
FIL is 84; 85 later this year.

MIL is 81 for whatever that might be worth.
Good to bump into you, Mr Katie and Miss Katie on the weekend. Fingers crossed for the family coming together and accepting doctors recommendations. ACAT assessments are handy, particularly when they give additional services (as was the case recently for my mum's assessment, as my dad is starting to tire - but more from the mental strain, than the physical)
 
Last edited:
Australia's highest-earning Velocity Frequent Flyer credit card: Offer expires: 21 Jan 2025
- Earn 60,000 bonus Velocity Points
- Get unlimited Virgin Australia Lounge access
- Enjoy a complimentary return Virgin Australia domestic flight each year

AFF Supporters can remove this and all advertisements

I made the mistake of letting Mrs QS do her DEXA /BMD (Bone density) scan at a random Radiology. Should have gone back to the same radiology practice.

She got a shock when it reported a dramatic deterioration in T score.

Repeat scan at radiology practice who did the last one (now non Medicare as 1 already done 1 weeks ago) showed stable T score. Dumb Dumb.

......

Osteoporosis can be worsened by high thyroid T4 levels. So make sure that thyroxine replacement is not overdone,
 
I made the mistake of letting Mrs QS do her DEXA /BMD (Bone density) scan at a random Radiology. Should have gone back to the same radiology practice.

She got a shock when it reported a dramatic deterioration in T score.

Repeat scan at radiology practice who did the last one (now non Medicare as 1 already done 1 weeks ago) showed stable T score. Dumb Dumb.

......

Osteoporosis can be worsened by high thyroid T4 levels. So make sure that thyroxine replacement is not overdone,
What can possibly cause such a difference in results?
 
That was my dad.

Good to bump into you, Mr Katie and Miss Katie on the weekend. Fingers crossed for the family coming together and accepting doctors recommendations. ACAT assessments are handy, particularly when they give additional services (as was the case recently for my mum's assessment, as my dad is starting to tire - but more from the mental strain, than the physical
Good to see you, too!

Yes, I’m mostly hoping for help from the ACAT assessment for when MIL needs some respite/supervision for FIL so she can grocery shop and go to the gym with all the ladies 20yrs younger than her. I can also send Mr Katie over, as they have internet at home, but he may ignore his Dad if he’s stuck in meetings.

MIL feels she can cope right now, but I’m not sure if she or we know what FIL’s new normal is yet.

It was a good thing he was doing poorly on a Thursday, as that’s her housework day, and the quietest day of the week! 😳
Got a few weeks til Sept school hols when they (she/MIL) usually care for the tween nephews. 💜
 
I made the mistake of letting Mrs QS do her DEXA /BMD (Bone density) scan at a random Radiology. Should have gone back to the same radiology practice.

She got a shock when it reported a dramatic deterioration in T score.

Repeat scan at radiology practice who did the last one (now non Medicare as 1 already done 1 weeks ago) showed stable T score. Dumb Dumb.

......

Osteoporosis can be worsened by high thyroid T4 levels. So make sure that thyroxine replacement is not overdone,
Not much chance for me then. Have to be on 200mcg thyroxine (have been on thyroxine for thirty years now) and steroi_s. Did find my Dexa from last year though when doing a clear out.

 
Ok but the tone of your post suggested you thought otherwise. Done and dusted so to speak.
Tone? It must be coming across wrong as that is not the intention. I was simply guessing what was wrong. I was right. Kidney stone.

Quite a few anomalies in latest blood test. Increase in red blood cells in urine and increase in white blood cells in urine as well so possibly still fighting infection or from the kidney stone.

Referral has gone off to RBWH Urology outpatients. Interesting to see how quickly they will see me.
 
Tone? It must be coming across wrong as that is not the intention. I was simply guessing what was wrong. I was right. Kidney stone.

Quite a few anomalies in latest blood test. Increase in red blood cells in urine and increase in white blood cells in urine as well so possibly still fighting infection or from the kidney stone.

Referral has gone off to RBWH Urology outpatients. Interesting to see how quickly they will see me.
Hopefully quickly as a close friend was taken to hospital by ambulance a year or 2 back. Kidney stones and she spend 5 days in ICU. Was touch and go for a while. They put in a stent then later she had to return to have the stoned 'blasted', then stent removed. Really shook everyone up.
 
Hopefully quickly as a close friend was taken to hospital by ambulance a year or 2 back. Kidney stones and she spend 5 days in ICU. Was touch and go for a while. They put in a stent then later she had to return to have the stoned 'blasted', then stent removed. Really shook everyone up.
Oh that's terrible.

The ultrasound yesterday does not show any other kidney stones but then it could easily miss smaller kidney stones. Kidneys look normal, bladder is OK. Couldn't see prostate but that does not look enlarged.
 
Went to the surgeon for my regular weekly review (forgot to advise that last weeks' review was more of the same - debrided more dead skin and showing lovely healthy pink skin growing).

This week he had no nurse (she was sick/away) and he was having to do everything himself. But mine was easy - take off the old dressing, still one scab there so he put on some additional antiseptic cream to soften it and re-bandaged). See you in a week was his final comment. Hoping that next week will be the end of the weekly sessions, might move to fortnightly then monthly.

My mind is now turning to my referral to haematologist. Hoping my WBC and B-cell count will have been reducing as my wound heals. Having it be 6 times the max range was a little disconcerting. Might ask my GP for a blood test referral to check my levels.
 
Last edited:
I have five medical appointments this month - mostly routine stuff plus the rheumatologist 6 monthly. But have made it 6 if you count the visit to the vets today, and that appointment will be the most expensive of all the others combined with a blood test that cost $490! 😳. Then there's the consult fee. He's just turned 15 and last year weighed 4 kilos, 9 months later and he's down to 3 kilos. He's not really well but seems largely ok. Not expecting good news for him.
 
Its too late seeing a geriatrician when there is acute deterioration.

Q: when are you old enough to see a geriatrician?
A: when you are retired and regularly need to see more than one Dr.
I’m really genuinely interested in this advice - for myself. I’m 64 and retired. I have hairy cell leukaemia in remission, Conn’s syndrome, 2 knee replacements and a severe chronic cough I’ve had for 15 years (currently doing a lot better with monthly steroi_ injections to superior laryngeal nerve) and chemo induced reflux. I see a lot of doctors about these things. Makes me sound like a crock, but otherwise I’m in Generally good health and lead a very active life including solid CrossFit workouts 2-3 times a week, regular skiing, and travel of course. I am actually the fittest I have ever been in my whole life! Cognitively doing well too - just finished a PhD 3 years ago and currently learning my 5th foreign language….

So on your advice, I should probably see a geriatrician - retired and seeing multiple doctors. Plus the idea of someone other than my poor overworked GP coordinating all my various things is very attractive.

But then I looked at the little graphic you also included and the only one with any relevance to me is the chronic iissues. Do you see any benefits for someone like me or am not really in the zone, despite my coughpy chronic conditions?
 
I’m really genuinely interested in this advice - for myself. I’m 64 and retired. I have hairy cell leukaemia in remission, Conn’s syndrome, 2 knee replacements and a severe chronic cough I’ve had for 15 years (currently doing a lot better with monthly steroi_ injections to superior laryngeal nerve) and chemo induced reflux. I see a lot of doctors about these things. Makes me sound like a crock, but otherwise I’m in Generally good health and lead a very active life including solid CrossFit workouts 2-3 times a week, regular skiing, and travel of course. I am actually the fittest I have ever been in my whole life! Cognitively doing well too - just finished a PhD 3 years ago and currently learning my 5th foreign language….

So on your advice, I should probably see a geriatrician - retired and seeing multiple doctors. Plus the idea of someone other than my poor overworked GP coordinating all my various things is very attractive.

But then I looked at the little graphic you also included and the only one with any relevance to me is the chronic iissues. Do you see any benefits for someone like me or am not really in the zone, despite my coughpy chronic conditions?
Stunned by the number of members doing post-retirement studies. You are to be congratulated. I am surprised you can do this whilst undergoing chemo. Bravo. So should we call you doctor like Roo?
 
Stunned by the number of members doing post-retirement studies. You are to be congratulated. I am surprised you can do this whilst undergoing chemo. Bravo. So should we call you doctor like Roo?
To be fair, I did not have the leukaemia until after I finished it - and I was still working at the time I finished it too. I only really retired because of the leukaemia and the treatment and its effects. I actually still do a bit of occasional advisory work for clients who have dug themselves into a hole - pays for my travel habit 🤭. So fortunately, I didn’t have to study and research whilst having chemo. I don’t think I could have done it, tbh. My regime was short but totally brutal and absolutely knocked the stuffing out of me for 6 months. Still find myself lacking in my old levels of stamina, but I do feel better than I did when I had undiagnosed and thus untreated leukaemia. Plus I’ve been moved to 3 monthly monitoring which is a bit of a psychological boost.
 
I really liked your post seat0B and would like to see more discussion to develop the concept further, BUT I hold firm personal views on the subject and may frighten everyone away.. so will watch from the sidelines
 
I’m really genuinely interested in this advice - for myself. I’m 64 and retired. I have hairy cell leukaemia in remission, Conn’s syndrome, 2 knee replacements and a severe chronic cough I’ve had for 15 years (currently doing a lot better with monthly steroi_ injections to superior laryngeal nerve) and chemo induced reflux. I see a lot of doctors about these things. Makes me sound like a crock, but otherwise I’m in Generally good health and lead a very active life including solid CrossFit workouts 2-3 times a week, regular skiing, and travel of course. I am actually the fittest I have ever been in my whole life! Cognitively doing well too - just finished a PhD 3 years ago and currently learning my 5th foreign language….

So on your advice, I should probably see a geriatrician - retired and seeing multiple doctors. Plus the idea of someone other than my poor overworked GP coordinating all my various things is very attractive.

But then I looked at the little graphic you also included and the only one with any relevance to me is the chronic iissues. Do you see any benefits for someone like me or am not really in the zone, despite my coughpy chronic conditions?
From what you describe, I think I'd be an unnecessary extra cook as a Geriatrician (as long as your GP is decent)
 
So on your advice, I should probably see a geriatrician -
DrSeat0b,

It's worth thinking about which is why I commented like that as most don't ever consider that option.

It really depend on particular circumstances. I suggested to a friend to get a referral because he was on a lot of pills and he was over it and wanted to de-medicate.

In your case it sounds like you are on top of everything, so likely not, but reconsider if it is starting to be getting away from you.
 
GP visit today was very productive. Her other clinic has plentiful supplies of Shingrix so at last I've got that sorted. Cat on the other hand has pancreatitis. So another visit to the vets tomorrow, plus the rheumatologist makes 7 for this month. Will need to see if cat responds to treatment but suspect he's had it for a while and I didn't pick all the symptoms up until the other day.
 
DrSeat0b,

It's worth thinking about which is why I commented like that as most don't ever consider that option.

It really depend on particular circumstances. I suggested to a friend to get a referral because he was on a lot of pills and he was over it and wanted to de-medicate.

In your case it sounds like you are on top of everything, so likely not, but reconsider if it is starting to be getting away from you.
Thanks for the kind and thoughtful reply. I will take your words to heart and not let things run away from me as I continue down life’s road.
 

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