General Medical issues thread

[Pushka]

So the latest PPI medication headline/media release....
Any comments..
Anyone else ringing gastroenterologist and going WTF?

When you have no choice but to take them then I wonder if this info causes more harm to such people and we'd be enter off not knowing.

 

[MARTINE]

Colleagues currently in practice will have a better response to this but - my view- is that taking action here based on a medical class action in USA is akin to taking oncology advice from a supermodel.
This is not a new area of investigation or study.
I will keep taking these medications.
…much time will be spent this week by oncologists and gastroenterologists reviewing this with their patients…and some lawyers will similarly be busy

 

[andye]

It's been known for ages that PPIs can cause kidney damage (interstitial nephritis) as an uncommon side-effect.

There have been concerns that PPIs could mask the symptoms of gastric cancers almost since they came out. I'm not aware of a proven link that they can cause cancers.

Before statins, they were the most-widely prescribed drugs world-wide and are still used very commonly as they are highly effective drugs that actually make people feel better. Their introduction (along with the discovery of H.pylori) led to the number of people needing gastric surgery for ulcers dropping dramatically.

I suspect this is the lawyers following the money. Nevertheless, many people are prescribed PPIs for what could be temporary gastro-oesophageal symptoms and it's not unreasonable to consider having a chat with their GP as to the pros and cons of continuing

 

[tgh]

oncologists and gastroenterologists reviewing this with their patients

I am due for a routine endoscope follow up in a few weeks and will "quiz the quack" about it then.

 

[andye]

When PPIs first came out I seem to remember advice to get a gastroscopy before starting them with gastric symptoms over 50 because of the concerns of masking a cancer

The safety people looked at it and its not a universal recommendation now.

However Australia has excellent access to gastroscopy and GPs frequently refer if symptoms not settling

I'm sure you can imagine that many people eventually diagnosed with gastric cancer will have received a PPI at some stage and it human nature to look for a cause for a serious problem.

(As an aside the epidemiologists at one stage found a protective effect of NSAIDS (nurofen etc) on gastric and bowel cancer but the reverse for pancreatic and kidney cancer. I'm pretty sure this is confounded by the fact that doctors avoid giving NSAIDS in people with vague indigestion but often give them for back pain which are precisely the (commonly-found, usually benign) symptoms one would expect from those conditions.)

 

[tgh]

Losing it….

Following up on Bundys post elsewhere..
A group of long time friends, all on the cusp of 80, met for lunch.
One is fit and light but eternally watchful (at some cost) and one is a very heavy drinker and lifetime smoker.
The fit fellow had two light beers and no desert, the other fellow scoffed about a litre of wine, ate desert , and disappeared a few times for a fa_
Left me wondering who is enjoying life more…..

 

[Pushka]

Losing it….

Following up on Bundys post elsewhere..
A group of long time friends, all on the cusp of 80, met for lunch.
One is fit and light but eternally watchful (at some cost) and one is a very heavy drinker and lifetime smoker.
The fit fellow had two light beers and no desert, the other fellow scoffed about a litre of wine, ate desert , and disappeared a few times for a fa_
Left me wondering who is enjoying life more…..

I remember being on a cruise ship for breakfast where I joined a bunch of strangers. One guy who was quite simply, obese, and with a plate of full English breakfast, eggs, lashes of bacon, potatoes etc plus buttered toast or muffin, looked at my pink grapefruit (I love pink grapefruit) and said, 'oh, that's not good for me I can't have that because I'm on statin medication and I have to watch what I eat'. I swear I did not laugh, nor comment but I did give him my best death stare. And as I turned away because I was about to laugh, spied a dolphin playing near the ship and commented such. He didn't catch the dolphin. I figured that was a sign.

 

[prozac]

I remember being on a cruise ship for breakfast where I joined a bunch of strangers. One guy who was quite simply, obese, and with a plate of full English breakfast, eggs, lashes of bacon, potatoes etc plus buttered toast or muffin, looked at my pink grapefruit (I love pink grapefruit) and said, 'oh, that's not good for me I can't have that because I'm on statin medication and I have to watch what I eat'. I swear I did not laugh, nor comment but I did give him my best death stare. And as I turned away because I was about to laugh, spied a dolphin playing near the ship and commented such. He didn't catch the dolphin. I figured that was a sign.

On a recent hotel stay I woofed into the bacon at breakfast as it's only a rare treat. No grapefruit juice of any hue on offer which is just as well b/c I too am on statins and would have avoided it.

 

[JohnK]

I've been on Somac/Pantoprazole for a long time.

Wife on Somac/Pantoprazole for some time and now trying Rabeprazole.

Parents/brother on Somac/Nexium for a long time.

Me personally, I'd be struggling without this medication as I have chronic reflux issues. These class actions are just ridiculous.

 

[Quickstatus]

Told her it might be just syphilis.

@prozac. Well done!. . Its one of the differential diagnoses for alopecia.
The medical term though not used anymore is Alopecia Syphillitica or more commonly termed "moth eaten hair loss". Seen in secondary syphillis

Treatment is penicillin

 

[MARTINE]

I consider it appalling that these ‘celebrities’ put out this kind of stuff as ‘its only my journey’ knowing full well it appeals to vulnerable pax desperate for answers (and coincidently they are promoting their ‘wellness’ lines of holistic ‘therapy’)

But its even worse that media do not fact check and provide clear unambiguous medical evidence alongside this that puts this ‘advice’ into perspective. Somehow this story came without a trigger warning.

PS - I do not class surgical lumpectomy, botox and fillers as natural therapy

 

[VPS]

Colleagues currently in practice will have a better response to this but - my view- is that taking action here based on a medical class action in USA is akin to taking oncology advice from a supermodel.
This is not a new area of investigation or study.
I will keep taking these medications.
…much time will be spent this week by oncologists and gastroenterologists reviewing this with their patients…and some lawyers will similarly be busy

You mean Elle shouldn't be giving oncology advice Honestly too much air time has been given to that which may affect other people's actions

 

[VPS]

For those who have metal knees I think @drron and @cove do you have to carry anything to say you have a metal knee when going through the airport scanners or do they just wand you

Thanks

 

[prozac]

@prozac. Well done!. . Its one of the differential diagnoses for alopecia.
The medical term though not used anymore is Alopecia Syphillitica or more commonly termed "moth eaten hair loss". Seen in secondary syphillis

Treatment is penicillin

She does not have STD. I like to shock my kids to get their attention.

Post automatically merged: Sep 9, 2024

For those who have metal knees I think @drron and @cove do you have to carry anything to say you have a metal knee when going through the airport scanners or do they just wand you

Thanks

A magnet

 

[prozac]

I consider it appalling that these ‘celebrities’ put out this kind of stuff as ‘its only my journey’ knowing full well it appeals to vulnerable pax desperate for answers (and coincidently they are promoting their ‘wellness’ lines of holistic ‘therapy’)

But its even worse that media do not fact check and provide clear unambiguous medical evidence alongside this that puts this ‘advice’ into perspective. Somehow this story came without a trigger warning.

PS - I do not class surgical lumpectomy, botox and fillers as natural therapy

Easy for a 'model-not-a-doctor' to give advice after she survived. A 0.1% bonus had she detailed her journey before she was given all clear. But hey, what is social media for if not to provide up to date advice on medical treatment and world history.

 

[Pushka]

On a recent hotel stay I woofed into the bacon at breakfast as it's only a rare treat. No grapefruit juice of any hue on offer which is just as well b/c I too am on statins and would have avoided it.

Oh I love bacon as much as anyone. I don't drink the grapefruit juice but eat the grapefruit halves. Absolutely he needed to avoid the grapefruit but clearly the Doctor didn't go on to explain that a healthy diet in general is important in managing cholesterol in many situations and maybe try losing some weight? Nah. That conversation was clearly too difficult. Or ignored. Actually, maybe the latter.

 

[Pushka]

You mean Elle shouldn't be giving oncology advice Honestly too much air time has been given to that which may affect other people's actions

It's the same as Jamie Packer story. While I acknowledge his bravery in telling his story, the sad fact remains that the ability to get, let alone afford, medical treatment for mental health issues is simply impossible for the majority of people let alone check in to quality health clinics.

Elle. Dear Dear Dear. The media should never have told this story.

Post automatically merged: Sep 9, 2024

Easy for a 'model-not-a-doctor' to give advice after she survived. A 0.1% bonus had she detailed her journey before she was given all clear. But hey, what is social media for if not to provide up to date advice on medical treatment and world history.

She cannot say she's a survivor yet. Not by a long shot. The margins were not clear after surgery. They likely aren't showing their impact yet.

 

[drron]

For those who have metal knees I think @drron and @cove do you have to carry anything to say you have a metal knee when going through the airport scanners or do they just wand you

Thanks

If an X-ray for security then you get wanded +\- a pat down. Plus they usually get you to take off your shoes and belt. I don’t see why as they are going to wand you anyway. One guy at Changi agreed so that time just wanded.
The new scanners are a godsend. Straight through with no problem.

 

[Quickstatus]

She does not have STD

Yes , I know that you know that she does not.
But because it is vased on facts there is more oomph in the shock treatment

 

[QF WP]

I remember being on a cruise ship for breakfast where I joined a bunch of strangers. One guy who was quite simply, obese, and with a plate of full English breakfast, eggs, lashes of bacon, potatoes etc plus buttered toast or muffin, looked at my pink grapefruit (I love pink grapefruit) and said, 'oh, that's not good for me I can't have that because I'm on statin medication and I have to watch what I eat'. I swear I did not laugh, nor comment but I did give him my best death stare. And as I turned away because I was about to laugh, spied a dolphin playing near the ship and commented such. He didn't catch the dolphin. I figured that was a sign.

On a recent hotel stay I woofed into the bacon at breakfast as it's only a rare treat. No grapefruit juice of any hue on offer which is just as well b/c I too am on statins and would have avoided it.

When I found out my LDL was 4.9 and had to go on statins, I texted my brother and he said make sure you get prescribed the one where you can still eat grapefruit (as we both love it). I texted him my script (APX-Rosuvastatin 10mg) and he came back saying that's the right one to have (same as him). Been on it almost 3 months and haven't been back for follow-up bloods yet.