General Medical issues thread

[Black Duck]

Thank you for sharing this. I intend to do the same physio wise. I hope I can replicate your level of recovery. I am already amazed at how far I've come in this short time. I'm a millennial (just) so a lot of life yet to live, fingers crossed.

Yep stick with it. My physio said few people follow through properly. It's really worth the work although none of it is really that hard. The first few weeks are the worst with pain but after that it's just getting on with the different exercises.

 

[Pushka]

Proper physio after surgery is the best predictor of recovery.

 

[RooFlyer]

MrLtL has been into VT and PCV since Easter - ablation in July and ICD in August and now much better. Not pleasant for you at all. Hope your cardiologist can sort it out.

I have form when it comes to irreg heartbeats and had some afib in 2017-18. This came out of the blue, though. AND - one for the travel mistakes thread - because it was just 2 nights in Brisbane, and I was travelling very light, I didn't bring the metoprolol that my cardiologist prescribed for just these occasions. So the guy today prescribed some more.

I don't know the exact wording, but Greenslopes is classed as outpatients (??) so the visit is a matter for Medicare, not private health. So my total out-of-pockets is about $150 and the taxpayers picking up the rest - thank you. Private Health would have been $500 just to walk through the door.

 

[Flyfrequently]

. . it was just 2 nights in Brisbane, and I was travelling very light, I didn't bring the metoprolol that my cardiologist prescribed for just these occasions.

So, is this a case of "you should never leave home without it " ? @RooFlyer

 

[RooFlyer]

So, is this a case of "you should never leave home without it " ? @RooFlyer

yep. I’ve mentioned my trip reports that I carry a personal pharmac_ with me on my overseas travels. As a whole bunch of 'just in case' there. Looks like I’ll have to extend that to quick trips within Australia as well.

 

[prozac]

I didn't bring the metoprolol that my cardiologist prescribed for just these occasions. So the guy today prescribed some more.

Does it give you headaches? It gave me headaches. I asked cardio to switch it to Nebovolol as it affects erection less. Still get the headaches which is just something about beta-blockers.

 

[RooFlyer]

Does it give you headaches? It gave me headaches. I asked cardio to switch it to Nebovolol as it affects erection less. Still get the headaches which is just something about beta-blockers.

no, never had headaches with beta blockers. I was on Sotalol for quite awhile but this is my first try at Metroprlol and it was okay too.

Woke up this morning & heart rate good but I think I’m still in flutter so email sent to cardiologist.

 

[MelMel]

Curiosity at this point as an MRI is yet to be done……..does a CT scan always show cause of TIA? A friend on the weekend was reaching for a high shelf in the bathroom when her right arm went completely limp. She couldn’t move it and says it felt like rubber. She called her son and the words were garbled. 5 minutes later all was fine. In the ED they did CT scan and other tests but nothing showed up. MRI is next week.

 

[andye]

Curiosity at this point as an MRI is yet to be done……..does a CT scan always show cause of TIA? A friend on the weekend was reaching for a high shelf in the bathroom when her right arm went completely limp. She couldn’t move it and says it felt like rubber. She called her son and the words were garbled. 5 minutes later all was fine. In the ED they did CT scan and other tests but nothing showed up. MRI is next week.

MRI might show a small stroke (that would be impossible to see on CT) but may be entirely normal with a TIA.

As TIAs by definition don't show up on scans, you need to go on the story. If I can't find a good alternative cause, I usually investigate anyway

Looking for causes requires blood tests, ECG, neck vessel imaging (CT ideally but ultrasound often used) and in most cases an echocardiogram. Many patients need prolonged ECG monitoring and some a transoesophageal echocardiogram

 

[Flyfrequently]

... I carry a personal pharmac_ with me on my overseas travels. As a whole bunch of 'just in case' there. Looks like I’ll have to extend that to quick trips within Australia as well.

You are not alone there @RooFlyer !
On this last trip I had everything with me " just in case" except liquid tears - it's always something!

 

[cove]

Have my annual check up with my cardiologist this Friday.With my GP away in the U.K. I won’t have my latest blood readings but I have my A1C back at 6.3 from 6.7/6.8 range last time.
Always interesting to see him for guidance as he is incredibly underweight compared with me.
Another year without any chest pains has meant the exercise and medications have worked since my 4 bypass grafts 30 years ago. Having sold our business last year we are now consultants for just one more year.

 

[Pushka]

Have my annual check up with my cardiologist this Friday.With my GP away in the U.K. I won’t have my latest blood readings but I have my A1C back at 6.3 from 6.7/6.8 range last time.
Always interesting to see him for guidance as he is incredibly underweight compared with me.
Another year without any chest pains has meant the exercise and medications have worked since my 4 bypass grafts 30 years ago. Having sold our business last year we are now consultants for just one more year.

Your cardiologist should be able to see your blood test results and if you have a pathology service that loads to myhealth, then you can see them in 7 days after loading.

 

[RooFlyer]

Private Health would have been $500 just to walk through the door.

I should add that that's just once a year. So any following visits to ED don't incur this.

Woke up this morning & heart rate good but I think I’m still in flutter so email sent to cardiologist.

Cardiologist saw me that day - in fact an hour after I landed back from Brisbane. In flutter, and cardio reversion (VCR) coming up. I'm happy about this - its not a big deal and I had very good results the other 2 times I've had VCR

 

[Himeno]

I have a follow up GP appointment soon after last weeks hospital visit, and the additional test results (urine culture) don't appear to have turned up yet.
They said they would be back in 2 days (so last Friday)...

 

[Stone]

I don't know the exact wording, but Greenslopes is classed as outpatients (??) so the visit is a matter for Medicare, not private health. So my total out-of-pockets is about $150 and the taxpayers picking up the rest - thank you. Private Health would have been $500 just to walk through the door.

It's one of the anomalies in our dual public and private health system. Medicare will cover a % of both inpatient and outpatient care episodes. Private health is only allowed to cover inpatient care; in emergency departments, despite being in a hospital, you are considered an outpatient until a decision to admit you has been made.

The $500 (or other amount as per you policy) excess payment is only payable once per calendar year; admissions subsequent to that have no additional excess payment due.

 

[tgh]

Heart work is interesting, two trades involved..plumber and electrician.
So far I have only needed a plumber..

 

[Pushka]

I have a follow up GP appointment soon after last weeks hospital visit, and the additional test results (urine culture) don't appear to have turned up yet.
They said they would be back in 2 days (so last Friday)...

I think the cultures take a few days to 'grow' something.

 

[Himeno]

I think the cultures take a few days to 'grow' something.

A "consultant" at the hospital looked at my record on Sunday. No idea if that was in relation to these tests though.

The GP had the results. Odd they didn't put them in my act gov digital record

 

[RooFlyer]

Heart work is interesting, two trades involved..plumber and electrician.

And possibly at the same time. 'Ablation' was mentioned in my consult yesterday (basically, wires threaded up into the heart to cauterise spurious beat-causing-loci) . That's something I'd like to avoid.

I also want to add a cheer for out oft-maligned health care system. I was able to walk into an 'ED' and be seen quickly, treated and sent off with a small out-of-pocket. Then able to get an appointment with my cardiologist at home just an hour after I landed back from Brisbane. That timing was lucky, but I'm sure he would have seen me that day, somehow.

 

[Quickstatus]

I don't know the exact wording, but Greenslopes is classed as outpatients (??) so the visit is a matter for Medicare, not private health. So my total out-of-pockets is about $150 and the taxpayers picking up the rest - thank you. Private Health would have been $500 just to walk through the door.

Yes outpatient is correct.
PHI does not cover ED visits.

IIRC Medicare item 5033 or 5036
......

Heart work is interesting, two trades involved..plumber and electrician.

Though the electrician has taken a lot of the work of the plumber...