General Medical issues thread

[Pushka]

The ED doctor thought UTI 2 weeks ago when I had blood coming out and gave me meds for that, then the culture came back.
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I might deal with it, maybe try some basic pain meds, unless I get some other symptom.

Maybe men feel UTI differently to women but I know I barely function when I have a UTI and antibiotics provides almost immediate relief.

 

[RooFlyer]

Not unless urine flow completely blocked
Simple analgesics
Urine culture likely just colonisation.

And any patient anxiety and consequences of that?

 

[Quickstatus]

And any patient anxiety and consequences of that?

You mean does psychological factors influence severity of symptoms?

 

[drron]

24hrs for me.

For me it was less than a minute as the needle pierced the skin and then withdrawn. Very rare for me to get a reaction to vaccines though.

 

[RooFlyer]

You mean does psychological factors influence severity of symptoms?

not exactly. I’m saying when a patient (speaking generally) has unexpected pain and symptoms after a treatment and the advice is then just to take some analgesics, I certainly would be pretty stressed by that. Unless, say, it was forecast during the treatment as being possible, and take some analgesics was the advice of the treating Dr.

I had this recently. I had a steroi_ injection into my hand and my GP said it would be more painful than before for a couple of days but then get better. He was right and I didn’t worry but if he hadn’t told me then I would’ve been very worried (unnecessarily).

After my hernia operation, in the evening, I had some localised intense pain a bit away from the operated area. I went to the Hobart emergency department where they assessed me and said oh yes that’s quite common. It’ll go away in a day. I gave the Surgeon a bit of a serve when I saw him next. I think he was a bit shocked.

Stress I’m pretty sure can bring its own set of issues not necessarily in respect of the particular issue at the time.

 

[Quickstatus]

I certainly would be pretty stressed by that

Sure, in that case go to emerg, thats what its there for.. The trigger varies between individuals. The question is when to pull the trigger. Some pull it too early and some too late.

 

[Pushka]

For me it was less than a minute as the needle pierced the skin and then withdrawn. Very rare for me to get a reaction to vaccines though.

There's always one. .

 

[RooFlyer]

Sure, in that case go to emerg, thats what its there for.. The trigger varies between individuals. The question is when to pull the trigger. Some pull it too early and some too late.

My own philosophy is if it’s there (private, not public), I can afford it and I also have top health insurance so I’m going to use it if I’m worried. And I’ll be worried with any combination of pain and symptoms not forecast by a very recent treating Dr very recently, it’s night, I’m by myself.

And I have no wish to have it be said in retrospect "if only he (or I) saw a doctor sooner… "

 

[pagingjoan]

I have 2 metal knees and they just wand you if not using the newer scanners. They are not interested in cards or notes from the doctor.

My partner has two replacement hips plus an implanted defibrillator.
Have been though countless security screenings and never been asked for a medical card or similar - until Marseille airport a couple of months back.
When we could not produce documentation that they liked (had scripts etc), they pulled apart all his baggage and took aside loose clothing testing for explosives.
Fun.

 

[MARTINE]

My own philosophy is if it’s there (private, not public), I can afford it and I also have top health insurance so I’m going to use it if I’m worried. And I’ll be worried with any combination of pain and symptoms not forecast by a very recent treating Dr very recently, it’s night, I’m by myself.

And I have no wish to have it be said in retrospect "if only he (or I) saw a doctor sooner… "

IMO - having been dr and pt - a good doctor listens actively, understands your concerns (AND why you have them), is expert at expectations management and communicates all of the above in an empathic compassionate way. Its always important to explain the expected, and what is unexpected and what to do and how. This is beyond the complications are conversation (which is mandatory but I feel better reinforced with written information after the discussion). A good dr is also happy to encourage you to ask Q’s or patiently explain the answer a 2nd time. Those that don’t never get my or my family’s custom.
I fully appreciate this is beyond a 7 minute consultation. I feel sorry for my younger colleagues

 

[RooFlyer]

IMO - having been dr and pt - a good doctor listens actively, understands your concerns (AND why you have them), is expert at expectations management and communicates all of the above in an empathic compassionate way. Its always important to explain the expected, and what is unexpected and what to do and how. This is beyond the complications are conversation (which is mandatory but I feel better reinforced with written information after the discussion). A good dr is also happy to encourage you to ask Q’s or patiently explain the answer a 2nd time. Those that don’t never get my or my family’s custom.
I fully appreciate this is beyond a 7 minute consultation. I feel sorry for my younger colleagues

In the past 20 years since I’ve moved back to Tasmania, I’ve had three fabulous GPs. The first two retired in succession ( they always ran late!) but I’ve now got a younger guy who is absolutely tremendous.

He's nearly always on time or even early so I now get to the surgery 10 or 15 minutes before time and the last two times he’s called me 10 minutes before my appointment.

He even volunteered to me once that he doesn’t believe in the one issue rule. Makes sense - if he can clear up two or three simple issues or concerns in the one hit, that saves me making a whole new appointment.

It's like having a good travel agent. They can anticipate what you’re going to say or be concerned about before you actually say so.

It's the specialists that get my goat. So often it’s a sausage factory - you go in, you’ve got an issue? Okay: XYZ now leave.

I recounted above an issue with a radiologist's steroi_ injection procedure I had about 10 days ago. From my email to them, I got a pro forma response but heard nothing since.

 

[Quickstatus]

And I’ll be worried with any combination of pain and symptoms not forecast by a very recent treating Dr very recently, it’s night, I’m by myself.

For sure. The thing to note is that A&E has a triage system, and whatever the combination of symptoms that initiated the trek in the middle of the night to the A&E will have to get past the Triage nurse. So invariably there will be people who will be waiting for hours and those who will have no wait.

Hence the often asked question "should I go to the A&E" . Most will have enough common sense to discern what is a must go and what is a take 2 panadol. However, every day people turn up to the A&E for obviously minor ailments.

Some are not so obvious.
Many moons ago I had a fellow come in past midnight. He fell in the grass and went home, but woke up with severe back pain
Came in. Luckily it was quiet and he was seen to quickly. The exam revealed nothing in particular and initially we thought he was just sore from falling.
However, the Xray showed a 30cm long palm frond in his back. He had stabbed himself on a palm frond. Needed surgery

Then you have the classic - kid with the sniffle, temperature and feeling unwell. Seen in A&E , nothing serious, gets sent home and dies from meningitis.

A good dr is also happy to encourage you to ask Q’s or patiently explain the answer a 2nd time

Sure, except that the good Dr is not at the end of the telephone call 24/7
There are nurse staffed hotlines these days which can help with the question of "should I go to the A&E".

 

[prozac]

In the past 20 years since I’ve moved back to Tasmania, I’ve had three fabulous GPs. The first two retired in succession ( they always ran late!) but I’ve now got a younger guy who is absolutely tremendous.

He's nearly always on time or even early so I now get to the surgery 10 or 15 minutes before time and the last two times he’s called me 10 minutes before my appointment.

He even volunteered to me once that he doesn’t believe in the one issue rule. Makes sense - if he can clear up two or three simple issues or concerns in the one hit, that saves me making a whole new appointment.

It's like having a good travel agent. They can anticipate what you’re going to say or be concerned about before you actually say so.

It's the specialists that get my goat. So often it’s a sausage factory - you go in, you’ve got an issue? Okay: XYZ now leave.

I recounted above an issue with a radiologist's steroi_ injection procedure I had about 10 days ago. From my email to them, I got a pro forma response but heard nothing since.

It is great when your dr is (almost) as good as your travel agent.

 

[RooFlyer]

It is great when your dr is (almost) as good as your travel agent.

Travel agent cost a lot more but the therapy is much more pleasant.

 

[cove]

This afternoon we heard a friend has been diagnosed with dementia at 78 after a brilliant career as an expert in his field. We are quite stunned.

 

[drron]

It is great when your dr is (almost) as good as your travel agent.

I was both doctor and travel advisor to many patients.