General Medical issues thread

[Quickstatus]

but can relatives over ride this?

And do what?
They are free find a surgeon to operate on a medically hopeless situation.

Or they can take the hospital to court

But truthfully with proper communication, family are always reasonable.

Where it is a problem is organ donation, a family can override the deceased donation wishes.

 

[prozac]

Sticking to advice post procedure and did a 1km+ walk today. Temp is high 20's and I did not find it difficult, even the hills on the way back which would have had me moderating my pace and puffing heavily between talking. And no angina! On arrival home I would have sat waiting for my energy levels to rise again (alright, I would have been exhausted) and now not necessary. Think I'll wash the car now.

 

[Himeno]

They should probably put a warning on human bodies that living will eventually lead to death.

Until they work out how to upload minds into new bodies.

 

[Quickstatus]

Until they work out how to upload minds into new bodies.

Your favourite outspoken billionaire appears to be doing something. Maybe not new bodies.

I often tell patients that the best thing is to get a new body. Can't fix the current one.

 

[Quickstatus]

An important discussion to be had which is actually a standard of care is to determine the patient's wishes if something bad happens.

Say Auntie Mabel 98 broke her hip.
She needs a hip fixation or else she will die.

If we go ahead, and during the surgery or post op her heart stops what do we do?. If something bad happens do we put her on life support with all the associated treatments. Or what is the maximum extent of treatment?. No ICU? Or ICU but no life support, No blood transfusion?. Etc etc

Most patients /families will either be quite adamant virtually in the direction of no heroics or they can't decide - because it can be very difficult so we decide for them. So we tell them that we will do X but not Y. Patients and their families often find this comforting that they don't have to make such a decision themselves.

However, It is better to have that discussion before it all happens.

 

[TheRealTMA]

Anyone have suggestions for treadmills for old folks?

 

[Fruitloop50]

Anyone have suggestions for treadmills for old folks?

Last October we bought a Bodyworx JTM1501 treadmill.

Bodyworx JTM1501 Treadmill - GPI Sport & Fitness

MrF is 79 and doesn't have great balance anymore. He finds it really sturdy and easy to hold on to the handles and adjust the speed and incline while he is walking.

We don't use any of the pre-set programs.

 

[MelMel]

Anyone have suggestions for treadmills for old folks?

Whatever you get make sure it has an “emergency stop clip/attachment “ and that they use it. My mum came off the treadmill at the gym at age 75 and dislocated her shoulder badly.

 

[Quickstatus]

Anyone have suggestions for treadmills for old folks?

We tell all our elderly pts to get these for a bit of preop exercise. Adjustable resistance

 

[Katie]

FIL update:
For reasons I'm not sure about, FIL had his cataract surgeries in December (last I knew his cardiologist had said earlier in 2024 to abandon all plans for further surgeries - clearly, FIL's overall condition hasn't been as bad as predicted in May/June 2024, so it was worth progressing with some other planned treatments). Forgot to ask him at his birthday if he thinks his eyesight is improved; he didn't feel much improvement after the first eye was done.

In overall good needs, we still had FIL here for Xmas and his 85th birthday (NYE). His appetite on his birthday was good, so-so at Xmas, but I blame the bowl of cashews he was nibbling on before we sat down to lunch. And that lunch wasn't a seafood feast.
We might need to do something to check on MIL, though, as she commented before Christmas that her weight is down to just over 50kgs and with FIL not eating as much, she hasn't been either. :/ We don't want her to have carer-related stress and suffering. She also got laid up with a gastro bug on the weekend before Xmas and FIL reckoned he's never seen her knocked out like that with illness.
Apparently Mr Katie and I are partly to blame for that gastro illness, as the prior night was dinner at our house, and we sat on the deck and MIL was cold.
MIL is a firm believer that if you get cold, you exacerbate any illness.

Dad update:
Recovered well from his TURP. Had an admission late last week due to clots passing (3 weeks post op), but I think he was only in overnight.
My sister the nurse spoke to him at the family Christmas gathering, and from what I overheard, she was asking about pre-hab for his knee op and encouraging fitness/weight loss ... fingers crossed.

 

[Cossie]

I wasn't happy with the cataract surgery on my right eye as I became shortsighted!

So another lens was placed in behind the new one and now my distance vision is great, which what I wanted.

 

[DejaBrew]

So another lens was placed in behind the new one and now my distance vision is great, which what I wanted.

I'm assuming the 18-55mm zoom afforded by the additional lens was a nice bonus as well?

 

[Major]

I wasn't happy with the cataract surgery on my right eye as I became shortsighted!

So another lens was placed in behind the new one and now my distance vision is great, which what I wanted.

I had a similar issue and had a piggy back lens inserted in my right eye. Distance vision still not good so I have bought glasses for distance and driving