General Medical issues thread

[MARTINE]

My dad, newly emigrated from England in 1949, thought the best sun care for me as a child was to mix petroleum jelly with sea water. Stand back and watch the little fair haired girl fry! 70 years later......for years now I've had skin checks every 6 months and a have a very lovely plastic surgeon who has operated to remove nasties 7 times now. Thanks Pop - I won't mention the times I used the teenage trick of lying in the sun slathered in baby oil

With reflective foil under the chin to really get that DNA mutating into melanomas, SCC’s and BCC’s

 

[drron]

I used to annoy manybecause when I got burnt the next morning I would wake up well sun tanned and usually no more sunburn until the first time back at the beach after winter.
Of course unknown to me that was due to my haemochromatosis.

 

[prozac]

I used to annoy manybecause when I got burnt the next morning I would wake up well sun tanned and usually no more sunburn until the first time back at the beach after winter.
Of course unknown to me that was due to my haemochromatosis.

Mid-70s I was working in the Persian Gulf. I fell asleep in the sun one afternoon and when I woke up I was very burnt. Within a few days my skin turned very dark, a bit like the locals. Looked very strange with my light colour hair. I repatriated around this time, the looks I got at the airport.

 

[Pushka]

I hated being in the sun and the thought of lying on a towel and baking never crossed my mind. Now in late sixties and with blond complexion and blue eyes the doctors go into a tizz at any potential issue. Even a plastic surgeon diagnosed an scc before biopsy. Nothing. I did have an ulcerous blemish on my skin but the cream sorted it. Last check at specialist found - nothing. Just a couple of things were zapped - a wart on thumb and a non keratin thing on ribs but never thought to be an issue. Just wanted it gone which it almost has.

 

[MelMel]

Is it possible for a vein to “run out” during a blood test or is it operator error? Three tubes required, I was fully hydrated and never had a problem before. She said the first vein “ran out” after one tube and she had to have another go with the resulting bruise. Not on blood thinners.

 

[p--and--t]

Is it possible for a vein to “run out” during a blood test or is it operator error? Three tubes required, I was fully hydrated and never had a problem before. She said the first vein “ran out” after one tube and she had to have another go with the resulting bruise. Not on blood thinners.View attachment 431879

I'm not in the field and there are plenty more qualified on here.

I have been punctured like that before and had severe bruising. Looks like cough but nothing serious should clear within a week give or take.

Also once had a nerve cut and severe pain in arm for around 6 weeks after donating blood at blood bank

Taking blood samples is an inexact science and lots of things going on under the skin. I believe happens regardless of how careful or experienced the operator is.

Never heard the term "run out" before.

 

[RooFlyer]

I've had veins 'run out' - something just closes and the vein runs 'dry'.

But apologies for the 'one-upmanship' (and nothing to do with veins' running out'). This was from a catheter in a Brisbane emergency dept. I am on blood thinners, but this was way beyond anything experienced before. Its an inside elbow, BTW.

 

[prozac]

Is it possible for a vein to “run out” during a blood test or is it operator error? Three tubes required, I was fully hydrated and never had a problem before. She said the first vein “ran out” after one tube and she had to have another go with the resulting bruise. Not on blood thinners.View attachment 431879

Not qualified other than had lots and lots and lots the past few years. Did they tell you that your vein was wriggly / wobbly / moved? It happens. A good nurse should have applied pressure for a while before continuing. Some of the worst vien stickers are the most qualified ones.
Had an angiogram at Christmas and a "sister" tried to inject saline directly into my hand. OK, she did and I had to ask her WTF she thought she was doing. She passed it over to someone less qualfied. No f... apology either.

 

[MelMel]

Not qualified other than had lots and lots and lots the past few years. Did they tell you that your vein was wriggly / wobbly / moved? It happens. A good nurse should have applied pressure for a while before continuing. Some of the worst vien stickers are the most qualified ones.
Had an angiogram at Christmas and a "sister" tried to inject saline directly into my hand. OK, she did and I had to ask her WTF she thought she was doing. She passed it over to someone less qualfied. No f... apology either.

No comment other than it had run out. She seemed quite flustered

 

[love_the_life]

My mother (and me to a less degree) have veins that can 'shut down' and so can't be located for blood tests, drips etc. Hers got so bad they would have to go into a vein on her foot. I had to have baby size needles when they were running some chemo through back in 1990. Doesn't seem to be as bad now and can usually find a vein for a blood test without too much trouble.

 

[Quickstatus]

Veins are low pressure thin wall collapsible structures. Paper thin in many cases.

It is very easy to collapse a vein during a blood draw. The needle then goes through the other side of the vein wall. Once out of the vein it may be impossible to get it back.

The bruise is because of blood leaking out of the vein. Just needed proper pressure for a period of time. Time is the main factor. Thicker veins need less time. Veins that are run out often have more than one hole so need more time.

Blood test collectors are the most experienced in blood collection - better than Drs.

 

[Seat0B]

Immunotherapy has been the game changer.
The biology of the cancer genes inform therapies that turn your immune system into an infantry whose ‘weapons’ attack the cancer receptors ‘weapons’ (very very simply).
Incredible development in treatment of melanoma and lung cancer (a few examples).

My “chemo” for hairy cell leukaemia was with cladribine which I understand is a type of immunotherapy.

 

[Seat0B]

So annus horibilis seemed to morphed to week horibilis. "Minor" surgery today ended up the doc removing a patch of face 20mm x 15mm & so much burning that the room smelt like the local pub on steak night followed by a load of stitches, to top it off a text mum passed away.

Going home to take some pain killers, local has worn off and whole side of face aching like hell.

Sorry to hear about all your troubles. Condolences.

 

[TheRealTMA]

2nd Endodontist vist. Three root canals, medication, temp filling. $1845 (MP rebate $345)

 

[Cossie]

Just had my bottom rear molar out, it was stuffed, it had had a root canal and a crown, seems it had a cavity behind which I couldn't get too with the brush, hence very weakened.
Not young anymore, so beginning to accept things like this.

 

[Flashback]

Well, some good news... the spots in Father FB's lung are benign, so only needs surgery for the prostate. No chemo or radiation therapy (although that was an option, he's opting for the surgey). Then 6 weeks after that is done, there will be another test to check PSA levels again. If they haven't dropped, then it's back to the chemo route but the doc said 70% chance that won't be the case

April / May trip to Europe will need to be cancelled still, so need to get my head around the logistics of that but that's one for next week I think...

 

[MARTINE]

Well, some good news... the spots in Father FB's lung are benign, so only needs surgery for the prostate. No chemo or radiation therapy (although that was an option, he's opting for the surgey). Then 6 weeks after that is done, there will be another test to check PSA levels again. If they haven't dropped, then it's back to the chemo route but the doc said 70% chance that won't be the case

April / May trip to Europe will need to be cancelled still, so need to get my head around the logistics of that but that's one for next week I think...

FB that is the best news to hear. You must be so relieved

 

[Flashback]

FB that is the best news to hear. You must be so relieved

For sure, not out of the woods yet but certainly the news is about as good as it could have been! Fingers cross come late April PSA levels have all dropped and it's back to business as usual. Mother FB told me he won't be able to lift heavy things for some time after, so I quipped 'wow, the things some people will do to try and make you travel lighter'

 

[love_the_life]

Well, some good news... the spots in Father FB's lung are benign, so only needs surgery for the prostate. No chemo or radiation therapy (although that was an option, he's opting for the surgey). Then 6 weeks after that is done, there will be another test to check PSA levels again. If they haven't dropped, then it's back to the chemo route but the doc said 70% chance that won't be the case

April / May trip to Europe will need to be cancelled still, so need to get my head around the logistics of that but that's one for next week I think...

Good news and must be a relief for everyone. Make sure you look after yourself as well!

 

[TheRealTMA]

2nd Endodontist vist. Three root canals, medication, temp filling. $1845 (MP rebate $345)

One needs to keep things in perspective, it’s only two bottles of Grange!