General Medical issues thread

[Quickstatus]

And less likely to have the inguinal nerves

Other nerves get get caught by the curly tacks used to attach the mesh. But overall less problematic in that respect. Though the mesh can cause other issues...

 

[RooFlyer]

Other nerves get get caught by the curly tacks used to attach the mesh

Don't worry, I'm a veteran of issues to do with "the stitch".

 

[maia200]

I came down with shingles about 10 days ago. Never knew that the neuropathic pain was so bad......it is on my right bum checks and right upper thigh. Hard to sit or sleep properly. Was given antivirals and pain killers however the pain killers knock me out so took some codeine - much better now. Also had some acupuncture which took the last of the neuropathic pain away yesterday, however the actual shingles part is still sore. Compared to last week though I am 98%. When the doctor said it is common in the elderly and immunocompromised I wondered why she was telling me this? That was more of a shock lol. Apparently elderly is over 60 and yes I am immunocompromised.

 

[SuePa]

I came down with shingles about 10 days ago. Never knew that the neuropathic pain was so bad......it is on my right bum checks and right upper thigh. Hard to sit or sleep properly. Was given antivirals and pain killers however the pain killers knock me out so took some codeine - much better now. Also had some acupuncture which took the last of the neuropathic pain away yesterday, however the actual shingles part is still sore. Compared to last week though I am 98%. When the doctor said it is common in the elderly and immunocompromised I wondered why she was telling me this? That was more of a shock lol. Apparently elderly is over 60 and yes I am immunocompromised.

Shingles are horrible! You have my sympathy.
I wish I'd known about the acupuncture, my pain lasted for months. I will remember that, in case there's a next time. Hope not!

 

[maia200]

The accupuncture was amazing and yes I sure hope you never get again - you never forget that pain. I know someone who has had it three times. However he must be fairly rare...he also had chicken pox 3 times.

 

[SuePa]

The accupuncture was amazing and yes I sure hope you never get again - you never forget that pain. I know someone who has had it three times. However he must be fairly rare...he also had chicken pox 3 times.

When I got it, a number of students at my school had chicken pox. I don't know if this is what kicked off my shingles, if I gave them chicken pox or pure coincidence. I was told to isolate for 5 days.

 

[JohnK]

Shingles are horrible! You have my sympathy.
I wish I'd known about the acupuncture, my pain lasted for months. I will remember that, in case there's a next time. Hope not!

I've not had shingles but I had chicken pox at 46 years old and it almost killed me.

That was almost 13 years ago and the craters in my scalp still cause me discomfort and I can still have issues shaving too. And there is also some organ damage that can give me troubles.

Not fun at all.

 

[Katie]

NDIA. Urgh! Thought I had a great phone call with them a few weeks ago to sort through where plan claims will be paid.

LAC calls today and no, that was really just a chat and I was meant to take all the actions after the call. NOT at all the impression the person I talked to gave me.

So, I'm glad the LAC called to see why there's been no claims or payments since the plan was established ~5 weeks ago.

 

[Quickstatus]

I don't know if this is what kicked off my shingles, if I gave them chicken pox or pure coincidence.

Active blisters in shingles can spread chicken pox but only by direct contact to someone touching it who is unvaccinated. Once the blisters are crusty they are no longer infectious

Someone else's chicken pox does not trigger shingles in another person.

 

[Black Duck]

I developed shingles when in Bangkok some years back. I don't know why but somehow it hit me it was shingles and I went off to Bumrungrad hospital - saw an infectious disease specialist within 20 minutes on a Saturday and had antivirals straight away. The upside of that was I fortunately didn't have a really bad time but it got in my ear and still affects me years later. I also had to stay longer in Bangkok as you are not permitted to fly without clearance. I was told at the time I could infect others with chicken pox through contact but when I mentioned that to a gp back here they wouldn't believe me or that I would be stopped from flying. It was very clear on the flying front when you read airline info. Insurance covered the extra time so not so bad. Just so happy I recognised what was happening quickly.

 

[SuePa]

Active blisters in shingles can spread chicken pox but only by direct contact to someone touching it who is unvaccinated. Once the blisters are crusty they are no longer infectious

Someone else's chicken pox does not trigger shingles in another person.

Thanks for that, Quickstatus.
Must have been a coincidence then, because I can guarantee the location of the blisters was in a place that no-one was touching!

 

[JohnK]

Is there anything I need to worry about with a bone scan?

This will be interesting. Rheumatologist says my chronic pain/inflammatory issues don't make sense and they need to know the cause before they can treat it.

 

[cove]

Getting shingles shots done if you have ever had chicken pox is something we both did. We had ours in the US so we paid quite a bit for them six months apart. I think that they cost about $180USD twice for each of us and the pharmacist did the shots.
In Australia i believe the shingles shots are free or almost free So just get it done is my advice.
i saw my mother get shingles and it made her life miserable.

 

[love_the_life]

Getting shingles shots done if you have ever had chicken pox is something we both did. We had ours in the US so we paid quite a bit for them six months apart. I think that they cost about $180USD twice for each of us and the pharmacist did the shots.
In Australia i believe the shingles shots are free or almost free So just get it done is my advice.
i saw my mother get shingles and it made her life miserable.

Shingles shots are free for over 70s though I think only a single shot not two.

 

[MARTINE]

Shingles shots are free for over 70s though I think only a single shot not two.

I am under 70
Its two injections with second 2-6 months after first
$250 each ($25 back from MediPrivate)
Shingrix
Never want to get shingles so will take anything

 

[Quickstatus]

bone scan?

You have to lie flat and still for several hours - there are 2 sessions in which you have to do it. Morning and afternoon.

 

[Pushka]

I can't have the shingles shot as it's a live vaccine. I've heard the over 70 shot isn't that effective and best thing is to pay for the other one.

Due to have a bone densitometry scan in a couple of weeks due to predicted long term steroi_ use. Medicare mostly pays for it due to meeting a couple of the criteria. Really don't want to have to go see an exercise person to develop a weight program for me. Hopefully genetics comes in to protect me. Mum would fall and bounce!

 

[cove]

Thanks @MARTINE I viewed that cost as a great investment in our future for those two shingles shots each. We flew to the US twice with Singapore Airlines from Perth to Los Angeles to get the shots in the pharmac_ at the rear of our local Ralphs supermarket.
That was after we could not get the script handled in Australia quite a few years ago.
We were told that this double shingle shots would be very close to 100% effective.

 

[ellen10]

I have had shingles several times, once when I was pregnant on the left hand side of my face, very painful.

 

[Flyfrequently]

I developed shingles when in Bangkok some years back. I don't know why but somehow it hit me it was shingles and I went off to Bumrungrad hospital - saw an infectious disease specialist within 20 minutes on a Saturday and had antivirals straight away. The upside of that was I fortunately didn't have a really bad time but it got in my ear and still affects me years later. I also had to stay longer in Bangkok as you are not permitted to fly without clearance. I was told at the time I could infect others with chicken pox through contact but when I mentioned that to a gp back here they wouldn't believe me or that I would be stopped from flying. It was very clear on the flying front when you read airline info. Insurance covered the extra time so not so bad. Just so happy I recognised what was happening quickly.

Great you got prompt treatment in Bangkok @Black Duck.
Two days after being diagnosed with Shingles (on torso) in Melbourne and on last dose of antivirals, went on holiday to Airlie Beach and woke with Shingles on left cheek and in eyelid
So hard to access medical treatment there, managed Telehealth with my Melbourne GP and eyes eventually monitored by excellent Cannonvale optometrist.
Very lucky to have no residual eye damage/vision loss or neuropathic pain.

Irony was Shingles vaccine was scheduled before our trip to FNQ, now cannot have it until a year has passed.

Highly recommended getting the vaccine even though it is expensive.