General Medical issues thread

[Seat0B]

Today MrsP went in for the cognitive drug trial medical review, eligibility criteria check, & cognitive assessments. I might have indicated previously she had been accepted. Not the case. Today's battery of tests were to determine if she fitted the trial criteria. She does, and has now been formally accepted into the trial. It is a double blind study for 40 weeks and then she will be offered to be rolled into an open-label extension phase where she will be on the actual drug. So in the first phase she has a 50% chance of recieving a placebo or 50% for the drug being reviewed. The chances this drug will work are probably slim, but if you are not in the game you can't win a prize, so we have our fingers crossed.

I hope it goes well for her @prozac

 

[drron]

So, visit today, he said basically nothing wrong with the mechanics of my knee, said the meniscus tear wasn't worth worrying about, I have a little bit of arthritis.
When I asked why I was in so much pain and could hardly walk, he put it down to overuse and carrying my camera bag. I really don't believe that as it was hurting weeks before I left and I nearly cancelled.
Oh well, he is meant to be one of the best, if not the best Knee/hip person in Canberra.
He suggested I go and do the GLAD programme and go to my GP if I am still having issues. Honestly, I feel like I wasted my time, I think I have a very high pain threshold, so I was surprised to be in agony even though I was taking anti inflammatories and panadol osteo.

The problem may not be the knee. Pain in the knee can be referred pain. A common culprit can be the hip. But when my knee pain got suddenly worse it was in fact the first indication of my spinal canal stenosis. Even a simple xray of the hip and lumbar spine may give an answer and then the appropriate scan done.

 

[JohnK]

Tramadol is less problematic but same precautions apply.

So even though Panadeine Forte x 2 works perfectly for me but I have stopped trying to get it. That may well be what the government wants but it's not good for me as Im in constant pain. Forget Paracetamol or Ibuprofen, they do nothing.

My right hip has been really bad with nerve pain down the leg. I don't want to take painkillers or Lyrica/gabapentin. I have taken Tramadol 100mg and it provides temporary relief but doesn't really improve symptoms. Prednisolone 20mg-25mg has been ineffective which surprises me but I don't want to be on that long term either.

I tried Mobic for around 1 month. Did nothing for hip pain. Last night I had Naprosyn SR 1000 and there has been some improvement. Naprosyn scares me as it can rip the stomach lining but for now may have to do. I need to research and try various medications with GPs blessing. Im not wasting time with rheumatologists as last ones said my issues are mechanical and refused to schedule follow up appointments.

I can try Celexocib 200mg as that has helped my wife with her lower back pain and hip pain.

Not fun getting old.

 

[drron]

If the pain goes down the leg when the hip pain is really bad it sounds very much like sciatica which is due to nerve compression I know you have a bad back which often is the cause of sciatica. As it is a nerve pain simple analgesics an NSAIDS will not work.
The suggested treatment these days is Lyrica but I also didn't want to take that so I use amitryptiline at night only. It does cause drowsiness but as I only take it at night it just means I sleep better. not advise if you have glaucoma or prostate. I do get a dry mouth at times from it but that is much easier to deal with than pain.

 

[JohnK]

If the pain goes down the leg when the hip pain is really bad it sounds very much like sciatica which is due to nerve compression I know you have a bad back which often is the cause of sciatica. As it is a nerve pain simple analgesics an NSAIDS will not work.

Not just lower back issues, have Osteoarthritis in both hips and the right hip is now worse.

I have seen what Lyrica does to people with both dad and more recently wife. It worsens their depression to the point where they are no longer logical. I do not want to go through it.

Close to 30 years ago very good ER doctor from Prince of Wales hospital used to help out my then GP when he was on holidays. He knew my chronic issues. He told ne that Tramadol was going to be what I needed towards end of life. Im trying not to use it too much so I can save it for when pain gets bad. Hopefully don't get there but may need 200-300mg per day.

 

[JohnK]

Just back from hospital.

Wife had cystoscopy 2 weeks ago, 7 days Augmentin Forte and still taking Hipprex once a day.

Earlier this afternoon we were at Medical Centre and when we left wife shivering, dizziness, fever, nausea. Went home and she didn't improve so off to hospital but they're really busy as usual. Waited a few hours and urine sample confirms bacteria again. Last 2 months the last 3 urine samples were all clear.

Ureteroscopy?

 

[Quickstatus]

Ureteroscopy

What did the urologist who did the cystoscopy say?

 

[JohnK]

What did the urologist who did the cystoscopy say?

I was not there but something may have been lost in translation.

Wife said either surgery which I think is the ureteroscopy or 6 monthly vaccines to protect against recurring UTIs.

 

[Quickstatus]

I was not there but something may have been lost in translation.

Should be a letter sent to the GP

 

[JohnK]

Should be a letter sent to the GP

RBWH is not good with sending letters to GPs. We have appointment with Urology next month.

 

[Flyfrequently]

Up in town for eyes, teeth, GP and surgical post op appointments.
Needed to see Endodontist unexpectedly last Friday due to acute tooth pain near root canal/ crown done earlier this year. Scans and antibiotics. No charge.
Saw him today, some LA and a clean out - again no charge - thanks Luke.

 

[prozac]

Visit to cardiac surgeon yesterday to review upcoming pacemaker changeover. He gently chided me about my level of interest in my treatment saying whilst he welcomed it some docs may not. I pointed out it was only this level of interest that at my insistence referred me back to him and a subsequent CT chest revealing another surgeon had terminated the artery supplying 2 heart by-passes. The by-pass was his superior handiwork. I, he and my other doctors would never have known about this permanent damage had I not been insistent and shown interest in my treatment. Be pro-active about having knowledge of your medical care.

 

[cove]

After 40 plus years I have a new GP as my previous doctor retired.

 

[Flyfrequently]

Not sure which emoji - sad or hugs @cove

I dread the day our GP retires.
Like you, we have seen him (and his wife) for decades.
We moved 11 years ago and are 80 km away, but still make the trek, though some of our stuff can often be via telehealth.
We think we have now found a practice suitable locally.
But will keep seeing him until we can't.

 

[cove]

Had a first long appointment with new GP who is pretty close to our Perth residence. He said don’t try Saturdays as it is just too crazy. So I have outlasted one cardiologist and one GP since I had the heart bypass 31 years ago.

 

[Pushka]

Visit to cardiac surgeon yesterday to review upcoming pacemaker changeover. He gently chided me about my level of interest in my treatment saying whilst he welcomed it some docs may not. I pointed out it was only this level of interest that at my insistence referred me back to him and a subsequent CT chest revealing another surgeon had terminated the artery supplying 2 heart by-passes. The by-pass was his superior handiwork. I, he and my other doctors would never have known about this permanent damage had I not been insistent and shown interest in my treatment. Be pro-active about having knowledge of your medical care.

You are your own best advocate. As long as there is preparedness to listen to advice then it's what I'd do too

 

[Himeno]

After 40 plus years I have a new GP as my previous doctor retired.

My normal GP is going to retire soon.
He went to high school with dad. He's my sisters god father.
He used to make house calls on his way home when we were younger.

He was first in a now condemned medical center (which they will be knocking down soon to build a Coles). When the nearby Post Office was moving, he took over that building and turned it into a new practice with some other GPs and was there for around 7 years before the Woolworths next door wanted to extend so he sold up. His old office is now the tea room for that Woolies.
He then moved into the center and was there for another 8ish years before the practice owner randomly decided to lock the place, close up and not tell anyone (not even the GPs working there).
Bit of messing around as everyone's medical records got sent to one location, not necessarily where their GPs moved to. He found a new practice to move to (not where the records had been sent) and was on the lake until a new place was built as they started building out the suburbs around Gungahlin. He's been there for the past 14 years.
He got home from holiday, went back to work for a week and then disappeared. That practice didn't know what was happening until late last week. He's now moved again, much closer to home. I expect he'll stay there until he retires.

Of course, now I have to think about moving my records (at least it's all digital now and they can do it with a button press), but the current issue with the workers comp and broken elbow is being dealt with by another GP at the old place.

 

[RooFlyer]

Had two GPs retired me so this time I got a young ‘un. I made the first appointment a double so I could start training him up.

 

[Pushka]

Our office person was on inflatable donut at the river a few weeks ago with friends. They went really fast. The donut tipped up and she was thrown in the air and ended up perpendicular and entering the water head first. My immediate reaction was Concussion and straight to hospital. She didn't. Went to a physio. Stopped doing exercise. Sore neck and headache that has persisted but she is otherwise driving, working etc. Her GP finally referred her for a CT this afternoon and which picked up a brain bleed and she's now in hospital. Hopefully it's the residual of what she received on impact and not a developing one. She is otherwise fully functional. Waiting for the outcome of more tests. Why won't these youngies listen to us oldies?

 

[Himeno]

Why won't these youngies listen to us oldies?

No experience and they think they are invincible. Have had people at work think they are immune to being hit by a electronic walkie stacker simply because they are wearing a hi vis vest and thus have no reason to pay attention to what is happening around them.