General Medical issues thread

[Quickstatus]

I've been managing it with statins ever since.

Have you done a coronary artery calcium score?. It's a CT scan

 

[Pushka]

Have you done a coronary artery calcium score?. It's a CT scan

MrP is doing one in a week or so. Not covered by Medicare apparently. Cholesterol slightly up.

My mum went very forgetful on statins. Cholesterol was fine but statins given ‘just in case’ after stroke/afib. She forgot everyone’s names especially the grandkids. SIL checked out why she was on statins then had them stopped. Her memory returned to normal - she had no cognitive issues at all prior to statins.

My MIL who also had terminal camcer lost weight. She had a very bad turn mentally - again no issues prior, quite the opposite. The GP checked her non cancer meds and statins was withdrawn. She’s had no heart issues. Her cancer was ovarian. She improved significantly.

 

[RooFlyer]

I wouldn’t think so, but is there any incentive for a GP for instance to issue more scripts than otherwise might be required?

My current GP I’ve been seeing for a few months is temporary until I can see my regular guy again in maybe another month or so. He’s a good GP but seems to issue scripts at the drop of a hat. I don’t mean for things I may not need (he’s discouraged me off one or two), but for instance one time I went in and as usual he said how you off for scripts and I mentioned one that I needed but then he issued five covering all the medications I was currently on, even though I didn’t need the new prescription right then (still 3 or so repeats left).

Today we were discussing a condition for which I have a prescription for a fairly potent drug that I carry “just in case” it’s needed. He automatically dashed off a prescription even though I didn’t ask for it and I didn’t need it.

I’m guessing he’s just trying to be helpful and I’m not thinking of any nefarious reason, nor do I feel over medicated, but he is very much more willing to write a script then other GPs I’ve seen for a long while.

 

[Quickstatus]

but is there any incentive for a GP for instance to issue more scripts than otherwise might be required?

Zero.

The drug companies might sponsor an education dinner on a topic related to the drug they want to sell (no hard sells) or pay to have a display spot at a convention.

Mostly get dodgy biros if lucky

The thing to note about Statins is that the criteria for "high risk" changed so much that apparently 600% more people are now eligible than when it was first introduced.

 

[kookaburra75]

Have you done a coronary artery calcium score?. It's a CT scan

Not yet - it's on my list to do. I have the treadmill/stress test each year, and a few times the doctor has had me stop statins for a month to see what happens to my cholesterol level. It went back up to 6+ and then returned once I went back on Lipitor - 20mg dose.