General Medical issues thread

[Seat0B]

If you dont have it, maybe one of those digital photo frames where you can remotely upload pics to it so family or friends can drop in pics to surprise her

yes another great idea - and she already has one of these frames and loves it.

 

[mrsterryn]

Going into a nursing home is rarely something that people want to do (2% I think in an ABC survey).
Although many people who do are not cognitively aware, I often advise the ones that are sharp to do their best to work on cheering up the staff. They have a tough job and the resident will likely be treated particularly well.

My mother , when cognitively with it, was adamant if she ended up with dementia (she did ) she was to go into care. Mum had cared for nan for a short period and it was horrendous. So mum was quite aware she would possibly end up with dementia and that nursing home was the end of life choice

She was in an absolutely wonderful nursing home I do have to say though

 

[love_the_life]

Wonderful news about your mum Seat0B- you must be so relieved.

Did you have to label all your mum's clothes? When my mum went to a resi care facility straight from hospital, she had limited clothes with her (and not labelled) and of course no-one who could arrange it easily. She had some sent from home when the lockdown started to lift and I bought online and sent her lots - but as they were not labelled, they disappeared and were found eventually in the laundry room. Have a feeling this may have been after she passed away. The annoying thing was she had be toying with resi about 6 months earlier and had got some labels but then went cold on the idea and nothing happened.

 

[Pushka]

This sounds promising:

Moderna shares nearly triple on skin cancer vaccine success
Probably paywalled

I was listening to a researcher today and he said this was particularly promising as the studies had been done on a large scale. And looking at it treating pancreatic cancers eventually which would be excellent. Cheaper to produce than other treatments too apparently.

 

[RooFlyer]

I got the biopsy of the first skin cancer I had removed last week - it was a mole! No matter - better to be cautious.

 

[drron]

This sounds promising:

Moderna shares nearly triple on skin cancer vaccine success
Probably paywalled

One of my nephews is married to a woman who the Canadians believe was instrumental in this achievement She worked on the MRNA Covid vaccines.
2 years ago the University of Washington lured her south offering a full professor position and her own Lab.
Her major research the last 4 years has been MRNA vaccines for cancer and how to deliver them.

 

[Seat0B]

Wonderful news about your mum Seat0B- you must be so relieved.

Did you have to label all your mum's clothes? When my mum went to a resi care facility straight from hospital, she had limited clothes with her (and not labelled) and of course no-one who could arrange it easily. She had some sent from home when the lockdown started to lift and I bought online and sent her lots - but as they were not labelled, they disappeared and were found eventually in the laundry room. Have a feeling this may have been after she passed away. The annoying thing was she had be toying with resi about 6 months earlier and had got some labels but then went cold on the idea and nothing happened.

No we haven’t been asked to label clothes, rather to consent to them using a system to of their own to identify clothes. I don’t know yet what that system is. All laundry is done on premises and there is a fully equiped laundry with 4 washers and driers on each floor of the facility. Those who are capable can do their own washing. Mum’s sadly no longer able.

 

[love_the_life]

No we haven’t been asked to label clothes, rather to consent to them using a system to of their own to identify clothes. I don’t know yet what that system is. All laundry is done on premises and there is a fully equiped laundry with 4 washers and driers on each floor of the facility. Those who are capable can do their own washing. Mum’s sadly no longer able.

That’s interesting to know. As my experience was in a small country town and older facilities it could be that systems have improved. It’s good that those who are able can do their own laundry - a bit of independence retained for a while. The facility sounds great and I hope your mother has many happy years there.

 

[TheRealTMA]

I got the biopsy of the first skin cancer I had removed last week - it was a mole! No matter - better to be cautious.

Better safe than dead. Surprised the medico could not tell the difference?

 

[Quickstatus]

Surprised the medico could not tell the difference?

Often the appearances are similar

The ABCDE of differentiating them

 

[RooFlyer]

Better safe than dead. Surprised the medico could not tell the difference?

It certainly looked like a mole (to me) - pinky/pearly white, just a 4mm lump. But the doc did comment that under his magnifying lens, it had lots of 'recruiting' blood vessels which apparently is a sign of a cancer. There was no umming or erring from him - flagged it immediately.

 

[Major]

I visited my skin cancer doc yesterday for my 6 month check up.
Apart from about half a can of liquid nitrogen, only 2 BCC's ( 1 on the leg and 1 on the face ) and 1 SCC on the cheek.

Ears and face are a bit messy today

 

[Himeno]

Back in hospital with that urology issue.
ED urologist was able to get a wire through so bludder emptying again without need for a hole to get cut again.
Had been booked for a flow test and checkup next month following the urethral dilation in Sydney 55 weeks ago. Looks like they might need to do the next level up producture (urethroplasty) now.
Everything was fine yesterday. Slow and painful, but still passing the day before and today nothing.

 

[Seat0B]

How disappointing for you @Himeno

 

[Seat0B]

One week in and mum is nicely settled at Amala. This is a nice nursing home - plenty of light, cheerful and kind staff, spotlessly clean, fruit, cakes and biscuits, tea and coffee available for self service all day, and plenty of residents out and about in the communal areas whenever we visit.

I've been "rejected" twice this week when trying to visit mum - one day she was keen to go to bingo that started a few minutes after I arrived and all but showed me the door, and today, I went as planned at 1030 to find she had opted into the church service from 1030-1130. I'm pretty happy about all of that as it is great social activity for her, the chance to meet new people and takes the pressure off the family big time.

I feel much relief at this situation. Thanks everyone for the support along the way.

If I could sum up one key lesson I have learnt from this experience it is this. No matter how much you wish to be that person that passes away peacefully at home, there is a very very high chance that it won't happen for you. So unless you want to be backed into a corner with totally no choice about where you go, you need to be sensible and get your name down at some places you would be willing to go to when the time inevitably comes for you. Please do not fight or demonise your family members who might try to suggest this. Being on a waiting list does not force you to accept a place if you get an offer, but not being on a list definitely means no offer until it is a total emergency and harrowing for all concerned.

Oh , and my bonus second lesson is that Swedish Death Cleaning is something everyone should consider as a gift to their children and grandchildren. Mum has been extremely good about that.

 

[tgh]

I guess the challenge with end of life preparation is that there are not usually forward bookings available.
Stuff always happens when it is least expected and it is unreasonable to expect healthy supplicants to be spending some time in a box, just to be ready.
We hope to avoid incarceration completely..or almost so, but also hope we have the presence of mind to accept whatever reality fate delivers.

I occasionally walk past the domicile of an elderly gentleman , I think his family keeps an eye on him and sometimes he has visitors but mostly the ajar front door is the only indication the somewhat ramshackle property is even occupied,
I have pondered what kind of a life it is for him , but also remind my self that when his late wife was incarcerated with dementia, she was dreadfully unhappy and quickly demised.

 

[mrsterryn]

If I could sum up one key lesson I have learnt from this experience it is this. No matter how much you wish to be that person that passes away peacefully at home, there is a very very high chance that it won't happen for you. So unless you want to be backed into a corner with totally no choice about where you go, you need to be sensible and get your name down at some places you would be willing to go to when the time inevitably comes for you. Please do not fight or demonise your family members who might try to suggest this. Being on a waiting list does not force you to accept a place if you get an offer, but not being on a list definitely means no offer until it is a total emergency and harrowing for all concerned.

Really hoping that people have started to shift the thinking of "all nursing homes bad" cause as you have unfortunately found it , nursing homes are needed

Glad to hear your mum is settling .

 

[VPS]

One week in and mum is nicely settled at Amala. This is a nice nursing home - plenty of light, cheerful and kind staff, spotlessly clean, fruit, cakes and biscuits, tea and coffee available for self service all day, and plenty of residents out and about in the communal areas whenever we visit.

I've been "rejected" twice this week when trying to visit mum - one day she was keen to go to bingo that started a few minutes after I arrived and all but showed me the door, and today, I went as planned at 1030 to find she had opted into the church service from 1030-1130. I'm pretty happy about all of that as it is great social activity for her, the chance to meet new people and takes the pressure off the family big time.

I feel much relief at this situation. Thanks everyone for the support along the way.

If I could sum up one key lesson I have learnt from this experience it is this. No matter how much you wish to be that person that passes away peacefully at home, there is a very very high chance that it won't happen for you. So unless you want to be backed into a corner with totally no choice about where you go, you need to be sensible and get your name down at some places you would be willing to go to when the time inevitably comes for you. Please do not fight or demonise your family members who might try to suggest this. Being on a waiting list does not force you to accept a place if you get an offer, but not being on a list definitely means no offer until it is a total emergency and harrowing for all concerned.

Oh , and my bonus second lesson is that Swedish Death Cleaning is something everyone should consider as a gift to their children and grandchildren. Mum has been extremely good about that.

Excellent news - are the resistors now convinced this was the right move for your mum or are they still whinging

We moved mum into a retirement place and she was such a hoarder and we thought she can't hoard much in the nursing home. But even after 4 years when we cleaning out the nursing home we still found about 40 plastic bags and dozens of bits of stationery that was never going to get used.

 

[Seat0B]

Excellent news - are the resistors now convinced this was the right move for your mum or are they still whinging

We moved mum into a retirement place and she was such a hoarder and we thought she can't hoard much in the nursing home. But even after 4 years when we cleaning out the nursing home we still found about 40 plastic bags and dozens of bits of stationery that was never going to get used.

The resistors are re-writing history of course. I am beyond caring.

 

[MARTINE]

The resistors are re-writing history of course. I am beyond caring.

So pleased its working out for you. There are some incredible nursing homes and early preparation cannot be overststed.

Good approach re:ignoring the resistors.

For people that wrong me I forgive internally but never say it (to not get consumed and maintain my sanity)