General Medical issues thread

[Denali]

I have rosacea but thankfully nothing that I cant live with untreated. I had a couple of moles removed by a plastic surgeon and was asked by staff if I wanted a consult for skincare treatment for it.

 

[Pushka]

Hope roaccutane works for you Kate if needed. It’s a rather drastic drug. My son needed it - had some issues with it but it certainly did the trick but was glad when he was done with it.

 

[JohnK]

Still coughing and runny nose. Have put the flu vaccine shot back another week.

 

[Milboo]

Had a dodgy looking mole removed today - 12 stitches right along a tension line in the right side of my mid back. Has taken 9 hours but the pain has kicked in.

A bit of an anxious wait for results until mid next week.

 

[love_the_life]

Had a dodgy looking mole removed today - 12 stitches right along a tension line in the right side of my mid back. Has taken 9 hours but the pain has kicked in.

A bit of an anxious wait for results until mid next week.

Ouch. Sounds like it’s very painful. Hopefully the results will be negative (in that its non malignant). A bit if a worrying wait though. Fingers crossed.
Not a great place for it to have been.

 

[Milboo]

Yes, lots of finger crossing going on here - my derm hustled me on to her surgery list.

I had a prolonged visit as the Adrenalin in the local gave me tremors. I was quite happy - tucked in a recliner under a doona with hot tea being brought to me!

 

[love_the_life]

How's the pain Milboo? Hopefully settled down a bit now. No doubt you wished you could remain tucked up under the doona being brought cups of tea! Thinking of you; let's know how it pans out.

 

[Milboo]

Thanks - appreciate your words. Settling but still bothersome. Helped a bit the initial pressure bandage is now off as that was pulling the skin and making me a bit itchy. But doesn’t help it’s right in the place on my back that you lean against!

 

[JohnK]

So I'm still not 100% from my 3+ week bout of cold. Is it worth risking flu vaccine tomorrow or put back another week?

 

[Quickstatus]

GOUT
(A)Manifestation
Too much uric acid crystals causing inflammation typically in joint and also kidney stones.

(B)Cause:
Genetic mutation in an enzyme causing enzyme to be turbocharged
Precursor molecules purines
End products uric acid
Too much uric acid = uric acid crystals
Flare ups when body mounts inflammatory response = acute gout.
2nd cause is kidney failure resulting in poor excretion of uric acid in urine causing buildup.

(C) Diagnosis:
High uric acid in blood
Uric acid crystals in joints
Uric acid kidney stones

(D)Treatment:
Less purines - lifestyle and diet modification

Less uric acid - xanthine oxidase inhibitor (not the bad enzyme but the final step enzyme in the conversion of purine to uric acid) - allopurinol

Less inflammation - anti-I nflammatories and also colchicine

(E) The pretender : Pseudogout

 

[Quickstatus]

People with that very ambiguous thing called 'gout' might consider hemochromatosis as a contributing factor, as it is for me. A diagnosis of hemochromatosis might then lead to picking up of some other issues. H. is very easily controlled by that wonderful thing of donating blood. No pills, just a nice cup of tea and a biscuit every month or three.

Gout is one of those ancient medical terms that have survived the ages.

Other old medical terms:
Consumption
French pox disease
Dropsy

 

[straitman]

So I'm still not 100% from my 3+ week bout of cold. Is it worth risking flu vaccine tomorrow or put back another week?

If in doubt put it off but if you are not well enough they won't give it to you.

 

[Hvr]

Dropsy

Remedied by cough?

 

[Quickstatus]

Hemochromatosis

(a) Old name: Bronze diabetes

(b) Manifestation: Bronze skin pigmentation, liver cirrhosis (and some resultant liver cancer), cardiac failure, diabetes, joint disease, erectile dysfunction

(c) Cause:
Humans cannot get rid of iron normally except via a little through skis cells turning over and bleeding (women). So absoprtion is high regulated.
Genetic mutation causes this regulation to be disrupted leading to excessive absorption of iron into the bloodstream. The iron then gets deposited in various parts of the body but especially the skin and other solid organs. Reaction to the iron causes damage within those organs.

(d) Diagnosis: blood test - high iron stores, high hemoglobin, genetic testing, liver biopsy. Family history important
Often an overlooked diagnosis. Patients may come with signs of liver failure or diabetes because damage is slow and subtle.

(e) Treatment : natural bleeding - women, artificial bleeding via blood donation.

 

[RooFlyer]

(b) Manifestation: Bronze skin pigmentation, liver cirrhosis (and some resultant liver cancer), cardiac failure, diabetes, joint disease, erectile dysfunction (iron deposits in various organs damaging them)

I had none of those manifestations, except 'swollen' finger and big toe joints, but that was recognised only in retrospect. My condition was found when at 33 I happened to have a blood test where iron studies were included and they picked it up that way. Liver biopsy showed no effects.

 

[Quickstatus]

I had none of those manifestations, except 'swollen' finger and big toe joints, but that was recognised only in retrospect. My condition was found when at 33 I happened to have a blood test where iron studies were included and they picked it up that way. Liver biopsy showed no effects.

Quite correct - it is very often a diagnosis in retrospect after doing a blood test where someone just so happens to include the iron studies.

The ones that are seen by the medical students are the overt ones with the classic bronze skin, liver signs. But it would be really good for them to be picked up early when they show up with just a sore toe.

 

[JohnK]

If in doubt put it off but if you are not well enough they won't give it to you.

This is one of those colds that just keeps giving. See what the GP says tomorrow.

 

[Milboo]

@love_the_life - thanks for asking. With massive relief today, I got told we were in the clear! From a comment made my doctor was even surprised - and especially given the margins she chose to take just in case.

 

[love_the_life]

@love_the_life - thanks for asking. With massive relief today, I got told we were in the clear! From a comment made my doctor was even surprised - and especially given the margins she chose to take just in case.

Excellent news. Hope you are going to celebrate....maybe plan a trip.

 

[Milboo]

Lol I was saying just that to someone today. When I got a BCC diagnosis I reacted by booking a trip to Cuba! Sadly my treatment costs just killed my July travel plans