General Medical issues thread

[RB]

We had the 2018 shingles shot today at our Californian pharmac_. The second shot is to be within 6 months. This new vax is rated as far more effective than the previous ones. Cost was $175 USD.
Rated at about 95%+ effective which is much higher than the previous shots.
So many of our friends and associates have been getting shingles we decided we wanted to avoid the chance of getting it too.
In Australia I think it is free for folks over 70 so we don’t qualify.
Our second shot will be in November.
Tonight our left arms are a little bit sore and we were warned about some side effects that are possible.

I thought I recalled you had already had a shingles shot-how long are they supposed to last?-some articles seem to indicate against revaccination

 

[straitman]

MrLtL just visited the surgeon for the 6 week follow up; bloods are showing PSA 0.03 which is not too bad (and could be nothing) but not as good as the zero we were hoping for. It might mean the cancer had escaped the capsule which is what they always said was a possibility. Feeling a bit flat though. Another blood test in 4 weeks to see if it is a residual reading.

When I had my surgery mine went back up .03, .04 then .05 over about 6-8 months. In quick time I'd had a bunch (about 30 radiation treatments) and all sorted. .01 or less is needed apparently.

 

[cove]

We went for the latest shingles shots as it was recommended. Yes the first shingles single shot was now rated as less effective than the latest two shot version at around 70% effective.
We really don’t want to get shingles as I remember my mother going through the pain of an attack when she was in her sixties about 40 years ago.
I have not checked to see whether Australia is using the new 2 shot vaccination which came available in California in early 2018.

 

[Cossie]

Came back to the news that one of my closest friends has been diagnosed with liver cancer. Haven't been told what sort of cancer nor of his prognosis, will find out tomorrow when we venture down to Malua Bay.

 

[cove]

When Mrscove told a US nurse she was on Crestor the nurse thought she said crystal and immediately started thinking crystal meth. So we all speak English but it is not always understood.

 

[rogerkambah]

Sad to hear that Cossie, but good to hear you are back ok.

 

[rogerkambah]

I've had a good week including a CT scan and a visit to the oncologist who said nothing had changedfrom my March and December scans so I am in remission.

Yeah!!!!!!!!!!

Also heard that a f/b friend well known in Canberra dog circles for his Beagle breeding has been declared tumour free.

 

[Pushka]

I've had a good week including a CT scan and a visit to the oncologist who said nothing had changedfrom my March and December scans so I am in remission.

Yeah!!!!!!!!!!

Also heard that a f/b friend well known in Canberra dog circles for his Beagle breeding has been declared tumour free.

Isn’t remission the best word ever invented!

On the cancer front, my sons friend who is 32 has completed his chemo and his surgery is scheduled for next Tuesday. His mum texted me for my birthday last week which made me feel bad that she remembered in the midst of such pain for her family. Her son is in a lot of pain now, not good sign, and now might lose his bladder. The thought of what they may find must be terrifying for them all. He’s asked my son to MC at his wedding next October. Come what may.

 

[Cossie]

Sad to hear that Cossie, but good to hear you are back ok.

Thanks Roger, we'll find out more tomorrow and we are looking forward to catching up next week.

 

[love_the_life]

Came back to the news that one of my closest friends has been diagnosed with liver cancer. Haven't been told what sort of cancer nor of his prognosis, will find out tomorrow when we venture down to Malua Bay.

Sorry to hear that Cossie. Hope the prognosis is going to be on the positive.

 

[love_the_life]

I've had a good week including a CT scan and a visit to the oncologist who said nothing had changedfrom my March and December scans so I am in remission.

Yeah!!!!!!!!!!

Also heard that a f/b friend well known in Canberra dog circles for his Beagle breeding has been declared tumour free.

That’s fantastic news RK. Made my day!

 

[love_the_life]

Isn’t remission the best word ever invented!

On the cancer front, my sons friend who is 32 has completed his chemo and his surgery is scheduled for next Tuesday. His mum texted me for my birthday last week which made me feel bad that she remembered in the midst of such pain for her family. Her son is in a lot of pain now, not good sign, and now might lose his bladder. The thought of what they may find must be terrifying for them all. He’s asked my son to MC at his wedding next October. Come what may.

Must be so devastating for them. I can’t imagine the stress and fear they must be facing.

 

[Cossie]

Sorry to hear that Cossie. Hope the prognosis is going to be on the positive.

We won't go down today, the doctors don't want him to be exposed to anything that possibly may cause issues if he starts chemo next week, so he's in isolation.

 

[love_the_life]

We won't go down today, the doctors don't want him to be exposed to anything that possibly may cause issues if he starts chemo next week, so he's in isolation.

Such a worry for them (and you). Getting on to the chemo quickly.

 

[Renato1]

I was talking to a friend the other day recovering from back surgery, which hasn't fixed her back pain. They had taken her off Endones and Targins. The pain specialist she was referred to prescribed some codeine pills for her. She went to Chemist Warehouse with the scrip, and the cheap version of Panadeine called Prodeine was now $23 a box. When it was an over-the-counter medication back in February, I remember only paying around $11 a box for it from Chemist Warehouse. That's a pretty hefty price jump.

As she was finding it too expensive to regularly purchase the Prodeine, the specialist came up with a cheaper solution - he prescribed Panadeine Forte for her, which was cheaper, and told her to only take half a pill of it instead of the one pill of Prodeine (as they roughly equated in strength).

But that solution left me puzzled as well, since to my mind - given my experience with all these painkillers after my back operation last year - the far better and cheaper solution for her would have been the stronger and non-addictive 100mg to 150mg Sustained Release Tramadol tablets. I recommended to her that, given her continuous pain, when she next sees her pain specialist she asks how come she isn't on Tramadol SR?
Regards,
Renato

 

[suze2000]

Renato, if you don't mind: why is Tramadol considered non-addictive? I wasn't aware of this.

 

[JohnK]

Spent $370 to take 21 month old daughter to paediatrician. He was over 1 hour behind by the time he saw my daughter.

Daughter like many infants has issues with constipation. He took me aside and gave me a list of 5 foods to avoid giving her. He also recommended we give her Osmolax. But as we found out later this can only be given to children over 4 years of age.

He wants to see her again in 10-12 weeks. Follow up visit is $220. I'm going to look around for another pediatrician. I don't appreciate this simple mistake even though it may be innocent.

 

[Milboo]

Clinical Practice Guidelines : Constipation

Try reading that. It is used in children under 4.

 

[Pushka]

Spent $370 to take 21 month old daughter to paediatrician. He was over 1 hour behind by the time he saw my daughter.

Daughter like many infants has issues with constipation. He took me aside and gave me a list of 5 foods to avoid giving her. He also recommended we give her Osmolax. But as we found out later this can only be given to children over 4 years of age.

He wants to see her again in 10-12 weeks. Follow up visit is $220. I'm going to look around for another pediatrician. I don't appreciate this simple mistake even though it may be innocent.

I’d always thought that specialist decisions overruled the usual instructions and advice provided for us plebs.

 

[JohnK]

I’d always thought that specialist decisions overruled the usual instructions and advice provided for us plebs.

I don't know. 2 different pharmacists were reluctant to provide and said there are 3 other brands suitable for infants. I'll call the pediatrician today.