General Medical issues thread

[suze2000]

In picture format.... Great Circle Mapper

Good god, I hope your foot heals enough to at least lean on by then. I'd definitely contact the airlines. You can always refuse help when you arrive on the basis of feeling better, but it's probably hard to get if not pre-arranged.

 

[Hvr]

Your nose isn't packed with cotton?

No. the operation was such that the nose didn't need to be.

 

[samh004]

Re: The totally off-topic thread

Oi - Mods - can we have an all things Medical thread?

Now that you have one, time for me to share my lovely results over the past year or so. No idea what it's all leading towards.

Just over a year ago my GP noticed my white blood cells and platelets were low, as were my neutrophils at 1.2, so I was sent to a haematologist. More tests and the neutrophils rose to 1.4. But ANA also rose. A few months later and my ANA went down, while C3 became low, and neutrophils lowered to 1.3. By August last year everything was back to accepted ranges, except ANA being a little out (whichever direction that is in). In February the neutrophils dropped to 1.9, marginal, and in July and August they were at 1.0.

Only symptom I notice that I didn't see previously are incredibly bad headaches occasionally, and fatigue. But both come and go.

Only drug I'm on is Epilim for a seizure disorder diagnosed in 2013.

Attached is a blood history, hopefully with any personal information blacked out. The reason certain values are written over is that the highlighting of them resulted in them being lost when the image was taken of the sheet.

 

[Pushka]

Thats interesting. Did you have a significant viral infection? Did you have tests for inflammation and coagulation studies? C3 is a complement which I believe drops during infection - gets depleted in fighting.

ANA can come and go, and be very high and still mean nothing. Or something with other issues.

 

[samh004]

Thats interesting. Did you have a significant viral infection? Did you have tests for inflammation and coagulation studies? C3 is a complement which I believe drops during infection - gets depleted in fighting.

ANA can come and go, and be very high and still mean nothing. Or something with other issues.

Haven't noticed a viral infection.

On my last visit to the haematologist in July I was told that there were 4 tests/results that would points towards a diagnosis. I had hit 3 of them, but the 4th was still fine. I can't recall what they were, but presume C3, C4, neutrophils and ANA as I recall the ANA was the only one that was (as close to) normal in July. I was given the rather ominous threat that if my neutrophil count dropped below 1.0 come October he would be taking some bone marrow :-|

 

[Pushka]

That could be he was looking for lupus then or some other auto-immune. No skin rashes? Mouth ulcers? lucky I'm not a Doctor .

Its good to know your Drs are well on the ball. Lets hope everything is boringly normal next time.

 

[k_sheep]

.... I was given the rather ominous threat that if my neutrophil count dropped below 1.0 come October he would be taking some bone marrow :-|

It's probably not as bad as you're expecting, if it does come to getting the biopsy - in good hands, it's quick and not nearly as painful as most people expect.

Mind you I'm at the non-pointy end of the needle so that's easy for me to say But the majority of my victims, I mean patients, say it is way better than they were expecting.

 

[empressjo]

Just to add to the group - current broken wrist from fall! It was so painful I had to get an Ambulance hoping to get the green whistle! I ended up getting the paramedic who is allergic to the green whistle, so they wouldn't give it to me.

There's some real 'badge of honours' on this thread than I never want to compete with:shock:

 

[samh004]

That could be he was looking for lupus then or some other auto-immune. No skin rashes? Mouth ulcers? lucky I'm not a Doctor .

Its good to know your Drs are well on the ball. Lets hope everything is boringly normal next time.

I believe lupus was what was suspected. However no rashes or ulcers. Just need regular blood tests at this stage.

Personally I'd rather a diagnosis rather than fluctuating numbers.

It's probably not as bad as you're expecting, if it does come to getting the biopsy - in good hands, it's quick and not nearly as painful as most people expect.

Mind you I'm at the non-pointy end of the needle so that's easy for me to say But the majority of my victims, I mean patients, say it is way better than they were expecting.

I've been told it'll just feel very bruised.

 

[Pushka]

Welcome to the world of auto immune. Have been brewing the symptoms for five years now and only just recently did the numbers fall into place. Which is really common. Maybe more like Hughes Syndrome?

 

[Flashback]

Good god, I hope your foot heals enough to at least lean on by then. I'd definitely contact the airlines. You can always refuse help when you arrive on the basis of feeling better, but it's probably hard to get if not pre-arranged.

Well I hobbled into work today ... I don't think I'll be doing that again before I leave on holidays next week. I think it's safe to say also that the hike I had booked for Colca Canyon (near AQP) will also need to be pulled, given it's at the start of the trip. MP I'll need to decide as its mid trip....

 

[cove]

As you get older you realize just how important your feet and ankles are. Quite a complicated set of connections so try not to let a bus or equivalent run over them.

 

[Flashback]

As you get older you realize just how important your feet and ankles are. Quite a complicated set of connections so try not to let a bus or equivalent run over them.

I feel I should have listened to those who said to keep staying off it and don't head into the office. Trouble is there's a lot going on as we're at the tail end of a large transformation and its difficult to coordinate everyone from home. Alas it's a battle I'll need to fight for the next week! Hopefully haven't made it worse... Let's see what the Dr says on Friday!

 

[cove]

Elevate the injured foot by all means but be careful with Nurse Nightingale and your bell calls. Were our parents correct with the idea of elevating the injured foot/ankle to speed a recovery?

 

[Flashback]

Elevate the injured foot by all means but be careful with Nurse Nightingale and your bell calls. Were our parents correct with the idea of elevating the injured foot/ankle to speed a recovery?

I guess time will tell! Fortunately I'm flying lay flat all the way to LIM, so there's minor comfort in that.

 

[cove]

I was just thinking about starting to book some flights to London. My body seems to like lying flat so no need to change that. I know Mrscove loves London and I need to get her to the Chelsea Flower Show and some sporting events. She was hit by a bug this past week but seems to be recovering now. Perth has had a real winter so lots of colds and coughing if you get into a crowd.

 

[Denali]

I guess time will tell! Fortunately I'm flying lay flat all the way to LIM, so there's minor comfort in that.

When flying will you bandage/compression socks?

My office is dropping like flies this morning, already had 3 phone in sick and suddenly my throat feels scratchy.... almost made it through winter without a sniffle so fingers crossed.

 

[Flashback]

When flying do you bandage/compression socks?

My office is dropping like flies this morning, already had 3 phone in sick and suddenly my throat feels scratchy.... almost made it through winter without a sniffle so fingers crossed.

Going to see what the Dr suggests on Friday.

 

[blackcat20]

Am home now and it all went well. Lost the dignity with the hospital gown and paper underpants then into surgery.

The surgeon I knew, but the anesthetist looked about 12! Still he put me to sleep and then woke me up again.

The recovery room nurses were excellent and looked after me very well. I have a semi face mask across the nose and had the nurses laughing when after listening to the final care instructions I reminded them that I wouldn't be permitted entry to a bank.

I was last to leave with mum picking me and taking me home. Got to love your mum.


Thanks all for your good wishes and now time to enjoy a week off recovering. I can already breathe better.

Glad it went well. Might have to ask for more detail when I see you, as I keep putting off getting my nose repaired (my left nostril is about 90% blocked off).

Ya know, some things you just dont want to know, that is why the amnesia drugs pre op are so wonderful.

Had groin surgery earlier this year; knew that everyone would be getting a good look "down under" and no pre-op drugs to help me forget. Fortunately they went with my request for sedation/local rather than a general as I wake up too quickly from the latter and it's quite frightening.

As you get older you realize just how important your feet and ankles are. Quite a complicated set of connections so try not to let a bus or equivalent run over them.

And knees! Having luxated my patella last year, I'm on constant alert now for anything that makes it feel like it might wander off again....

 

[Pushka]

Had groin surgery earlier this year; knew that everyone would be getting a good look "down under" and no pre-op drugs to help me forget. Fortunately they went with my request for sedation/local rather than a general as I wake up too quickly from the latter and it's quite frightening.

Modesty flies out the door! I had to have a visual check of the bladder a couple of weeks ago - attended by a female urologist and clearly she has her own team of women at the Hospital. They went above and beyond to ensure privacy as I was having the procedure, and as I got up with sheeting held above their eyes etc etc. Meh, I am so used to the 'old ways' which totally did not worry about modesty I just did what needed to happen. But it is a good thing for the younger generation to have such values being introduced. The injection was kinda eye watering though. The screen showing what they were looking at was rather interesting as well.