General Medical issues thread

[JohnK]

This should be in the cheesed me off thread but I've never had this in my life.

We're in Sydney this weekend. Mum has not been well the past few days. Sharp pain in abdomen, not eating, vomiting even water. Didn't know what to do so eventually called ambulance and they took her to hospital.

They called last night and said she has bowel obstruction and needs urgent surgery/procedure so taking her to Concord.

I called hospital and they said she's in observation but when they transferred me there the person there would not give me any details because I'm not listed as family. My brother is listed but not me.

How absolutely ridiculous. Just tell me the condition of my mother. Could not be simpler. Could it?

P.S. I may not be on speaking terms with my brother. Plus my brother cannot leave dad alone. This is the first time I've encountered this type of behaviour. This world we've created is total junk. How ridiculous.

 

[pagingjoan]

This should be in the cheesed me off thread but I've never had this in my life.

We're in Sydney this weekend. Mum has not been well the past few days. Sharp pain in abdomen, not eating, vomiting even water. Didn't know what to do so eventually called ambulance and they took her to hospital.

They called last night and said she has bowel obstruction and needs urgent surgery/procedure so taking her to Concord.

I called hospital and they said she's in observation but when they transferred me there the person there would not give me any details because I'm not listed as family. My brother is listed but not me.

How absolutely ridiculous. Just tell me the condition of my mother. Could not be simpler. Could it?

P.S. I may not be on speaking terms with my brother. Plus my brother cannot leave dad alone. This is the first time I've encountered this type of behaviour. This world we've created is total junk. How ridiculous.

Talk you your brother.
You’ve said more than once in the past that you trust him completely.

And don’t you have PoA for your parents?
If not, make that a priority.

Best of luck.

 

[Pushka]

This should be in the cheesed me off thread but I've never had this in my life.

We're in Sydney this weekend. Mum has not been well the past few days. Sharp pain in abdomen, not eating, vomiting even water. Didn't know what to do so eventually called ambulance and they took her to hospital.

They called last night and said she has bowel obstruction and needs urgent surgery/procedure so taking her to Concord.

I called hospital and they said she's in observation but when they transferred me there the person there would not give me any details because I'm not listed as family. My brother is listed but not me.

How absolutely ridiculous. Just tell me the condition of my mother. Could not be simpler. Could it?

P.S. I may not be on speaking terms with my brother. Plus my brother cannot leave dad alone. This is the first time I've encountered this type of behaviour. This world we've created is total junk. How ridiculous.

That's really unfortunate you can't get information but it isn't the hospitals issue to sort out. They'd be in a lot of bother if they released it to you. They dont know you and the type of relationship you have with your mother if she hasn't nonimated you. Unfortunately for you they are absolutely doing the right thing here. I'm surprised it hasn't arisen before for you tbh. Accept the situation and find other solutions. You must ask your brother to keep you in touch as it's likely going to be a long visit in hospital for her.

 

[JohnK]

Talk you your brother.
You’ve said more than once in the past that you trust him completely.

And don’t you have PoA for your parents?
If not, make that a priority.

Best of luck.

So if I'm not talking to my brother or dad then I cannot find out about my mother? Tough luck right?

@Pushka there is no problem for anyone telling me if my mum is OK or not. This is the problem with the world we've created. Ludicrous and people think this is progress? People think this is right? Sheer stupidity.

She's in recovery now. Won't let us see her. We'll wait and see if they move her to ward soon otherwise we'll head off to airport. Doctor did call my brother. Bowel obstruction fixed as well as hernia. Doctor mention there's scar tissue from young age which is strange.

Oh and @Pushka now I know their stupid game when we're in Brisbane later tonight I will call to find out about mum. This time they will give me update because I'll pretend to be who I'm not. Nothing wrong with doing that now, is it?

 

[prozac]

...

Oh and @Pushka now I know their stupid game when we're in Brisbane later tonight I will call to find out about mum. This time they will give me update because I'll pretend to be who I'm not. Nothing wrong with doing that now, is it?

I would have HUCA and when asked you are of-course your brother.

 

[Pushka]

So if I'm not talking to my brother or dad then I cannot find out about my mother? Tough luck right?

@Pushka there is no problem for anyone telling me if my mum is OK or not. This is the problem with the world we've created. Ludicrous and people think this is progress? People think this is right? Sheer stupidity.

She's in recovery now. Won't let us see her. We'll wait and see if they move her to ward soon otherwise we'll head off to airport. Doctor did call my brother. Bowel obstruction fixed as well as hernia. Doctor mention there's scar tissue from young age which is strange.

Oh and @Pushka now I know their stupid game when we're in Brisbane later tonight I will call to find out about mum. This time they will give me update because I'll pretend to be who I'm not. Nothing wrong with doing that now, is it?

It is simply the protection of your mothers privacy. She didn't put you on the list and they don't know why she didn't. That's why they have a list in the first place. Or - Perhaps they have only asked for one contact so they aren't continually answering questions. And as he lives in the same state and looking after father then that seems logical. You can't beat up the messenger, they are just doing their job. It is no game to them.

So if you know mum is in recovery then you have been talking with your brother. That's good to hear. Hope she can recover quickly.

And yes, pretend to be your brother if needs must. We've never had this kind of issue so don't know if I'd be happy to do that. Likely I would.

 

[JohnK]

I would have HUCA and when asked you are of-course your brother.

I was actually at the hospital. The doctor called my brother to say mum was OK and my brother asked them if we could see mum. We saw her in recovery and then again when moved to ward.

Hopefully tomorrow they will remove dad as next of kin and it will be my brother and I as next of kin.

P.S. @Pushka I had no idea this sort of restriction existed. I just wanted to know if mum was OK or not. That shouldn't be protected information regardless of what you or the P.C brigade think. Anyway just one of the many things wrong with society.

We about to go to airport but I might be back in a couple of days. I'm the one with issues but helping everyone else. I'm tired and have a headache.

 

[JohnK]

So this time around wife has had UTI since May 2025.

Saw Urology outpatients in May 2025 who felt that e.coli showing up in urine sample did not warrant taking antibiotics. How is it going to clear in a patient with history of pyelonephritis and now interstitial nephritis?

We went to hospital end of June and they only kept her <24 hours and discharged her with script of 30 Augmentin Forte. Wife ended up taking 36 Augmentin Forte and started to feel better.

We waited 7 days and had another urine sample. Wife now complaining of right flank pain again. Urine sample reveals heavy growth of e.coli, more than likely the same infection that's she's now had for months this time around. Resistant to penicillin and Norfloxacin. Ok to use Keflex, Augmentin and Triptim so we've started a 14 day course of Triptim but after 3 days wife still has right flank pain.

In the mean time Urology outpatients called again and I've convinced them to bring forward December appointment and they'll see us in 3 weeks. Triptim for 14 days wait 3 days and do another urine sample and ultrasound and then Urology.

Where to from here? Wife cannot keep having e.coli infections. GP has mentioned cystoscopy. Sounds feasible and possible solution? I really feel sorry for her.

Oh and dads dementia getting worse. I'm going back to Sydney tomorrow morning to take care of dad so brother can go visit mum in hospital. Life is so sad. Hopefully I can stay strong.