General Medical issues thread

Have you done a coronary artery calcium score?. It's a CT scan
MrP is doing one in a week or so. Not covered by Medicare apparently. Cholesterol slightly up.

My mum went very forgetful on statins. Cholesterol was fine but statins given ‘just in case’ after stroke/afib. She forgot everyone’s names especially the grandkids. SIL checked out why she was on statins then had them stopped. Her memory returned to normal - she had no cognitive issues at all prior to statins.

My MIL who also had terminal camcer lost weight. She had a very bad turn mentally - again no issues prior, quite the opposite. The GP checked her non cancer meds and statins was withdrawn. She’s had no heart issues. Her cancer was ovarian. She improved significantly.
 
I wouldn’t think so, but is there any incentive for a GP for instance to issue more scripts than otherwise might be required?

My current GP I’ve been seeing for a few months is temporary until I can see my regular guy again in maybe another month or so. He’s a good GP but seems to issue scripts at the drop of a hat. I don’t mean for things I may not need (he’s discouraged me off one or two), but for instance one time I went in and as usual he said how you off for scripts and I mentioned one that I needed but then he issued five covering all the medications I was currently on, even though I didn’t need the new prescription right then (still 3 or so repeats left).

Today we were discussing a condition for which I have a prescription for a fairly potent drug that I carry “just in case” it’s needed. He automatically dashed off a prescription even though I didn’t ask for it and I didn’t need it.

I’m guessing he’s just trying to be helpful and I’m not thinking of any nefarious reason, nor do I feel over medicated, but he is very much more willing to write a script then other GPs I’ve seen for a long while.
 
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but is there any incentive for a GP for instance to issue more scripts than otherwise might be required?
Zero.

The drug companies might sponsor an education dinner on a topic related to the drug they want to sell (no hard sells) or pay to have a display spot at a convention.

Mostly get dodgy biros if lucky

The thing to note about Statins is that the criteria for "high risk" changed so much that apparently 600% more people are now eligible than when it was first introduced.
 
Have you done a coronary artery calcium score?. It's a CT scan
Not yet - it's on my list to do. I have the treadmill/stress test each year, and a few times the doctor has had me stop statins for a month to see what happens to my cholesterol level. It went back up to 6+ and then returned once I went back on Lipitor - 20mg dose.
 
MrP is doing one in a week or so. Not covered by Medicare apparently. Cholesterol slightly up.

My mum went very forgetful on statins. Cholesterol was fine but statins given ‘just in case’ after stroke/afib. She forgot everyone’s names especially the grandkids. SIL checked out why she was on statins then had them stopped. Her memory returned to normal - she had no cognitive issues at all prior to statins.

My MIL who also had terminal camcer lost weight. She had a very bad turn mentally - again no issues prior, quite the opposite. The GP checked her non cancer meds and statins was withdrawn. She’s had no heart issues. Her cancer was ovarian. She improved significantly.
And you will remember a former AFFer who had a terrible reaction to statins. Once removed, she returned to normal health.
 
Meanwhile will only get to a top of 14 in Christchurch tomorrow, time to break out the puffer jacket
And port stop today is cancelled as too windy to get in and out of Lyttleton. Heading on to Wellington.
Quite a few seriously underdressed passengers in shorts and t shirts - obviously expecting warm weather.
To get back to the medical thread - quite a bit of coughing around ☹️. Hopefully can dodge any nasties. .
 
And port stop today is cancelled as too windy to get in and out of Lyttleton. Heading on to Wellington.
Quite a few seriously underdressed passengers in shorts and t shirts - obviously expecting warm weather.
To get back to the medical thread - quite a bit of coughing around ☹️. Hopefully can dodge any nasties. .
Good luck with that one then. You usually seem to dodge most stuff including from me when I was coughing my lungs up that time. And from that guy that spread it during dinner. Glad we had that suite in Dubai.

Off topic. Wonder if that Cunard world trip does sectors that might be tempting.....
 

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