General Medical issues thread

[VPS]

Playing with fire there!

It’s ok I will deal with it and she will be sorry

 

[JohnM]

Through out my career the nocebo effect of drugs kept rising.

Well, isn't that just the way of the zeitgeist over that time?

 

[drron]

I am back on land for the second day and the trip has been a bit up and down with my walking. In the last two weeks I have been nearly unable to walk. If I have an afternoon nanny nap when I wake it’s the same. I thought I wouldn’t make it on excursions but I walked virtually normally when off the ship.
Losing confidence is the major factor I think. Let’s see how things go on safari.

 

[Pushka]

I am back on land for the second day and the trip has been a bit up and down with my walking. In the last two weeks I have been nearly unable to walk. If I have an afternoon nanny nap when I wake it’s the same. I thought I wouldn’t make it on excursions but I walked virtually normally when off the ship.
Losing confidence is the major factor I think. Let’s see how things go on safari.

Confidence is so important and really does influence how we do things. I'm worried to go down larger steps because I worry my knee won't take it and my legs will buckle. Not sure if that's the actual case but I worry that it is and then I'll fall. I've also found there's things I do that might make it easier for me to walk up stairs - eg using the hand rail not for balance but to help me to go up, I think it's just a habit but in the process I'm making my leg muscles lazy. But then SIL almost died when she fell downstairs so there's always that. Sigh.

Feel better soon. It's miserable being away when not well.

 

[straitman]

When you get to a couple of hundred excisions, let me know

I'm right there with you on that one.

 

[prozac]

In the absence of any admissions notification from North Shore Private I went ahead over the weekend and filled an admission form from scratch. Sunday arvo I get a call from someone from admin. I'd like your medicare number and private health insurance details and number. Me: I've already provided this in the admission form. I can't access it. Me: Well call back when you can, goodbye.
This morning 0945. Driving to an appointment admissions call; we'd like your medicare and health insurance details. Me: I provided that in my admissions doc. We cannot access that, can you give me these details? Me: No, I am driving in peak hour traffic I cannot provide that. This back and forth for 3 minutes. Finally told him this was going nowhere, I am hanging up now. About 1045 I get a call from a new person, I've received your admission form and I'll just confirm where to come and time. Hallelujah!
Doc happy I am here. They will run a number of tests in the morning, things like an oesophageal ultrasound to check size of veins, check heart ejection fraction, etc., all to help determine which pacemaker they will fit. Happy that he is being very thorough.

 

[prozac]

Back home falling asleep on the lounge. Everytime I think i am alright I nod off for a micro-nap. Throat still scratchy from a trans-oesophageal echocardiogram (TOE); down-oesophagus utrasound with dye injected into a vein in the arm to obtain various heart measurements. Surgeon says the heart stopped twice during procedure so I definitely need the pacemaker. No pain afterwards/since but shoulder a bit swollen now.

 

[hydrabyss]

I had a Holter monitor fitted today for the next 24 hours. As they went through all the instructions they mentioned to write down anytime you felt breathless. I replied I am going through lung transplant workup.

I know I should not joke about it as I am sure I will get a phone call next week with some heart issue i was unaware of and I need to come in. I already joked with one doctor end of last year after some lung function improvement that I may die from something other than my lungs..

 

[TheRealTMA]

I had a Holter monitor fitted today for the next 24 hours. As they went through all the instructions they mentioned to write down anytime you felt breathless. I replied I am going through lung transplant workup.

I know I should not joke about it as I am sure I will get a phone call next week with some heart issue i was unaware of and I need to come in. I already joked with one doctor end of last year after some lung function improvement that I may die from something other than my lungs..

Probably better to die of laughter than other causes.

 

[prozac]

...

I know I should not joke about it as I am sure I will get a phone call next week with some heart issue i was unaware of and I need to come in. I already joked with one doctor end of last year after some lung function improvement that I may die from something other than my lungs..

My heamatologist tells me to work a bit harder; "I didn't get you through all this for you to die of a heart issue"

 

[Pushka]

Back home falling asleep on the lounge. Everytime I think i am alright I nod off for a micro-nap. Throat still scratchy from a trans-oesophageal echocardiogram (TOE); down-oesophagus utrasound with dye injected into a vein in the arm to obtain various heart measurements. Surgeon says the heart stopped twice during procedure so I definitely need the pacemaker. No pain afterwards/since but shoulder a bit swollen now.

Never underestimate the stress of doing all these things. Sounds like your body is telling you it's ok to nap.

 

[Pushka]

It seems that MyHealth (1800Medicare) now releases normal test results on loading but only locks those tests that need GP discussion. The date and time for the unlock is also given for those which is helpful .

So far two tests are locked, Thyroid and I know what that will show, and Folate B3. I still have many tests still to be loaded.

 

[mrsterryn]

It seems that MyHealth (1800Medicare) now releases normal test results on loading but only locks those tests that need GP discussion. The date and time for the unlock is also given for those which is helpful .

So far two tests are locked, Thyroid and I know what that will show, and Folate B3. I still have many tests still to be loaded.

Only my blood sugars would be released on loading . All the others I had to wait 7 days after loading then they were released .

 

[Pushka]

Only my blood sugars would be released on loading . All the others I had to wait 7 days after loading then they were released .

Yes that's been my experience in the past as well, maybe it changed when it morphed to 1800medicare.

Glucose good, Cholesterol ok but think I know why it rose a little (too many full cream ice cream snacks) and general bloods etc fine. Urine test is always weird as I leak blood - in the early days the GP would say it was because I was exercising too much, that's forty odd years ago . And back then with two little kids I wasn't. Who has the time? So that test hasn't even been loaded yet and they sometimes do further testing because of that, also Vit D and inflammatory markers. Think that's it.

Already got the text from the clinic on a Saturday to come in and see. I'll wait until I can see what the results are next Saturday before I bother. $60 a visit out of pocket which I paid last week so I'm in absolutely no hurry there if the results are predictable for me. Not sure what the Folate B12 is all about though. Must be low as being high isn't an issue.

 

[RooFlyer]

It seems that MyHealth (1800Medicare)

How does the 1800 number relate to test results? That's for speaking to a nurse, isn't it?

But what you observed there is what I've seen on My Health Record, which is where I go. Of seven recent test 'panels' (my annual complete screen), I could see 5 straight away. The two I couldn't weren't an issue.

 

[Pushka]

How does the 1800 number relate to test results? That's for speaking to a nurse, isn't it?

But what you observed there is what I've seen on My Health Record, which is where I go. Of seven recent test 'panels', I could see 5 straight away. The two I couldn't weren't an issue.

MyHealth doesn't exist as an app anymore. The app is now called 1800Medicare. I could get political and all that but....






Interesting. All of my test results have been locked for 7 days until now. So I know the thyroid test is an issue, always is as I have no thyroid function so getting the dosage correct is tricky. TSH is always way way too high or way too low. GPs don't cope with that well. Never been tested for VitB amd folate. So have any of your never locked tests been of concern? Pertinent negative and all that.

 

[RooFlyer]

MyHealth doesn't exist as an app anymore. The app is now called 1800Medicare.

View attachment 497504


View attachment 497503

Interesting. All of my test results have been locked for 7 days until now. So I know the thyroid test is an issue, always is as I have ny thyroid function so getting the dosage correct is tricky. TSH is always way way too high or way too low. GPs don't cope with that well. Never been tested for VitB amd folate. So have any of your never locked tests been of concern? Pertinent negative and all that.

Ah, OK. I see that's a simpler way to access the results within MHR - accessing that navigating back & forth was bad. Have now set it up, thanks.

I've only noticed never locked in the last batch, so can't say if any would have been of concern in the past.

 

[Aeryn]

Whenever I get pathology done the results always emailed straight to me as well as the GP, I never even use MyHealth or whatever it is called now. SInce Im paying for the test be it in cash or via taxes (Medicare) I see no legal reason for the results to be withheld.

I had a colonoscopy and gastroscopy last week, the Gastroenterologist gave me hard copy initial results then and there (preliminary finings, images), even though she said a longer report would be sent to my GP and myself once the pathology report for biopsies comes back next week. I was told to discuss with my GP but nothing was held back waiting on my GP. I was unfamiliar with a few of the findings but Google helped me understand quickly enough.

 

[VPS]

I find this stat incredible.

Very hard to find a doctor that bulk bills

Largest quarterly bulk-billing increase outside of COVID recorded

Bulk-billing rates have rebounded in the first clear measure of the impact of the government's multi-billion-dollar pledge.

www.abc.net.au

 

[Aeryn]

I find this stat incredible. Very hard to find a doctor that bulk bills

Up until recently my GP never bulk billed except for children under 10 (provided parents were a client) and some seniors with a health care card (provided appointment was during business hours, pre-9am and post 5pm appointments reserved for working/full fee paying clients).

I personally liked this as it meant it was aways possible to get an appointment within a day or two where as nearby medical centres that bulk billed had huge waits for an appointment.

But late last year I was asked to nominate my GP practice as my primary care practice via a Medicare form (apparently some new government policy which rebates more to you primary care doctor) so now if my appointment is just for prescription or other short consultation then Im bulk billed. Patients who arent regualrs (i.e. havent nominated the practice as their regular doctor) re not bulk billed. I belive the new legislation is to discourage GP shopping.

So IME albeit very limited experience it is now easier to get bulk billed.