General Medical issues thread

[Seat0B]

I made the mistake of having 2nd Shingrix, Flu and Covid all on the same day last year - ouch. Thought I was being efficient but boy it was painful.

 

[OZDUCK]

I made the mistake of having 2nd Shingrix, Flu and Covid all on the same day last year - ouch. Thought I was being efficient but boy it was painful.

Ouch

 

[hydrabyss]

I made the mistake of having 2nd Shingrix, Flu and Covid all on the same day last year - ouch. Thought I was being efficient but boy it was painful.

I was looking up on chatgpt about vaccinations as I am due for most of them and it pointed out spacing them and what order. Looks like I will be a regular at the GP for the next few months as I will make sure to avoid that experience.

 

[Flyfrequently]

The only time I have had any soreness was after my second Shingrix dose.

Common response with 2nd jab according to my GP last year @OZDUCK

 

[zig]

Common response with 2nd jab according to my GP last year @OZDUCK

Yup, the 2nd Shingrix vac knocked me for six, unlike the 1st.

 

[ellen10]

@ellen10 - How's Mr Ellen10's recovery going? Hope he's going from strength to strength

Thanks @DejaBrew for asking.

MrEllen10 came home a week ago. His is a mixed recovery. Heart surgery was successful, however he is struggling and miserable.
Normally a very active person, he is finding the recovery hard going.
We have to go to the doctors every second day, for blood tests, trying to get the Warfarin dose correct. Was originally too low, now too high. We have been told it could be more weeks until it is sorted. And I'm not sure if it is blood thinners symptoms, but always very cold. Wearing long pants jackets and Ugg boots at present. This is usually a man who wears shorts and T-shirt throughout winter.
Cannot sleep comfortably at night, too much pain/ache around the wound, mainly internal stitches. Alternates between the bed and recliner chair.
Did take sleeping tablets the first 3 nights, which helped, but his GP said no more. So, miserable with very little sleep.
Breathing is still hard, but doing all his exercises to plan.
And now he seems to have a mouth and gum problem (no bleeding) but cannot even chew/eat a soft sandwich without pain/discomfort and everything has no taste. Only eating soups and miserable, as he likes his food.

I rang our doctors today and asked nicely/begged if his GP could see him tomorrow. (She is always booked out 2 weeks ahead).
They sent her a message and she will fit us in tomorrow morning at 9am

So I'm not sure what she can suggest, but he is struggling, I'm trying to be patient and kind and keep his spirits up, I'm sure he is thinking I'm channeling nurse Ratchet

 

[Quickstatus]

And now he seems to have a mouth and gum problem (no bleeding) but cannot even chew/eat a soft sandwich without pain/discomfort and everything has no taste

Possible oral thrush - not uncommon in the post op setting especially after recent antibiotics.

 

[prozac]

Thanks @DejaBrew for asking.

MrEllen10 came home a week ago. His is a mixed recovery. Heart surgery was successful, however he is struggling and miserable.
Normally a very active person, he is finding the recovery hard going.
We have to go to the doctors every second day, for blood tests, trying to get the Warfarin dose correct. Was originally too low, now too high. We have been told it could be more weeks until it is sorted. And I'm not sure if it is blood thinners symptoms, but always very cold. Wearing long pants jackets and Ugg boots at present. This is usually a man who wears shorts and T-shirt throughout winter.
Cannot sleep comfortably at night, too much pain/ache around the wound, mainly internal stitches. Alternates between the bed and recliner chair.
Did take sleeping tablets the first 3 nights, which helped, but his GP said no more. So, miserable with very little sleep.
Breathing is still hard, but doing all his exercises to plan.
And now he seems to have a mouth and gum problem (no bleeding) but cannot even chew/eat a soft sandwich without pain/discomfort and everything has no taste. Only eating soups and miserable, as he likes his food.

I rang our doctors today and asked nicely/begged if his GP could see him tomorrow. (She is always booked out 2 weeks ahead).
They sent her a message and she will fit us in tomorrow morning at 9am

So I'm not sure what she can suggest, but he is struggling, I'm trying to be patient and kind and keep his spirits up, I'm sure he is thinking I'm channeling nurse Ratchet

Poor fella. Rinse mouth a few times a day with Sodium Bicarb 1% Mouthwash. You can buy this or simply salt and warm water.
Buy apple sauce for a treat out of the fridge. The cold sauce will soothe gums. Buy the large jar of the Dutch stuff from woolies for taste.

I am trying to think what I did after my open heart surgery and also after chest operation and chemo. Cold mush will probably soothe his gums better than warm which might open up sores.

Prop up in bed with pillows and if he wants to roll over can do so with a long pillow under chest and hips for support. Just partially roll over with this support.

Feeling for him.

Couple of panadol osteo when turning in for the night.

 

[OZDUCK]

Common response with 2nd jab according to my GP last year @OZDUCK

Yes, the pharmac_ warned us that a reaction to the 2nd dose was not unusual.

 

[Seat0B]

Rinse mouth a few times a day with Sodium Bicarb 1% Mouthwash. You can buy this or simply salt and warm water.

@ellen10 the sodium bicarb mouthwash was a total Godsend when I suffered severe mouth ulcers and the whole roof of my mouth peeled off during my chemo. I highly recommend it.

 

[Quickstatus]

If there are mouth ulcers then consider aphthous mouth ulcers

 

[Pushka]

i cannot believe how such a tiny thing as a mouth ulcer can cause so much pain. So to anyone battling with them. I lost so much weight when I had this virus that created multiple ulcers as I couldn't bear to eat. FIL also had them badly during chemo for leukemia.

MrP looked at me weirdly today. From brushing my hair earlier this morning to bringing me a cup of coffee 40 minutes later I'd developed a black eye. Sigh.

 

[prozac]

@ellen10 I forgot to mention change to a soft toothbrush.

 

[drron]

Slow improvement. Now 8 weeks from the fall.
Saw ortho on Tuesday who reminded me I was told it could be 8 months to walking well in view of the severity of the damage.
If it was needed I was reminded by the drive to and from Brisbane . Mrsdrron had to drive. For 1 I am still on regular Targin However quit 2 hours of virtually no movement my left leg lost all feeling and movement in my left leg. The appointment was at the North Wet private hospital. Honestly must take an award for most disability unfriendly hospital. Have finally got over the trip today.

One benefit was that it has made us change our driving trip to Melbourne to a flying trip. Decided to go in J so despite losing gold inFebruary' to VA I will only be 3 FCs of gold and should be enough to easily get gold back and possibly platinum by May 27.

 

[love_the_life]

Slow improvement. Now 8 weeks from the fall.
Saw ortho on Tuesday who reminded me I was told it could be 8 months to walking well in view of the severity of the damage.
If it was needed I was reminded by the drive to and from Brisbane . Mrsdrron had to drive. For 1 I am still on regular Targin However quit 2 hours of virtually no movement my left leg lost all feeling and movement in my left leg. The appointment was at the North Wet private hospital. Honestly must take an award for most disability unfriendly hospital. Have finally got over the trip today.

One benefit was that it has made us change our driving trip to Melbourne to a flying trip. Decided to go in J so despite losing gold inFebruary' to VA I will only be 3 FCs of gold and should be enough to easily get gold back and possibly platinum by May 27.

I was wondering how your recovery was going. It sounds like it will be a long haul. You obviously don't do anything by half measures, including breaking your hip!. Hope you keep improving, slow though the process feels.

 

[prozac]

Pacemaker update. After the initial stuff-up concerning my pacemaker settings and recalibration I have since received profuse apologies, email and phone calls, from the company. Once I got hold of the new calibration sheet I noted there were still some anomalies between the old and new calibration and called them to discuss. So 2 weeks ago back to the specialists rooms where a hotshot from the pcm company and their regional manager spent time going over the recorded settings to finally match everything and make notes against the file. You must stay alert to your treatment.

I am still nervous about booking overseas travel, yet i have half a million points in SQ that will expire later this year. I am most unsure about booking a year ahead and not knowing if there might be a health hiccup this time next year around the time of the booking.

 

[prozac]

Today, 27 April, is the 3rd anniversary of attending hospital emergency, the start of a long and arduous journey. It's all @drron's fault who advised me to get bloods and a chest x-ray which lead to advice to get straight to ED. This Friday I get another IVIG infusion, maybe the last 8 weekly infusion but they have been telling me that for the past 8 months. I've had a great haematologist, and DNA which endowed me a stubborn disposition that never gives up. I've also had the support of a terrific mob here on AFF and I'd like to thank you all for your encouragement.

 

[Brissy1]

Well my issue is nothing as serious as many here, but here I am on my back at physio with electric pluses running through my knee (Electric Shock Treatment?)
Back in January hopping out of the car (running late for the train to SYD) I tore a ligament behind the knee. MRI confirmed.
Started physio after a few weeks and went twice weekly for months (for strength and flexibility buildup), he does massage, stretching, EST, then I'm in their gym; result got worse, very swollen knee. Saw another physio as a one off. Cut back to once weekly and reduced home exercise, swelling going down. On Voltaren 12 hour cream and Panadol osteo.
I'm now on the machines, typing's a distraction.
The pain (when the Panadol wears off eg 4am) is funny, it's in the knee, cycles as on for a few seconds then off for 6 sec. and goes on like that for hours.
I remember 40 years ago my mother saying don't get old, I now know what she felt.

 

[ellen10]

An update on MrEllen10:
Went to see doctor 9am Friday morning. Warfarin INR 4.8 too high. Doctor checks his vitals, pulse not good. She gets the nurse to do and ECG, VFib 120 doctor says I've rung an ambulance, off to emergency.

Emergency at our local public hospital department crazy, but he is taken straight in to a bed in emergency. Hooked up to machines, VFib rising and too much fluid. Chest Xray, Ct scan. Cannula in and diuretics injected, lots of weeing, which is exhausting. Tried to contact the heart surgeon from Prince of Wales but he is operating.

V Fib rising into the 130's (it got as high as 140 in the end). Started on Beta blockers and he has fluid in the lungs etc. Called cardiologist team, we had to wait hours, finally came at 4.30. Yes will need to be admitted to a cardiac ward. MrEllen10 finally admitted to ward at 10.30pm.

What a long stressful and exhausting day. But I must say all the doctors and nurses in the emergency ward, although run off their feet, were just amazing! Those beautiful nurses working 12 hour shifts in some very trying and difficult situations, I couldn't praise enough for their care and kindness.
I finally went home and once in bed, suffered cramps in both legs and both feet. (that was not fun!), I think not eating or drinking, sitting, standing and not walking for such a long time was the culprit.

This was last Friday the start of the long weekend. Mr Ellen10's cardiologist, visited him in hospital. Saturday, Sunday and Monday. With medication and monitoring in hospital. Stopped Warfarin until yesterday. Nursing staff were good.
The cardiologist said he could go home today, does not want to risk infection. He has medication for the V Fib, V Fib now 112, and hoping it will go lower, fluid still there, but taking Furosemide.

Went to GP this afternoon, INR today 2.8. Will drop the dose by 1 mg tonight. We will see her again on Thursday.

Still finding sleeping hard, between bed, chair and recliner. Practising breathing and doing short walks. He is tired but we are hoping we have turned a corner.

 

[andye]

An update on MrEllen10:
Went to see doctor 9am Friday morning. Warfarin INR 4.8 too high. Doctor checks his vitals, pulse not good. She gets the nurse to do and ECG, VFib 120 doctor says I've rung an ambulance, off to emergency.

Emergency at our local public hospital department crazy, but he is taken straight in to a bed in emergency. Hooked up to machines, VFib rising and too much fluid. Chest Xray, Ct scan. Cannula in and diuretics injected, lots of weeing, which is exhausting. Tried to contact the heart surgeon from Prince of Wales but he is operating.

V Fib rising into the 130's (it got as high as 140 in the end). Started on Beta blockers and he has fluid in the lungs etc. Called cardiologist team, we had to wait hours, finally came at 4.30. Yes will need to be admitted to a cardiac ward. MrEllen10 finally admitted to ward at 10.30pm.

What a long stressful and exhausting day. But I must say all the doctors and nurses in the emergency ward, although run off their feet, were just amazing! Those beautiful nurses working 12 hour shifts in some very trying and difficult situations, I couldn't praise enough for their care and kindness.
I finally went home and once in bed, suffered cramps in both legs and both feet. (that was not fun!), I think not eating or drinking, sitting, standing and not walking for such a long time was the culprit.

This was last Friday the start of the long weekend. Mr Ellen10's cardiologist, visited him in hospital. Saturday, Sunday and Monday. With medication and monitoring in hospital. Stopped Warfarin until yesterday. Nursing staff were good.
The cardiologist said he could go home today, does not want to risk infection. He has medication for the V Fib, V Fib now 112, and hoping it will go lower, fluid still there, but taking Furosemide.

Went to GP this afternoon, INR today 2.8. Will drop the dose by 1 mg tonight. We will see her again on Thursday.

Still finding sleeping hard, between bed, chair and recliner. Practising breathing and doing short walks. He is tired but we are hoping we have turned a corner.

Glad things are improving
I'm pretty sure you are describing 'a' (atrial) fib rather than 'v' (ventricular) fibrillatiion