General Medical issues thread

[Pushka]

Minor in the scheme of things and what others have on their plate at the moment but both MrLtL and I have developed plantar fasciitis - his is well on the mend now as it's been a couple of months, mine is still causing me some pain. Inserts in shoes help but then muscles not used to the change let me know they aren't happy. I think I know what caused it - I thought I would do some exercise so moral of the story???

Been to a podiatrist? MrP had this last year and very painful. Still wears orthotics now but buys the silicone ones recommended by them. Fixed in about a month. Six months ago I restarted at the gym. I was doing one of the recommended exercises using the steps. The steps separated as I reached the top and collapsed as did I. Flat thankfully on my back but cheek was very tender and also strained my thumb. Went back a week or so later then after the 6 months required guilt join I cancelled. Never felt so good.

 

[RooFlyer]

Minor in the scheme of things and what others have on their plate at the moment but both MrLtL and I have developed plantar fasciitis - his is well on the mend now as it's been a couple of months, mine is still causing me some pain. Inserts in shoes help but then muscles not used to the change let me know they aren't happy. I think I know what caused it - I thought I would do some exercise so moral of the story???

Got that a couple of months ago too. Of course immediately followed by a cruise with 15k steps/day - crippled when put my feet up to rest.

Physio has an impact wrench he puts on the spot. Actually a little tool that vibrates at high speed to stimulate the fascia.

Podiatrist already has me in orthotics.

BTW they put me on a neat app ‘Move Health’. Describes the specified exercises and reps and includes a video of each, so you can keep checking the way to do it properly.

 

[VPS]

Got that a couple of months ago too. Of course immediately followed by a cruise with 15k steps/day - crippled when put my feet up to rest.

Physio has an impact wrench he puts on the spot. Actually a little tool that vibrates at high speed to stimulate the fascia.

Podiatrist already has me in orthotics.

BTW they put me on a neat app ‘Move Health’. Describes the specified exercises and reps and includes a video of each, so you can keep checking the way to do it properly.

PhysiApp is similar and excellent

 

[MARTINE]

PhysiApp is similar and excellent

Second that

 

[MARTINE]

And the MrEllen10 saga continues.
We had a follow surgeon post op appointment on Tuesday afternoon. We got an updated chest X-Ray the day before.
Mr Ellen10 had had the fluid (Chylo) drained the previous Wednesday (2.75 litres drained). This was finally organised by his local Cardiologist.
His lungs felt great for two days but the breathlessness came back two days later.

The surgeon took one look at the new X-Ray and said I have never seen this so bad before, usually the fluid is red. He then said I'm sorry to say that you are coming back to Prince of Wales Private hospital, Sydney tomorrow. He also commented that the AFib needs to be fixed but the fluid problem needs to be fixed first. And that MrEllen10 will be on a fruit only diet. To stop the Chylo
So we went home organised going up to Sydney the next morning, I booked accommodation in Randwick again. Not sure how long for.

The plan is to put in a drain to drain the Chylo, (chylo is the lymphatic fats produced by the body) on Thursday, and the drain will stay in until the fluid stops. Well the first hour after the drain went in produced 2 litres, they were worried about the rapid flow, and the pressure on the deflated lung. Everyone was interested in seeing the flow even the student doctors came for a look! The container soon filled up to the 2.5 litre capacity and they changed the container.

Fluid draining has slowed and not so milky white. They are hoping the fluid may stop all together and the lymphatic hole will heal itself. If it does not stop they will have to go in and seal it, by an operation. Mr Ellen10 has had fruit for breakfast, lunch and dinner and is very hungry. But hoping the diet will be worth it to fix the problem.

When the fluid problem if fixed, they will then address the AFib. This will be a long slow process. And although not happy to be back in hospital. we are happy that the ongoing lung problem will be fixed and the heart problem can be fixed as well.
By the way we are very disappointed with our local cardiologist and lack of care and action. We are happy that the heart surgeon has taken control.

So the roller coaster continues.

So sorry this is happening for Mr Ellen10 and you. Thinking best wishes to you both and hope the corner is turned soon. Sending virtual hugs (although I have never met you - there is a shared humanity, sense of community and respect on this forum).

 

[ellen10]

I feel like I might be hijacking this thread at the moment. But a couple of people have asked for an update.

We checked into Prince of Wales private hospital on Wednesday. The drain was inserted into the lung area on Thursday midday and within 1 hour over 2 litres of chylo fluid came out. It took everyone by surprise at how fast it flowed. They asked if some medical students could come and view it, which they did, marvelling at the thick white liquid. The next container filled another 2 litres over that next night.
Mr Ellen10 was on a strict fruit diet, watermelon, honey dew melon and half an orange. And an occasional banana or apple. The aim of the fruit diet was to stop all fats in his body. They were hoping that with no chylo produced through the lymphatic glands/nodes that the leak might heal itself. And they would only have to address the A-Fib which was still of a concern.
Mr Ellen10 kept up a regular walking regime around the ward. We did crosswords, read and chatted to while away the hours, ( I am staying up again in Sydney), he was feeling quite good, just hungry!
By Sunday the flow had stopped completely. I mentioned this to the nurse and she thought it may have had a kink in the drain, so tried to unkink it. Monday morning, was exciting for Mr Ellen10 as they were introducing fats into his diet, A milkshake and ice cream with his fruit breakfast, he said it was the best milkshake he had ever had! The idea of introducing the fats back in to the diet was to see if the chylo would start up again. But there was still no more fluid draining.

Every two days Mr Ellen10 had an X-Ray of the lungs and of course I would peruse it and noticed that the lung cavity was getting a bigger and bigger shadow each day, me thinking it was fluid.

I mentioned this to the nurse, who had another look at the drain and then took the latest X-Rays away for someone else to look at. About half an hour later in walks the surgeon. The experiment had failed, the drain had come loose and stopped draining and the lung area was filling up again. (Which I kind of thought).

Back on the fruit diet, no more milkshakes

Surgery scheduled for today. They would open the chest back up, find the pesky leaking lymph gland/node, seal it and then address the A-Fib problem whilst in there. They took him down at 11am to prepare him for the surgery at 3pm. Anaesthetist was keen to get him down early to prepare everything. Mr Ellen10 will go to ICU firstly. It's about 4.45pm. So no news yet.

 

[Quickstatus]

They were hoping that with no chylo produced through the lymphatic glands/nodes that the leak might heal itself.

Actually, the chyle (the white milky stuff) - most of it comes from the intestinal system and liver - hence the no fat diet

find the pesky leaking lymph gland/node

likely a leak or a hole in the thoracic duct.
Sometimes they can get the radiologist to see if they can block the duct via a method called Thoracic duct embolisation ifthey cant find it surgically. Looks like with the amount of chlye draining out it should not be too hard.

Surgery scheduled for today

Best wishes.

 

[drron]

You are certainly not hogging the thread. In situations such as that faced by your self and partner it’s very therapeutic to discuss the situation. AFF is a great place for that with members from many different backgrounds able to talk about the situation.
So keep posting.

 

[pagingjoan]

And those of us reading with sympathy and empathy have an amazing opportunity to learn from the expert contributors to the thread.
So thank you to all!
And please do keep posting.

 

[ellen10]

Thank you everyone for your support and encouragement of sharing our journey.

The surgery went ahead and Mr Ellen10 spent the next 24 hours in ICU, then was moved back to the cardiac ward.
The surgeon said that he opened the original incision in Mr Ellen10's right side chest. He said it had originally healed well and was tough going through the scar tissue. He glued and sealed the duct also with a stitch. He then zapped the heart to correct the AFib which was successful.
So no more AFib! thats good.

Whilst in the ICU the nurse contacted the hospital dietician for a consult re Mr Ellen10's fruit diet. We would see the dietician 2 days later.

The surgeon saw us the next day and said the procedure went well and Mr Ellen10 has a drain tube the same as the tube he had for his last surgery and the doctor wants him to remain on the fruit only diet until Monday and the drain will stay.

Two days post op Mr Ellen10 is in a lot of pain and discomfort and when we try to do some walking he is very week, after 10 days on the fruit diet. His lunch is then delivered as the dietician walks in ( a lovely pregnant Irish lass) and she is aghast when she sees his lunch of 2 slices of orange 3 small slices of watermelon and honey dew melon and an apple, even the lovely lady who brings his meals seems apologetic. The dietician/Nutritionist says this is not sustainable as she sees Mr Ellen10's gaunt looking face. She says to us and the nurse "I am contacting the kitchen and changing his diet, he can have steamed vegetables, fish, chicken and rice. I am also immediately ordering him some non fat protein drinks."

Later that afternoon the doctor arrives and says he sees that your fruit diet has been changed/enhanced. He is not overly happy and hopes the repair has healed enough to not leak again. He is going away this weekend and will be back on Monday when the fats will be introduced once again, hopefully the chyle will not come back. So that night Mr Ellen10's dinner arrives. steamed white fish, steamed carrots and broccoli and rice, he was excited, I was happy to see this, he started eating but about halfway through he felt quite nauseous, he had to stop. I think too much for his stomach which started cramping.

It was a bit of a rough night, but after some pain meds, got some sleep. His breakfast this morning was an egg white omelette, but quite tasteless as no filling, but he ate it and a small serving of fruit. He is feeling better today and tonight he had steamed veges, and steamed chicken breast. He managed to eat about half. They weighed him again today and since being admitted he has lost 7kgs in 10 days. We know some of this is fluid. We joke that he is really at a luxurious weight loss resort!

So the recovery journey continues and we will plod along until Monday. I am still staying on in Sydney, as I feel he needs the support and he is grateful for it. We chat, do crosswords, do some walks around the ward and talk to family and friends by phone. We have enjoyed getting to know the very friendly and wonderful nursing staff and they are all so caring and kind.

Today one of the head nurses asked if Mr Ellen10 would have a visit from a young girl from a local church youth group who make and sew heart pillows for patients in the cardiac ward. The young girl was about 10 and she and her father met and chatted Mr Ellen10, she was lovely and is learning the flute ( Mr Ellen10 is a musician and a music teacher), so they had that in common. She was proud to present him with the heart shaped pillow that she made herself. How lovely is that! It cheered him up.

Nice small things in this ride.

 

[Flyfrequently]

Thank you @ellen10 for sharing this update.
Such a time for you, especially away from home.
Hopefully now, this is the "turned corner"