The totally off-topic thread

[Pushka]

Agreed. I had chicken pox as a child, and then I had shingles eight or nine years ago. You are more susceptible if you are run down and stressed, which was the situation in my case. Fortunately I got treatment very early on, and was really uncomfortable for only about three days. Could have been much worse, save for the early intervention.

MrP's Dr wouldn't give him the shot. Said he reserved it for people who weren't as fit as he was. He must think he pays for it personally. (He was within 72 hours?) but clearly he downplayed his symptoms.

 

[JessicaTam]

MrP's Dr wouldn't give him the shot. Said he reserved it for people who weren't as fit as he was. He must think he pays for it personally. (He was within 72 hours?) but clearly he downplayed his symptoms.

I would have found another doctor, pronto.

I was fortunate that a friend who was a former pharmacist told me to get to the doctor and rang them to say I was coming to make sure they had the stuff. I was in Falls Creek at the time, so services were limited.

 

[Princess Fiona]

MrP's Dr wouldn't give him the shot. Said he reserved it for people who weren't as fit as he was. He must think he pays for it personally. (He was within 72 hours?) but clearly he downplayed his symptoms.

I would have found another doctor, pronto.

I was fortunate that a friend who was a former pharmacist told me to get to the doctor and rang them to say I was coming to make sure they had the stuff. I was in Falls Creek at the time, so services were limited.

Ok maybe I'm getting confused here but there is no role for vaccination as a treatment for Varicella Zoster. IgG is reserved for immunocompromised patients. There is a vaccine for prevention of Shingles/Varicella Zoster.
The mainstay of treatment in acute cases is oral valaciclovir and if this is what MrP's Dr was withholding then I'm even more confused than I thought I was?

 

[cove]

Over 50 and had chicken pox would be your helpful guide as to whether to consider getting the shingles shot. There is no way I would like to get shingles as I know folks who have been unable to work for months by getting it. Others have been treated early and have recovered in a very short time. Words like it was "very painful" motivated me to have the shot in America and it is available now in Australia.
Ask around amongst your older friends as they will know some folks who have had shingles.

 

[JessicaTam]

Ok maybe I'm getting confused here but there is no role for vaccination as a treatment for Varicella Zoster. IgG is reserved for immunocompromised patients. There is a vaccine for prevention of Shingles/Varicella Zoster.
The mainstay of treatment in acute cases is oral valaciclovir and if this is what MrP's Dr was withholding then I'm even more confused than I thought I was?

Princess Fiona, I had an anti-viral something as I was already showing symptoms. Definitely not an inoculation/vaccine.

 

[mrs.dr.ron]

Over 50 and had chicken pox would be your helpful guide as to whether to consider getting the shingles shot.

I had Shingles in 2012, Ron was away doing a locum. I had a pain in the right side of my head all day( felt like I was getting a migraine ) so I took some Panadol and went to bed. The next morning I awoke to the right side of my face 3 times the size, I couldn't open my right eye :shock: it was a scary sight in the mirror. I took some antihistamine and drove myself to my GP. He took one look at me and said SHINGLES. He gave me an injection and a script for some pills ( cant remember now what !) I had a pain in my head like someone was drilling my skull ! It was a dreadful week. :shock:

 

[Princess Fiona]

Princess Fiona, I had an anti-viral something as I was already showing symptoms. Definitely not an inoculation/vaccine.

Thanks for the clarification Jess confusion better as that's what I thought you would have been prescribed.
Just not sure what "shot" MrP was refused.

 

[cove]

Avoidable pain is a pretty good concept.
Thanks mrs.dr.ron for your description of what it can be like. My late mother got messed around with it for several months.

 

[JohnK]

Avoidable pain?

 

[QF WP]

I am now thanking the stars that I am not yet 50

 

[anat0l]

Ever had one of those weeks where you just wish there was someone to tell you, "It's alright - you're doing your best - soldier on," and give you a hug to go with it?

That.

 

[JessicaTam]

Ever had one of those weeks where you just wish there was someone to tell you, "It's alright - you're doing your best - soldier on," and give you a hug to go with it?

That.

It's alright - you are doing your best. Soldier on.

ooo

 

[cove]

We call that "hug a tree" at our home.Cheer up your work week is ending so you can go places and relax.
We are hitting the Californian freeways to go to two companies today as we are in yesterday's land in the US. Friday night traffic can be painful for us getting back from San Diego in a hire car to Marina del Rey which is just north of LAX.

 

[Major]

90% of what I do as a JP is "certify" copies of documents. Had to get a stamp made up.

About 75% of my duties involve certification. The rest is simply witnessing signatures

 

[Bindibuys]

Rolling Stones concert tonight at Hope Estate, Pokolbin with a girlfriend & work collegues (only 15 minute drive) Cirque Du Soleil tomorrow in Sydney (2 hour drive) Hubby at YES concert tonight. This is a big weekend for me.

 

[Pushka]

Ok. Whatever it was, shot or tablets, the Dr wouldn't give MrP the routine antivirals for treatment and just told him to take pain relief. He was within the window for it to work. I thought it was a "shot" like treatment for rabies. .

 

[Pushka]

It's alright - you are doing your best. Soldier on.

ooo

My line is "this too shall pass". I'm using it frequently lately. Just wish "this" will get a move on and go away.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Ok. Whatever it was, shot or tablets, the Dr wouldn't give MrP the routine antivirals for treatment and just told him to take pain relief. He was within the window for it to work. I thought it was a "shot" like treatment for rabies. .

I understand now
Very odd comments by the Dr.
Antivirals halve the incidence of postherpetic neuralgia (more common in over 50's with facial shingles). I would prescribe it for all middle-aged and older people within the treatment window as the neuralgia if it develops is very difficult to treat.

 

[Pushka]

I understand now
Very odd comments by the Dr.
Antivirals halve the incidence of postherpetic neuralgia (more common in over 50's with facial shingles). I would prescribe it for all middle-aged and older people within the treatment window as the neuralgia if it develops is very difficult to treat.

We were surprised too but didn't know better to challenge him. We'd not known anyone with shingles before but we had thought there was something that could be given.

MrP looks quite fit so I recall him saying the Dr said he was able enough to manage without the treatment. Something like he reserves it for the frail and extreme cases. Hence my comment that it was like the Dr personally had to pay for it.

 

[RAM]

Work underpaid me this week while I'm on sick leave. When contacted I was told 'we don't know your hours' even though they are explicitly stated on my contract, and 'too busy to fix it'. So, apparently I should go without a chunk of my pay until they can be bothered. Fingers crossed I get a new job soon...

Depending on how aggrieved you feel:

<> Did you get that reply in email? If not, politely email your understanding of the call/conversation to them for please reply if I am in error...

<> Wait a week. Then email them with CC to the Fed Govt (isn't it) workplace relations office (As I always tell people - Google it for the correct name).

Works for everything from 15 year olds at XYZ fast food to $4,000 / day consultants. Just make sure you've got your details 100% correct and attach a copy of relevant para to email back to your company on the email with 'cc'.