The Medical Thread

[Goldhawk-Road]

I totally agree, this is just our personal experience but im sure many will have had more positive experiences. The nhs has been falling apart since i can remember. I recall our newly diagnosed MS group meeting 15 years ago. Her consultant at the time stressed the fact that they cant predict when a relapse will happen, why it will happen, how long it will last, if one will happen etc. Then went on to promote a new 'wonder drug' that cuts relapses down by over %40 in the study they did. Any questions? Erm yes i said, whats to say those people you trialled on were even going to have a relapse over that period anyway, as youve just stated you dont know why or when sufferers get them. He stormed out of the room to be replaced by an MS nurse. From that day on its just been a farce after a farce.

Sadly, MS is widespread. Like Beth, I had a parent who had it for almost all my childhood. My father was 31 when he was diagnosed with it. They didn't have the drugs to control it in those days, and he went downhill fast. I was two when it was diagnosed and I barely remember him walking. He died when he was 45 and I was 16. The brighter news is that MS treatment seems to be going forward in leaps and bounds. All the best to you and your wife, Bob. If treatment can keep the conditions mild, then that is worth a lot in difficult circumstances.

 

[YorkshireHoopster]

[

I think the point being made on this thread is that some GP practices, by the anecdotal evidence on here most of them, have reacted to the pandemic by making it much harder to see a GP face to face, and pretty difficult to get a virtual appointment (I have to phone up at 8:30 on the morning in the dot to get a GP to phone me back at a random time of their choice…..when they have texted me to say they want to discuss my medication). My practice only does phone consultations, no video, I know of other which do Zoom etc, but of course some patients aren’t up to the technology.

There are broader issues like shortage of GPs, the ownership model for primary care practices, and the vast numbers needed to make up for the huge majority who work part time (no problem from where I stand) unlike the chap you highlight.

Not sure the pandemic is the only reason. It has become increasingly impossible to see my GP because the village continually expands with new housing estates while the practice seems to be unable to recruit - presumably because of the terms and conditions and the increase in admin paperwork. It's not that long ago when you could pretty much book up an appointment within 48 hours. Now you are lucky if you an find one within the month. There is a lot to be said for actually managing the development of towns rather than leaving it to the market to do so. Villages which have an abundance of new housing no services but plenty of mobile phone shops estate agents and metro sized stores owned by a few conglomerates seems to be what the market place delivers.

 

[bobmid]

Sadly, MS is widespread. Like Beth, I had a parent who had it for almost all my childhood. My father was 31 when he was diagnosed with it. They didn't have the drugs to control it in those days, and he went downhill fast. I was two when it was diagnosed and I barely remember him walking. He died when he was 45 and I was 16. The brighter news is that MS treatment seems to be going forward in leaps and bounds. All the best to you and your wife, Bob. If treatment can keep the conditions mild, then that is worth a lot in difficult circumstances.

Thanks goldy. Its a very complex illness not fully understood by even the most talented experts. MS seems to me, to be more of an umberella that people are cast under, all suffering different symptoms. The modern drugs seem to aimed at specific symptoms, some with worse side effects that then in turn need treatment. Its a minefield to be honest. A century ago, it was presumed as a blood related disease or blood flow related. I still believe, especially in my wifes case, that her condition is blood related. Anyway, i could go on forever.

 

[bobmid]

My mum had MS too, so I am well aware of the uncertainty of the whole wretched disease. My dad and I looked after her for the whole of my childhood.

The consultant was right to say, especially 15 years ago about , the we did not know when and why relapses happened. We are beginning to be able to predict now using biomarkers....

His actual answer should have been, that is why we do clinical trials with large numbers to overcome this. We look for signs and symptoms and that's how we learn.

He sounds an ignorant and arrogant b****strd, there are a lot about.

A lot of advances are being made with MS, so please do not give up fighting. But I realise in this current climate of fear, uncertainty and lack of funding it is very very hard.
You live in a country that is at the for front of medical research into MS, so there is definitely hope.

Much love to your family. Xx

Thanks Beth and thanks Goldy for your thoughts and experiences. We have just had many poor experiences, especially within the Leeds Trust. 2 years of being told shes just anxious before we paid privately for a diagnosis, showing lesions on the brain and abnormal bands in her spinal fluid.

 

[Didley Squat]

I know various members have / are still having medical issues and l sincerely hope they are on the mend.

As some of know, l’ve had a number over the years and 2022 is doing all it can to make it another year to remember.

Last year, the gall bladder was removed.

This year, April to be precise, l loss the use of my right arm for nearly a month….. it felt like a lump of concrete, unable to lift a millimeter.
Apparently, the bursa in my shoulder enlarged and was affecting the nerve.

Approximate the start of October, having just returned home from have scans of the lungs for cancer, my grandson shot me from point blank range with a Nurf gun, right in the middle of the left eye. I fell to the ground in a heap.

Off to the eye surgeon and a two hour operation resulted in the back of the blue iris, parts were floating about at which then tried to escape thru the enlarged pupil entry point.
The webbing to the cataract was frayed and the nerve damaged.

The results being, l can’t read out of the left eye anymore….. just a blur.

Fast forward to today….. l was lifting a large sheet of heavy pine board over my head, as l l did, l went to throw it down onto a timber crate next to the outside pots loo toilet ( l’ve been building a house for twelve months and l have ‘hand over’ in 3 weeks!

Anyway, the sheet bounced off the corner of the pots loo straight down onto my right leg, taking out a chunk before landing on my left foot.

Having just come back from the doctor, the scans revealed a broken foot.

I know people are a lot worse off then oneself but dam it, on top of other ongoing issues, l’m pretty much over it at present.

Anyway, such is life, eh.

Hope we can snag a few wins to finish the year.
C’om you R’rssss!

 

[qprbeth]

OMG Didly you are unfortunate, to put it midly. I hope that is the end of it.
Otherwise you need to wrap yourself in cotton wool and sit in a pot of jelly, for your own safety.

Seriously rest up, take it easy and get well soon and I hope you can get the handover done, then you (and the Rs) can start afresh

 

[Uber_Hoop]

I know various members have / are still having medical issues and l sincerely hope they are on the mend.

As some of know, l’ve had a number over the years and 2022 is doing all it can to make it another year to remember.

Last year, the gall bladder was removed.

This year, April to be precise, l loss the use of my right arm for nearly a month….. it felt like a lump of concrete, unable to lift a millimeter.
Apparently, the bursa in my shoulder enlarged and was affecting the nerve.

Approximate the start of October, having just returned home from have scans of the lungs for cancer, my grandson shot me from point blank range with a Nurf gun, right in the middle of the left eye. I fell to the ground in a heap.

Off to the eye surgeon and a two hour operation resulted in the back of the blue iris, parts were floating about at which then tried to escape thru the enlarged pupil entry point.
The webbing to the cataract was frayed and the nerve damaged.

The results being, l can’t read out of the left eye anymore….. just a blur.

Fast forward to today….. l was lifting a large sheet of heavy pine board over my head, as l l did, l went to throw it down onto a timber crate next to the outside pots loo toilet ( l’ve been building a house for twelve months and l have ‘hand over’ in 3 weeks!

Anyway, the sheet bounced off the corner of the pots loo straight down onto my right leg, taking out a chunk before landing on my left foot.

Having just come back from the doctor, the scans revealed a broken foot.

I know people are a lot worse off then oneself but dam it, on top of other ongoing issues, l’m pretty much over it at present.

Anyway, such is life, eh.

Hope we can snag a few wins to finish the year.
C’om you R’rssss!

If you were a racehorse you'd have been shot ages ago, Oz. Really sorry to hear of your Series Of Unfortunate Events... hope Xmas brings you some respite.

 

[SW Ranger]

I know various members have / are still having medical issues and l sincerely hope they are on the mend.

As some of know, l’ve had a number over the years and 2022 is doing all it can to make it another year to remember.

Last year, the gall bladder was removed.

This year, April to be precise, l loss the use of my right arm for nearly a month….. it felt like a lump of concrete, unable to lift a millimeter.
Apparently, the bursa in my shoulder enlarged and was affecting the nerve.

Approximate the start of October, having just returned home from have scans of the lungs for cancer, my grandson shot me from point blank range with a Nurf gun, right in the middle of the left eye. I fell to the ground in a heap.

Off to the eye surgeon and a two hour operation resulted in the back of the blue iris, parts were floating about at which then tried to escape thru the enlarged pupil entry point.
The webbing to the cataract was frayed and the nerve damaged.

The results being, l can’t read out of the left eye anymore….. just a blur.

Fast forward to today….. l was lifting a large sheet of heavy pine board over my head, as l l did, l went to throw it down onto a timber crate next to the outside pots loo toilet ( l’ve been building a house for twelve months and l have ‘hand over’ in 3 weeks!

Anyway, the sheet bounced off the corner of the pots loo straight down onto my right leg, taking out a chunk before landing on my left foot.

Having just come back from the doctor, the scans revealed a broken foot.

I know people are a lot worse off then oneself but dam it, on top of other ongoing issues, l’m pretty much over it at present.

Anyway, such is life, eh.

Hope we can snag a few wins to finish the year.
C’om you R’rssss!

Blimey Didley … if it wasn’t for bad luck you’d have no luck at all.
Try not to let it all drag you down. You always come across as a ‘glass half full’ guy - so good on ‘yer pal for keeping your sanity (while all around you are trying to drive you crazy).
Hopefully you can get the house done and dusted then take time to rest and get back to your best fitness and put all that behind you.
We’re all rooting for you here Didley.

 

[Didley Squat]

Blimey Didley … if it wasn’t for bad luck you’d have no luck at all.
Try not to let it all drag you down. You always come across as a ‘glass half full’ guy - so good on ‘yer pal for keeping your sanity (while all around you are trying to drive you crazy).
Hopefully you can get the house done and dusted then take time to rest and get back to your best fitness and put all that behind you.
We’re all rooting for you here Didley.

Many thanks mate and to you all.

I’ve always held the view of laughing things off, hence the reason l overdo things at times and make some silly remarks but yes, l certainly try to be the glass half full type.

Cheers again, folks.

 

[Trammers]

I know various members have / are still having medical issues and l sincerely hope they are on the mend.

As some of know, l’ve had a number over the years and 2022 is doing all it can to make it another year to remember.

Last year, the gall bladder was removed.

This year, April to be precise, l loss the use of my right arm for nearly a month….. it felt like a lump of concrete, unable to lift a millimeter.
Apparently, the bursa in my shoulder enlarged and was affecting the nerve.

Approximate the start of October, having just returned home from have scans of the lungs for cancer, my grandson shot me from point blank range with a Nurf gun, right in the middle of the left eye. I fell to the ground in a heap.

Off to the eye surgeon and a two hour operation resulted in the back of the blue iris, parts were floating about at which then tried to escape thru the enlarged pupil entry point.
The webbing to the cataract was frayed and the nerve damaged.

The results being, l can’t read out of the left eye anymore….. just a blur.

Fast forward to today….. l was lifting a large sheet of heavy pine board over my head, as l l did, l went to throw it down onto a timber crate next to the outside pots loo toilet ( l’ve been building a house for twelve months and l have ‘hand over’ in 3 weeks!

Anyway, the sheet bounced off the corner of the pots loo straight down onto my right leg, taking out a chunk before landing on my left foot.

Having just come back from the doctor, the scans revealed a broken foot.

I know people are a lot worse off then oneself but dam it, on top of other ongoing issues, l’m pretty much over it at present.

Anyway, such is life, eh.

Hope we can snag a few wins to finish the year.
C’om you R’rssss!

Jeez Aussie, must admit I had to goggle Nurf Gun as I've no idea what it was.........

Based on all of what's happened might I suggest that your body is telling you it's time to retire and take it a bit easier........

Take care my friend.....

 

[Hammersmith bookie]

I know various members have / are still having medical issues and l sincerely hope they are on the mend.

As some of know, l’ve had a number over the years and 2022 is doing all it can to make it another year to remember.

Last year, the gall bladder was removed.

This year, April to be precise, l loss the use of my right arm for nearly a month….. it felt like a lump of concrete, unable to lift a millimeter.
Apparently, the bursa in my shoulder enlarged and was affecting the nerve.

Approximate the start of October, having just returned home from have scans of the lungs for cancer, my grandson shot me from point blank range with a Nurf gun, right in the middle of the left eye. I fell to the ground in a heap.

Off to the eye surgeon and a two hour operation resulted in the back of the blue iris, parts were floating about at which then tried to escape thru the enlarged pupil entry point.
The webbing to the cataract was frayed and the nerve damaged.

The results being, l can’t read out of the left eye anymore….. just a blur.

Fast forward to today….. l was lifting a large sheet of heavy pine board over my head, as l l did, l went to throw it down onto a timber crate next to the outside pots loo toilet ( l’ve been building a house for twelve months and l have ‘hand over’ in 3 weeks!

Anyway, the sheet bounced off the corner of the pots loo straight down onto my right leg, taking out a chunk before landing on my left foot.

Having just come back from the doctor, the scans revealed a broken foot.

I know people are a lot worse off then oneself but dam it, on top of other ongoing issues, l’m pretty much over it at present.

Anyway, such is life, eh.

Hope we can snag a few wins to finish the year.
C’om you R’rssss!

Recover soon pal, once you get to a certain age, things just start to go wrong on a permanent basis. Up until 45 I'd got away with most things and had just had a few broken bones and IBS, since then I've had pain somewhere in my body nearly every day. The eyesight has gone to pot and the stomach tablets don't work any more. Now with recent events I've obviously got to change my lifestyle big time and knock on the head alot of things. Like you say there are alot of people worse off, but boy life does become one long struggle and alot less enjoyable !

 

[Staines R's]

I know various members have / are still having medical issues and l sincerely hope they are on the mend.

As some of know, l’ve had a number over the years and 2022 is doing all it can to make it another year to remember.

Last year, the gall bladder was removed.

This year, April to be precise, l loss the use of my right arm for nearly a month….. it felt like a lump of concrete, unable to lift a millimeter.
Apparently, the bursa in my shoulder enlarged and was affecting the nerve.

Approximate the start of October, having just returned home from have scans of the lungs for cancer, my grandson shot me from point blank range with a Nurf gun, right in the middle of the left eye. I fell to the ground in a heap.

Off to the eye surgeon and a two hour operation resulted in the back of the blue iris, parts were floating about at which then tried to escape thru the enlarged pupil entry point.
The webbing to the cataract was frayed and the nerve damaged.

The results being, l can’t read out of the left eye anymore….. just a blur.

Fast forward to today….. l was lifting a large sheet of heavy pine board over my head, as l l did, l went to throw it down onto a timber crate next to the outside pots loo toilet ( l’ve been building a house for twelve months and l have ‘hand over’ in 3 weeks!

Anyway, the sheet bounced off the corner of the pots loo straight down onto my right leg, taking out a chunk before landing on my left foot.

Having just come back from the doctor, the scans revealed a broken foot.

I know people are a lot worse off then oneself but dam it, on top of other ongoing issues, l’m pretty much over it at present.

Anyway, such is life, eh.

Hope we can snag a few wins to finish the year.
C’om you R’rssss!

Really time you should take it easy mate. Like most of us, you might be 20 years old and able to do all that stuff in your head…but your body will be telling you that really shouldn’t be happening.
Hope you get better sooon

 

[LandOfHoopsAndGlory]

Didley mate.
Firstly, sorry to hear about your misfortunes and hope you are getting better. Secondly, where do you live. Need to know so I can stay as far away as possible.
Seriously, it sounds like you've been jinxed. From one calamity to another.

Let's hope these unfortunate events are your last for some time. And any future mishaps are much less adverse.

Regarding your cataract, was that as a result of the eye injury or have you had it for some time. Correct me if I'm wrong, but it reads like the surgeon performed cataract extraction and you didn't get an intraocular lens inserted. By the way, you SHOULDN'T be lifting anything heavy or doing any strenuous tasks/exercises for several months after any major operation, esp. an eye operation. Hope you consulted your ophthalmologist first.
Also, hope the results of your chest scans were negative.

Anyway, all the best, stay safe and get some help when doing strenuous work in the future. If you're in Sydney, PM me. I'll be glad to help.

 

[Didley Squat]

Didley mate.
Firstly, sorry to hear about your misfortunes and hope you are getting better. Secondly, where do you live. Need to know so I can stay as far away as possible.
Seriously, it sounds like you've been jinxed. From one calamity to another.

Let's hope these unfortunate events are your last for some time. And any future mishaps are much less adverse.

Regarding your cataract, was that as a result of the eye injury or have you had it for some time. Correct me if I'm wrong, but it reads like the surgeon performed cataract extraction and you didn't get an intraocular lens inserted. By the way, you SHOULDN'T be lifting anything heavy or doing any strenuous tasks/exercises for several months after any major operation, esp. an eye operation. Hope you consulted your ophthalmologist first.
Also, hope the results of your chest scans were negative.

Anyway, all the best, stay safe and get some help when doing strenuous work in the future. If you're in Sydney, PM me. I'll be glad to help.

Cheers mate.
I'm an old Sydney boy but been living on the Gold Coast for 30 odd years, so your safe.

If you think my life is rough around the edges, you should see my building work!
I might be slow but boy, am l rough ............ and expensive!

On a serious note, l'm not sure of the exact lens type they inserted but there was concern whether the existing webbing would hold it, having been damaged from the impact.

The chest scan were of the kidneys actually, not lungs as l had written. My mother passed from cancer in the kidneys, l have a cyst / lump, there but its benign at present.

All's good, as you were ...................

 

[LandOfHoopsAndGlory]

Cheers mate.
I'm an old Sydney boy but been living on the Gold Coast for 30 odd years, so your safe.

If you think my life is rough around the edges, you should see my building work!
I might be slow but boy, am l rough ............ and expensive!

On a serious note, l'm not sure of the exact lens type they inserted but there was concern whether the existing webbing would hold it, having been damaged from the impact.

As you know, l broke my foot on Monday but went back to work yesterday & today, for four hours at a time .......... with a fitted moon boot.
Certainly not an ideal situation but as the builder, there are many other factors & requirements that come into play, for which have will have major consequences if l don't complete my hand over on time. Like in Sydney and the rest of Oz, having trades booked and not being ready for their work can and will blowout months.
I tried to move my block layer back two weeks and he said he's booked till end of March 2023 !

The chest scan were of the kidneys actually, not lungs as l had written. My mother passed from cancer in the kidneys, l have a cyst / lump, there but its benign at present.

All's good, as you were ...................

Ah, the Gold Coast. Beautiful one day, safety hazard the next.
Yeah mate, the building industry has sure taken a nosedive since the pandemic.
Hope you'll be ok, both in your work and health.
The lenses they put in these days can be very complex, but, just like with buildings, they need a stable foundation. So good luck there mate.
Sorry to hear about your mum, but good to hear that your kidneys are safe.

 

[Steelmonkey]

Amazing story...

Base editing: Revolutionary therapy clears girl's incurable cancer

You must log in or register to see images

By James Gallagher
Health and science correspondent

A teenage girl's incurable cancer has been cleared from her body in the first use of a revolutionary new type of medicine.

All other treatments for Alyssa's leukaemia had failed.

So doctors at Great Ormond Street Hospital used "base editing" to perform a feat of biological engineering to build her a new living drug.

Six months later the cancer is undetectable, but Alyssa is still being monitored in case it comes back.

Alyssa, who is 13 and from Leicester, was diagnosed with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in May last year.


T-cells are supposed to be the body's guardians - seeking out and destroying threats - but for Alyssa they had become the danger and were growing out of control.

Her cancer was aggressive. Chemotherapy, and then a bone-marrow transplant, were unable to rid it from her body.

Without the experimental medicine, the only option left would have been merely to make Alyssa as comfortable as possible.

"Eventually I would have passed away," said Alyssa. Her mum, Kiona, said this time last year she had been dreading Christmas, "thinking this is our last with her". And then she "just cried" through her daughter's 13th birthday in January.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-63859184

 

[LandOfHoopsAndGlory]

Amazing story...

Base editing: Revolutionary therapy clears girl's incurable cancer

You must log in or register to see images

By James Gallagher
Health and science correspondent

A teenage girl's incurable cancer has been cleared from her body in the first use of a revolutionary new type of medicine.

All other treatments for Alyssa's leukaemia had failed.

So doctors at Great Ormond Street Hospital used "base editing" to perform a feat of biological engineering to build her a new living drug.

Six months later the cancer is undetectable, but Alyssa is still being monitored in case it comes back.

Alyssa, who is 13 and from Leicester, was diagnosed with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in May last year.


T-cells are supposed to be the body's guardians - seeking out and destroying threats - but for Alyssa they had become the danger and were growing out of control.

Her cancer was aggressive. Chemotherapy, and then a bone-marrow transplant, were unable to rid it from her body.

Without the experimental medicine, the only option left would have been merely to make Alyssa as comfortable as possible.

"Eventually I would have passed away," said Alyssa. Her mum, Kiona, said this time last year she had been dreading Christmas, "thinking this is our last with her". And then she "just cried" through her daughter's 13th birthday in January.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-63859184

Here are the real heroes. The medicos and ancillary people and any others that produced this incredible result. We should be giving gold medals/winners trophies to these underappreciated, hard working, magnificent "bastards" who work day in, day out with young and old, in sometimes the most depressing situations. And yet produce a result like this that can melt the stoniest of hearts. The smile of that young patient would brighten the deepest, darkest recesses of the most morose human to have ever lived.
You guys are 'THE' CHAMPIONS OF THE WORLD!!!

 

[Staines R's]

Here are the real heroes. The medicos and ancillary people and any others that produced this incredible result. We should be giving gold medals/winners trophies to these underappreciated, hard working, magnificent "bastards" who work day in, day out with young and old, in sometimes the most depressing situations. And yet produce a result like this that can melt the stoniest of hearts. The smile of that young patient would brighten the deepest, darkest recesses of the most morose human to have ever lived.
You guys are 'THE' CHAMPIONS OF THE WORLD!!!

Perhaps we should have another “clap-a-thon”….that’ll pay the bills.

 

[LandOfHoopsAndGlory]

Perhaps we should have another “clap-a-thon”….that’ll pay the bills.

I'd take that up with your union if I were you.
Still, the more people that recognise your efforts, the more likely the government will be "persuaded" to remunerate you for your dedication. That's how we got our government to give us better pay. Not as much as we are worth, IMHO, but nonetheless, better than nought.

I've worked for nigh on 40 years, hoping to get more money to pay bills, feed the family right.
I'm renting at the moment, but at least I have the knowledge that I have helped thousands of people with their debilities. And even though I have not made much in money, I am wealthy in my heart that I have made a difference in people's lives.

And to me, that's all that matters.

 

[LandOfHoopsAndGlory]

Oh, I did forget. Thank you for your service to others.
Maybe they'll pay it forward.