The General Chat Thread (2016-2022)

[LissaC]

I understand what you're saying. I am not saying that I question EVERY doctor about every little thing. In general, doctors only take about six hours of study in pharmacology. Almost everything they know about medications comes from the pharmaceutical reps that wine and dine them to put those pamphlets in their office. There are SO many medications that are recalled because of problems learned after-the-fact. I want to reduce the personal risk by educating myself about medications, the ingredients (I have many allergies) and any contraindications. I feel that any doctor that has a problem with me being an active participant in my own healthcare is not one I want to see anyway.

I'm glad you found at least two doctors that were willing to help find the right solution for your condition(s).

P.S. I've had many wonderful doctors and some not-so-good ones and those are the ones I leave in the rearview mirror.

I really agree with you and I have a good example to illustrate why we shouldn't blindly believe in doctors. Some years ago the aunt of one of my now ex boyfriend had surgery for an uterine myoma, but doctors accidentally nicked her bowel and she had emergency surgery to insert a stoma (intestinal sac). They said the way the cut to her bowel was done she could never live without her stoma. She was in her 50s, and couldn't feel comfortable with the idea of never getting rid of the sac, so she consulted a private doctor, who agreed with the opinion the first doctors had given her. So she went to a third doctor, who said he was confident he would be able to remove the sac, although it would require two lenghty surgeries. She held to this glimmer of hope and after three surgeries, she got rid of the stoma for good. Had she blindly believed the first and second doctor she would have stayed with that sac forever. So questioning and challenging doctors can be more than good, probably even lifesaving in some cases.

 

[Morning Glory]

I'm not willing to let my medical need become the raison d'etre of what life I have left. I have in my opinion far more important things to think about.

Its a position which you are absolutely entitled to take. My estranged ex (father of 2 of my kids) took the same position re having heart surgery. I believe my eldest daughter was really upset by his decision. He was told it would save his life and chose not to do it. Eventually she came to terms with it.

I'm a complete 'head in the sand' when it comes to my health. I avoid any doctors at all costs and don't do all the routine tests that I am supposed to have. It may cause my demise eventually but I am not good at facing things.

 

[mjd]

You're lucky you only have the dye to worry about. I'm allergic to a tablet filler. To confuse things it is made from milk and if not cleaned properly in the lab contains the protein I'm allergic to as a contaminant. But it is a milk sugar derivative and as such medical staff tell me repeatedly that I can't be allergic to it. The human body is only intolerant to it (it can be badly intolerant but it is not an allergy) , but even as a contaminant it can trigger an allergic reaction in me.

So I can't even change brands of medication or frequently try anything new (just this last week we've run into that issue). I've actually had an allergic reaction to an antihistamine tablet I on the past! Now when I go into hospital, all my meds are kept in my room except for my S8 meds which have to be locked away by law. My meds are taken out and given to me in front of me. Usually if it is an easy going nurse or one I've come to know, or they've been told at the handover, they'll just hand me the bag of meds and as they call them out, I'll pull them out, show them and put them in the container. We can whizz through the list if meds really quickly that way and they know I'm happy to taken them.

In the past I've refused drugs because I don't recognise them (wrong drug, one is pregabalin. It is often mixed with the older less effective pentagabin) or that they are not the brand I usually take. I often have an allergic reaction to the cheaper generic drugs. They are cheaper because the tablet filler isn't as high quality and is contaminated with the dairy protein I'm allergic to...

I'm not that lucky. I have a ton of allergies and intolerances. The main issue with the red dye is some doctors and pharmacy techs don't understand that a pill doesn't have to *look* reddish or pink for it to contain red dye. This is why I double and triple check any new medications or the same medication from a different manufacturer. It will take very little for it to become life-threatening for me so those few extra minutes to check are vital.

I feel so bad for you with all your health problems. I wish I could take it all away for you.

 

[mjd]

I really agree with you and I have a good example to illustrate why we shouldn't blindly believe in doctors. Some years ago the aunt of one of my now ex boyfriend had surgery for an uterine myoma, but doctors accidentally nicked her bowel and she had emergency surgery to insert a stoma (intestinal sac). They said the way the cut to her bowel was done she could never live without her stoma. She was in her 50s, and couldn't feel comfortable with the idea of never getting rid of the sac, so she consulted a private doctor, who agreed with the opinion the first doctors had given her. So she went to a third doctor, who said he was confident he would be able to remove the sac, although it would require two lenghty surgeries. She held to this glimmer of hope and after three surgeries, she got rid of the stoma for good. Had she blindly believed the first and second doctor she would have stayed with that sac forever. So questioning and challenging doctors can be more than good, probably even lifesaving in some cases.

I am so glad she didn't give up and was able to find a doctor that could help. It always amazes me that so many people blindly accept whatever a doctor tells them. Doctors are humans. They make mistakes and most doctors (as in the case of your ex's aunt) are going to use actuarial numbers to determine the risk of any medical procedure. Doctors who aren't comfortable with that risk/procedure are NOT going to touch it. Doctors that are comfortable will. It's all a matter of finding the ones that will.

 

[mjd]

I'm not willing to let my medical need become the raison d'etre of what life I have left. I have in my opinion far more important things to think about.

It's not mine either. My medications are a daily part of life. They aren't even on my mind until my alarm goes off when I need to take them or refill the minder. Like you, I have more things to think about so the few minutes it takes to make sure things are right doesn't impede on that at all.

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

It will take very little for it to become life-threatening for me so those few extra minutes to check are vital.

Same here with the anaphylaxis. But living rurally with medical help over an hour away even by helicopter, I have to be exceptionally careful. Dairy finds it's way into so much off everyday life unnecessarily. Only last month hubby came home with a tube of fresh dill because he hadn't been able to find any fresh leaves on the shelves. He didn't think to check the ingredients label because why on earth would chopped dill contain dairy? Yeah, well it did.
Like you, everything has to be checked every time. If so much as a wrapper/packaging redesign occurs, we have to re-check the ingredients. re-checkIng it only says vegetarian on the label and there are no clear non-vegan ingredients alarm bells ring.

Even the simplest of things like a jam sandwich needs the bread, the marg and the jam checking for dairy and not just in the obvious forms that clearly are dairy. Salt and vinegar crisps (or Pringles) are one we routinely find dairy in, yet smokey BBQ flavour is marked as vegan...

And like you, 1 bite is all I need to know I'm in trouble. I carry 2 epi-pens and have a 3rd in the fridge at home (for those thinking why, you actually need 6 doses of an epi-pen to treat anaphylaxis. A single dose is there to but time for paramedics to arrive and administer what's needed. They typically only but you roughly 10 minutes extra time and i live an hour from the nearest help.

The last time I went into anaphylactic shock I was actually in hospital and a doctor had prescribed a new medication for me. I'd enquired about the tablet filler to be told that there was no version of the tablet without the filler in question in it. (This was later established by the hospital pharmacist to be incorrect, it was just that they could not obtain it, however she was able to write me a script for my husband to get filled elsewhere with a version of the medication that didn't contain the filler I was allergic to). The tablet concerned was roughly 4mm in diameter and I was going onto ½ of that initially. I knew almost immediately that I was in trouble, starting with my lips tingling. I went down hill very quickly from there. Luckily the head nurse was on shift and had personally taken responsibility for watching me carefully because the only option had been take it and see what happens... that option no longer exists.

I feel so bad for you with all your health problems. I wish I could take it all away for you.

Thank you, but I think we both have more than enough to cope with as it is.

My medications are a daily part of life. They aren't even on my mind until my alarm goes off when I need to take them or refill the minder.

I also have numerous alarms set. 6am, 8am, 12pm, 2pm, then I get a bit of a break until 6pm, 8pm and finally 9:30pm (it really should be 10pm but I like to be in bed before them) . It's the only way to keep track of them all. Then there are the inhalers to deal with as well as nebulising.

 

[rascal]

Maybe it's the country you live in. I trust medical professionals in the UK, why because they have quality training and oversight. Are mistakes made yes but never with me or any of my friends. When I moved here I was given a disc to bring with my complete medical history. Dr Tina studied it and asked me questions, she noted I was allergic to penicillin. She arranged for me privately (because of covid) to have two non malignant melanomas removed. After they were removed the Doctor prescribe me an antibiotic cream to use in case of infection. I started to tell Dr Olga that I was allergic to penicillin, she cut me off and said she read Dr Tina's standard request form which includes warnings re any medication problems. In the UK when I have been admitted, the admissions nurse ask those type of questions. Any warnings are highlighted on your notes that are clipped to your bed.

You just reminded me, when I was about 20 I had trouble with my sinuses, dr recommended a bone scrape. I followed his advice and they knocked me out and I had the op. Thing was I was kind of awake but couldn't speak or move, I felt every whack of bone they hit. I told them afterwards and they couldn't believe my high tolerance to knock me out. It's on my notes now. I've had two ops since then and they always gave me extra. Something in my dna that requires it. My kids have both had hip replacements and it never effected them waking up.

Russ

 

[rascal]

I woke up at 5AM, a bit peckish, and decided to have a glass of milk and check out CB.

It is 27F right now (-3C). I would say it is certain we had our first freeze. Goodbye pollen, hello brown. Our three months of winter is here.

CD

We have a heat wave on the way, Sydney have been getting 40deg c. Should bring the raspberries on.


Russ

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

We have a heat wave on the way, Sydney have been getting 40deg c. Should bring the raspberries on.


Russ

Luckily we've missed it. It's been seeing new records for all the wrong reasons (like 33°C at coolest part of night). Thankfully the 38°C forecast for here didn't happen here yesterday. It topped out at 32°C when it clouded over at 4pm for a good but dry thunderstorm. The 300km and 860m of height protected us nicely. I'm not sure what Canberra topped out at yesterday but they are 100-150m lower than us so are usually 2-3°C warmer.

 

[rascal]

Luckily we've missed it. It's been seeing new records for all the wrong reasons (like 33°C at coolest part of night). Thankfully the 38°C forecast for here didn't happen here yesterday. It topped out at 32°C when it clouded over at 4pm for a good but dry thunderstorm. The 300km and 860m of height protected us nicely. I'm not sure what Canberra topped out at yesterday but they are 100-150m lower than us so are usually 2-3°C warmer.

Scenes of people at beaches reminded me of the Brits on holiday in Spain etc months ago, then lockdown. Oh oh!!

Russ

 

[LissaC]

You just reminded me, when I was about 20 I had trouble with my sinuses, dr recommended a bone scrape. I followed his advice and they knocked me out and I had the op. Thing was I was kind of awake but couldn't speak or move, I felt every whack of bone they hit. I told them afterwards and they couldn't believe my high tolerance to knock me out. It's on my notes now. I've had two ops since then and they always gave me extra. Something in my dna that requires it. My kids have both had hip replacements and it never effected them waking up.

Russ

That's one of my worst nightmares, being awake during surgery. There's a movie called "Awake" that depicts exactly that experience.

 

[rascal]

That's one of my worst nightmares, being awake during surgery. There's a movie called "Awake" that depicts exactly that experience.

It was frightening knowing what was going on. Just that one time and a note in my notes about doses of knock out stuff. I should have known because my dentist always had to double my injection in my gums to knock the pain out.

Russ

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

That's one of my worst nightmares, being awake during surgery. There's a movie called "Awake" that depicts exactly that experience.

I've experienced it in recovery after needing extra pain relief. The nursing staff were exceptionally concerned about me after I passed out. When I came to I couldn't move even I finger tip or eyelid but I found hear everything. I knew that the staff member was holding my hand, sitting with me. I heard her refuse to go home at the end of her shift preferring to wait until i came round. It took 2 hours for me to be able to move that finger tip to let her know and another hour before i was fully awake again. On the bright side, it did get rid of the pain.
Luckily for me, I know enough about medicine and pain meds to know what was going on. And I was way too medicated to panic (though I have a medical condition that actually prevents me from panicking).

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

This is genuinely occurring as we speak...
I dont think my mother is getting the joke though...

Still no answer to the last question...
Guessing she's had one too many gins

 

[caseydog]

I really agree with you and I have a good example to illustrate why we shouldn't blindly believe in doctors. Some years ago the aunt of one of my now ex boyfriend had surgery for an uterine myoma, but doctors accidentally nicked her bowel and she had emergency surgery to insert a stoma (intestinal sac). They said the way the cut to her bowel was done she could never live without her stoma. She was in her 50s, and couldn't feel comfortable with the idea of never getting rid of the sac, so she consulted a private doctor, who agreed with the opinion the first doctors had given her. So she went to a third doctor, who said he was confident he would be able to remove the sac, although it would require two lenghty surgeries. She held to this glimmer of hope and after three surgeries, she got rid of the stoma for good. Had she blindly believed the first and second doctor she would have stayed with that sac forever. So questioning and challenging doctors can be more than good, probably even lifesaving in some cases.

I'll add one to the list. Back in 2007, I noticed that one of my "boys" was growing, rapidy. I went to my PCP (Primary Care Physician), as required by my HMO (Insurance Plan). Without any examination, he said it was probably an infection, and prescribed antibiotics. I had done a little searching online, and found that my symptom was a possible sign of testicular cancer. I mentioned that, and my PCP kind of chuckled. I asked him to refer me to a specialist, which he did.

Next day, I'm in the Urologist's office, and he does an exam, and says, "This has to come out." I asked him how soon, and he asked, " What are you doing tomorrow?"

The specialist was 100-percent right. It was cancer, and it was treated quickly, and cured. The PCP was 100-percent wrong. His diagnosis could have led to terrible things... even death.

So, I now go to my PCP just to follow the HMO rules, and just flat out tell her I want a referral to a doctor who specializes it what is bothering me.

A primary care doctor can not POSSIBLY know what every specialist in every field of medicine knows. Get the referral!

CD