We're getting old (OO medical complaints)

[ImLawBoy]

Had a CT and oncology appointment in the last few weeks. All is looking good/stable. Cancer markers in blood tests remain stable (increasing numbers would be concerning). Keeping on keeping on.

[Kraken]

I finally got my BP regulated after trying three different meds. The first one worked but made me dizzy. The second one didn't make me dizzy and didn't work. Third time's the charm. I also cut back on salt and processed meats, which helped a bit.

[Skinypupy]

GERD. It's a bitch

Yeah, maybe. But disarm is probably right. Might be something bigger. Could just be weaker sphincter with age. We're all wearing out and wearing down.

Well, I wasn’t overly concerned about it but now I am.

Thanks, jerks.

[WYBaugh]

Urologist called me yesterday that my PSA is down to 2.5 so the meds I'm taking to lower are doing their job and I don't have prostate cancer. Yay!

Meds kill sex drive, etc. Boo!

[disarm]

GERD. It's a bitch

Yeah, maybe. But disarm is probably right. Might be something bigger. Could just be weaker sphincter with age. We're all wearing out and wearing down.

Well, I wasn’t overly concerned about it but now I am.

Thanks, jerks.

If I were you, it still wouldn't be overly concerned if it really does just feel like heartburn. The biggest reason I recommended getting checked out is because it seems like a relatively recent, sudden and persistent issue rather than something that has worsened over time.

[Daehawk]

If its just heartburn and not his heart or something that baking soda in water will end it instantly so you'd know then if its heartburn.

[Daehawk]

And those 4 fishoil like tablets I have to take now.....Ive been to the pooper 3 times just today. And I bet Im not through.

[Jeff V]

I'd say a real katana is your best option.

Aren't those usually used two-handed? I'd be trying to sever the shoulder joint using the shoulder that is being severed...

[Punisher]

I'd say a real katana is your best option.

Aren't those usually used two-handed? I'd be trying to sever the shoulder joint using the shoulder that is being severed...

Obviously you'd let your kids help..

[Jeff V]

My insurance agent contacted the insurance company who said they never received the hospital bill that I'm getting charged $23K for right now. Apparently this is supposed to be covered 100%. I have a CT scan coming up and probably a follow-up surgery to do a bone graft and replace the plate with something heavier. This sounds more expensive than the initial surgery...only can do if the insurance is picking up the tab.

Today the pain is almost as persistently bad as it was a few days after the surgery (when I stopped taking norco). It really isn't getting any better.

[Kraken]

My insurance agent contacted the insurance company who said they never received the hospital bill that I'm getting charged $23K for right now.

Oopsie, their bad. Sorry you're in so much pain and I hope you can steer some of it to the insurance company. It wouldn't happen to be Cigna, would it?

[Jeff V]

No, it's a new one none of my medical providers ever heard of, Detego.

[LordMortis]

Dad finally went in to have his blood pressure worked on. He's been at over 200 for days and I still couldn't him to go to urgent care. He finally went to the walk in today and a CT revealed he has a brain bleed so bad it's shifted his brain. They're still trying to bring his blood pressure down to something low enough that they can begin making decisions on what to do. Tonight is not going to be a good night for sleeping.

[gbasden]

OOF. I am very sorry, LM. That's rough. I don't know why people of a certain generation refuse to get help when they should.

[Kraken]

I don't know why people of a certain generation refuse to get help when they should.

Because some of us don't want to die stuck full of tubes and surrounded by beeping machines in an antiseptic room. When you reach a certain age you don't see hospitals as a place where you go to get better.

LM, I truly hope they get your dad balanced and he can go back to his home and his life. Very sorry you're in this situation.

[gbasden]

I don't know why people of a certain generation refuse to get help when they should.

Because some of us don't want to die stuck full of tubes and surrounded by beeping machines in an antiseptic room. When you reach a certain age you don't see hospitals as a place where you go to get better.

LM, I truly hope they get your dad balanced and he can go back to his home and his life. Very sorry you're in this situation.

Going about one's life with a BP of 200 is one way to make sure you won't die in the hospital, that's true.

[The Meal]

<3 LM.

[Unagi]

Yeah, thinking of ya LM - hope things go well/get better.

[Unagi]

I don't know why people of a certain generation refuse to get help when they should.

Because some of us don't want to die stuck full of tubes and surrounded by beeping machines in an antiseptic room. When you reach a certain age you don't see hospitals as a place where you go to get better.

LM, I truly hope they get your dad balanced and he can go back to his home and his life. Very sorry you're in this situation.

Going about one's life with a BP of 200 is one way to make sure you won't die in the hospital, that's true.

I can see myself going this direction a little already. I've been to enough doctors for things like chronic foot pain, a frozen shoulder, or even IBS - where the end result is the medical community explaining that they don't have a fix, but I can keep coming back to talk to them about it for as long as I like. I'd rather my kids have that money than the medical professional - for the same result. That being said, there are so many places the medical community can help, I need to be vigilant that I don't just shut the door entirely. So, I'm not there yet really - but I get it.

[LordMortis]

I finally have word. They'll still not moving him to a facility better prepared to resolve is bleed and still haven't made a decision on how to proceed when they can move him. I'm actually going to treat that as mostly positive news. If they aren't moving quickly then that suggests to me that time to make sure you are doing everything right is a luxury they have. At least that's what I'm telling myself.

Also with regard to not seeing professionals, he uses the same excuse I do. Once you start seeing them they can always find something that they want to keep seeing you for and doing more work. It's expensive and time consuming and often complicated. If the modern medical establishment had their way, I'd be seeing 2 doctors most months and still be in guided PT 3 times a week in addition to what I'm already doing and would not be better off than I am currently for it. Still. You have to use better judgement. There are times to hem and haw and times to just follow the path smarter people lay out in front of you.

[Kasey Chang]

In case anyone wondered where I disappeared to... I was in hospital from Jul 30 until today. Just got out a few hours ago. Details... will follow later. Need to sleep.

[em2nought]

Thinking about visiting the VA. "Hi, I'm about ten years late for what should have been my first appointment." "You'll probably have to give me the whole shebang, let's not start with the butt hole." "Maybe work our way down from the top?"

[LordMortis]

They let dad out until he is well enough for surgery maybe in two weeks. According to him, He's both on rest and needs exercise enough to be well enough for surgery. He says the bleed is now small but his brain is split so they need to cauterize the bleed and glue his brain back together. They wanted to take his skull cap off to do it and he refused so they're going to work through catheter. No more driving for him for now, thank goodness. He's not happy about that at all but he's acquiescing. Though I imagine if they have evidence that he is driving all hell would break loose. Their also sending people to his house for a safety check and may now become a thing. Getting old is a bitch.

[Madmarcus]

Dumb health question. Yesterday I was standing in the driveway about to get into the car when my knee buckled. I wasn't twisting or stepping at the time. Now, 16 hours later, it's still sore and a little swollen but I can put weight on it. I'd like to have it checked out but where do I go?

It feels like a stupid question but previously I had a real GP who seemed like the right fit for something like this. Here in Philly my "GP" is a cardiologist really although my insurance listed him as a GP. Plus he's in a location that is normally great but not good if you don't really want to walk much! Anyone have any suggestions while I wait for his office to get back to me?

[LordMortis]

Dumb health question. Yesterday I was standing in the driveway about to get into the car when my knee buckled. I wasn't twisting or stepping at the time. Now, 16 hours later, it's still sore and a little swollen but I can put weight on it. I'd like to have it checked out but where do I go?

It feels like a stupid question but previously I had a real GP who seemed like the right fit for something like this. Here in Philly my "GP" is a cardiologist really although my insurance listed him as a GP. Plus he's in a location that is normally great but not good if you don't really want to walk much! Anyone have any suggestions while I wait for his office to get back to me?

Doesn't that depend on your insurance? If you can't self refer then you have to go to your GP first. After that it's a question of your insurance works. Clinic walk ins can be covered weird. Then you might be a able to self refer to an orthopedist and the orthopedist (possibly who specialized around the knees) is where you want to eventually get to if you have concerns.

[gilraen]

I would go to an ortho specialist but my insurance doesn't require a referral, and I also have the benefit of having several excellent orthopedic clinics in the area (Colorado being ski country and all).

[Isgrimnur]

(Colorado being ski country and all).

With plenty of Olympic athletes and training programs.

[ImLawBoy]

There's a place around here that bills itself as "Illinois Bone & Joint Clinic" (I refer to it as the Sex and Drugs Clinic, naturally, as I have the maturity of a 13 year old). We've gone there when we've had similar issues. Maybe see if there's something similar in your area? I also don't need a referral, which makes it easier.

[Kasey Chang]

I was in the hospital for 3 weeks. Yikes, but to explain why I guess I have to start from 2023.

Back in 2023, I was ignorant, fat, diabetic, but mostly neglecting it... and back then, weighed like 290 lbs. Then I started having prolonged diarrhea. It sometimes gets better, sometimes it gets worse. Tried all sorts of ****, probiotics, food allergy, stupid self-diagnosis... FINALLY got my senile PCP to take me seriously in June 2024 (down to 220 lb by now, I think), who referred me to a gastroenterologist. That guy can already see jaundice on my face, sent me to get a CT, then arranged to have me get an ERCP (endoscope) at a different hospital.

At the beginning of July, I got ERCP done, also got more CT, they suspected a mass around my gallbladder duct, put in a stent in the duct to restore liver functions, gave me 3 weeks of Prednisone, finished that, went back for another CT, nothing. Guess that's that. Oh boy, was I wrong.

Pain actually started a day or two before, but I wasn't sure where it was hurting. I thought it was back pain, but in hindsight, it was right around my gallbladder. Coped for a day, didn't hurt, or was bearable, left it alone.

Then July 29th, afternoon, started to hurt. And the pain started to spread to my shoulder (!?) Dropped anything I didn't need, and took myself to the ER of the hospital where I had the ERCP done. By the time I got there I could barely get out of the Lyft ride. I barely made it through triage answering questions. Good thing they have all my **** on file. I was in no shape to answer any more questions. I think I got morphine that night and more CT, and was admitted, where they basically pumped me full of antibiotics as I was apparently running a fever and white count keeps going up.

That took a week and a half, and they finally got me perky enough to do ANOTHER ERCP. They found a mass blocking the duct this time, and the stent is no longer needed. At first, they thought they needed to do a Whipple Procedure (take out my gallbladder and a piece of my pancreas) then they decided that's probably a bit far, delayed that for a couple more days, then did a lapro extraction of my gallbladder.

Apparently that went fine, but as they took out my gallbladder they found an abscess and a bunch of "adhesion" of my pancreas to the rest of my internals. So they had to clean that up lapro too. So there's a drain attached to my stomach cavity even now.

Then after a week of more antibiotics making sure I don't have a fever, they sent me home, and here I am.

[LordMortis]

Ugh. I've never heard anything less than OMG when it comes to ending up getting a gall bladder removed. You do not appear to be an exception. No thank you.

[Isgrimnur]

Whipple Procedure

Don't squeeze the gall bladder.

[Madmarcus]

That's a lot more exciting than my story! Glad you are back and doing ok so far.

As far as my story; I said it was a dumb question. Partially that's because my previous insurance required the PCP be in the loop so I don't think I've ever contacted anyone who could be considered a specialist without a referral. For that matter outside of eye related issues I haven't been to anyone other than my GP/PCP in many, many years. In the end my doctor's office suggested a sports medicine clinic nearby so I set up an appointment with them.

[Kraken]

Can't say I've ever thought about my gall bladder, so thanks for something new to worry about.

[TheMix]

<snip>

Yikes!

Glad you are back home and doing better.

[Daehawk]

Man simply reaching up to cut those branches yesterday and I can barely lift my right arm today. Its the bad one with rotator cuff injury but feels like its more sore in the bicep area..though it could be radiating to there.

[Default]

Dumb health question. Yesterday I was standing in the driveway about to get into the car when my knee buckled. I wasn't twisting or stepping at the time. Now, 16 hours later, it's still sore and a little swollen but I can put weight on it. I'd like to have it checked out but where do I go?

It feels like a stupid question but previously I had a real GP who seemed like the right fit for something like this. Here in Philly my "GP" is a cardiologist really although my insurance listed him as a GP. Plus he's in a location that is normally great but not good if you don't really want to walk much! Anyone have any suggestions while I wait for his office to get back to me?

Go to an urgent care? That's what they are there for ..

[Madmarcus]

Go to an urgent care? That's what they are there for ..

In my mind it wasn't / isn't an urgent care situation. Rest and ibuprofen was the clear path since I could put weight on it. My doctor's office agreed and the sports med guy in set for Tuesday.

[Isgrimnur]

$5 says one of your ligaments has deteriorated.

[Madmarcus]

$5 says one of your ligaments has deteriorated.

Almost certainly. 40 years ago I had surgery on that knee for cartilage tears. I sort of expected it would be a problem at some point even if I didn't expect it to do something while standing in a driveway.

[Madmarcus]

End result the doctor said that I had probably slightly torn something on examination but by the end of the visit was calling it arthritis. I don't think of arthritis as something that comes on suddenly like that but it does seem to be the correct description of inflammation of a joint.

He offered to drain the knee and give a cortisone shot but also said it would be fine to ignore it if it wasn't limiting me. In the end I'm going with ignore it for now