MEDICAL MATTERS

[Whyperion]

For anyone in the US reading this
high-dose vitamin A (administered in hospital) has shown to reduce both mortality and duration and severity of measles illness.”
However this does not mean cod liver oil in high quantities or Vitamin A supplements to an excessive amount are wise to take at home - Vitamin A itself is toxic causing mainly Liver Damage and other effects including birth defects in pregnant women.

Question- mainly for the Science thread - is why is too much vit A toxic (dont eat a polar bear's liver) and why does it have an effect on measles virus - and does this apply to other viruses ?

[Stanley]

Waiting for the reports from Kev and Bob. I hope they both got good results!

[Big Kev]

All good here

I ordered my regular prescriptions yesterday morning at 07:00, they've just been delivered by Royal Mail. I'm impressed with that.

[PanBiker]

I had a blood test earlier in the week to check for the efficiency and possible side effects of the minor (2.5mg) BP medication I take. I reckon my BP speaks for itself as it averages 130/60. Results for that blood test are not in yet so what follows is a bit of a mystery.

Looks like I am on the radar for while. I got a text from Dr Davie , who is not my doctor to attend for a chat with one of the nurses about Statins, not had a test for that for a few years so a bit pre emptive I reckon. I did say when I booked the appointment that I don't like taking tablets unless there is a good reason, yet to be proven.

That was followed shortly after with another to say I should book another blood test in 3 months to check my potassium levels, receptionist said they would need a urine sample to go with that as well. I don't have a problem with pre emptive medicine but all these foreign needles doesn't half play havoc with my blood donor appointments.

[Stanley]

Ian, in my experience doctors rely far more on tests nowadays then their own diagnostic skills. I think it's because of the dangers that they may be sued by patients, not a danger in the old days. Showing that tests were done could be a defence in any such case.
I have protested and made my position so clear that they seem to have given up on me! Good!

[PanBiker]

Looks like the results are in on the NHS app and they look to have done "full spectrum" on my blood. All looks OK to the untrained eye as most have notes to tell me so. There is one downer which has triggered the chat. Two components of my cholesterol are firmly in the green and one looks to be a bit off. From what I read there is no finite range for that particular component reading as there are loads of factors that can effect the result. I will look forward to the chat. No worries, prevention is better than cure.

[Big Kev]

No worries, prevention is better than cure.

[Stanley]

World Service is great! I have been listening to a piece this morning on research that has been done using big data sets and AI which has produced evidence that maintenance of pelvic floor functions is much more important than has been recognised in the past.
This is good news for me because I have always believed that these exercises are important and I do a full set every day morning and night. It sounds like OCD but this study has shown that it is extremely beneficial, especially in old age organ maintenance and childbirth. So the message is go out there and look for the evidence and then take notice of it! It could have a beneficial effect on your life!

[Whyperion]

Turkish Belly Dancing is supposed to be good for preparing for childbirth well in advance too

[Stanley]

See THIS BBC report on semiconductors.....
President Donald Trump is expected to unveil more sweeping tariffs on US imports - this time targeting semiconductors. The tiny chips powering billions of electronic devices are central to the global economy.

[Tizer]

`Blood test firm blamed for 'catalogue of disasters'' LINK
...According to more than a dozen GPs we heard from, across all of south-east London's boroughs, the severity of challenges they face under Synnovis is causing anxiety for both patients and doctors....

[Stanley]

I've read the link Peter... Another example of a service being outsourced and then run for profit and not accuracy and liability, they come second as as we see all too often they suffer.
It's exactly the same syndrome as relinquishing control of the commanding heights of the economy to quote Nye Bevan. Blood testing is just as essential and shouldn't be allowed to leave in-house provision.

[Tizer]

It reminds me of the firm in Wolverhampton that was giving false results for Covid tests which affected 43,000 people.

[Stanley]

Exactly the same problem Peter. That's what inevitably happens when a vital service like that which depends on care and accuracy is given new criteria, make a profit or you lose your jobs.

[Tripps]

I've just watched this video of an interview with from one Dr Aseem Malhotra. I'd heard of him but knew little about his full background.

I'd recommend watching the whole thing - but put your brain into top gear first, and your sceptical hat on before doing it. Then try to think for yourself. Experience teaches that I doubt anyone will though. He just caught my total attention when he said he thought his school was the best in the world and was responsible for the way he thought. That would be Manchester Grammar School - and he mentioned that their motto was "Sapere Aude" - meaning "Dare to be Wise".

Look below and see who else uses that as a personal motto. Me - and Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council.

[Big Kev]

I think I'll go for a yes on that one...

[Stanley]

I thought so Kev.... That's why I stopped smoking my pipe.

[Tizer]

This is a lengthy post but it describes something that's been on my mind for a year now and I hope is coming to a close...

In recent years I've had small skin lesions (hard protrusions) on my scalp removed at my local surgery by one of the GPs who is also a dermatologist. She was always very effective and pleasant to deal with and I could communicate with her by email and send her a photo of the latest lesion and she would make an appointment for me. Early last year I sent her a photo of my latest lesion and asked for an appointment but after a week I'd got no reply so I rang the surgery. They said I'd get a phone call from my GP. She rang and told me that `the system has changed and I have to refer you to hospital instead so make an appointment to see me'. The next appointment available was a couple of weeks later; I saw her and she took her own photo and said I'd hear from the hospital. Weeks went by until eventually I got a letter from the hospital saying that an appointment would be made for me in 4 months time!

Four months went by and I heard nothing from them so I phoned and asked what was going on. After some time they said I would be sent an appointment date in the post. By this time the `small lesion' had become a big black scar several centimetres in diameter. Eventually I got to see a dermatologist at the hospital and he removed the scar and put on a dressing. At first he couldn't find anything about my lesion on his computer but there was a specialist nurse present and she told him to `try on the old system'. Apparently there had been a switch from the old to a new system and it seems I'd been lost in the transfer - no wonder I had to wait so long for an appointment!

The dermatologist diagnosed `a suspected squamous epithelial carcinoma' which is not cancer but can become cancer if not removed. I was then seen by a maxillofacial surgeon who said it should be removed. Again, I had to wait for an appointment and eventually got one for 7.30am on April Fool's Day! These days I need a lot of sleep otherwise I'm not fit to leave the house so it was early to bed and a quick trip to the hospital. As I went through to the main area I saw a list of names on the wall and mine was there at No.1, thank goodness - so I expected I would be out by, say, 9.30. It turns out that the ranking on that list does not imply a chronological order. I had to wait...and wait...and wait, then was taken through for `the procedure' just before 12.00.

Then came the big shock! I was in a great big operating theatre like nothing I've ever been in before with two surgeons, a specialist nurse, lots of very fancy equipment and a team of other staff. I was flabbergasted and had expected nothing like that. I was in there for 3 hours while they removed the lesion area, cut out a replacement piece of skin from my lower neck and grafted it onto my head. They also removed another lesion on my temple and stitched that up. The `fitting' of the grafted skin was the most amazing bit. They stitched it around the perimeter first but then fitted a special circular dressing and fixed it in place with - wait for it - 18 metal staples. Of course all this was done under local anaesthetic and all I felt was 18 presses on my head.

Two weeks later the stapled dressing was removed (again painless) with a special tiny tool with three prongs; the outer two go under the corners of the staple and the central one over the top. Squeeze the lever and it lifts the staple legs out. Very effective! I now have a black scar which is coated with Vaseline every day and is getting smaller. I have a check up appointment with `maxfax' next Tuesday. Another skin lesion had started up on the other side of my head and this time I was given priority and saw a consultant dermatologist (at a different hospital) last Tuesday. The early attention means he was able to prescribe me a cream that will gradually dissolve away the protuberance. I think the medics are now aware I was let down badly last year and wouldn't have needed anything more than the cream if it had been dealt with quickly.

The NHS systems are in a terrible state but the medical staff who dealt with my lesions were marvellous, even though they too know how bad the systems are.

[Cathy]

Gosh Tize that is a lot to go thru. Hopefully in future your name will ring alarm bells.
I hope you are feeling more relaxed.

[Big Kev]

This is a lengthy post but it describes something that's been on my mind for a year now and I hope is coming to a close...

...

The NHS systems are in a terrible state but the medical staff who dealt with my lesions were marvellous, even though they too know how bad the systems are.

That's a horrendous experience. I was referred to haematology at the beginning of March and had heard nothing for eeeks. I called the outpatients booking number and was told they were still looking at November 2024 referrals. Fortunately I have medical insurance and have an appointment tomorrow, unfortunately not everyone is in that position.

[PanBiker]

I hope you are clear now Peter and continue to improve. I concur regarding the use of staples. I had 37 from ear to ear after my craniotomy, there was other stuff under my scalp of course to re attach the bone flap taken out, (I can still feel the screws or clips used for that under my scalp). I let a trainee nurse take mine out, (under supervision) she did a fab job and it was her first experience of the procedure, like you little discomfort at all.

[Tizer]

Thanks, all of you, for your concern for me. I'm optimistic now that I'll get faster treatment in future. I hope that others will get that too now that the medics have realised they need to pressure the admin folk to do things quickly and correctly.

[Wendyf]

What a nightmare for you Tizer. It's sadly too common an occurance now. No one has followed up Colin's scare with the blood clots blocking supply to his pancreas. A doctor at the local surgery referred him back to the Upper Gastro Intestinal Team at Bradford who did his Oesophagectomy and they saw him despite denying it was their responsibility. He was meant to get another scan in March but nothing happened so he rang them last week to chase it up. " Oh sorry, Colin, you seem to have fallen through the net". Nothing has come of it yet. We despair.

[Sue]

What a nightmare story. A friend had such a lesion on his face cream cleared it in barely 4 weeks. Early intervention seems to be a thing of the past unless you are already ´on’ the system

[Stanley]

Nightmares for Col and Peter.... As Wendy says, this seems to be common now. Can you remember who first said 'safe in our hands'?
The only good thing about it is the fact that you got the treatment in the end Peter. I wish Col the best of luck!