I believe Medrol is used for antiphospholipid syndrome—at least, that’s what they prescribed to my mom. It ended up spiking her blood sugar, so they had to stop it. My dad and I were her primary caregivers, and I always felt comfortable speaking up for her when needed. She was on Warfarin from 1995 all the way until 2013, though I know a hematologist absolutely has to manage those Warfarin dosages. Later on, things got difficult; after she lost her leg, she became quite immobile, and we had to be extremely careful about which medications she could take. It made sense, really, to stop the Allopurinol and Ebrantil—she actually wasn't even allowed to touch the Ebrantil because of a pulmonary embolism back in 1999. She was using a wheelchair and we still made sure to get her out of the house, but she just wasn't walking anymore. Also, please, keep an eye out for arterial insufficiency, which can sometimes pop up after dealing with frequent venous thrombosis. We worked with a really wonderful gastroenterologist to help select her meds; I’ve taken my dad to see some great specialists in the past who truly wanted to help.
I suppose you just have to be humble. You have to accept that they see themselves as gods now, like some kind of elite upper class. It’s just so incredibly obvious. Honestly, I find it so hard to wrap my head around... maybe because I grew up in a family of doctors and professors who were always such genuinely modest, decent people.
The first time we went, they were actually polite and seemed genuinely willing to help, which is why we asked if they could do a quick search for us this time and agreed to swing by in a few hours. But after showing up at Primamed this time around, it was just pure rudeness, arrogance, and condescension—they didn't want to do a single thing. It’s like they literally don't care about anything. There weren't even any other patients around, just one person leaving, so they really could have helped if they had actually wanted to, especially since it would have only taken five minutes. That's just what any decent person would do, and honestly, it's what they're obligated to do as doctors.
I’m going to write this down here. Primamed refuses to help someone they specifically told to come in for an exam, which is just incredibly unpleasant. They basically just push you toward the ER, even though, well, they have a duty to help as doctors. We brought everything they asked for. And if they needed anything else later, we would have sent it right over. It was just rude and arrogant—it feels like they don't care at all about what happens to the patient they were supposed to be assisting. They seem to be making up excuses just to avoid performing a very simple exam that takes maybe three to five minutes. It isn't even dangerous. But, I guess, they clearly have their own reasons. I only asked for a single image; honestly, it could have been without even reading the data if that was such a huge struggle for them. There was nobody else there. Just one person leaving. So, they definitely had the time to help, but they simply didn't want to.
This thread is supposed to be about the flu, but I suppose I should weigh in regardless. Personally, wearing a mask has always kept COVID-19 at bay for me, since I haven't caught it once. I don't really hang out in massive crowds, I'm not much of a cafe person, and I make sure to wear a mask whenever I'm in enclosed spaces—and so far, I've stayed clear of the virus. People are still passing away from COVID-19, though, mostly the elderly. As for immunity? I guess I don't really have any, simply because I haven't had much actual exposure to the virus itself.
Anyone who wants to look out for themselves should probably just keep wearing a mask, because COVID-19 isn't exactly gone. So, I guess I'll be wearing mine for the foreseeable future.
I wasn't trying to be difficult or anything. I wear a mask because I don't have much of an immune system, but then I look around and see that almost nobody else is wearing one, which made me think maybe I should just stop too. But... I won't. It feels safer for me this way. I suppose everyone should just do whatever they feel is best for themselves.
In any case, I suppose it’s probably a good idea to wear a mask, especially for those of us who haven't dealt with COVID-19 or the flu in years and might be managing other health issues.
COVID-19 hasn't actually gone away; I guess the reports on Twitter just happen once a week now. Even the number of people being admitted to hospitals seems a bit higher lately. So, maybe it really is COVID, and perhaps some bacterial infection just tagged along with it. In Austria, they're seeing about 4,000 cases a day, which honestly isn't a small number at all.
They’re probably going to try to keep someone like that in the hospital for as short a time as possible. I mean, if they're already asking about nursing homes, it's a pretty safe bet that the patient's condition is quite serious. My loved one was only in a care facility for a month; before that, he was bedridden at home for six years. Honestly, even being in a facility felt like a daily battle. It’s just sad, but in the US, patients like that often feel... well, written off. People immediately jump to suggesting palliative care, but it wasn't even cancer—he just had severe swallowing issues and couldn't handle liquids at all. He could only manage soft foods. I guess it really depends on the hospital and the specific ward, and how much the staff actually cares about immobile patients. There are some units where they truly go above and beyond for everyone, and most places are like that, but you see the difference. I even saw sanitation workers leaving brochures for assisted living facilities right in the hospital hallways, which was the first time I'd ever seen that. Since there aren't many dedicated palliative care units around here, I made sure to ask about them. My patient was under internal medicine palliative care because of his swallowing difficulties and lung issues.
I’m looking for some advice—does anyone know a good physiatrist who actually understands knee braces for osteoarthritis and patella issues? Ideally, someone I could see through a referral from my insurance. I already went to see a specialist privately, and she just told me to go buy something over the counter?! I actually did that, but honestly, it hasn't helped at all; it feels completely useless.
They can even administer an IV right there in the hallway. In my case, they gave my patient Paracetamol via IV along with saline right on the ER floor while we were just waiting for the emergency transfer to the pulmonary ward—which, honestly, was a fantastic unit. He actually started improving during those five days there because their care for immobile patients is just so attentive. If you have the choice, I guess you should always go back to where the care is good and where they truly want to help the elderly. Unfortunately, after that, we had to move him to the hospital closest to his assisted living facility, and it’s just not equipped for someone who can't move easily. Even though the staff in the ER were polite and admitted him immediately, it wasn't what I expected. I thought everything would be just like it was a month ago at the other hospital, but there's such a massive difference. If I had known how things would turn out, maybe we would have opted for private care and gone back to the first place. But since the doctor at the facility issued the referral to the nearest hospital and authorized the transport, we didn't really have any other option.
Angela Wright said:When dealing with effusions in general—and especially when it’s in the pleura—the real issue is that every single puncture can actually trigger an even larger buildup, which happens faster and puts massive strain on the heart. It’s just... it's characteristic of the final stages of the disease. I don't really know how else to say that any more gently. Please, just cherish every single moment you have left and focus on making sure they aren't in pain. Shoulder pain is also quite often caused by metastases, which could potentially be managed with targeted radiation over just a few sessions. Also, please, do reach out for help at a Pain Management Center. An anesthesiologist can carefully titrate a cocktail of medications to provide relief without, well, making things worse. I am sending you all so much strength, and above all, I hope you find clarity and peace in your hearts.
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My patient lived for another 10 days in a nursing home after being discharged from the hospital. He had pleural effusion and pericardial effusion. They didn't drain the fluid at all. He was in such a heavy state during those last 10 days—fully conscious, looking right at me—and yet, he struggled so much just to breathe. It was painful to watch. I came in every single day to see him. It isn't easy, but you just have to endure somehow... you have to find a way to accept the situation.
Does anyone have a recommendation on where to go to get a proper knee brace? You can just shoot me a private message. I recently had an appointment, and the doctor basically told me to just go buy some over-the-counter compression sleeve with a hole in the middle. She didn't really give me any specific guidance at all. Honestly, those kinds of sleeves don't work for me—I’ve tried one before, and it just squeezes right into the swelling, which isn't even that bad, plus it's never centered correctly so I can't wear it. But apparently, you need a brace for osteoarthritis, except I can't seem to get my hands on a decent one. Even the Genutrain feels way too tight since it's completely closed off. And that whole explanation about my muscles weakening? It just felt so dismissive. What matters to me is walking steadily, and for that, I need a proper brace suitable for early-stage osteoarthritis—something that also protects against the cold. I could write a whole essay about this negative experience in a PM, but let's just say... don't bother going there. It’s really not worth it. They should have just been straight with me from the start.
Does anyone know of a good orthopedist in Canada? Ideally somewhere close to Chicago? I see they send kids to certain places, but I'm just not sure where exactly, and if there are options for adults too?
It seems like some places ask for those official documents while others don't really care. I guess it’s probably safer just to have them on hand. You could potentially just use your health insurance card or supplemental coverage info instead. If they check your records digitally right away, they might not even bother asking for the paperwork. But, if you aren't seeing your doctor in person and they just send over an electronic referral, you won't have that specific confirmation handy. In that case, the booking email usually asks you to enter the member ID number from your insurance card since you lack the actual confirmation.
Roger Parker5 said:I just activated an expanded coverage package through America Insurance, and they’re offering me a comprehensive full physical. I’ve been dealing with some intense stomach acid issues and hemorrhoids lately, so I was really hoping to use this checkup to finally get a handle on those problems.
Since they gave me quite a few different clinics to choose from, I was wondering—which one would be the best bet?
If you happen to need an MRI, I’d say America Polyclinic is definitely the way to go. They have a 3 Tesla magnet, which is great, and the staff there is incredibly kind. The radiologist is wonderful too; she's very thorough when explaining the results. If you accidentally shift during the scan, she'll just run the necessary sequence again without any fuss. Honestly, they're the best. Even the technician is super polite.
I had an equally uncomfortable experience with this younger orthopedist who actually seemed perfectly fine at first. But what he advised me? It was just wrong. Honestly, I feel like I know what’s best for my own leg, and I’m certain this injury will heal in time. Sure, there might be some permanent changes to the bone, but for me, being able to walk normally is the priority. You really just have to know what works for you. On a brighter note, thanks to the pharmacy nearby—they already know me and they are incredibly kind. As for the doctor telling me it won't pass... he was literally ordering me to go to physical therapy, which I'm not going to do for several reasons. Also, nobody is wearing masks here, even though it's technically a medical facility.