Author Topic: The health and fitness thread about random things (Read 470880 times)

T42 · « **Reply #3000 on:** 24 November, 2019, 02:11:48 pm »

If by stomach hernia you mean hiatal, then it can be lived with: I've had one since 1986. I was off fizzy drinks for a while & had to lose ~18 kg, but eventually things stabilized. I can't tolerate aspirin or NSAIDs any more but otherwise it's not a problem. My doc says that surgery is a 50-50 proposition so not worth the pother. I certainly hasn't bothered me for cycling.

I hope the doc says something encouraging. Good luck!

cycleman · « **Reply #3001 on:** 24 November, 2019, 06:17:41 pm »

Thanks for that t42, I am trying to avoid ibuprofen as much as I can but it's finding the balance between pain relief and and acid. I may seek dietary advice from doctors and see what other options are available.. Things are complicated by needing to avoid constipation as when I am I rarely get acid but run the risk of water retention

, that's life!!!

barakta · « **Reply #3002 on:** 25 November, 2019, 03:36:20 pm »

There's new generation NSAIDs like celecoxib I'd hope the GP considers trying. You can still use proton pump inhibitors if you still need em (I seem to need it). Hopefully the GP will be able to help you juggle stuff.

My gran had a hiatus hernia and had to avoid acidic food, especially tomatoes and onions. I think she eventually had hers operated on with success.

T42 · « **Reply #3003 on:** 25 November, 2019, 04:04:01 pm »

The only painkiller I use is paracetamol, although I can use ketoprofen gel for tendinitis and other small hurts. I've been on PPIs since 2007, which pisses off cardiologist because they interfere with the clopidogrel I'm on because of my stents and I can't take his beloved baby aspirin.

The whammy is - wait for it - that I read recently that long-term use of PPIs increases acid production in the gut - exactly what they're supposed to inhibit.

Tilting up the head of the bed helps a bit - I just stuck pillows under the top end of the mattress - but burial-at-sea syndrome somewhat cancels it out.

Heigh ho, let's all keep smiling.

barakta · « **Reply #3004 on:** 25 November, 2019, 05:29:20 pm »

Yeah long term use of PPIs also has implications for absorption of various vitamins, B complexes certainly and maybe D as well.

I haven't ever taken PPIs regularly cos I couldn't take the NSAIDs regularly either. My GP was very good and said if on the celecoxib, new generation meds I needed regular PPIs she'd do me a 15mg lower dose prescription of them. I have a month or two's 30mg supplies to use up and once my dose is stable, experiment with alternate days of them...

cycleman · « **Reply #3005 on:** 25 November, 2019, 07:44:34 pm »

I have a pile of old clothes underneath my mattress (saves ironing) which helps

.
Thanks for the heads up barakta

T42 · « **Reply #3006 on:** 26 November, 2019, 10:08:56 am »

On a lighter note, in the early 90s my singing voice went to hell. At around that time MrsT's parents moved in with us, and I attributed my flagging desire to sing to the presence of my mother-in-law. It wasn't until she was long dead that I realized the acid reflux had done for it.

Salvatore · « **Reply #3007 on:** 02 December, 2019, 07:25:30 pm »

I have shingles.

The rash appeared yesterday. This morning I filled in a questionnaire on the local health centre's website and attached photos. This evening I was summoned to the surgery, diagnosis was confirmed and I was sent away with a prescription and a 4-page leaflet.

I'm very impressed with how slick the system proved to be.

hellymedic · « **Reply #3008 on:** 02 December, 2019, 09:05:39 pm »

GWS and hope you get no post-herpetic pains!

Salvatore · « **Reply #3009 on:** 02 December, 2019, 09:42:58 pm »

GN: I got to the pharmacy a minute before it closed.
BN: The woman who processed the prescription didn't consider it necessary to ask if I was over 60.

tonyh · « **Reply #3010 on:** 03 December, 2019, 07:08:45 am »

Hoping the recovery goes very well!

T42 · « **Reply #3011 on:** 03 December, 2019, 11:02:19 am »

Isn't that the one where dormant chicken pox viruses suddenly come galloping out of the woods crying "I'm baaaaaaaa-ack"?

Nasty - hope you get over it PDQ.

Salvatore · « **Reply #3012 on:** 04 December, 2019, 12:43:40 pm »

Yes, that's the one. Most common in the over 50's and more likely the older you get. You can only get chickenpox from someone with shingles if you haven't had chickenpox, and only by direct contact with the rash. You can't get shingles from someone with shingles.

I knew nothing about shingles until monday evening. Now it would probably be my specialist subject.

I'm lucky in that my rash is on the left half of my chest and isn't very painful, just uncomfortable if I try to lie on that side, or if I turn round and my clothing brushes against the rash. Face or groin would be worse apparently. Best of all it doesn't itch.

Cudzoziemiec · « **Reply #3013 on:** 05 December, 2019, 06:15:59 pm »

Ugh! GWS.

Chris S · « **Reply #3014 on:** 05 December, 2019, 08:39:01 pm »

Given that the original Chickenpox I had aged 30 almost put me hospital, and is likely implicated in some of the lung issues I have now, I'm dreading any viral reactivation.

Here's hoping yours burns itself out trivially, Salvatore.

Ashaman42 · « **Reply #3015 on:** 09 December, 2019, 08:27:03 pm »

So I've been prescribed Rifaximin as my current 'symptoms' have been been going on for two years now.

I know some antibiotics really really (really) disagree with alcohol so had originally planned to start the course after Christmas. What's a couple more weeks of the usual nonsense after all?

However the wee leaflet doesn't mention alcohol at all. Does this mean that I'm safe to have a few beers over the coming weeks and start the antibiotic course sooner?

hellymedic · « **Reply #3016 on:** 09 December, 2019, 08:51:06 pm »

I was not familiar with this medication so I looked it up.
As it is not absorbed and its action seems mostly confined to the bowel, I can't imagine it would cause a problem with alcohol, which is very well-absorbed high in the gastro-intestinal system and is metabolised by the liver.

Ashaman42 · « **Reply #3017 on:** 09 December, 2019, 08:53:56 pm »

Super, cheers Helly.

That's what I thought, my googling only found sites that say some medications don't react well with alcohol but nothing specific to Rifaximin.

But thought I'd ask here as well.

hellymedic · « **Reply #3018 on:** 09 December, 2019, 09:08:35 pm »

I googled rifaximin, got Wikipedia, read that (with the background knowledge I had already) and reported back...

barakta · « **Reply #3019 on:** 09 December, 2019, 09:59:27 pm »

Any UK pharmacist can also give advice about medicines for this kind of query. It's massively under used and under known about.

Cudzoziemiec · « **Reply #3020 on:** 10 December, 2019, 09:32:13 am »

Quote from: barakta on 09 December, 2019, 09:59:27 pm

Any UK pharmacist can also give advice about medicines for this kind of query. It's massively under used and under known about.

Trouble is when you ask the prescribing doctor and the pharmacist, and they give conflicting advice...

T42 · « **Reply #3021 on:** 10 December, 2019, 10:49:34 am »

Quote from: Cudzoziemiec on 10 December, 2019, 09:32:13 am

Quote from: barakta on 09 December, 2019, 09:59:27 pm
Any UK pharmacist can also give advice about medicines for this kind of query. It's massively under used and under known about.
Trouble is when you ask the prescribing doctor and the pharmacist, and they give conflicting advice...

In that case you do whatever you like. But knowing my GP you'd get "you'd be better off without the alcohol anyway", so his reply would be suspect anyway.

Kim · « **Reply #3022 on:** 10 December, 2019, 01:20:19 pm »

Quote from: T42 on 10 December, 2019, 10:49:34 am

Quote from: Cudzoziemiec on 10 December, 2019, 09:32:13 am
Quote from: barakta on 09 December, 2019, 09:59:27 pm
Any UK pharmacist can also give advice about medicines for this kind of query. It's massively under used and under known about.
Trouble is when you ask the prescribing doctor and the pharmacist, and they give conflicting advice...

In that case you do whatever you like. But knowing my GP you'd get "you'd be better off without the alcohol anyway", so his reply would be suspect anyway.

Doctors tend to know what they're talking about on this one, on account of being functional alcoholics.

T42 · « **Reply #3023 on:** 10 December, 2019, 01:34:21 pm »

Quote from: Kim on 10 December, 2019, 01:20:19 pm

Quote from: T42 on 10 December, 2019, 10:49:34 am
Quote from: Cudzoziemiec on 10 December, 2019, 09:32:13 am
Quote from: barakta on 09 December, 2019, 09:59:27 pm
Any UK pharmacist can also give advice about medicines for this kind of query. It's massively under used and under known about.
Trouble is when you ask the prescribing doctor and the pharmacist, and they give conflicting advice...

In that case you do whatever you like. But knowing my GP you'd get "you'd be better off without the alcohol anyway", so his reply would be suspect anyway.

Doctors tend to know what they're talking about on this one, on account of being functional alcoholics.

The Inlaw Paw, a medical gent himself, was a great one for saying "if you drink less than your doctor..." as he poured the brandy. Drinking less than my GP that would involve negative mass.

Cudzoziemiec · « **Reply #3024 on:** 10 December, 2019, 01:53:17 pm »

Doesn't have to be alcohol though.

Author Topic: The health and fitness thread about random things (Read 470880 times)

Chris S