What kind of medical issues do you have?

[Dono]

I have been curious to know what kind of medical issues do others deal with? How does it effect how you train, learn, practice? Do you do what you should be doing for your health?

 

For example, I was diagnosed with Crohn's disease in 2011, but my current GI believes it is Colitis (2016). My senior year of college, I was diagnosed with a DVT and PE, therefore, I am currently on Coumadin and do my PT-INR every two weeks. 

[ohiovolffemtp]

I find it critical to wear my reading glasses when I suture or I&D.   Guess presbyopia will do that to you.  :)

 

(sorry, this is day 7 of 8 out of 9 in the ED, and the off day was as the town's medic)

[Dono]

I find it critical to wear my reading glasses when I suture or I&D. Guess presbyopia will do that to you. :)

 

(sorry, this is day 7 of 8 out of 9 in the ED, and the off day was as the town's medic)

If that is your only medical problem, then you're doing great!

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[dchampigny]

koro

[Guest Paula]

I have been curious to know what kind of medical issues do others deal with? How does it effect how you train, learn, practice? Do you do what you should be doing for your health?

 

For example, I was diagnosed with Crohn's disease in 2011, but my current GI believes it is Colitis (2016). My senior year of college, I was diagnosed with a DVT and PE, therefore, I am currently on Coumadin and do my PT-INR every two weeks. 

 

Why are you not on xarelto or one of those meds?  My husband has Colitis , had a DVT and PE and his hematologist switched him to Xarelto.  He will be on it for life, but it's better than the weekly or so draws for his INR. Plus he has other issues so for us, the xarelto is a Godsend.

 

It is expensive but I found out we qualified for the Xarelto care path program so he get it free until we meet our deductible, then it is $60 per month.  This is not an ad for Xarelto, BTW.  

[Dono]

Why are you not on xarelto or one of those meds?  My husband has Colitis , had a DVT and PE and his hematologist switched him to Xarelto.  He will be on it for life, but it's better than the weekly or so draws for his INR. Plus he has other issues so for us, the xarelto is a Godsend.

 

It is expensive but I found out we qualified for the Xarelto care path program so he get it free until we meet our deductible, then it is $60 per month.  This is not an ad for Xarelto, BTW.  

 

 

I was anticipating this question. At the time, I did not qualify for ACA or any other programs, because I was a college student and I had no support from my family. I can afford Warfarin and my personal doctor pays for my lab fees and anything else associated. Thankfully now, I graduated undergrad and am working 40-72 hours a week and able to afford health insurance (just obtained). I believe I might be switching to apixaban in the next few weeks. I would love to not going for labs every week to every other week seeing as I hope to be attending a PA program in the fall.

 

Hopefully everything is going well with your husbands IBD. Did the hematologist suggest the colitis was a contributing factor to the clots?

[Boatswain2PA]

I'm 46, retired military operator (and college football before that). I've broken or torn up pretty much everything on my body. Chronic pain? I have a difficult time not laughing in the face of some of my patients who cry about this or that.

 

Beyond that, an INTENSE anxiety of flying and frequent nightmares, I'm very healthy despite by BMI which says I'm morbidly obese (I'm not). A1C of 4.9, lipids and triglycerides are very good, BP is good. According to the computer on the elliptical I can burn >700 calories in 30 minutes, and do that about 6 times a month, plus some high repetition weight lifting.

 

Life is good....thanks to ibuprofen!

[Reality Check 2]

I had Grave's Disease - now a dead thyroid - it died by itself - so a lifetime of T3 and T4 and twice yearly lab work. Went through infertility years ago - premature ovarian failure thought to be related to Grave's killing my ovaries - we are adoptive parents. I knew what a hot flash was when I was 35 - yay me. 

 

Found out I have celiac - should have known years ago but it was poo-poo'ed as a fad. I have one autoimmune dysfunction - why not another? A gluten free live has eradicated hives, severe GI issues and I generally feel better. My A1c is 5.1 despite fluff. Grandma gave me a low triglyceride thing to work out but sugar is good. 

 

I grew out of migraines - by the grace..... Otherwise - just fluffy and tired from working. Life goes on - I take my meds and follow my labs. How life is. I snowshoe with the dogs, ride snowmobiles, ski sometimes but the kids abandon me and walk a local half marathon thing - missing some cartilage behind one kneecap that makes running interesting.

 

My husband is a former football player who is moderately broken like Boats - needs new knees, stuff creaks and groans and hurts. He had a-fib - ablation worked - but on Xarelto for life apparently. Cardiologist not willing to risk it even though his ablation was unbelievably successful - one tiny run caught on a monitor for 3 minutes 5 years out. I consider that success.

 

So, I live with chronic pain in my home. He won't take narcotics - zero desire. If he asks for a muscle relaxant - I know it is a bad day. I am in awe daily that he functions the way he does. We skip Xarelto a few times a month for a whopping dose of Naproxen and tylenol does some good. 

 

I have empathy for my patients as I know how certain things affect a family - special diet, pain, down time.  I also know that folks CAN live without 5 hydros a day and that movement does work.  For some reason, patients think medical providers have no medical issues themselves or cannot possibly fathom what things are like. 

 

I tell my patients we all come with baggage - just depends on how we deal with it - live with it or live IN it which is dangerous and destructive. 

 

So, none of us are perfect - but at least we have ideas on how to help ourselves and others and can live as examples of trying to be decent patients.

 

Sorry about the flying thing, Boats - bet that makes a vacation a problem..... hypnosis?

[Boatswain2PA]

Xanax and rum works, and sitting next to my wife.

 

Funny you mention vacations. I actually slept on a plane last month for the first time in 20 years. Spent a week on huge family vacation where I was primary tour guide. I was incredibly tired at end of vacation, then we hit serious delays and rerouting which dragged things out even longer...and I took TWO xanax!

[sk732]

I too am carrying a few injuries from the military and a few bad genes.  I have nearly no lateral ankle ligaments, a wrecked MCL and likely meniscal damage, a disc problem in the lower back thanks to trying to fireman carry someone I shouldn't have...and another time carrying a lighter dude across a snowy field and finding a gopher hole.  I also used to do a lot of ruckng with a garbage issued pack and even worse boots - I'd run some of those as well.  Whiplash from getting hit between the shoulders by a sore loser in a basketall game...then in a head on MVC on a deployment where I wasn't wearing my seatbelt (security/counter-assault team).   Subluxed my patella twice in the Army and once in high school soccer.  Have controlled HTN and elevated triglycerides, despite running my face off...bad genes and love of pizza and ice cream :-).  Waiting to find out if my alpha - 1 antitrypsin levels are good - have a genetic pre-disposition and my mother just had a liver transplant.  I'm also a bit of a nutter.

 

And that's just me...

 

SK

[Reality Check 2]

I do ok with flying - but commercial flight is really uncomfortable these days. I am not THAT much bigger but the seats seem smaller.

 

Just don't put me in an MRI tube very often. Particularly for head with the airplane chalks and tape holding me and the shield. Claustrophobia - immense.

 

Tried Ativan but was paradoxical and I got even more wound up.

 

Dry white washcloth over eyes. NEVER open eyes and don't let me feel the sides or see the mask. Pulse stayed in the 120's but I didn't leave any body trails....

 

My husband had over a million air miles on TWO airlines in the 80s when he worked overseas. Almost always got first class with bigger seats for defensive linesman size guy - 56" shoulders. Now we get coach with a family and he is miserable- knees, hips, shoulders and back. Only fly if we have to.

 

I have a patient who is 7'1". Have to write him letters to get exit aisles....

 

My biggest job is finding gluten free options or trying to pack them for the journey.

[Dono]

I tell my patients we all come with baggage - just depends on how we deal with it - live with it or live IN it which is dangerous and destructive. 

 

So, none of us are perfect - but at least we have ideas on how to help ourselves and others and can live as examples of trying to be decent patients.

 

 

I completely agree. Although I am not a PA yet, I can see the struggle in many healthcare professionals lives. Whether it is cancer, failing kidney, lupus, horribly active colitis, depression, and the list goes on. Nurse tech, EMTs, RN, NP, MD/DO, etc– we all fight something. It should speak volumes for those who still continue to help others while trying to help themselves and their families. 

[Guest Paula]

I was anticipating this question. At the time, I did not qualify for ACA or any other programs, because I was a college student and I had no support from my family. I can afford Warfarin and my personal doctor pays for my lab fees and anything else associated. Thankfully now, I graduated undergrad and am working 40-72 hours a week and able to afford health insurance (just obtained). I believe I might be switching to apixaban in the next few weeks. I would love to not going for labs every week to every other week seeing as I hope to be attending a PA program in the fall.

 

Hopefully everything is going well with your husbands IBD. Did the hematologist suggest the colitis was a contributing factor to the clots?

 

 

Yes, UC is inflammatory and there are studies showing the having UC is a risk factor for DVTs and PE's.  He also has Peripheral Vascular disease, another risk factor for the DVT and PE. 

[Guest Paula]

I have a muffin top developing and saddle bags to go along with the top.  I exercise 3 x a week and love sweets.  

 

I had endometrial  cancer. All good now.  

 

My FIT test was normal.  I will not succumb to a colonoscopy but I am good at convincing my patients to have theirs. 

 

Bad eyesight with huge floaters that my optometrist said would eventually dissolve or that my brain would no longer recognize them.   He is a liar.   My eyesight is so bad that I cannot get a decent pair of glasses to actually not see double out of, literally they are as thick as coke bottle bottoms.  So I wear mono vision contacts and hope and pray I don't get a retinal detachment....which I am at extremely high risk. 

[LT_Oneal_PAC]

Pretty bad social anxiety, which fortunately doesn't seem to manifest interacting with patients. Probably one of the reasons I like this job. Otherwise, pretty healthy. 

[roger777]

Good thread

[8404PA]

PTSD.

 

my day-to-day isn't really affected too much; I do have controlled paranoia and anxiety which is what I see the Wizard for (Bupropion XL). Usually the catalyst for my more-severe episodes is pediatrics. long story short I saw a lot and was sole medical provider for several pretty bad pediatric poly traumas and of course my own guys. 

[Dono]

PTSD.

 

my day-to-day isn't really affected too much; I do have controlled paranoia and anxiety which is what I see the Wizard for (Bupropion XL). Usually the catalyst for my more-severe episodes is pediatrics. long story short I saw a lot and was sole medical provider for several pretty bad pediatric poly traumas and of course my own guys. 

 

 

I am very sorry to hear that. I thank you and the many others for the out standing service. At least you acknowledge that you have PTSD and I am sure you are attempting to seek help. There are two reasons why I started this post; 1. Curious to know what everyones struggles are (physical and mental health) and 2. Are we practicing what we preach. 

 

Oh, I also suffer from insomnia. I can easily stay up for 48 hours without caffeine or any stimulants. Therefore, if I need to be up early, you will find me taking 50mg of Benadryl or 30mg temazepam– extreme cases... both. 

[Joelseff]

About 4 years ago I came down with a rare autoimmune condition called Cogan's Syndrome that attacked my hearing and vision. It robbed me of most of my hearing (20% left in my right ear and about 60% in my left) and I was unable to see for a few months at onset. Vision came back and last optho visit was excellent (no inflammatory cells in both eyes. ????

 

I used to pride myself in my ability to hear even the slightest breath or heart sound. Now I use an amplified stethoscope and it is not the same.

 

The positive though is that I went through all this rigmarole to get a dx (I ended up suggesting the dx) and finally the right TX. This gave me a perspective on what our pts go through and a little more empathy when I see they are frustrated (those who appear to be truly ill with objective sxs, anyway) with the process.

 

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[Boatswain2PA]

PTSD.

 

my day-to-day isn't really affected too much; I do have controlled paranoia and anxiety which is what I see the Wizard for (Bupropion XL). Usually the catalyst for my more-severe episodes is pediatrics. long story short I saw a lot and was sole medical provider for several pretty bad pediatric poly traumas and of course my own guys. 

 

Have you tried EMDR?  I don't know how it works, and it may actually be ritualistic shamanism....but it gave me a great deal of improvement when I very much needed it.

 

[Boatswain2PA]

I used to pride myself in my ability to hear even the slightest breath or heart sound. Now I use an amplified stethoscope and it is not the same.

 

Glad your eyes are better!

 

I also use amplified stethoscope (I guess I forgot to add significant hearing loss....another benefit of 20 years of service around loud things) and while things do sound different, you can hear them.  The VA gets me very good amplified stethoscopes (and great hearing aids...even a spare set), so I don't even document when I barely hear a murmur cause nobody else can hear it...even with their $800 Littmans.

[Reality Check 2]

I had EMDR years ago for childhood abuse etc. My Mum got the brunt from my bio dad but I was always there and often got into it to protect her.  Realized how bad it was affecting me when I threatened to kill him myself and could actually see myself doing it. 

 

Restraining orders and a very diligent small town police force helped keep us safe and we got through it without much more violence. 

 

Anyway, my mum and I survived and thrived but the inner baggage is there. 

 

The EMDR helped put some things in proper storage instead of the forefront of daily thought - not like it didn't happen but that I had processed it and put it in a storage space that didn't require so much energy to maintain it. 

 

It has a relationship to hypnosis but it works through key words and eye movement. I have patients getting it today and they are quite surprised when I tell them I have had it done. 

 

I would strongly recommend it but would encourage research and some detailed discussion with some one who had it recently so you get some ideas of what happens while you do this - there were some weird times with emotions coming to the front and the need to vent or cry or sleep a lot. Not something to do during a full work week in my opinion. 

 

The whole thing growing up has given me zero tolerance for domestic violence whether male or female. I know what the outcome can be and know which boundaries - once crossed - spell disaster.  Patients are surprised when I can describe middle of the night banging on the door and threats of burning the house down by a drunken a-hole and how it affects children. It helped me bond a lot with kids and teens and adults.

 

Again, it is how you carry the baggage.

[Boatswain2PA]

Yours must've worked better than mine. Mine just got the damn box (men compartmentalize better) to stop rattling around so much, but I'm happy with that.

 

Shrinks say you're better off talking about it. Sounds like you're doing well in that regards, congrats! I've never been able to do that.

 

Yes, EMDR can be draining, but very worth it. Make sure you take the whole day, and maybe the next day, off work.

[Timon]

Eustation tube dysfunction that caused altered speech patterns as a child. Had to see a speech pathologist for 9 years and get tubes in my ears and my adenoids removed as a child. My son inherited the same issue and luckily I spotted it. He had his tubes placed and adenoids removed a week before he turned one years old, started walking the next day...

[MedicinePower]

Very severe obstructive sleep apnea. >70 apneic/hr. Have had two sleep studies (1 for dx, 1 with CPAP), 3 visits to the ENT/sleep specialist, and now waiting for CPAP to come which it can't come soon enough. I don't remember what it's like to sleep a full night and have any REM sleep or feel anything but crippling fatigue during the day.