[esteem_lover]

Originally Posted by WindRide

No.
If you become resistant to antibiotics, next time you come down with an illness, commonly prescribed antibiotics will not work for you. The doctor will be forced to prescrible higher dosages or much stronger antibiotics.

It is for this very same reason that popping pills at the drop of a hat (aka, self-medication) is frowned upon by the medical community.

Ok, sorry I misunderstood your answer. Thanks

[Thad E Ginathom]

The increased resistance is that of the bacteria.

ie, an antibiotic that cured a serious disease a few years ago doesn't touch it now.

It is a very bad thing, that might even, potentially, kill any of us.

Please note: the person does not become resistant, the bacteria does. One common way this happens is through prescribe OTC sales, another is misuse of prescribed antibiotics.

On of the most anti-social things a person can do is not to take, at least, the minimum course of an antibiotic, once they have started. eg...

Prescription is for five days.

On day one or two, enough bacteria have been killed for the patient to feel better. Many bacteria, though, have not yet had a lethal dose.

On day three, the person stops taking the drug. They are now carrying around bacteria that have become hardened, by a non-lethal dosage, to that antibiotic.

They find their way to someone else. That person gets ill. The same antibiotic is prescribed. It does not make them better, nor does it work for the people they pass the bacteria on to.

Doctors prescribe a stronger antibiotic. Repeat story. We are running out of antibiotics.

I'm sure it is a simplified version of the story

[carboy]

Originally Posted by Thad E Ginathom

On of the most anti-social things a person can do is not to take, at least, the minimum course of an antibiotic, once they have started. eg...

This is very common India. A lot of people stop the course once they feel better because antibiotics are 'bad'.

If you feel antibiotics are 'bad' - don't take them. But if you start, don't stop till you finish the full course the doctor has prescribed.

[esteem_lover]

I am guilty of the above. Thanks Thad for the nice explanation. Will be careful next time.

[Thad E Ginathom]

Originally Posted by carboy

This is very common India. A lot of people stop the course once they feel better because antibiotics are 'bad'.

If you feel antibiotics are 'bad' - don't take them. But if you start, don't stop till you finish the full course the doctor has prescribed.

It is very common even in my mother country, where antibiotics are only available on prescription. People feel better after two days, and leave the rest of the tablets in the cupboard.

The only difference is that you cannot go to the pharmacy, complain of "fever" and be sold two capsules of penicillin. Of course, the "fever" is gone the next day, because it would have anyway --- but whatever bacteria were present in the person's body are now a little more resistant to what should be one of the world's wonder drugs.

[Thad E Ginathom]

This is partly curiosity, and partly worrying about nothing (because god forbid I should ever need this advice).

A friend of mine was recently diagnosed with detached retina. A heap of heavyweight medical problems have led to her having just about every checkup in the book, so, luckily, this was spotted early.

Her abbreviated description of the treatment was, "they say it is painless. It isn't. Some of the time you really don't feel a thing, and then you feel like someone is putting a needle in your eye." Whilst its true to say that she added, "better than going blind," I still find this sort of thing disconcerting.

In some ways, for a wimp, I am quite tough. At the dentist, after the injection, I just relax and let him get on with it. I even demand a running commentary, as I am interested, technically in what is going on.

In other ways, I am hypersensitive and super-baby. I can't sit still while the ENT man digs the wax out of my ear (he has to syringe it) and ... I can't even stand that puff test for internal eye pressure. How on earth would I ever stand laser surgery on the eye?

My question is: for such an one as I, is it possible to have such procedures done under sedation? Does it even work out; isn't there involuntary eye movement, even under general anaesthetic? How would a child, who could simply not be trusted to keep the eye still, be treated?

[slicvic]

Originally Posted by Thad E Ginathom

A friend of mine was recently diagnosed with detached retina.

My question is: for such an one as I, is it possible to have such procedures done under sedation? Does it even work out; isn't there involuntary eye movement, even under general anaesthetic? How would a child, who could simply not be trusted to keep the eye still, be treated?

A Local Anaestheic (Injection around the eye) would have been given before a retinal detachment surgery. This stops the eye movements voluntary or involuntary. A little bit of pain might be experienced, at a level similar to any injection, during some of the steps. If the patient is apprehensive and uncoperative a light sedative may also be administered. All of this is decided on a case to case basis.

For procedures like LASIK or Cataract, no anaesthetic is injected, anaesthetic eye drops are used (Topical Anaesthesia). These drops would cause loss of sensations and hence no pain. Since the duration of surgery is relatively shorter compared to a retinal detachment surgery, topical anaestheics will suffice.

For children no procedures would be done under topical or local anaesthesia, and it would be under General Anaesthesia.

[condor]

@slicivic,

A recent eye check-up showed that I now have a cyl / axis component in my left eye. Had not realised this earlier, but there has been a slight sync issue between the eyes (hind-sight !). I am planning to get the correct glasses now.

Question:
Does this (cyl/axis) get corrected - or change (increase) with time ? Reason I ask is - I also need to go for progressives. If the cyl/axis reading will change in about a year, to more steady values, then I would like to explore the option of getting only the short-sight (my long-time condition) for now, and go for a good pair of progressives later.

[Thad E Ginathom]

slicvic, thanks for the reassurance. My friend's sensations were during the actual laser treatment. She seemed to think she had to keep her eye still, and could have moved if she wanted to: maybe it was not explained to her. I suspect that, just as I recoil from the air-puff test, that I'd move my whole head, let alone my eye.

If this ever happens to me, I'm going to have to tell them to regard me as an uncooperative three-year-old, even though anaesthesia is probably more dangerous than the procedure.

Thanks for your answer: I'll stop worrying

[Tejas@perioimpl]

Just a quick note to all the doctors here who are lending a hand and helping the community:

Thanks a lot. Really appreciate your time, efforts and patience.

[da MotorHead]

Hi guys,

Father of my friend has a serious spinal condition and wants to consult an expert in Spine and orthopedics at AIIMS, in Delhi. Does anyone know the right specialist and can do a personal reference? Would be great help.

Thanks,
dMH

[nanduchitnis]

OMG so many T Bhapians with medical issues ?

Any healthy folks around?

Can someone please make a list of the Doctors here with city / secialisations/contact numbers? We all travel a lot and will be great to contact a T Bhp doc should the need arise !

Fantastic thread !

[fine69]

How to figure out if pain in my ankle is due to a muscular problem or a hair fracture in bone or somewhere in the joint? The pain is not there unless I move my ankle upwards at a certain angle but once I do the pain is extremely severe and unbearable.

Using volini regularly and soaking it in water in the evenings isn't helping at all. Is MRI the only way to figure out the damage in muscle?

[Tejas@perioimpl]

Originally Posted by fine69

How to figure out if pain in my ankle is due to a muscular problem or a hair fracture in bone or somewhere in the joint? The pain is not there unless I move my ankle upwards at a certain angle but once I do the pain is extremely severe and unbearable.

Using volini regularly and soaking it in water in the evenings isn't helping at all. Is MRI the only way to figure out the damage in muscle?

First step would be to visit your family doc or an orthopedic. Let them diagnose and recommend further steps.

[fine69]

Originally Posted by Tejas@perioimpl

First step would be to visit your family doc or an orthopedic. Let them diagnose and recommend further steps.

This is what you come up with for a guy in a 10 to 6 job and a side business to take care of on weekends! With no time in hand I thought why not give team-bhp a try