Medical issues and procedures

[Lady Jane]

Originally Posted by KRS_SN

Festinant gait

Festinant gait is part of the gait disorder types depending on diagnosis:

Hemiplegic gait, Diplegic gait, Neuropathic gait, Myopathic gait, Ataxic gait and finally Parkinsonian gait (Festinant).

[KRS_SN]

Originally Posted by Lady Jane

Festinant gait is part of the gait disorder types depending on diagnosis:

Hemiplegic gait, Diplegic gait, Neuropathic gait, Myopathic gait, Ataxic gait and finally Parkinsonian gait (Festinant).

True
My favourite is intermittent relapsing remitting ataxic gait. People walk into the pub with a normal gait though

[Lady Jane]

Originally Posted by KRS_SN

True
My favourite is intermittent relapsing remitting ataxic gait. People walk into the pub with a normal gait though

Yes, only a neuro surgeon or a bartender can make a proper call.

[Maynard]

Originally Posted by vreihen16

I never mentioned my root canal without Novocaine. I'm a walking malpractice suit.

On the topic of medical issues, is there an official name for the hand/arm motions of elderly people (not naming a prominent politician as an example) where they walk with their hands forward like they are carrying an invisible walker or bracing themselves for a fall? I caught myself doing that the other day, and want to know what it is to do my homework before an upcoming doctor appointment in a few weeks.....

Bring your doctor the above description and an in person demonstration; and don't let the talk of PD and dementia put you off, there are other benign explanations (if you followed us all around with a camera, most everybody has done that at some time; and what you describe is not really a festinating gait so don't go google crazy on that term).

[vreihen16]

Originally Posted by Maynard

Bring your doctor the above description and an in person demonstration; and don't let the talk of PD and dementia put you off, there are other benign explanations (if you followed us all around with a camera, most everybody has done that at some time; and what you describe is not really a festinating gait so don't go google crazy on that term).

I'm already being treated for ET in my left hand that isn't responding to two medications, and just had a blood relative die with Parkinson's last year. My doctor has lousy bedside manners, and has already primed the proverbial pump about the P-word if the ET isn't under control after increased dosages.

Just want to do my homework and bring everything to my next appointment in a few weeks, so that I can have an intelligent conversation about what's going on and the next diagnosis/treatment steps.

I know that it's not intermittent relapsing remitting ataxic gait, because I don't/never drink.....

[cmyx6go]

I know a bunch of you guys recently had colonoscopies. I have one scheduled in a few weeks. When reading over the instructions of what not to eat a week before, I was surprised to see it said no raw vegetables, salad or fruit. I don't remember that from my last two. Anyone else?

[kscarrol]

Don't remember those... not to scare you but my wife had hers last week, initial biopsies were negative but they found a mass that will hopefully be removed in the next week or two for additional testing/biopsies. Keeping fingers crossed!

[cmyx6go]

Originally Posted by kscarrol

Don't remember those... not to scare you but my wife had hers last week, initial biopsies were negative but they found a mass that will hopefully be removed in the next week or two for additional testing/biopsies. Keeping fingers crossed!

I hope all is OK.

[RickFLM4]

Originally Posted by cmyx6go

I know a bunch of you guys recently had colonoscopies. I have one scheduled in a few weeks. When reading over the instructions of what not to eat a week before, I was surprised to see it said no raw vegetables, salad or fruit. I don't remember that from my last two. Anyone else?

Generally want you to reduce fiber intake leading up to it. I don’t recall explicit foods to avoid, but in general, they want you to avoid fiber, especially from supplements. Also, it’s contrary to conventional thinking, but for the couple of days before you need to prep, I’d recommend eating lightly. Most people want to try to fill up since they need to fast, not thinking ahead to what that leads to on prep day.

[RickFLM4]

Originally Posted by kscarrol

Don't remember those... not to scare you but my wife had hers last week, initial biopsies were negative but they found a mass that will hopefully be removed in the next week or two for additional testing/biopsies. Keeping fingers crossed!

I (like everyone I am sure) wish her the best as she goes through the next steps and wait for results. Hoping to hear what a big relief it is after she gets through it.

This is why these procedures are necessary. Catch things that can lead to problems before the problem, or catch problems sooner than later.

[Lady Jane]

Originally Posted by cmyx6go

I know a bunch of you guys recently had colonoscopies. I have one scheduled in a few weeks. When reading over the instructions of what not to eat a week before, I was surprised to see it said no raw vegetables, salad or fruit. I don't remember that from my last two. Anyone else?

High fiber slows down digestion and particles can obscure the lining of the colon making it hard to detect problems. The same applies to nuts.

[kscarrol]

Originally Posted by RickFLM4

I (like everyone I am sure) wish her the best as she goes through the next steps and wait for results. Hoping to hear what a big relief it is after she gets through it.

This is why these procedures are necessary. Catch things that can lead to problems before the problem, or catch problems sooner than later.

Yes! She had a hole in her heart at birth and underwent experimental surgery (now common) but is has literally scarred her for life. Needles etc scare the crap out of her so I've been pestering her for years to go get it done.

[Esteban]

Originally Posted by kscarrol

Yes! She had a hole in her heart at birth and underwent experimental surgery (now common) but is has literally scarred her for life. Needles etc scare the crap out of her so I've been pestering her for years to go get it done.

I wish her all the best.

[Esteban]

kscarrol, you're a good husband for encouraging her to go. As mentioned above, catching problems before they become irreversible is the key, and hopefully that's what has happened here.

I had my last one done in 2022 and a polyp was found and removed. And tbh, it's not such a bad procedure. The prep is the worst thing.

Again, good luck to her.

[kscarrol]

Originally Posted by Esteban

kscarrol, you're a good husband for encouraging her to go. As mentioned above, catching problems before they become irreversible is the key, and hopefully that's what has happened here.

I had my last one done in 2022 and a polyp was found and removed. And tbh, it's not such a bad procedure. The prep is the worst thing.

Again, good luck to her.

Thank you to everyone. This mass was unfortunately too large to remove during the colonoscopy so going back in a week or two to have it removed.

[M_Six]

We ate at our usual Thai place tonight and then went for a walk right afterwards. I felt fine during the walk, but was shocked when I looked at my Apple Watch data after the walk and saw my average HR during the walk was 143 with a max of 154. That's usually the range I'm in when I'm riding, which is a lot more cardio intensive. My usual walking HR is between 100 and 120. Even now, sitting still at home, my HR is over 100, where it is usually in the 55-70 range. I'm thinking they went a little heavy on the MSG in my dinner tonight.

[mc-m3]

Originally Posted by M_Six

We ate at our usual Thai place tonight and then went for a walk right afterwards. I felt fine during the walk, but was shocked when I looked at my Apple Watch data after the walk and saw my average HR during the walk was 143 with a max of 154. That's usually the range I'm in when I'm riding, which is a lot more cardio intensive. My usual walking HR is between 100 and 120. Even now, sitting still at home, my HR is over 100, where it is usually in the 55-70 range. I'm thinking they went a little heavy on the MSG in my dinner tonight.

Attachment 3579178

I've noticed that my walking HR is 5-10 higher right after eating.

[Bc2005]

If you have much higher than usual HR, get to a cardiologist ASAP. It can be an indication of blockage in a major artery. I know two people (one my brother) who had these symptoms recently, and both needed surgery.

My brother fainted (was just sitting on a stool in Costco) and was taken to the ER. Doctor in the ER noticed his heart rate was okay at rest, but shot up high as soon as he sat up on the exam table. Doctor ordered a cardiac catheterization and found the blockage. Surgery for a stent happened about a day later. Great to have a doctor who is really paying attention to symptoms.

[M_Six]

Originally Posted by Bc2005

If you have much higher than usual HR, get to a cardiologist ASAP. It can be an indication of blockage in a major artery. I know two people (one my brother) who had these symptoms recently, and both needed surgery.

My brother fainted (was just sitting on a stool in Costco) and was taken to the ER. Doctor in the ER noticed his heart rate was okay at rest, but shot up high as soon as he sat up on the exam table. Doctor ordered a cardiac catheterization and found the blockage. Surgery for a stent happened about a day later. Great to have a doctor who is really paying attention to symptoms.

I just had a one-on-one with my cardio doc at the end of September. He didn't have much to say other than I've been doing great and to keep doing what I'm doing as far as exercise and diet. My HR was back to normal after a few hours. I've always been sensitive to MSG, although not as bad now as when I was younger. And as mc-m3 said above, it was just after a meal, so there's a slight spike there already. HR this morning is back to 60, which is normal for me. Low HR last night while I was sleeping was 47. Next time we walk, I'll check it while we're walking, just to make sure.

I do have an issue with calcium buildup in the arterial walls near my heart (hence my visits with the cardio doc), but it's *in* the walls of the arteries and not *inside* the arteries. IOW, I have no blockages. I just need to keep it that way, so I'm on a higher dose of statins than would normally be prescribed for me otherwise.

[kscarrol]

Originally Posted by kscarrol

Thank you to everyone. This mass was unfortunately too large to remove during the colonoscopy so going back in a week or two to have it removed.

So some follow-up. Scans and bloodwork show cancer along with three small spots in her liver. She’s in getting a needle biopsy now with surgery to remove the mass (along with a section of her colon) is Tuesday morning. Doctor still optimistic we got it early and going for the cure. Fingers crossed!

[cmyx6go]

Originally Posted by kscarrol

So some follow-up. Scans and bloodwork show cancer along with three small spots in her liver. She’s in getting a needle biopsy now with surgery to remove the mass (along with a section of her colon) is Tuesday morning. Doctor still optimistic we got it early and going for the cure. Fingers crossed!

I hope all goes well and she's OK. Glad you pushed her and it was caught early.

[M_Six]

Originally Posted by cmyx6go

I hope all goes well and she's OK. Glad you pushed her and it was caught early.

Ditto. Best wishes for a full recovery.