BS: Just Another Hazard for the Oldies

Subject: BS: Just Another Hazard for the Oldies
From: Ebbie
Date: 07 Nov 21 - 10:15 PM

I'm learning new things all the time- and sometimes it ain't fun.

My brother and I are the last remaining siblings of 9 children. He is 87 years old, older than I by about a year and a half.

Last week, he, his wife and his daughter were diagnosed with breakthrough covid.

So, twice in the last week he has fallen headlong with no memory of what caused it and on Wednesday the ambulance hauled him off to hospital.

Turns out, he not only has covid but rhabdomyolysis, a condition that can have a number of causes but his likely one stems from a month or so ago when he cut up two trees. He was proud of getting it done so fast.

Well. Rhab, etc, can come from over exertion on long unused muscles, especially among the elderly, while not giving the muscles enough rest to heal. The break down pours extreme amounts of protein into the bloodstream which can be deadly.

I had never heard of this.

Subject: RE: BS: Just Another Hazard for the Oldies
From: Donuel
Date: 08 Nov 21 - 05:50 AM

Get well soon to your bro. Maybe the breakthough infection was a life savor ?

Subject: RE: BS: Just Another Hazard for the Oldies
From: Jack Campin
Date: 08 Nov 21 - 10:59 AM

Rhabdomyolysis is also a possible side effect of statins.

Subject: RE: BS: Just Another Hazard for the Oldies
From: leeneia
Date: 08 Nov 21 - 12:32 PM

Ebbie, thank you so much for posting this. A friend is moving, and the DH and I have been helping. I'm making a point of telling them about rhabdomyolysis.

Subject: RE: BS: Just Another Hazard for the Oldies
From: Ebbie
Date: 08 Nov 21 - 01:23 PM

Thanks Leenia. They say it's a fairly rare condition, that "only" about 26,ooo people have it. But that's a lot of people. Why isn't it common knowledge?

Donuel, thanks. That's what I said early on: Covid may have saved his life.

However, at this point it doesn't look good. I talked with him yesterday and he sounds awful. Covid, to my mind, is not the cause but just a complication.

I'm hoping that yesterday was his lowest point, that he will start mending.

Subject: RE: BS: Just Another Hazard for the Oldies
From: JennieG
Date: 08 Nov 21 - 03:50 PM

Oh my - getting older is not for the faint of heart, is it.

We heard last week of the passing of a friend in Canada, of a sudden massive heart attack. As far as was known he had no history of heart problems and saw his dr regularly for another issue. I read once that undiagnosed people who have these sudden massive (usually fatal) heart attacks; people who are being treated for various heart ailments are on medication, but of course the undiagnosed aren't.

He was a few years younger than we are, too.

Subject: RE: BS: Just Another Hazard for the Oldies
From: Ebbie
Date: 09 Nov 21 - 03:52 AM

We don't know the whole story yet but it is possible that my brother was badly served by a nurse today.

When I called him this afternoon, almost the first thing he said was "Bad news. It sounds like I'm on my last legs."

His enunciation was poor so I had trouble understanding him but he said something about what "the nurse said".

Later the nurses by now in attendance said that his 'numbers' were heading in the right direction and they sounded hopeful.

His son and daughter plan to pursue the matter.

Subject: RE: BS: Just Another Hazard for the Oldies
From: Thompson
Date: 11 Nov 21 - 07:06 AM

Jesus, Ebbie! I hope your friend recovers from his shock and that nurse gets a training course in how to speak to patients.
I'm in a slight rage because I have to visit the surgery *three* times over three days next week. Once to get a blood pressure monitor, once to give it back, and once to get a Covid booster. I do *not* want to hang around where sick people are. I asked to get the booster on the same day as bringing back the monitor but just got the next-day appointment back by return email.

Subject: RE: BS: Just Another Hazard for the Oldies
From: Doug Chadwick
Date: 11 Nov 21 - 01:08 PM

Blood pressure monitors are not expensive and are readily available at most pharmacies. That way, you can check it whenever you want and pass the results to the surgery, when required, without the need for a special visit.

DC

Subject: RE: BS: Just Another Hazard for the Oldies
From: Mrrzy
Date: 11 Nov 21 - 01:25 PM

Is that the kidneys fill with glass problem? My kids' dad did that, overexerting.

Subject: RE: BS: Just Another Hazard for the Oldies
From: Ebbie
Date: 11 Nov 21 - 04:04 PM

Mrrzy, maybe the slang term is 'glass'? It is proteins pouring into the blood stream from muscle that has broken down, long unused muscle that is put under stress without being given time to heal. That's what I've been reading. There are other causes, but the over-exertion is the one that fits my brother's scenario.

A month or less ago, he had some professionals come in and take down two trees, which he then spent a number of days cutting up and storing for the fireplace. He was proud of how quickly he got it done.

He had always been active but of course, at his current age -87- he no longer was.

Turns out the nurse that alarmed my brother is young and new. She brought in paperwork that asked my brother what he wanted done 'in the event of his death'. I have been asked that question often in a doctor's office but never when I was in hospital in the middle of illness!

Subject: RE: BS: Just Another Hazard for the Oldies
From: Mrrzy
Date: 12 Nov 21 - 10:03 AM

No, I meant shards of crystals that form because all that excess muscle protein crystallizes in the presence of acid. Kids' dad's kidneys failed totally, it was very scary. He was not old. Well, in his 40's, I think.

Subject: RE: BS: Just Another Hazard for the Oldies
From: Bill D
Date: 12 Nov 21 - 10:05 AM

Having that paperwork filled out (called an "advance directive") can be very useful..just in case. I got my wife to sign one during her last few days of enough coherence to do it.... and then, while sorting papers a few weeks later, I found an earlier one she had done without telling me a few years ago. I'm thinking I ought to do one for myself and make sure my son knows where it is.

Subject: RE: BS: Just Another Hazard for the Oldies
From: Donuel
Date: 15 Nov 21 - 06:45 AM

I suspect the kidney condition can come about simply from too much walking. At least thats what it felt like for several weeks after a virtual marathon. A previous year on the couch didn't help either.

Subject: RE: BS: Just Another Hazard for the Oldies
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 15 Nov 21 - 11:29 AM

Wow. Another reason to stay active. This summer I started a program called "Hinge" that my insurance company has been promoting - I'm up to the full 15 minutes of guided exercises, aimed at leg strength but with the side effect of strengthening all of me. And doing it every day is probably something I need to stick with - the gym still doesn't feel like a safe place to go workout and breathe hard several days a week.

Weight-bearing exercises for senior citizens are a good idea, but you start gradually and have someone monitor your work. This may be one reason why.

Subject: RE: BS: Just Another Hazard for the Oldies
From: Mr Red
Date: 16 Nov 21 - 03:45 AM

I prefer dancing but in COVID walking is not a perfect substitute.

I read in the New Scientist of research the exercise promote brain cell growth. Ceilidh dancing is doubly brain growth on that score.

Subject: RE: BS: Just Another Hazard for the Oldies
From: Megan L
Date: 16 Nov 21 - 04:40 AM

sometimes when you are in hospital especially if you are medicated or have any infection what you think you hear and what a nurse actually said can be two very different things.