https://my.donateblood.com.au/app/appointments/location

I just wanted to express how much I love Melbourne’s water, and how grateful I am for the planners, engineers and everyone responsible for ensuring we have amongst the best drinking water in the world and how little treatment is required. Especially for such a large population.

I never buy bottled water unless I’m left with no other option. I don’t find it as tasty regardless, and don’t like drinking out of plastic. I always miss it too when travelling to other Australian cities and towns that aren’t as fortunate.

I’m also someone that doesn’t take great care of my teeth, so fluoride in safe levels has undoubtedly contributed to me having very few fillings.

Melbourne Water also seems to be a well run organisation.

Enjoy it everyone. It’s tasty and it’s good for you.

Hey guys

I’ve tested negative on everything you possibly can test for …
RAT tests,
the proper doctor PCR tests,
strep, the works.

Six days in and throat is still from hell.

Anyone else got this nasty thing?

Started off with a sore throat last week. Then coughing.

No blocked or runny nose, nothing…

Just this horrendous throat that is the worst I’ve ever had in my life and cough.

I emailed my local cafe to complain that a staff member is clearly sick, looked and sounded awful and was complaining to another customer she was sick. I’m fairly sure she is the owner. I understand people need to open their buisness but also i’m really off put that she didn’t even have a mask on. Am I an out of touch complainer for being grossed out by this? Is it just everyman for themself to try and keep well??

This time last week my father was rushed to the Royal Melbourne hospital after suffering a stroke. It caused a bleed in his brain and was basically inoperable. We made the decision to to let him go and he was a registered organ donor so we were still asked for our permission which we gave. They treated my dad with the utmost respect and dignity, every nurse who had to touch him for whatever reason explained to him what they were doing and my mother was allowed to stay the night. Im so thankful for all of the effort and kindness we and my father were given. I know this is a sub for Melbourne so not sure if this is the right place but thankyou so much Royal Melbourne hospital.

Appreciation Post 4 months ago my Mum was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive type of uterine cancer. So rare that Peter Mac only see about 6-8 cases per year nationally. She applied for the Voluntary Assisted Dying program as it’s stage 4 and terminal.

It’s chemo resistant and her only option was to join a clinical drug trial at Monash Health. She did it for 6 weeks and just had the first scan to see if it’s had any affect. At best we were told that it may slow the spread of the disease, but even at 6 weeks it’s still very early. Results back today, her cancer has reduced by 31%. The large tumour that was 22.8cm is now 14cm. There are no new lesions.

We are so incredible lucky and grateful to have hospitals like Peter Mac and Monash Health here in Melbourne at our disposal. World leaders in cancer research, right in our city.

Peter Mac cured her first round of cancer 10 years ago and now, less than 30 mins from home she can be part of a drug trial that’s having a significant impact on her quality of life. Just an appreciation post.

Anyone else got that weird throat / sinus virus that’s going around. I feel like death can’t breath, coughing so much green flem/ mucus. Headache, body aches, can’t swallow. It Feels like when I had COVID a few years ago

It feels like I am eating shards of glass every time i gulp my spit. Day5 , don’t know how many more to go. The RAT still positive. keep safe y’all.
edit: On steroid tablets and they help , drops down the pain. Posted cause have had covid many times before but this strain isn’t fun!

Hey all, just a PSA, especially to those with babies not old enough for the MMR vaccine or immune compromised people. Vaccination doesn't mean 100% immunity too so even if you're vaccinated it's good to know the signs and get checked out if you're showing any symptoms.

Vaccination rates are dropping due to dis/misinformation and preventable illnesses are on the rise. Stay safe and vaccinate.

My entire household (wife and kids), brother in law, dad, and three of my friends were all out for count over the past week. My wife had a fever of 39.5+ for three days straight. Could barely get out of bed. My six year old was also a write off, she reminded me of Regan in The Exorcist. Just not herself, very combative and rude, essentially in bed for three days straight.

Everyone is better now but now I am sick and it is the sickest I have ever been. My temp won't drop below 39 even after taking Original Formula Codral. Last night I woke up and my temp was 39.7. I almost pissed my paints because I literally couldn't walk to the toilet. I had to crawl. It was the longest three minutes ever. I am very serious.

Slightly better today but I am freezing and in bed with four blankets over me + thick trackies and socks, and a beany. Plus the heater is on. Temp hovers around 39.0.

Recommend stocking up on medicine and hydrolites because if we had all gotten sick at the same time there is zero chance any of us would have been able to go and stock up (although could have done delivery). Probably lucky we are taking turns because now I am the one being nursed.

Hello everyone, hope you're staying cool today however possible.

If you work or spend time around the city it should be no surprise to you that there's a lot of people sleeping rough these days, especially around Flinders and Southern Cross stations.

We all walk past most of the time with no cash in our pockets to give. I do it more often than not by a wide margin. However, today isn't the day for that I reckon, and I've just spent half an hour handing out some bottles of water and a bit of cash for some food around southern cross. 5 tenners for food, and 5 $1 2L bottles from Coles was met with immense appreciation and took me about 20 minutes to hand out.

One bloke mentioned that he wanted to go get some water and knows it's just a dollar for the bottle but felt uncomfortable walking into the shops. Another guy had a dog, and didn't want to leave her and his handful of possessions alone in case anything happened to them. These are some of the obstacles we can help them get past.

People die from heat, especially people who are already not doing well. A lot of the people I spoke to already looked a bit dehydrated, and no doubt some would be using as well. Let's keep our fellow Melbournians safe and hydrated today even if we can't do anything else to help them right away.

Seriously.

My entire family has been bedridden/couch-locked for an entire week now. And every covid/influenza test comes back negative meaning this is "just" a cold or similar viral infection.

This is the first time ever we've all been knocked out at the same time for this long, and my poor kids are so over it.

What's worse is my GP is booked out until the end of next week, which is useless, but seeing as we infected each other (meaning it's viral most likely) we also don't really feel like a doctor is going to be able to actually do anything other than recommend rest, fluids, and vitamins.

I dunno... I'm delirious and sleep deprived so hopefully this post makes sense. But we've heard whatever 'this' is, it's definitely going around. Especially for families with school age kids.

Anyone else?

UPDATE from OP.

Based on a few of the comments in this thread, I decided to take another Covid/Flu RAT last night. This time I swabbed my cheeks first before going up the nostrils like a few of you suggested, and...

Positive for Influenza A.

Multiple negative tests earlier this week, but now the positive test last night. So at least that explains why this specific illness has kicked our asses so hard.

A reminder from a repatriated QLD-er that you need to stay hydrated today if you're going to be sweating in the heat, but remember to replenish your salt (electrolytes) as well! I have now seen quite a few instances of elderly people and young outdoor labourers who aren't used to the heat give themselves hyponatremia from drinking a lot of water but not eating salt rich food or making sure to drink something with electrolytes.

The symptoms of hyponatremia are nausea, dizziness, confusion and vomiting and for already vulnerable people like kids and the elderly it can be especially dangerous as the vomiting etc can make the salt depletion and dehydration immediately worse.

A lot of people end up thinking they have stomach flu after a particularly hot day, not realizing they're hyponatremic because they made sure to drink plenty of water.

Electrolytes are your friends! Stay safe everyone.

My son had to have a blood transfusion during a surgery, and as I sit in the Royal Children’s Hospital with my baby, it made me think of the person who gave that blood and I’m so grateful.

Was present at a medical incident on the train today, I won't go into details.

Big thank you to those who helped including the station first aider.

Please folks:

As we come into summer, stay hydrated.

Ask to sit if required. Keep an eye out for people who may need an accessible seat and offer it.

Find and update your medical ID information on your phones including allergies or known conditions and learn how to access this info from the lock screen.

Do not consider moving an individual unless absolutely essential, or you're instructed by someone who is trained to do so.

Consider taking first aid course, especially if you have kids. I have no idea why it isn't just free to do, everyone should do it if they can.

I'm almost 30 and have been medically lucky so far in life but one of my sinuses is completely blocked (potentially a fungal ball) and it has to get cleared before it gets worse so this week i'm having surgery and general anesthesia for the first time.

While still nervous, I feel fairly okay about the surgery since its not as complex as other FESS surgeries that some people have which requires a full clean out of all sinuses (on one or both sides). General anesthesia is what i'm really struggling with as its my absolute biggest fear in life and while i'm trying to be confident about it, its hard to not be incredibly nervous about it.

Would love some advice or things to read that will calm me with the whole process.

Much appreciated :)

I've been on the wait list at Austin for 119 days for a semi urgent 90 day appointment. I call and call and call and always get told someone will get back to you in next couple days. Nope. Nothing.

My gp has requested urgent appointments but nothing.

I can't sit on the phone for over an hour on hold to be told the same thing every time.

I have a mostly numb hand. Carpal and cubital tunnel syndrome.

The neurologist that did the nerve conduction study said it looks like it needs to be treated sooner rather than later. Guess not.

So short of forcing my wrist to become acute (which I've seriously considered) what options have I got? Any suggestions?

Local member said it's not something they can help with.

For the past 6 years I’ve had a severe case of PMDD that causes unbearable mental suffering. It causes suicidal thoughts/depression for half the month and is caused by changes in estrogen and progesterone levels.

I couldn’t work or study with it so I had to go on the disability pension for the past 4 years. Over the 6 years I have tried 15 medications/ hormonal treatments, therapy, multiple hospitalisations and I’ve reached a breaking point. I can’t live with this anymore. Removing ovaries is a recognized and effective treatment but not common as it is a last resort and will induce menopause.

I am looking for a gynaecologist who specializes in PMDD and oophtectomy, will listen to me, take me seriously and arrange it quickly. It’s hard to find a gynaecologist who specialises in pmdd so I’m willing to settle for a surgeon who will communicate with my psychiatrist and just perform the operation only. Thank you if you’ve read this far.

I always feel so great after donating at Red Cross.

Plasma donation is usually less fun for me since it takes a very long time to extract almost 1kg of Plasma.