chatwithketch

Q: Plssss I had an unprotected sex yesterday, though he didn’t release inside me, can I still get pregnant?

A: Withdrawal method involves pulling the male organ out of the vagina just before ejaculation. This method may protect against pregnancy if used well but does not protect against STIs. It has been argued in some quarters that the pre-ejaculate (a lubricating fluid) may contain some sperm cells and so even if your partner is able to withdraw before ejaculation, the harm would have been done. However, the sperm in the pre-ejaculate is not there at the time the fluid is produced, but is sperm from previous ejaculations that was probably left in the urethra. It is believed that urinating and cleaning the tip of the penis before sexual intercourse helps to clear the urethra of the sperm left from previous ejaculations.

So, is it possible that you could get pregnant with this method of contraception? The answer is yes. You should also worry about the potential for STIs. I suggest that you visit your doctor for confirmation of pregnancy – though most GPs would ask that you wait until you actually miss your period. Then, if you are not pregnant, I suggest that you visit a family planning clinic for help with choosing a means of contraception. And remember your ABCs. A is for abstinence. Honestly, this is your safest bet. If you’re not ready to deal with the responsibilities of having a baby, please leave well alone. You can’t have an STI, HIV/AIDS, or otherwise if you don’t have sex. In addition, you can’t get pregnant. Now, if abstinence is a problem, be faithful to one partner…who, hopefully, is being faithful to you too. If you can’t swear on this, revert to plan A. Finally, if all else fails, ensure that you use a condom to prevent STIs and pregnancy.

All the best!

Q: I am 9 weeks pregnant, but I don’t have appetite for food. I hate having sex, what can I do?

A: Early pregnancy can be a trying time for a number of women as they go through tiredness, breast tenderness, loss of appetite, nausea etc

Loss of appetite may be due to the nausea of early of early pregnancy where it appears the tummy cannot seem to keep anything down. If you feel nauseous, the following tips may help:

The standard teaching is to try eating some bland foods like Crackers biscuits or dry toast. That personally didn’t work for me. I preferred tart things…which some may want to avoid. I loved lemons during my pregnancies. They were the one thing guaranteed to ‘wake up’ my mouth and chase nausea far away. I also had a particular brand of very tart bubble gum, I indulged in grin emoticon These were key for me because, though I didn’t have the real bad case of morning sickness that sent you to the hospital, brushing my teeth in the morning always sent me into a bout of retching/vomiting. So, I always had a ready supply of the gum or lemon/lime to pop into my mouth once I was done brushing/retching! Not a very pleasant memory ;D

So, if lemons work for you to prevent nausea, go for it. Remember that moderation is key. A few drops (one or two) in a glass of water are enough to provide that tart kick that sends nausea far away. There is a catch here though…remember the heart burn associated with pregnancy. The acid content of lemon might make the heart burn and any pre-existing gastro-esophageal (stomach and esophagus/gullet) problems worse. So, this is all the more reason to be very moderate or stop if it exacerbates an already bad case of heart burn. Wherever and whenever in doubt, please be sure to see your doctor.
Other tips:
• Eat little amounts of food frequently as an empty tummy increases the likelihood of throwing up. Remember this is not an excuse to binge and over eat 😀
• Avoid fatty and greasy foods.
• Avoid smells that trigger nausea
• Cold foods may be preferable to hot as the former does not give off smells that may cause you to feel queasy.
• Get loads of fresh air and rest
• And drink sufficient fluids daily
Talking more generally, here are 5 general nutrition tips for a pregnant woman:
• Eat a balanced diet with a variety of foods from different food groups.
• Be sure to include a lot of high fibre foods like vegetables, whole grain cereals etc to deal with the constipation associated with pregnancy.
• Ensure you take your antenatal medications (prenatal vitamins) in addition to eating well.
• Be sure to also take foods rich in iron eg and foods rich in folic acid eg green leafy veggies and beans. Folate prevents deformities of the spine.
• Drink at least 4 servings of milk, other dairy products or calcium rich foods. If you don’t eat enough, your baby will start drawing on your own stock from your bones. So, drink up your milk!

Although sex is considered safe during pregnancy not every woman wants to indulge Some women do experience increased libido, some decreased libido and some are just completely exhausted by their itinerary (wife, worker, sister, daughter, intending mother, worries about the pregnancy or intending birth, care of already existing children, if she has them etc) that sex is the farthest thing on their minds, most times. So, where’s the solution or compromise? Communication lines between couples have to be open. The husband needs to understand what’s going on in the mind and body of his wife. Providing emotional and tangible support by helping her out with some chores/activities, providing a daily evening massage….which becomes something wifey can look forward to, can help create the right mood. Remember that for women, sexual Intercourse starts from the emotional before it gets to the physical 😀 Couples can also explore other means of sexual intimacy apart from sexual intercourse.

For more on this, please click on this link https://chatwithdrketch.com/2018/04/17/hlwdk-daily-health-tips-pregnancy-worries/
Have a good night y’all 😀

Q: What can I eat to have a lovely skin?

A: Hi dear, thanks for writing in.

I will give you general tips for keeping your skin, nice and healthy.

Moisturise, mositurise and moisturise! Long hot showers/baths may sound very tempting but they dry out your skin. Opt for short showers. Immediately after you have a bath/shower (with cold or warm water as opposed to hot water), pat your skin dry…leaving some moisture still on it, and then apply moisturizer at this time. This locks in the moisture. Look for moisturisers that contain ingredients like isopropyl palmitate, propylene glycol linoleate, squalene, and glycerol stearate, jojoba oil, lanolin, glycerin, hyaluronic acid, sorbitol, propylene glycerol, urea, and lactic acid (Long list, aye :D). These ingredients provide the mix of keeping the skin soft, smooth and pliable and then also draw moisture from the atmosphere to the skin’s surface increasing hydration.

If you are prone to having cracks on your feet or hands, thicker moisturisers may be needed. Good old petroleum jelly is great and stops you from looking like the ‘paper white man/woman’:D. Have a good stock at home and also have small packs for your handbags, gym bags etc. Other thick moisturisers include cocoa butter, shea butter and beeswax.

Constant hand washing, especially with hot water could lead to very dry hands so make sure that you have your moisturiser handy so you can slather it on immediately after hand washing. You didn’t think we were going to advocate not washing your hands anymore, did you? 😀

Hydrating from the inside may not be a bad idea too. So drink at least 8 glasses of water and load up on foods like berries, nuts and fish (which are rich in Omega 3 fatty acids) and spinach. Stay off alcohol and caffeine as they lead to more water loss.

I hope this helps

All the best!

Q: Hi doc I have been on the injection for 2 years now. I came off it – main reason being that it made me bleed non-stop for eg when I am bleeding and I take the next injection, it stops and then the next month when it starts, it doesn’t stop until I get the next shot. The thing is I still have on and off periods even though I am not on it anymore. Is this normal? Because even when I came off it in May, I bled straight back until June – not heavy periods but panty liner amount and it’s on and off. It’s not so bad now but is this normal?

A: Family planning injections work by thickening mucous in the cervix, preventing sperm from getting into the womb (uterus) or by preventing the ovaries from releasing eggs every month (ovulation) and so the person taking the injections can’t get pregnant.

Taking these injections affect women differently. In the first few months, there be excessive bleeding during periods, followed by a period of lighter periods. This may yet be followed by a period of irregular or no periods especially in women who have taken these injections for up to a year. Irregular periods should be discussed with your doctor to ascertain the cause. It may be due to the drug or due to an infection which needs to be treated. Prolonged periods can also be treated.

When these injections are stopped, it takes a while for ovulation to be restored because these injections are long lasting. It can be as long as 2 to 3 months. In some other cases, this can last for about a year or even up to 2 years. This has nothing to do with the duration for which the injection was take and whether it is the 2 months’ or 3 months’ injection. In the same vein, because the effects of these injections range from 2 months to 3 months, depending on the one taken, then if there were side effects, one would have to bear them for that same period of time. This may very well be the case with you. If however, you are in doubt, please see your gynaecologist.

All the best!

https://www.instagram.com/p/BlNGEt8A17z/?taken-by=ddrketch

Should you be worried when you hear your those oftentimes painless pops made by your knees, elbows and/or ankles? You should read this!

https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/are-cracking-joints-a-sign-of-arthritis?utm_source=delivra&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=WR20180713-Osteoarthritis&utm_id=974253&dlv-ga-memberid=11052531&mid=11052531&ml=974253

Q: My breast has been scratching me, what could be the cause?

A: There are many different causes of breast/nipple itch and they include:

• Eczema that is usually found to run in families with a history of allergies. Preventive/control measures include using mild soap to take a bath, followed by a mild moisturizer. Also do not use water that is too hot for a bath as this dries out your skin and makes the itching from eczema worse. Use warm water if you must and then dab your skin leaving some moisture. Lock in this moisture with a moisturizer. Stress is also a trigger for this and so reducing your stress levels and exercising may be helping in more ways than one. Anti-histamines (helpful with itching) and over the counter steroid creams are also useful. For severe cases, please see your doctor for a prescription of more potent steroids, immuno suppressant drugs, ultra violet light therapy etc.
• Friction: In this case, not wearing a bra or wearing a poorly fitted bra during exercise routines may lead to rubbing of the skin of the breast/nipples against the fabric and consequent itching and/or pain.
• Sensitivity to the weather (hot or cold), certain fabrics, detergents or even creams/lotions may lead to breast/nipple itch and pain. If specific detergents or creams cause this, you may have to change them.
• Pregnancy and breastfeeding can also lead to this condition. In pregnancy, the pregnancy hormones lead to the nipples being extra sensitive and during breastfeeding, the baby may not latch on well to the nipple, there could be blocked ducts or mastitis or breast abscess etc leading to pain. During pregnancy, be sure to choose bras made with fabric that can ‘breath’ like cotton. And during breastfeeding, be sure to get help with making sure you know how to put baby to the breast to prevent sore nipples etc.
• Cancer (Paget’s disease of the breast) can also be a cause of nipple itch with eczema-like symptoms on the nipple and/or surrounding areola.
• Underneath the breasts is also a usual place for rashes to form especially in overweight or busty people. This would usually occur when tight clothing or fabrics that do not allow your skin to ‘breathe’ trap moisture (sweat) between the skin folds. Thus, constantly wearing polyester fabrics etc may lead to accumulation of this moisture which is a rich culture medium for fungal and other organisms to thrive.

So, where in doubt…especially if you have tried to rule out the causes above, please see your doctor.

All the best!

Q: What will happen if I take amoxicillin without the prescription of my doctor? I take it because my ear is aching and I do not know why and now I feel dizzy. I thought it would ease the pain that I am feeling right now. Please reply

A: Hi! I am quite convinced that this is a serious matter with that crying face J

First, please go and see your doctor. Why would you take amoxicillin without knowing whether the pain is due to an infection or not? There are so many different causes of ear pain and I’ll give you a small list below:

Ear pain with fever can be due to ear infections or a cold. For more on ear infections and colds, please click on the links: https://chatwithdrketch.com/2016/10/18/daily-health-tips-ear-infections/ and https://chatwithdrketch.com/2015/08/08/having-a-cold-heres-your-survival-tool-kit/

Ear pain with pain when swallowing can be due to sore throat and tonsillitis. For more on sore throat, please click on https://chatwithdrketch.com/2014/12/17/daily-health-tips-sore-throat/

Ear pain with change in hearing can be due to earwax build up or foreign body in the ear. For more on this, click on this link https://chatwithdrketch.com/2017/05/30/hlwdk-daily-health-tips-swimmers-ear/

Ear pain with toothache can be due to teething in children. For more, click on https://chatwithdrketch.com/2017/03/24/daily-health-tips-teething-and-constipation/

Please do not take antibiotics without a prescription. What you are treating may not need an antibiotic, you may not take sufficient quantities to deal with the infection if there is one, leading to resistance (meaning when you have a real infection, the drug may not work) or you may take too much or for too long leading to a super infection (a situation where even the good germs in your body are killed opening one up to infections that would not have happened, all things being equal). You don’t want any of this to happen.

So, your next logical step is to go visit an ENT (Ear Nose and Throat) specialist to evaluate you and find out the real cause of your ear pain. Then s/he will start you on a definitive treatment. Until then, no  ore antibiotics, please!

All the best! 🙂

Q: Good evening Doc, please I want to ask what other way can you use to  cure nasal polyp and what is the correlation with  allergies?

A: A nasal polyp is a painless small growth in the nostrils with a stalk protruding from a surface. Though harmless, they can keep growing and block the nose if left untreated. Patients typically use the terms ‘stuffy nose’, ‘blocked nose’ or nasal congestion to describe this condition because of the obstruction (blockage) to the flow of air, in and out of the nose. It is not clear what causes this but it is thought that having asthma, allergy to air-borne fungi and a drug reaction to aspirin could predispose one to it.

Stuffy nose is the same description that patients with allergy use to describe their situation. In this condition, an individual’s immune system reacts in an exaggerated manner to certain foods or to pollen leading to nasal congestion due to swelling of nasal tissues (tissues in the nose) and blood vessels with excess fluid. This ailment tends to run in families and so history of people with same condition or asthma etc in that family is not uncommon.

To differentiate both, your doctor will look inside your nose. He/she should be able to see polyps in the nostrils where they exist. Treatment of nasal polyps include the use of steroid nasal sprays or drops to shrink the polyps. This can be upgraded to steroid tablets if the polyps are too big or fail to respond to nasal sprays and drops.

Surgery is an option after ten weeks and there is no relief. The only caveat here is that nasal polyps tend to recur. Please see your doctor immediately if you experience difficulty breathing, sudden worsening of symptoms or swelling around the eyes etc

In the meantime, to prevent nasal polyps or reduce recurrence, do the following:
Try drinking a lot of water
Use saline sprays instead of the nasal decongestants, if you’ve been indulging in this 😀
Use a humidifier which loosens the mucous. Turning on the hot water shower and inhaling the steam is another great idea.
Avoid irritants of the nose like smoke

Manage allergies and asthma. For more on asthma, please click on https://chatwithdrketch.com/2016/02/24/daily-health-tips-can-asthma-be-cured/

Practice good hygiene by washing your hands often. This will protect against infections that can lead to swelling of nasal tissues and blood vessels with excess fluid inflammation in the nasal passages and sinuses.

All these measures will help reduce the nasal congestion.

Other causes of stuffy nose that your doctor may consider include:
Common cold. We are all familiar with this common cause of nasal congestion  This causes blockage of the sinus, which results in nasal congestion.

A nasal septum (the wall between the nostrils) that is crooked or bent to one side may cause nasal congestion. This ‘deformity’ may be from birth, due to injury or occur as a process of growth
Excessive use of nasal decongestants can also lead to this as after the decongestant is stopped, there is rebound nasal congestion. And so, one ends up with the same situation they were trying to solve from the beginning!  So, if you must, do not use your nasal decongestants for more than three days
Sinusitis is an inflammation of the sinuses (air cavities) that line the nose. When these air cavities (which are supposed to be filled by air) become filled with fluid as a result of blockage, bacteria, fungi and viruses can thrive in this environment and cause infection. Pus-like nasal discharge, facial pain and persistence of symptoms for more than a week, maybe suggestive of this.

• Cold weather
• Foreign body in the nose
• Presence of tumour
• Medications for high blood pressure
• Spicy foods (remember how you start sniffling once you start on a hot dish?)
• Stress etc

There’s a pretty long list of causes, but your doctor will attempt to narrow down to what the probable cause for you is.
All the best!