chatwithketch

It’s International Women’s Day! And today, the theme is Press For Progress!

Today I celebrate my sisters! Today, I celebrate all women!

I celebrate this woman…yes you!

The one who cries herself to sleep at night…so her children won’t see her tears;

The one who starves herself just so there’s enough for others to eat…and when you ask her why she didn’t eat, she says she wasn’t hungry anyway;

The one whose salary is spent, even before the money hits her bank account, not because she’s buying things for herself, but because she’s paying off debts or saving for that child to have a little extra;

The one who holds it all together, even when it looks like it’s all falling apart…

Yes, you! I celebrate you!

The one who has great ambitions and the world judges her for it because she’s a woman and not a man;

The one who has to deal with snide remarks when she’s seen as ambitious, even when the world admires the same traits in a man;

The one who is consistently under pressure to prove that she is as good as the ‘guys’ and yet oftentimes, she’s paid less than the ‘boys’;

Yes, you!

Your time has come!

No more shall you hide in the shadows

Arise and shine for your light has come

Your success will not be handed to you…no that would be too easy 😀

You will fight for it;

And you will win;

Because after this hard-won battle, we will not allow anyone to say, it was because of anything other than sheer smarts and grits

Then, you will pave the way for another sister!

And we shall all in unison say, ‘Never again shall we be looked down upon!’

It is our time…we arise and shine!

Q: Hi doctor, I am pregnant and also in my last trimester and I keep having toilet infection after it’s been treated. Please I want to know if it is normal to be having toilet infection continuously during pregnancy and if it will affect my baby. Thanks

A: Hey! Congratulations on your pregnancy!

Now my first question would be what’s toilet infection? Different people mean different things when they say that but they mostly refer to candidiasis. If that’s what you mean, then here’s a quick refresher class on why the infections occurs and returns after treating.

In pregnancy, the decrease in tolerance to glucose which may occur, means that the vagina has a rich supply of sugar which encourages the fungi to grow and multiply as they love the dark, warm, moist and rich environment 😀

Usually, there is yeast (fungi) in the vagina and they generally mind their own business until something comes along to disturb the peace of the environment. This disturbance can be in the form of abuse of antibiotics (which kills off the good bacteria that hold the fungi at bay causing them to take over and overgrow the environment) or even in pregnancy (where the estrogen hormone produced in pregnancy messes with the normal order of co-existence of fungi and bacteria, again, allowing the fungi to take over). Other conditions associated candidiasis include Diabetes Mellitus, disorders of the immune system, use of oral contraceptives, the hormonal changes associated with menstrual cycle etc.
How can this be prevented? Trust me, I’m not going to suggest not getting pregnant  There are things you can do to reduce your risk of this infection. They include:
• Wear cotton panties instead of tight fitting nylon panties.
• Always wipe from the front to the back, after using the bathroom
• Do not use perfumed personal care products like sanitary towels, tissue etc
• Do not spray perfumes in your genitals and avoid perfumed soaps
• Change out of wet swimming gear as soon as possible
Now, this infection can be treated using oral drugs (tablets to be taken by mouth) but these are not recommended during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Vaginal pessaries and creams are better bets in pregnancy. However, because of the very small possibility of hurting your cervix (the neck of the womb), it is advisable not to use the applicator to administer the pessary. Instead, use your finger to insert the pessary. It may be necessary to continue the drug application for about 6 days as opposed to the shorter 3-day course. Your doctor will confirm diagnosis and advice on medication duration.
For more on candidiasis, please click on the following links:
https://chatwithdrketch.com/2014/06/26/daily-health-tips-why-do-i-have-recurrent-candidiasis/
https://chatwithdrketch.com/2014/03/07/daily-health-tips-toilet-infection-seriously/
https://chatwithdrketch.com/2014/04/27/daily-health-tips-is-vaginal-discharge-normal/
Have a great weekend, y’all 😀

Q: Hi Doc, thanks for the good work you are doing. God bless you. My question is does mosquito coil cause barrenness when inhaled?

A: Hallos! Thanks for writing this.

Approximately 2 billion people worldwide use mosquito coils[1]. The quoted study stated that burning one coil produces the same amount of particulate matter as the equivalent of 100 cigarettes! To use the coil properly, it is usually lit and allowed to smolder.  To get the best effects, the smoldering coil is left in a room with windows and doors closed. Imagine staying inside a room with 100 cigarettes smoldering and all sources of ventilation closed!

Studies have linked exposure to mosquito coil smoke to coughs, headaches, dizziness and sore throats. More long-term side effects include asthma, allergies and lung cancer. So, mosquito coils may not necessarily be your best bet for dealing with mosquitos. For more information on this, please clink on this link: https://chatwithdrketch.com/2013/05/04/kill-a-mosquito-with-a-sledge-hammer-heck-yes/

Have mosquito coils been linked to barrenness? I have not come across any such study but I think it has sufficient side effects for you to look for other alternatives, don’t you think? J

Have a good night, y’all 😀

[1] Apte, K. and Salvi, S. (2016). Household air pollution and its effects on health. Version 1. F1000Res. 2016; 5: F1000 Faculty Rev-2593.

Q: Can I be cured naturally if I have cervical lesion?

A: Hello! Thanks for writing in.

I assume you mean precancerous cervical lesions. As the name implies, this is not a cancer but indicates an abnormality in the cells of the cervix that could, ultimately, become a full-blown cancer.

Common types of precancerous cervical lesions are:

Atypical squamous cells: This refers to abnormalities in cells of the cervix, referred to as squamous cells. Squamous cells are thin, flat cells that resemble fish scales. They are found in the tissue that forms the surface of the skin, lining of hollow organs in the body, and lining of respiratory and digestive tracts. Atypical squamous cells could be due to Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), which is a common sexually transmitted infection that is spread through sexual, skin-to-skin contact. There is a vaccine to prevent this cancer now. Please ask your doctor where you can get it. Health conditions associated with HPV include genital warts, cervical pre-cancer and other cancers. A repeat pap smear is usually recommended after some months

Atypical glandular cells, which could be suggestive of a precancerous lesions in the uterus or upper cervix. Glandular cells are located in the inner part of the cervix or the lining of the uterus

Squamous intraepithelial lesion refer to changes in the cervix that could be precancerous. High grade squamous intraepithelial lesions are more likely to progress to cancer of the cervix.

Pap smears can detect cervical pre-cancers before they become actual cancers. If pap smear is suggestive of precancerous cervical lesions, further testing procedures will be indicated. Further tests that could be requested include repeat pap smear, cervical biopsy, HPV testing, colposcopy (using a magnifying device to get a better look at the cervix).

Now to the crux of your question, can you be cured naturally? I guess the question you really want to ask, if there are treatment procedures that exclude surgery. Yes. Available treatment procedures involve destroying the abnormal lesions in the cervix using a cold probe to freeze them (cryotherapy) or using an electrically charged wire or using laser.  The surgical option, conization, involves surgically removing the area with the abnormal cells.

You need to have a long chat with your doctor to find out what options are available to you. Remember that the fact that you have precancerous cervical lesion does not mean that you will end up The earlier you get treatment, the better your chances of avoiding cervical cancer.

All the best!

Have a good night y’all 😀

In response to my post yesterday on calculating your ovulation and fertile periods, I received this question. I decided to respond to that today as it ties up this discussion. So, here goes….

Q: Thanks doctor with this can someone use this (knowledge of ovulation and fertile period) to determine the sex of the child?

A: Honestly, when it comes to matters of whether you have a male or female, it’s all up to God 😀

Starting from where we stopped yesterday, when ovulation occurs, a mature egg is released and if there is a sperm cell available and a conducive environment, fertilization occurs. The sperm cell that fertilizes the egg is key to determining the sex of the baby. The sperm cell has one X and one Y chromosome (XY) while the egg has two X chromosomes (XX). The woman always contributes an X chromosome….that’s all she has! She has no Y chromosome and so no matter how much she desires to have a male child, she cannot provide the Y chromosome. The man on the other hand, has both X and Y chromosomes and so he, essentially determines the sex of the child. If he provides an X chromosome, it combines with the female’s own X and forms a girl. If he provides Y, that combines with the female’s X and forms a boy

It is believed in some quarters that the male sperm cells swim faster and so having sexual intercourse on the day of ovulation guarantees having a baby boy…but trust me! The world is littered with women who tried this and it didn’t work! It’s just not up to you! That’s the point 😀

For more on my post yesterday on the calculation of ovulation day, please click on https://chatwithdrketch.com/2018/03/02/hlwdk-daily-health-tips-best-bet-to-ovulate/

People who go for In Vitro Fertilization may have the option of selecting their baby’s sex, but even this is not offered indiscriminately.

I know that traditionally, we like to think that our family lines can only be propagated through the male species, but there are great men worldwide who have only girls as children. I don’t think the world will forget them in a hurry! Your daughters will bring you absolute joy and happiness and perhaps cater for you in ways that you would not have even expected. Both genders are important and we need to accept both as gifts from God.

Have a great weekend, y’all 😀

Q: Ma’am, my last period began on 6th February and it lasted for 6 days. I have a 28days cycle. Could you please track my ovulation and best bet to conceive? I’m really confused here.

A: Hallos! Thanks for writing in

You are one of the lucky ones with a perfect 28 day cycle 😀 Ovulation would usually occur at the midpoint of your cycle – day 14. But maybe we should backtrack a little bit and define what ovulation means. Ovulation refers to the release of mature eggs (medically referred to as oocytes) from the ovaries. This is supposed to happen every month at the middle of the cycle as described above. If you don’t have a regular cycle, you may have to keep a menstrual diary to give you an idea, over time, what your average cycle is.

Why is ovulation significant? Well, because for pregnancy to occur, the sperm has to have eggs to fertilize. Tracking your ovulation gives you a good chance of being able to ‘mate your egg with a sperm cell’ 😀 So having sexual intercourse in the 5 days before (because the sperm cells can stay alive for up to 5 days after release) and on the day of ovulation enhance your chances of conceiving.

Other signs to look out for that confirm ovulation (especially for those with irregular cycle who are not really sure) are:

Increase in vaginal secretions – You will notice clearer and more slippery mucous/vaginal secretions at the time of ovulation

Change in basal body temperature – Your basal body temperature (BBT) is your lowest body temperature in a 24-hour period. There are special thermometers to check basal body temperature. If you don’t have this, you can start off with a regular digital one and then get a proper BBT thermometer later. Use this thermometer every morning at the same time, after about 3 to 4 hours of sleep, before getting out of bed. Keep it within reach, so that you don’t have to get out of bed to measure it. Remember that any activity is likely to increase your BBT. Your body temperature rises slightly just after ovulation takes place. So, if you measure this over a couple of months, you will probably see a pattern emerge and be able to predict your next ovulation. You are most fertile about 2 to 3 days before the temperature spike.

If you cannot be bothered with any of these, you could try the ovulation predictor kit, which measures the level of hormones in your urine, given the surge in hormone level before ovulation.

I hope this helps.

Have a great weekend everyone 😀

Q: Hi Dr. Ketch, why do I have burning sensation in my heart? Sometimes I do feel pain in my left lower abdomen. I even wake up sometimes to heavy pains in my stomach.

A: Heartburn really has nothing to do with the heart…I bet all of you knew that, aye? It is usually felt as a burning sensation in the chest, which feels worse on bending down or lying down. Okay, why and how does this happen? You know that the stomach produces acid to help with food digestion, right? Have you ever wondered how come this acid isn’t all up in your mouth all the time? Well, that’s because there’s a ‘lock’ or control at the junction of the esophagus and the stomach, which prevents the acid in the stomach from coming back up into the esophagus. This ‘lock’ is called the Lower Esophageal Sphincter. This lock can get strained if the esophagus opens too often or if there is too much food in the stomach…so, if you regularly over-eat, you might want to re-think that 😀 A major no-no is a very heavy meal just before you lie down. It’s almost certain you may have a heartburn 😀

There are also conditions like pregnancy and obesity that make this sphincter stay open for prolonged periods as a result of pressure on the abdomen and there are also foods that encourage this. Examples of these ‘foods’ are fatty foods, alcohol, orange juice, chocolate and coffee, onions, tomatoes, peppermint and spicy foods.

Therefore, for the person in the question, I suggest you keep a food diary over a period of time and try to figure out the trigger foods. If this is not the issue, perhaps it is a weight issue or even over-eating.

Treatment is targeted at the acid and healing the esophagus. Remember that occasional heartburn is not regarded a problem but if it happens frequently, like two or more times every week, then it becomes a problem and is now referred to as Gastro-Esophageal Reflux Disease (GERD). So, drugs used can stop acid production, reduce acid production and cause healing of the esophagus or neutralize the effect of the acid.

Prevention involves trying to avoid your trigger foods (quite a number are actually healthy 😀 maintaining a healthy weight, avoiding heavy meals just before bedtime, try eating smaller meals and avoid tight clothes that may also put pressure on your abdomen.

So, the first and best thing to do now is to go see your doctor to get a diagnosis made. If you drink a lot of coffee, you may have to reduce or stop as this can actually be responsible for both diarrhea and heart burn.

Have a fabulous evening and remember…no heavy meals before bedtime 😀

Q: Hey Dr. can implantation bleeding contain blood clots?

A: Bleeding during pregnancy can be worrying whether it’s a little or a lot. But, it may not necessarily be the sign of a problem.

Implantation bleeding is typically a small amount of light bleeding that occurs about 10 to 14 days after conception. This is thought to be due to implantation as the fertilized egg implants itself in the uterus (womb). This usually occurs in early pregnancy, close to or about the same time as the menstruation would be seen and is thus often mistaken for a period. But, it is usually lighter than menstrual…typically without clots. It would stop on its own and does not require further treatment. If the bleeding is heavier, associated with cramps or any other complication, please see your doctor. As a rule of thumb really, any bleeding in pregnancy should be investigated as they may be due to more serious conditions like ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage and infections.

I hope this helps.

Have a good evening everyone 😀