Daily Health Tips: Can I Be Pregnant Without Having Symptoms?

Posted on March 16, 2016 by chatwithdrketch
Q: Please Doctor, can someone be pregnant without having early signs like morning sickness?
 
A: Well, there’s a TV show focused on women who put to bed and had no idea they were pregnant at all! 😀 They only realized they were pregnant just before putting to bed…labour pains will definitely provide a not-so-subtle hint 😀
 
Pregnancy symptoms are always present but may be masked or mild in some people and assumed to be something else in other people. For instance, if pregnancy occurs at the same time one is going through a stressful time, there may be an assumption that this is due to stress or even the flu. I put down my own symptoms of pregnancy (during my first) to malaria! This situation is even worse in women who have irregular periods and thus may not notice the absence of a period. In some cases, women bleed and also assume that this is normal menstruation throughout their pregnancy.
 
The only sure-fire way to prevent being notified that you are pregnant at the point of delivery (oftentimes in the toilet :D) is to know the symptoms of pregnancy. It is also important to know what’s not normal so that quick and effective steps can be taken to protect mother and baby.
 
Generally, symptoms of pregnancy include:
 
Breast tenderness
Discharge: A thin milky discharge is normal during pregnancy
Heart burn and Constipation
Frequency of urination
Tiredness
Food cravings and aversions
Morning sickness/nausea
 
So, if you do suspect that you are pregnant, get yourself tested with a home test kit or see your doctor so he/she can order a pregnancy test for you.
 
Have a good night, y’all 😀
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Daily Health Tips: Cut Fallopian Tubes.

Posted on March 15, 2016 by chatwithdrketch

Q: Good evening, Doc. The mouth of my fallopian tubes were removed. Do I have chance to get pregnant? It was thought tired it was cut off.

A: Hi dear, thanks for writing in.

Your question is quite confusing.

Does this mean that you had tubal ligation (a procedure in which the fallopian tubes are tied off preventing sperm from reaching the fallopian tube and meeting with an egg) and now you want to reverse that? If that is the case, this would involve removing the blocked part of the tubes and joining up the two ends. There is however, no guarantee that one would be able to get pregnant again as this method of contraception is quite effective.

Your question can also mean that you had tubal surgery and now wonder if you can get pregnant. Tubal surgery is usually done for people who have:

The decision to undertake repair with tubal surgery depends on the degree of damage. The doctor could decide to open up the blocked tubes with surgery or breakdown scar tissue that may have formed due to infections from PID. Again, pregnancy after this is not guaranteed and depends on the skill of the surgeon (ask for a surgeon who is specialized at this), the age of the woman, degree of tubal damage at the very beginning, the level of damage to the inner lining of the tubes which cannot be corrected etc

So, I suggest you book an appointment to see your doctor and have a long discussion on options open to you.

All the best!

Have a goodnight y’all 😀

 

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Daily Health Tips: My Baby Poos A Lot

Posted on March 14, 2016 by chatwithdrketch
Q: Thanks so much Dr. I have an 8 month old child. I give him pap with peak123 milk and Friso gold rice base cereal. He poos a lot sometimes. Is it OK to give the two daily? Also is peak123 milk OK for an 8 month old? Thanks
 
A: Thanks for writing in and congratulations on your new baby! 😀
From birth to 6 months, you should give your baby only breast milk. From 6 months, you should still continue breastfeeding but other foods should be added. Most people start off with rice cereal. So, that’s okay. You can continue to give that but your baby should be having a whole lot more!
 
For tips on other foods for weaning, please click on these links:
 
 
Now as for the milk, there is a reason why it has 123 on it. It’s meant for children from the ages of 1 to 3 years old. Please continue to breast feed your baby. You can also use formula (milk). But no regular (cow) milk, please.
 
As for defecation (poo), the question is how many times does your baby poo now? What was the frequency before? If the number of times has significantly changed, then you may want to have a chat about this with your baby’s doctor.
 
In the meantime, be sure that you wash the baby’s utensils thoroughly and sterilize them. Wash your hands properly too before feeding baby. Be sure that anyone who helps take care of the baby observes the same rules of hygiene. Clean and sterilize his toys often too.
 
Hope y’all had a great day?
 
Have a fabulous night!
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Daily Health Tips:

Posted on March 13, 2016 by chatwithdrketch

Q: Please Doc, I have been having cattarrh since last year and have used different medicines but it did not stop.

A: I’ve been asked this question several times and in different ways. But ‘why is my nose blocked all through the year?’ is the common thread that runs through all the questions. ‘Stuffy nose’, ‘blocked nose’ or nasal congestion are different names used to describe this condition. In the simplest of terms, this condition refers to a situation when there is an obstruction (blockage) to the flow of air, in and out of the nose. This may be due to swelling of nasal tissues (tissues in the nose) and blood vessels with excess fluid.
Some causes 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.
Allergies in which an individual’s immune system reacts in an exaggerated manner to certain foods or to pollen is a cause of nasal congestion. This ailment tends to run in families and so history of people with same condition or asthma etc in that family is not uncommon.
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.
Other conditions include:
• Cold weather

  • Foreign body in the nose
  • Presence of tumour or polyp (a small growth with a stalk protruding from a surface)
  • 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.
In the meantime,
Ø try drinking a lot of water
Ø Use saline sprays instead of the nasal decongestants, if you’ve been indulging in this 😉
Ø Use a humidifier which loosens the mucous. Turning on the hot water shower and inhaling the steam is another great idea.
Ø Avoid irritants of the nose like smoke
All these measures will help reduce the nasal congestion.
Have a great night y’all 😀

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Successful aging: 10 tips for better sleep

Posted on March 12, 2016 by chatwithdrketch

http://www.health.harvard.edu/healthbeat/successful-aging-10-tips-for-better-sleep

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Daily Health Tips: Genital Itching In Pregnancy

Posted on March 11, 2016 by chatwithdrketch

Q: Good afternoon Dr. Please, I am 32wks pregnant but recently my vagina started itching me and there is this milky thing which has odour that normally comes out. I am not comfortable with it. Please ma’am, what is the cause and solution to this? Thanks

A: 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 😀

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Daily Health Tips: What Food/Fruit Helps Me Burn Fat?

Posted on March 10, 2016 by chatwithdrketch
Q: Good evening Dr. What kind of food or fruit should I take to burn the fat especially my tommy?
 
A: This question has come in so many different variations, from both men and women. I’ll start from the question about any drug/miracle pill/magic medication that causes people to lose weight. And guess what, guys?! It’s bad news all the way 😀 There’s no such thing as a miracle pill for weight loss. It’s sheer hard, back breaking work! Any of that stuff you read about that help you lose it all in days or weeks, just makes you lose water weight and you actually pile it on even faster, afterwards. Some people skip meals or fast to lose weight. Again, if afterwards, you go on a binge eating everything that you would have eaten from morning to night in one meal, then it still doesn’t make any sense 😀 Beyond that, it is not sustainable. Much as we ‘demonize’ carbohydrates or starchy foods, we actually need them to fuel our activities. Same goes for fats and oils…some of which are actually heart-healthy. The focus is on eating a balanced diet, ensuring portion control and getting exercise daily. Honestly, guys, there’s no other way around it! 😀
 
So, the first thing to do is portion control. Reduce the size of plate you usually eat with and then place your portions this way: Half the plate should be filled with fruits and vegetables, a quarter of the plate should be filled with proteins and then the final quarter should be filled with carbs. The carbs should be complex carbohydrates like brown/local rice, beans, oats, whole wheat bread etc. These carbs make you feel full for much longer and thus prevent you from rushing for the next pack of cookies, cake or soft drinks 😀 The cookies give you an immediate rush of sugar making the body produce insulin that takes in all of that sugar into the cells. This leads to a situation where the blood is now depleted of sugar causing one to feel hungry all over again reaching for the next quick snack again. This is a vicious cycle that leads to more eating and pre-disposes to Diabetes Mellitus.
 
In terms of exercise, 150 minutes of activity is advocated weekly. Be sure to split the exercise into manageable bit; perhaps 30 minutes every work day or one hour on alternate days. What you should not do is trying to take in all the exercise over the weekend…that is being a weekend warrior 😀 This can put a strain on your heart that may be disastrous.
 
I’ve written a whole lot on this subject for people who just had a baby or just regular people who want to do it right. Please take a moment to click on these links and read up on them.
 
 
 
 
 
Stress causes us to also pile on weight around the tummy. So reduce your stress levels 😀 (and just in case you wondered…yes this is possible), reduce your portions and exercise. So, who’s up for this? Count me in.
 
And remember this dictum:
For breakfast, eat like a king (eg some oats or fruits or whole wheat bread with an egg. You may even choose to use just the egg whites for an omelet)
 
For lunch, eat like a prince (eg a handful of ground oat meal, some ‘not-oily’ vegetable soup and fish with a serving of fruits afterwards)
 
For dinner, eat like a pauper (eg Ofada rice with stew and vegetables + chicken)
 
You can also take some snacks in between the three meals. Focus on healthy options like nuts (groundnuts, walnuts, almonds and others you can easily lay your hands on), fruits etc.
 
Have a great evening, people…
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Daily Health Tips: Does Steaming Help Tighten Me Up After Having A Baby?

Posted on March 9, 2016 by chatwithdrketch
Q: Good evening Dr, please I want to know if steaming the Vagina with hot water helps tighten it. I gave birth 5months ago. And I also want to know the necessary steps to take for my tommy to go inside
 
A: Congratulations on your baby! May he/she be a blessing to his/her generation! 😀 Loads of hugs!
 
Now to the knotty issue of vaginal steaming…unfortunately there’s no scientific proof that this steaming helps tighten the vagina, remove toxins or do any of those things it is touted to do! If you wish to tighten your vaginal muscles, kegel exercises are your go-to help! I have described this exercise several times but keep having people ask how it’s done. I describe it below again:
 
This is done by trying to hold your vagina together, tightening it like trying to hold urine. Hold these contractions for 10 seconds, then release for another 10 seconds. This should be done several times a day .You can do these exercises anywhere; while waiting on a queue, working at your desk or while watching TV. It may take 6-12 weeks of exercise to see results. These exercises can strengthen the pelvic wall muscles and help keep the vaginal walls from expanding. These exercises provide other benefits like facilitating childbirth, enhancing orgasm, and decreasing the chances of having a leaky bladder especially after having a baby.
 
Now as to tummy reduction after delivery, there’s no quick fix to these issues. You will have to go the good nutrition and exercise route (as soon as your doctor gives you the okay). So, the solution is a careful exercise and diet plan. For any kind of delivery, don’t start on any exercise regimen without checking with your doctor first. You can start off with pelvic floor exercises as soon as you feel up to it especially if you’re leaking urine when you cough or laugh. Once you no longer leak, you’re probably ready for your exercises. As soon as the doctor gives you the all clear, you can take gentle walks, do simple stretches etc. Start small and scale up 🙂
 
As for diet, fruits, veggies, complex carbs and proteins are the way to go. The first rule of diet is portion control, reduce your plate (or bowl) size 😀 Then fill half the plate with veggies, a quarter with complex carbs like whole grains, oatmeal, local rice etc and the last quarter with protein eg fish and poultry.
 
For more on this subject, please click on the links below:
 
 
Have a good night, y’all 😀
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Daily Health Tips: It’s International Women’s Day!

Posted on March 8, 2016 by chatwithdrketch
It is International Women’s Day! Women are in the news and for this years celebration, the focus is on pledging for parity. If you’re a man, what efforts are you making to help women in your life achieve their ambitions? Do you build them up or put them down…at home and/or in the workplace? If you’re a woman, what effort are you making to help other women fulfill their dreams and potentials?
 
Food for thought for all of us! In celebration of the day, we tackle a ‘mainly’ ‘woman’ issue 
 
Q: Good evening ma’am. Please, I want to know what type of medicine I should take because I have breast milk coming out of my breast, although it is colourless. I am not breastfeeding any baby
 
A: There are different issues that can cause nipple discharge. The discharge can be bloody, milky, clear etc. The colour may not tell us much as to whether the discharge is normal or abnormal.
 
Causes of breast discharge include:
• Pregnancy
• Breastfeeding: The release of milk may also persist for a while even when breastfeeding has been stopped.
• Stimulation of the nipples during sexual foreplay or even pressing the nipple by people who are worried about the nipple discharge or friction between fabric and nipple can lead to nipple discharge.
• Breast abscess or infection
• Hormone imbalance
• Injury to the breast
• Some medications
• Cancer of the breast
 
Some women who are not pregnant may have milky fluid come out of their breasts when they are not breastfeeding or even in women who have never been pregnant. This is called galactorrhea (pronounced gulactoria). This is not a disease on its own but a symptom of a problem. The hormone, prolactin which is responsible for lactation in nursing mothers, is usually produced in these cases.
 
This milky fluid can be expressed by pressing or it can spontaneously come out on its own. It can affect one or both breasts and usually there are no blood stains involved.
Sometimes, the cause of this discharge may not be known but some causes could be some medications, some drugs like cocaine, spinal cord injuries, some birth control pills, stress and even excessive stimulation during sexual intercourse.
Galactorrhea can also happen in men and new born babies! In new born babies this can happen if the mother has a high level of estrogen which crosses over into the baby and stimulates the formation of breast tissue and sometimes, some milky white discharge. Please note: this is NOT witchcraft! 😀
If you notice this, please visit your doctor who may try to express this discharge to study. The discharge may also be clear (as in your case), bloody or even tinged yellow. These need further evaluation and the presence of lumps should also be checked for. The level of prolactin will also be assessed. This may, however, be normal in people who are overly sensitive to prolactin. In this class of people, prolactin level is normal but there is still milky discharge from the nipples.
To determine cause, the doctor may do a scan, take tissue sample to examine (biopsy) etc
Bloody discharge, discharge from one breast only and discharge that happens spontaneously without the breast being touched or pressed is likely to be abnormal. These should be checked out as soon as possible in the hospital.
If the discharge is present during a menstrual period and persists into the next cycle, please see your doctor too.
 
Treatment is focused on the underlying cause if one can be found. If the problem is medication, please stop or switch to something else under the supervision of your physician (doctor). If there is a tumour producing prolactin, drugs can be taken to shrink it or surgery can be done. If no cause is found, drugs that reduce prolactin level are prescribed. Remember, that you could be pregnant and so a pregnancy test may not be out of place. If due to pregnancy or breastfeeding, it will eventually stop. If due to stimulation, the discharge will continue as long as the stimulation is present. If due to injury, it will also stop with healing. If the discharge is due to medication, stopping the medication is sufficient to bring this to a stop.
 
In the meantime, breast pads can be worn to prevent the embarrassing leaks from staining clothes, limit manipulation of breasts either by self-breast examination or during sexual activity and try not to wear clothes in which there would be friction between the nipples and the material.
 
Here’s wishing all you wonderful International Women’s Day!
 
Have a great one 😀
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Daily Health Tips: 34/36-Day Menstrual Cycle

Posted on March 7, 2016 by chatwithdrketch
Q: Dear Dr Ketch, I am a 27 yr old girl and since August last year I’ve tracked my menstrual cycle and noticed it’s up to 34 days or 36 days in most cases. I’m really worried about it. Is there anything I can do about it? Or is there any drug or medication I can be placed on?? Please Dr help me! Thanks
 
A: There are various shades of ‘normal’ in menstrual cycles with the menstrual flow lasting between 2 to 8 days and the cycle lasting anything from 21 to 35 days. A reduction in flow (scanty period) is called hypomenrrhea (pronounced hai-po-men-oria) and a reduction in the number of days of flow to less than 3 days is called oligomenorrhea (oli-go-men-oria).
 
Now at the onset of puberty, the flow and cycle can vary from one cycle to the other; the same goes for the other extreme of life (old age).
 
Other issues that can cause a decrease in flow include pregnancy (the supposed period may be an implantation bleed), crash dieting (when you want to lose all the weight you added in 5 years in one week :D), intense physical activity, Polycystic Ovary Disease (PCOD), imbalance of hormones and use of contraceptives.
 
Previous instrumentation like Dilatation and Curettage (D and C), where the procedure was too ‘vigorously’ done can result in a condition called Asherman’s syndrome which manifests as reduction in menstrual flow. In the same way that stress can delay a menstrual period, it can also cause a reduction in flow.
You must work with your gynaecologist in order to manage this. If the cause is PCOD, focus will be on the treatment; if due to intense exercise, reducing intensity will be helpful; if due to crash dieting, focus on eating a proper balanced diet will help etc. Your gynaecologist will carry out a detailed examination and investigation to arrive at the cause and advice on treatment.
 
Have a great evening, great people 🙂
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