Daily Health Tips: Masturbation.

Posted on March 19, 2015 by chatwithdrketch

Q: Dear Dr, I always read your advices when advising people and it made me to grow from one level to the other. Can you please help our youth on the issue of masturbation and how dangerous it is, because I’ve a victim for 5 years whereby I masturbated 2-3 times a week sometimes four -six rounds a day. The problem is that I was not even enjoying sex then till I told myself and God that I must quit and indeed God helped me because now I’m single and no longer a prisoner of sexual desires. I can’t wait to hear words of advice to the victims of masturbation. Thanks in advance Mom

I’ve tried to avoid answering this question for a while; however, I’ve received so many questions on this that I believe it needs to be addressed. I trust that the expectation of the lovely person who posted this, is not for me to preach on the evils of masturbation. As I always say, I try not to pass judgment on this page…we have enough people who do that for us in all aspects of our lives. I will, as always, lay out the facts and hope that I have provided enough information for the right decisions to be taken.

First, thank you so much for sharing your story with us and telling us how you came through it. I’m excited that you were able to deal with your issue of masturbation and conquer! Masturbation is the act of sexually arousing oneself by touching the genitals. Medically it is believed that this is not considered abnormal especially as some children in early life explore themselves out of curiosity. Subsequently, it is thought to be a way for a person to figure out what he/she likes or does not like sexually etc. The stories that have been spread about masturbation: that it causes acne, madness, blindness, infertility etc really have no medical evidence.

Excessive masturbation can lead to soreness of the genitals and in males can lead to swelling which would typically disappear within a day or two. Enjoying sexual intercourse the ‘normal’ way may also become a problem as people become used to experiencing sexual release in this way.

By the way, if one is masturbating with another person, there is the possibility of an STI if objects (sex toys) are shared and/or if there is some exchange of body fluids.

It is generally thought that this act is wrong culturally and religiously. Medicine does not believe so. However, medicine, religion and culture find a meeting point when masturbation becomes ‘excessive’ (as in the post) such that the person involved withdraws from other people and activities, practices this in public, feels a compulsion to indulge in this often and on etc.

All the mails I’ve received on this issue, contain a common thread, that of feeling guilty. Some are also accompanied by a sense of low self-esteem which may have pre-dated this leading to excessive shyness and preference for masturbation, as opposed to talking to members of the opposite sex. The real challenge here is that there is nobody to talk to about these issues as we all tend to judge the people involved. The unfortunate fall out is that anxiety and depression may not be far behind if this cycle of guilt and low esteem is not addressed.

Any activity that holds one a prisoner of his/her desires has to be mastered. It has to be controlled otherwise, it rules the person’s life. Imagine being a slave to your sexual desires! :O And if this is accompanied by negative feelings like guilt, anxiety, depression etc, then it has to be decisively dealt with.

Counseling would be the way to go…I don’t know any of help groups here in Nigeria. I will make enquiries though. Or find someone who you feel you can trust and talk to. This person could be someone from home, church etc However, it’s important that people seeking help for any kind of issue, are not judged by anyone…from church or from other social circles. We all try to act as if we’re all holy and wonderful people but we all struggle with different stuff, just like every other person 🙂 Empathy is key here.

It is important to find out the why…what makes me want to do this again and again? What feeling am I trying to achieve? What am I trying to avoid? Indeed, going cold turkey and just deciding to stop could very well happen after this.

For a related post, please click on this post: https://chatwithdrketch.com/2014/08/05/daily-health-tips-depression-masturbation-and-over-protective-parenting/

I hope this helps.

Now that I’ve stirred the hornet’s nest, I’m off to bed 😀 Good night, y’all 😀

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This Week’s Episode Of Dr Ketch Show, Loading….

Posted on March 19, 2015 by chatwithdrketch

DSC_0069

Don’t miss our show this week!

Broadcast schedule:
Catch the show on Africa Magic Showcase channel 151 by:
6.30pm and 11pm on Thursday
6.30am, 11.30am and 9pm on Friday
4pm on Saturday
7pm on Sunday
6.30am and 11.30am on Monday.

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Daily Health Tips: Should I Use Cream On My Baby’s Skin?

Posted on March 18, 2015 by chatwithdrketch

Q: Good day Dr. Ketch, Please keep up the good works. My 16 months old daughter has a bow leg (curvy but not much), please what can I do? Also, since I gave birth to her, I have not used any cream on her skin and she has a great skin because of fear of cancer causing substances used in cream production and fake products here and there. I still don’t have the mind of using any cream on her skin. Please is this decision right and healthy? Thanks ma as I await your response. Compliments of the season ma’am

A: Thanks for your kind words 🙂

Should you use cream on your baby’s skin? Absolutely! Baby’s skin should be moisturized but it should be done with mild products especially formulated for babies. Usually, they have hypo-allergenic written on them. The baby is unlikely to react to these creams. Be sure they are also fragrance-free. You might want to go for tested and trusted brands from good supermarkets. As a further safety precaution, watch out for any reaction on baby’s skin. Remember that rashes on the baby’s skin do not necessarily mean that your baby is reacting to his toiletries. It could be an infection. Check with his doctor.

What you should also be careful about using is dusting powder. A lot of people use this excessively. But there is a risk that the ‘dust’ raised from the powder may cause damage to baby’s lungs. If powder must be used at all, it should be shaken onto the hands a distance away from baby, then dusted off and the light powder left on the hands, applied to baby.

Another place where rashes show up often is on baby’s butt. So, you could get diaper rash cream (containing zinc oxide) and use on baby’s butt after a change of diapers, or use regular petroleum jelly on baby’s bum. As much as possible, allow baby’s butt to get some air by allowing it to air-dry after some diaper changes.
Finally try not to expose your baby to direct sunlight too often…tough call in these our hot parts, aye?
On bow legs, when babies are born, their legs usually assume the bow leg shape because of their position in the womb. This lasts from birth to about18 months. From 18 months to 24 months, the legs go into neutral mode…neither bow, nor knock-kneed. From 18 months to 5 years, the legs assume a knock-kneed posture. This would usually correct on its own from around 6 to 7 years. So, at 16 months, you may not have to worry. For more on bow-legs and knock-knees (K-legs), please click on these links:

Daily Health Tips: My Baby Has Knock Knees (K legs). What Should I Do?

Daily Health Tips: What Can I Do About These Bow Legs?

Have a good night rest, y’all 😀

Don’t let the bed bugs bite 🙂

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Daily Health Tips: My Husband And I Have Different Sexual Tastes!

Posted on March 17, 2015 by chatwithdrketch

Q: Dr ma’am, please is anything wrong with oral sex? I need your secret advice. Thanks ma’am. My hubby likes it, but I don’t.

A: Dear all, I need to keep re-iterating that this is a safe place. I do not mention the names of people who send questions to me. If the questions contain personal information, I edit to ensure that confidentiality is maintained. Each person’s question provides an opportunity to educate thousands of other people. I’d also like to mention that while we all believe that our questions are unique, there’s really no question I have received on this page that I haven’t got at least 2 or 3 times before. So, relax y’all 😀 Nobody knows who you are…and by sharing your question, we help others!

Okay, oral sex is something that always used to be regarded as being done by ‘bad girls’ but it has become mainstream as couples have become more open about their likes and dislikes in the bedroom. So, is anything wrong with oral sex? Not really…it is a matter of like(s) and dislike(s).

It is important to discuss this with your husband. Both of you should have an understanding of what each party likes in the bedroom. This should be in an atmosphere of love (of course) and each party should be open about their feelings. Methinks that the days of not wanting to open up about sexual likes and dislikes by women, should long be past as this area of marriage is very important and can make or mar 😀 Perhaps, all it takes is getting used to it 😉 or stopping before ejaculation etc. So, have a frank talk with hubby about this and perhaps you both can arrive at a compromise on how to make this work.

Now, this post on oral sex will not be complete without mentioning some myths about oral sex. Some people believe that with this, they are safe from Sexually Transmitted Infections. True? False! The risk is even higher if the person performing oral sex has cuts, bruises or sores in the mouth or gum. Brushing the teeth just before this could also lead to bruised gums which makes by infected with an STI easier.

What STIs are involved? All the usual suspects: Gonorrhea, Syphilis, Hepatitis A, B and C (I trust y’all know these can be contracted through sexual intercourse?), HIV etc One could also be exposed to the Human Papilloma Virus which could lead to cancer of the mouth (oral cancer). Most people are not aware but condoms can also be used during oral sex to prevent STIs.

So, there you have it all. The good, the bad and the not very pretty 😀

Have a good night y’all 😀

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This Week On The Dr Ketch Show!

Posted on March 17, 2015 by chatwithdrketch
The Dr Ketch Show

The Dr Ketch Show

On this week’s episode of The Dr Ketch Show, we talk about childhood infections. We discuss the challenges of having a child that picks up any virus in the air 😀 Are the schools doing enough to prevent the spread of this in school? Are the parents doing enough? How can we prevent these and if a child comes down with this infection, what can you do to help the child during that time.

Our guests are super-interesting: a doctor (paediatrician) and the director of a school, who lay out the facts. Then, a celebrity who tells us how she manages her own baby. You don’t want to miss this episode!

Broadcast schedule:
Catch the show on Africa Magic Showcase channel 151 by:
6.30pm and 11pm on Thursday
6.30am, 11.30am and 9pm on Friday
4pm on Saturday
7pm on Sunday
6.30am and 11.30am on Monday.

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Daily Health Tips: Pain On My ‘Tail Bone’ After Delivery.

Posted on March 16, 2015 by chatwithdrketch

Q: Dear Doc, I started having serious pain at my tail bone some days after my baby’s delivery, what can I do?

A: The tail bone is called the coccyx and it is made up of about 2 or 3 fused bones. This coccyx can get bruised, ‘fractured’ or ‘dislocated’ during childbirth especially if you had a big baby or had a small pelvic outlet as the joints between these bones break open. This pain can be excruciating when you attempt to sit down in instances where the joint does not heal.

What can you do? Try lying on your side. When you have to sit, try sitting upright. This may be helpful or not. If not helpful, try sitting on a pillow or a doughnut shaped pillow…a good alternative is the travel pillow worn on the neck when travelling.
A sitz bath is also a great idea. It’s a warm water bath that helps cleanse the perineum. Just in case you wondered, the perineum is that space between the rectum and the genitals. The right temperature is the one that you can handle without sustaining burns. Putting a few drops of this water on the inner surface of your wrist can help confirm this.

Plain warm water is sufficient but some people add salt to the water which is soothing. Your doctor may also suggest other things he/she may want you to add to the water.

To prepare this, you can either use the plastic Sitz bath kit, (a special bowl specifically made for this whichfits on your toilet seat so you can sit down easily on it), or your bath tub. Be sure to thoroughly scrub your plastic Sitz bath kit or bath tub before and after use. If using the bath tub, add sufficient warm water to sit on and then get in. To get the job done properly, you can try hanging your legs out of the tub. Usually, you are encouraged to sit for 10 to 15 minutes on the water. Pat the perineal area dry after you’re done. Do not rub vigorously…remember the area is sore and if you’ve had stitches, it could mess things up 😀 This can be repeated up to 3 to 4 times daily as needed.

Cold or warm compress on the area is also helpful. Passing stool especially if it’s constipated may make you break out in sweat or in tears 😀 So, try to avoid this. Eat loads of veggies to keep stuff moving down there 😀

Pain relief using over the counter analgesics can help relieve pain and if the pain remains longer than a week, be sure to see your doctor for a stronger analgesic. In some instances, local anaesthetic agents can be injected into the area and as a last resort, surgery may be indicated.

So, if this has been more than a week, please see your doctor for stronger pain relief. This, hopefully, will tide you over.

Give your baby a hug and a kiss from me 😀

Have a good night y’all 😀

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Daily Health Tips: Celebrating Mothers!

Posted on March 15, 2015 by chatwithdrketch

Years ago, I thought my mum was invincible! My mum had the answer to every question. My mother could make anything happen. My mother could make mere mortals quake in their shoes! Seriously! When my mum called you in for a midnight meeting (which she loved), it meant, ‘this is serious! we’re not joking’. Whatever was discussed at those midnight meetings was to be taken as the final ruling on that matter!

My mother was also very sacrificing…she gave of herself for her children. She practically poured herself out. I remember evenings as a child, my brothers and sisters would line up with our notes to read to my mum. This was a daily exercise that started by 4pm every single day without fail. Everything done in school on that day was thoroughly studied and revised. You could only leave when she was convinced that you were ready for a thesis on that subject! 😀

Fast forward to some 30 years later, with my mum a lot older…I’m amazed at how huge I believed she used to be! Now I wonder how she made all of that happen. She supervised 6 children including a cousin who lived with us; all school work was read daily, homework completed; she had the time to try out several nutritious and healthy recipes; she’s a doctor and worked a fulltime job. She, of course, made the home front work (you dared not lie in bed beyond 6am growing up. I remember playing the trick of waking up sometimes and going to my brothers’ room to hide and sleep behind their bed!). She was multi-faceted: daughter (she never missed celebrating her mother on mothers’ day), sister, wife, mother, friend, professional etc. She was so strict then and so mellow now, that when I tell my children, they find it difficult to reconcile their gentle grandma with this hurricane I seem to describe in talking about her from way back!

I remember some of the things I used to disagree with her on…it’s funny because it does appear that the saying that, ‘by the time you’re old enough to know your mother was right, you probably have children who think you’re wrong!

So, what lessons did I learn from my mother:
I supervise homework myself…no matter how busy or tired.
I am constantly experimenting with healthier food options.
I never miss an opportunity to touch base with my children
I co-opted them into the kitchen as soon as they were old enough to stand the heat 😀
I never miss a school program (probably missed 2 in their collective lives)
I’m actively involved in preparing for debates, quizzes etc
I keep reminding my children they can do anything they put their minds to.

I could go on and on. What lessons did you learn from your mother?

Today, I celebrate my mother and every other woman who works hard to make things happen. Supermoms, who do all it takes to put smiles on the faces of their children, their families, their environment etc. Nurturing, wonderful women who deprive themselves of what they need to make sure another does not lack. How many times as a mother/woman have you found yourself not getting something…a piece of chicken, a slice of cake…whatever, perhaps because someone showed up, who was not expected or you miscalculated; and when someone wants to make a fuss, you just go, ‘oh, I wasn’t really hungry anyway!?’

Today, I celebrate you, mother-in waiting, as you find and fulfill your purpose while waiting. I celebrate you as you mould and motivate lives around you with that inherent nurturing spirit. I celebrate you as you sow into the lives of people who will become professional and spiritual children. I celebrate you as you make a difference in the world you live in starting from your immediate environment.

Be sure to celebrate all the women in your lives today. Let’s make this circle of love go round and keep it going all through the year. Visit that special mother (biological, spiritual, professional etc).
Failing that, make a looooooong phone call. Let your love be felt!

For more helpful hints on how to make this day extra special for mum, please click on this link: https://chatwithdrketch.com/2013/03/11/its-mothers-day-so-what/

Trust me, it ain’t easy being a woman and a mother….but oh, it is so worthwhile!

Have a great week people 😀

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Daily Health Tips: Rheumatoid Arthritis And Osteoarthritis.

Posted on March 14, 2015 by chatwithdrketch

o conclude the post from yesterday, I take on the question about rheumatoid arthritis.

Q: I also have R/A causing my knees to ache on a daily basis which prevents me from doing a lot of normal life things.
I believe that a doctor made the diagnosis of Rheumatoid Arthiritis and that’s why you are sure that’s what you have. Over time, I have heard people use the term rheumatism (which is a lay term that is not really used in the medical world anymore) for osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis. I will briefly describe both conditions.

Rheumatoid arthritis is an auto-immune condition. This means that in this situation, the body no longer recognizes components of itself and its immune system begins to fight itself. In other words, the body launches a war against itself!

In this instance, the body’s fight against itself leads to joint pain, swelling and stiffness, especially in mornings and can lead to permanent damage. It affects multiple joints, can involve multiple organs (eg lungs, heart, eyes etc) and there are usually nodules (small lumps known as rheumatoid nodules) found under the skin, especially the elbows. Some people are lucky and have long periods between flare-ups; others are not and have symptoms often. This disease is more common in people aged between 40 to 60 years, women and if a family member has it, it’s more likely one may also have it.

There is no cure as it is not clear why the body turns on itself. The focus is on management of the symptoms: Physiotherapy to keep the joints supple, medications to take care of the pain and inflammation and sometimes surgery for joint repair or replacement.

For anyone who has this condition, be sure to take your medications, eat healthy, exercise and learn to relax 🙂
Now to osteoarthritis (OA), this is a more common type of arthritis. It would usually occur due to wear and tear (ageing) of the cartilage at the end of bones which allows free movement at the joints. The knees, hips, neck, lower back are usually affected and symptoms would include stiffness, pain and swelling. This disease is common in older people, women and the obese (clearly, being obese puts more stress on the weight bearing areas of the body like the knees etc), some types of occupation eg people who carry a lot of heavy loads are more likely to have osteoarthritis of the lower back. A family history of OA puts one at risk and having some diseases like Diabetes Mellitus makes one more at risk.
Where this disease affects the knee, it can lead to bow-leg and limping as the cartilage continues to wear away with even more wear and tear. Just like for RA, there’s no cure. Focus is on limiting opain and maintaining joint movement.

Treatment includes pain relief (using drugs in the class of ibuprofen or Paracetmaol), physiotherapy and sometimes, surgery. Injection of steroids into the joint space of affected joint has also been found useful but cannot be given too often.
Just like for RA, exercise, eat healthy, keep a healthy weight, use support (like walking stick) if need be etc

I hope this was helpful.

Have a good night, everyone 😀

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Daily Health Tips: Diabetic With Peripheral Neuropathy…Where Do I Start?!

Posted on March 13, 2015 by chatwithdrketch

Q: Good Morning Dr.
My problem and concerns are as follow
1) I’m a diabetic and eating right/losing weight is a major,major downfall 4 me.
2) I also have R/A causing my knees 2 ache on a daily basis which prevents me from doing a lot of normal life things.
3) Have developed Neuropathy from the diabetes and this is so painful.
So you see I have a lot of health issues. Where/What/When do I start to make a difference and begin to do something to if not get rid of, at least begin to live with all of these issues.

A: Thanks a lot for writing in and hey! It’s not as bad as it all seems. First, you’re alive. Then you do know that you have some issues that have to be dealt with and finally, you’re willing to put in the work. So, you’re halfway to victory already!

Now I will deal with the issues you have raised on Diabetes Mellitus and then deal with Rheumatoid Arthritis tomorrow.

What is Diabetes Mellitus (DM)? This is a disease in which there are high levels of sugar in the blood either due to a lack of insulin (Type 1) or a resistance to the effect of insulin. What is insulin and why is it so important? Every food we eat is ultimately converted to a form of sugar. Once this sugar gets into the blood, insulin is produced by the pancreas to help take the glucose into the cells where they are to be used. In Diabetes, the body does not make any or enough insulin to move the glucose into the cells or the cells become resistant to the effect of insulin such that there is excess glucose in the blood (hyperglycemia).

Peripheral neuropathy (PN) arises due to this excessive blood sugar that affects nerves that control involuntary body functions. PN can manifest in several ways like excessive sweating, reduced sensation in the hands and feet (such that these people can easily get injured without knowing and the reduced blood flow in the area, makes wound healing poor), constipation, bloating, reduced ability to identify the symptoms of full bladder (with resultant frequent urinary tract infections) and reduced ability to recognize even the symptoms of low blood sugar.

I know all of that sounds very scary…but good control of your blood glucose will help counteract the effects above. Your doctor may also prescribe medications with time. You need to work with your doctor to ensure that your blood glucose is kept normal.

How to tame your blood sugar? It’s a mix of two things: keep lean and keep active.
Keeping lean involves eating healthy, more veggies and fruits. Remember that because fruits are also high in natural sugars, they have to form part of your daily calorie amount. Be sure to check with your dietician who will give you a proper diet plan. Eat more complex carbs like beans, sweet potatoes, whole wheat cereals, oat meal etc. You’ve got to keep your weight within normal limits. The BMI is a good place to start. BMI is a simple calculation: weight in kg/height x height. Now, if math is not your favourite subject, you can simply go online and google ‘online bmi calculator’. There are lost of them and these calculators will do the work for you 😀 If your BMI is between 18.5 and 24.9, then you’re fine. If your BMI is 25 to 29.9, then you are overweight. Any BMI from 30 and above is obesity.

You can substitute some unhealthy foods with healthier versions. Please click on this link for more on these:

Daily Health Tips: Healthier Substitutes For Foods We Love.

Daily Health Tips: Weight Loss Revisited

Keeping active refers to ensuring you have at least 150 minutes of exercise/activity weekly. For tips on how to incorporate activity into your day, please click on these:

Daily Health Tips: Fun ways to exercise

Daily Health Tips: Is It Possible To Actually Enjoy Exercise?

Have a super-fabulous weekend ahead 😀

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Daily Health Tips: Adding Weight, Re-visited!

Posted on March 13, 2015 by chatwithdrketch

Q: Blessed afternoon, Ma’am. Thank you so much for the help you have been giving us. May God bless you for that…my question is how can I increase my body weight? I lost too much weight last year and now I am very skinny especially on legs how do I get back to my body….are there drugs I can use????

Q: Hi, I’m very happy to write to you. I was fat before but (not too fat) &now I’ve reduced due to much school stress. Please, I want to know what to eat, drink or do so that I can regain my fat again? I don’t like the way I’m slim. Thanks and love you.

A: I just love this…different strokes for different folks 😀 While many people the world over are looking for how to lose weight, some just want to see how to add some.

It is important that before you think you are actually too thin, that you take the time to calculate your Body Mass Index (BMI). It’s a simple calculation: weight in kg/height x height. Now, if math is not your favourite subject, you can simply go online and google ‘online bmi calculator’. There are lost of them and these calculators will do the work for you 😀 If your BMI is between 18.5 and 24.9, then you’re fine. You don’t need to add any weight. If your BMI is 25 to 29.9, then you are overweight. Any BMI from 30 and above is obesity. BMI less than 18.5 is underweight. If you belong to this last category, that’s when you may need to do something.

Remember that if you’ve been fat for a long time, it’s difficult to get used to the new slim you and so this may very well be what both of you are dealing with.

Some exercises like weight training may also help add bulk to you in the form of muscles so that you don’t look too skinny on the legs or arms.

Calorie-dense foods like nuts, eggs and milk are also good options to add weight. Remember that it’s easier to pile it on than to lose it and so be guided by your BMI and indeed, discuss with your doctor before starting on any diet change regimen.

For more on wanting to add weight, please click on this link:

Daily Health Tips: How Can I Add Some Weight?

Have a good night, y’all 😀

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