Daily Health Tips: Are There Other Treatment Methods For Fibroids Other Than Surgery?

Posted on May 29, 2014 by chatwithdrketch

Q: Please ma’am, is there any other treatment for fibroid other than surgery

A: Fibroids develop from the muscle tissue of the uterus (womb). These growths can range in size from seedlings to big masses. They are differentiated by the sites where they are found: inside the cavity of the womb (sub-mucosal), within the muscle of the uterus (intramural), on the surface of the womb (sub-serosal). Fibroids do not cause infertility per se, but sub-mucosal ones in the cavity of the womb, can take up the place where a baby would have implanted causing infertility. Fibroids can also distort the shape of the ovaries and fallopian tubes causing problems with conception.

Hormones are implicated in the development of fibroids as when women get to menopause with resultant decrease in the level of circulating hormones, estrogen and progesterone, the fibroids shrink. Fibroids are more likely to occur in black women, people who take alcohol, people with a family history, people who eat a lot of red meat and little vegetables.  

Symptoms of fibroids include heavy menstrual bleeding, prolonged menstrual bleeding, frequent urination as the mass presses on the bladder, feeling of incomplete emptying of the bladder, pelvic pressure etc. Pain can also result in fibroids when a fibroid has a stalk and gets twisted or when the fibroid grows so fast that it outgrows its blood supply lead to its ‘death’.

Now to your question, there are a couple of different methods for the treatment of fibroids but only your doctor can confirm which one is suitable to you.

If the fibroids are small and causing no problem (probably discovered incidentally), then your doctor will most likely not institute any treatment other than watchful waiting.

If one is around menopausal age and probably has finished having children, some drugs that mimic the effect of menopause are giving. These deprive the fibroids of nutrient supply and thus they shrink. Other treatment modalities may involve using IUCDs which release hormones that reduce the severity if bleeding and pain medications.  With technology advances, there are also non-invasive and minimally invasive procedures that can take care of fibroids. The final options are the tried and tested surgical procedures. Have a long chat with your doctor to determine what options are available in your location and what applies to you.

Fibroids can co-exist with pregnancy in which case pregnancy may be normal or associated with breech pregnancy, pre-term delivery (delivery of pre-mature babies) etc. However, once a woman registers in a good antenatal center under a good obstetrician, these issues will be anticipated and addressed promptly.

If you’re Nigerian, I hope y’all had a good celebration today J

Have a good night.

 

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 10 Comments

Daily Health Tips: Can I Take Two Antibiotics At The Same Time?

Posted on May 28, 2014 by chatwithdrketch

Q: Good evening doctor. I am highly impressed with your assistance. Please doc, can one use double antibiotic at d same time?

A: The way you asked this question makes me suspect already that perhaps you are making this prescription by yourself or perhaps you approached ‘Dr Lagbaja’ who owns the chemist shop at the corner to mix some drugs for you. Both practices are dangerous. You should not be prescribing for yourself and Dr Lagbaja in the chemist shop is absolutely not a doctor and has no idea what he’s saying or prescribing for that matter!

So, back to the specific question, can 2 antibiotics be used at the same time. Yes. It depends on what’s being treated. I’ll give an example, in Peptic Ulcer Disease due to the organism Helicobacter pylori, the triple therapy is used in the treatment involving 2 antibiotics and another drug. Please be guided by your doctor in terms of what drugs (antibiotics or otherwise) to take, how much and for how long. Antibiotic resistance occurs because people buy and use antibiotics that are not capable of ‘killing’ the organisms causing a disease or even when they are capable, they are not taken in enough quantities or for a long enough time to make the desired impact. In either case, the organism develops the ability to resist the effect of that drug such that when this drug is taken again another time, it will no longer be effective.

For more on antibiotic use, please click n the link https://chatwithdrketch.com/2014/04/03/daily-health-tips-how-do-i-cleanse-my-kidneys/

Have a great evening and if you’re Nigerian, ‘Happy Democracy Day’, in advance.

My prayer is that the Chibok girls will be returned home tomorrow as a demonstration of our collective will to have a Government of the people for the people by the people. I pray….:(

 

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Daily Health Tips: What Should I Do After Having My Baby If My Breast Milk Doesn’t Come In Immediately?

Posted on May 27, 2014 by chatwithdrketch

Q: Hey doctor, thanks so much for helping us young mothers. May God richly bless you..
What can be given to a new born baby like 30mins old baby crying and the mother’s breast milk has not started coming out????

 

A: Okay, I’m absolutely impressed that 30minutes after having your baby, you’re awake and energetic enough to think of feeding him! 😀 That’s really awesome and that establishes a bond with the baby immediately…

Feeding should, ideally, start within one hour of having your baby. So, you’re on to a great start. Your breast already has a stock of breast milk but it does take your baby sucking to make the breast milk ‘come out.’ So, the earlier you put the baby to the breast, the sooner proper breastfeeding can be established. Your baby will probably sleep away the first 24 hours or so, so it may be a challenge to put the baby to the breast. Try the best you can and make sure that your baby’s mouth covers the areola which is the dark coloured area of the nipple.

Some women who had their babies through Caesarian Section may also experience delays in breast feeding just like some other women. There’s no specific reason for this and the same advice of putting the baby to the breast often suffices. The more often you put your baby to the breast, the better your milk supply will be.

Just in case you’re worried that your baby will starve before full breast feeding  is established, don’t be. Your baby doesn’t need more than a few teaspoonfuls of colostrums (which your breast already has and baby gets as he suckles) in the first few days. They contain a lot of substances that help build your baby’s immunity. If, however, by 72 hours you’re still not making breast milk, be sure to discuss with your doctor so that he can confirm that your baby is getting enough to eat. Before this time, don’t get tempted to offer glucose water or formula feeds if you plan to breast feed.

Now just in case you wondered about pap with milk and whether this helps breast milk come in faster? Well, my answer is this. If you want to take your pap, please indulge…in sizeable portions. If it helps your breast milk come in, that’s fine. I guess if the pap is watery enough, it will help hydration and you certainly need to be well hydrated for breast feeding to happen without stress 😀

Have a good night 😀

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 7 Comments

Daily Health Tips: I’d Like My Thin Child To Add Some Weight!

Posted on May 26, 2014 by chatwithdrketch

Q: Doc, please what drugs will be prescribed for a child who is too thin among his or her peers?

 

A: Interesting question! I find, particularly, curious the fact that you’re not asking what food(s) this child should be given, rather you want to know what tablets work. Unfortunately, there’s no quick-fix for these issues…you know, like one magic pill that makes all the problems go away! 😀 There has to be a conscious effort to find out what’s wrong, if anything and then address it with proper nutrition.

 

For adults, this issue would have been a simple calculation of BMI to confirm if your child is within the acceptable limits or not. However, in children, it is different. You didn’t give an idea of your child’s age. You should take your child to see his/her doctor to confirm whether he/she is within acceptable ranges of weight and height. Bear in mind however, that genes also play a role here. If this child is born to thin parents, this child is very likely to be thin. If this child has always been thin, then perhaps suddenly asking for ‘significant’ weight gain may be overly optimistic. Some other times, a height increase may occur before a weight increase such that the child appears thin during that period.

 

If the child is found to be underweight, the answer is not to be found in junk foods. These provide empty calories and open up the child to the possibilities of Diabetes Mellitus. Better options are calorie-rich foods which are also healthy like full cream milk, eggs, peanut butter (groundnut paste), yoghurt, cheese, pasta (spaghetti etc)

 

More importantly, work with your doctor to determine your child’s specific needs and stick to the agreed action plan.

 

Have a good evening, folks 🙂

 

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Daily Health Tips: What’s An Ovarian Cyst?

Posted on May 25, 2014 by chatwithdrketch

Q: Dear Doc, please what’s Ovarian Cyst. Which drugs can be used for treatment? Can it cause infertility? Thanks and God bless you.

 

A: Ovaries are small bean-shaped organs on either side of your womb. Every month, your ovaries develop sacs called follicles from where eggs are released monthly and female sex hormones produced. After the egg is released every month, the sac disintegrates. But sometimes, the egg is not released and the sac remains or the egg is released and the sac does not disintegrate. This follicle becomes the fluid-filled cyst sac. Usually this is not a problem as it could form during every menstrual cycle and usually resolves on its own. These cysts are called the functional cysts. However, these cysts could get very big and in some instances become twisted or they could rupture causing problems. This latter type is called pathological cyst.

 

Examples of pathological cysts occur in PolyCystic Ovarian Syndrome and endometriosis. In the former, small cysts appear all over the surface of the ovary and is also associated with irregular menstruation and high hormonal levels. In endometriosis, the tissues of the uterus (womb) are found outside of the uterus. These two pathological cysts are associated with fertility problems. Functional cysts are hardly associated with fertility issues except they become extremely large.

 

Treatment depends on your particular situation. Your doctor could order serial scans to continually observe the size of the cysts and see if they reduce in size. Another treatment option is the use of birth control pills to prevent the development of more cysts in future menstrual cycles. The final option is surgery. Your doctor will determine what option works best for you.

All the best!

Have a great week ahead, people 😀

 

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Daily Health Tips: Food Hygiene

Posted on May 24, 2014 by chatwithdrketch

A lot of times, we invest a lot of money into buying the right foods and trying to cook them well, the best we can. But, our handling of the food or even the process of preparation may actually be putting our health in danger. Want to know how? Watch this video and find out.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Daily Health Tips: Can I Start Solids For My Baby By 4 Months?

Posted on May 23, 2014 by chatwithdrketch

TGIF! What a week it’s been!!! It was Monday just a few hours ago and all of a sudden, it’s Friday…night! I can’t believe it! It’s been an eventful and very busy week…not that I’m complaining. How was yours? Planning to sleep in tomorrow? 😀

Let’s help a young mother out…

Q: Pls ma, can I give my four months baby normal foods such as beans,soya beans,rice etc along with breast milk Or is it too young for that?

A: At 4 months of age, your baby should still be on breast milk only….nothing more. Except there are some medical/other reasons why you can’t continue till 6 months.

The first weaning foods have generally been cereals. As your baby tolerates this, then experiment with other foods. You can start by mashing some fruits into his cereal. When he tolerates that, then blend up some fruits and veggies and feed him. Then, boil some chicken and perhaps carrots and puree this and fee your baby. Keep doing different things until he starts eating regular food comfortably. Remember, however to introduce them slowly. If he accepts a meal, wait a couple of days before introducing something new. In the same vein, if he rejects a meal, wait a couple of days and try again.

Remember to continue breastfeeding until your baby is one year old. If you can do this till 2 years, awesome! Be sure to write in and let me know if you continue till 2 years…you truly deserve an award! 😀

Have a great evening, guys. I’m totally exhausted and need to hit my bed.

Good night, y’all….yawn :O

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

Daily Health Tips: World Hypertension Day

Posted on May 22, 2014 by chatwithdrketch

Hello y’all!

How has your day been? It was World Hypertension Day on the 17th of May…how on earth did I let this slip?!

Today is as good a day as any to discuss hypertension though. I’ll focus on lifestyle tips and leave you links that tell you more about the facts behind the numbers etc.

So, how can we prevent hypertension?

Eat healthy: more fruits and vegetables and less processed foods high in salt.

Talking about salt, be sure not to add any salt to food after it has been cooked. In fact, if you cook with salt and you can actually taste it, it’s probably too much.

Stop smoking. This has a direct action on blood vessels causing them to constrict and increase blood pressure.

Reduce your alcohol intake.

Get at least 150 minutes of exercise daily. Split these minutes up and get as much as you can during the week. Avoid trying to do it all at once over the weekends.

Keep your weight within a healthy range. Your Body Mass Index (BMI) is a good guide.Your BMI is a quick way to tell whether or not you might be underweight or overweight, and what health problems you might have or develop because of your weight.
This is calculated as weight divided by height squared (that’s height x height)

• If you’re under age 21, your age and gender need to be factored into your BMI to account for the different speeds at which guys and girls develop.
• If your BMI is less than 18.5, you are in the underweight category. Talk to your doctor to find out if your weight is a symptom of a medical problem. A registered dietitian can help you learn about healthy eating.
• If your BMI is between 19 and 24.9, you are in the recommended weight range for your height. But your health may still be at risk if you are not getting regular physical activity and practicing healthy eating.
• If your BMI is 25 to 29.9, you are in the overweight category. This may or may not be unhealthy, depending on some other things, like your waist size and other health problems you may have.
• If your BMI is 30 or higher, you’re in the obese category. You may need to lose weight and change your eating and activity habits to get healthy and stay healthy

For more on blood pressure please click on the links below:

Daily Health Tips: Blood Pressure – The Fact Behind The Figures

Daily Health Tips: My High Blood Pressure Risks

Have a good evening, people 🙂

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Daily Health Tips: What Does My Semen Analysis Report Mean?

Posted on May 21, 2014 by chatwithdrketch

Q: Hello Dr, please will like to find out if am normal, here is the seminalysis report below;

vol.:3ml
ph: alkaline
viscosity; viscous
transparency; opaque
liquefaction; incomplete
motility & progression; 30% actively motile, 10% sluggish, 60% non motile
total sperm count 19m cell/ml
morphological sperm evaluation: normal 60;, abnormal 40; immature; nil
pus cell 5-7, Rbc 0-2, Epith cells 0-2

Thank you so much, I await your reply.

A: Several factors could affect the results of a semen analysis.  The results also vary from man to man such that results outside of the ‘normal’ do not necessarily mean fertility or having a baby is out of the question. Your doctor will work with you according to your specific context.

You have to be sure to follow all instructions given before the test. This includes abstaining from sexual intercourse for at least 3-5 days before sexual intercourse.

Using WHO reference values, a normal semen sample should fulfill the following:

Volume amount of sperm produced in one ejaculation): Greater than or equal to 1.5 ml

pH (whether acidic or alkaline. If less than 7, it’s acidic and greater than 7 is alkaline): Greater than equal to 7.2

Viscosity (being semi-fluid):  viscous

Transparency: opaque

Motility (percentage of sperm that move forward normally):  This should be more than 40%

Morphology (percentage of sperm that have normal shape): This should be greater  than or equal to 15% normal, oval sperm heads
Liquefaction (time taken for the semen to become ‘liquid’): This should be complete within one hour

Total sperm count: This should be greater than or equal to 15 million.

Pus cells should be less than 1 million/ml or less than 5/hpf

So, comparing this with your result shows that you may have a slight infection. This can be easily treated with antibiotics under your doctor’s guidance. There appears to be issues with liquefaction etc. However, we’re not in a hurry to confirm that a semen analysis report is indicative of a problem with just one result because the collection method may have been wrong, the semen may not have been examined soon after collection etc. So, discuss this with your doctor and he will discuss the possibility of another test and other issues.

All the best.

Have a great evening guys 😀

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Daily Health Tips: Can My Diet Cause My Baby To Have Diarrhea While Breastfeeding?

Posted on May 20, 2014 by chatwithdrketch

Q: Evening Ma, please I need help. My baby is 2weeks and her stool is watery. I am practicing exclusive breast feeding. What type of food should I eat or what do I do?

A: Congratulations on your new baby! May she be a blessing to her generation!

Okay to your question, exclusively breast fed babies may pass stool a couple of times during the day to lots of time (it might even be after every meal :D).  You’re still getting to know your baby and so you should look out for the normal consistency of his stools and the frequency. Diarrhea is usually rare in exclusively breast fed children because you’ve cut off all the middle men like bottles and teats etc that could have been reservoirs of infection. Having said that, watch out for signs like blood or mucous in stool, explosive green stools and foul smelling stools. How can this occur in exclusively breast fed babies? It may be due to an infection (viral and bacterial), food allergy to something the mother ate, it may be due to food poisoning in the mum or perhaps the mother had taken antibiotics. If in doubt as to whether the stools appear normal or as they have been since birth, please see your baby’s doctor. If your baby has diarrhea, he/she should be rehydrated as quickly as possible. The first way is to continue breastfeeding even before going to the hospital. This also provides valuable antibodies that help the baby fight diseases.

So, it is clear now that diet affects our breast milk and by extension, baby. These are foods to avoid or limit their consumption while breast feeding:

Caffeine in coffee (try decaffeinated and stick with 2 small tea cups), energy drinks, some soft drinks etc This makes the baby irritable and by extension, makes sleep difficult for the baby. Now, you don’t want that, do you?

Alcohol: This should be avoided at all costs.

Cigarette (yeah, yeah, I know it’s not food) should also be avoided as it reduces the production of breast milk.

If baby reacts to what the mother ate, efforts should be made to pinpoint what the mother ate before the incident started and then eliminating that from the diet to see if the diarrhea or allergy stops.

Make sure that you eat well: lots of fruits and vegetables and complex carbohydrates. Cut out the junk which will not help you achieve your weight loss goals and in addition have empty calories. And drink sufficient fluids daily.

Be careful before taking any drug as most find their way into your baby.

Hope this helps.

Goodnight y’all 😀

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 8 Comments