Health Checks. Doctor in the House

For all you Nairalanders I have decided to be your official doctor in the house. I have found this site so helpful in bonding me to my motherland I have decided to give medical advice with the usual disclaimer. This is just advice. Further treatment should be sought from your personal physician!

Great. Thanks for volunteering to be our doctor.

Hopefully people ask questions they have concerning health. And hopefully, you always reply us in time.

Thanks Balogun. I've read several medical journals (beign a medical student) but i'm yet to see a break through in the artificial growth enhancement research.
Is there any product that de-ossifies ossified bones for longation purpose.
I asked because i know there is an outrageous demand for height increase worlwide (from all 'em short peeps) and a reliable product would make one billions.

Thanks Balogun for volunteering. I wish i will join u in the task in future. My mind is in medicine but stil a Biochemistry student. If u dont mind, can you share your mobile number and personal e-mail addy so that we can hav quick access to medical advice from you. Thanks again. Wishing us all da best

Thanks for your support people. My e mail address is on my profile and would be glad to give anyone answers or help. I am also happy to help any medical students who need advice. I am surgically trained and work as a consultant in Accident & Emergency. My speciality is in hand surgery. Let the questions roll in

Nice one. You can also ask me questions about your health. But I don't come online often.

Any advice for prospective medical students/doctors?

The medical course is an easy course. Medicine itself is all common sense. Remember common things are common. The problem students find with medicine is the volume of work. I have a daughter who is doing medicine at the moment in Edinburgh University. That is her main complaint. Medical students seem to remember the rare causes of illnesses without mentioning the common things. Read little and often and dont leave it until the week before the exams

Coo..thanks.

very innovative. right now in nigeria we are experiencing the harmattan weather and some of us are developing, itchy sore throats, runny nose, slight fever, weakness and a general feeling of being unwell. One of my doc friends said its the weather coupled with our deficient immunity system. I have been drinking water a lot and resting while taking fruits and vitamin C. Whats your own advice?

you are doing all the right things. People dont seem to appreciate how much fluid you lose even with the slightest fever. Eating well gives the viruses the chance to live out their own life quicker. Good hydration, vitamins and carbohydrate is all you need. There is an obsession for antibiotics even in the uk. They now have problems with methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus known as MRSA.

thanks very much for your assistance, i have noticed that when i have malaria the symptom i get first is long asthmatic attacks which do not readily respond to the usual medication. I was put on artesunate by my doctors because I react to a lot of other antimalarias (especially the ones that have sulphonamides) by wheezing. Right now am feeling a lot better as the attacks are no more continuous and the feeling of being generaly unwell is also reduced. What is your advice?

Sulphonamides are notorious for causing adverse drug reactions. You are lucky I have an extra degree in medical toxicology. We all have a genetic way of metabolising drug from what is the HLA type. People with what is known as slow N-acetylation phenotype have affected by sulphonamides. What you are getting is a possible pseudo allergic reaction. Stay off the sulphonamides!!

how are you doing? i happened o have a very good shave yesterday after which i applied after shave on my throat area. Within 3 mins my throat started itching me and i was very irritated. I had to take prednisolone and some franol as i had started to wheeze. Is there any other thing i should take?

Hey,
Thanks for offering advice.
I have a question for you.
im a 19 yr old female and I just got out of hospital from having a Appendectomy, i had it last sunday. What are some ways i can speed up recovery and what advice can u give me which i shud be doing during this recovery period.
Ur advice would be greatly apprieciated.
oh im also taking panadine, endone, and rafen (which is an anti-inflamatory drug). they seem to be working well to ease pain, but i get alot of stabbing pain occasionally.
Thanks again!
Regards,
*Appendix Girl*

First thing to know is was the appendix inflamed. Appendectomy (appendicectomy) done for non appendicitis means you might still have some other underlying pathology like ovarian cysts etc. Making a diagnosis of appendicitis in females is more difficult because there are so many other organs there that might be provoking the symptoms. As for getting better, it is a matter of well balanced diet and fluids, adequate analgesia and mobilisation. Get moving!!!

Well, the dr. told me that it didnt look enflamed.
The thing thats puzzling me is that i am not getting much pain in the surgery area, but it feels as though it is lower and that stabbing feeling is still there.
So im confused as to perhaps i do have an ovarian cyst, what is the treatment for that?
im seeing a dr. tomorrow to take the dressing off so i might ask then.
Is it normal to experience a certain amount of pain in the area of the ovaries after such surgery?
Thanks again for ur help.

You will have local bruising at the site of the surgery itself inside you and over the wound. They will take time to settle down. As for the other possible pathologies, it could also be something called mesenteric adenitis. This is more common in children that adults. Usually means your lymph nodes are inflamed after a viral infection. Can then present as pain in the abdomen. The list is almost endless.

************
So im confused as to perhaps i do have an ovarian cyst, what is the treatment for that?
im seeing a dr. tomorrow to take the dressing off so i might ask then.
Is it normal to experience a certain amount of pain in the area of the ovaries after such surgery?
Thanks again for your help.

************
Seeing as I don't know how to 'quote' yet..

As per the ovarian cysts.. usually just managed on a watchful basis, unless they cause problems. Every woman get ovarian cysts at some point in her life. They are part of the ovalation cycle. The cysts that cause problems are those that don't resolve with you cycle. Problems you can get.. hemorrhagic cyst (blood in the cyst), ovarian torsion (big cyst causing the ovary to twist on itself and cut off blood to the ovary). In general, any 'bad' problems from cysts would present with VERY bad pain, not controlled with the pain medicine.

Also, for fear of stating the obvious... hope they made sure you weren't just pregnant?[td][/td]

Hi . Pls how can one help a bullimic patient and wat r d chances such person wld ever recover witout having2go in2 all dis teraphy and all.den wat r d dangers such a person is being exposed2.

babycute:

Hi . Please how can one help a bullimic patient and what r d chances such person would ever recover witout having2go in2 all this teraphy and all.den what r d dangers such a person is being exposed2.

Tough question: People who have bulimia don't readily admit that they have a problem and that is going to be one of the hardest parts of helping this your 'friend'. After accepting that there is a problem that needs to be addressed the rest get just a little easier.. she or he will have a hard road in front of them to be able to get over this habit.. and it never really goes away.. once a bulimic.. there is always a chance to relapse.

My opinion though.. wondering what Balogun thinks.

Its a question of "are there any psychiatrists in the house". This is mainly a psychiatric problem. As mentioned before, accepting you have a problem is the first step. Until then it is always difficult. It has to be a therapy issue

@House Doctors

I developed small eczema spots all around my thoracic skin. I take my bath twice daily and wear clean clothes. I tried taking antibiotics but it keeps spreading. What could be the cause and cure?

Eczema usually has nothing to do with cleanliness. If that was the case, a lot of little boys who seem allergic to water would end up with eczema. With eczema, you can get an underlying skin infection. In such cases oral antibiotics or cream with steroids and antibiotics might help. Regular moisturizing with non scented moisturizer is important. First that keep the skin moist and stops you from scratching leading to secondary skin infection. Nappy rash cream or something like E45 is quite good to start with

compliments of the season In House Doctor from all your patients

Thanks otokx. Compliments of the season to you all. Looking forward to giving good advice next year to all nairalanders

Thanks a million Doc God Bless You.


U r yet to answer my first question, though. see the 3rd post on this thread.

i have decided to be taking 10 tablets of vitamin everyday to boost my immune system. Will there be any adverse reaction?

I am not sure 10 tablets of vitamins are necessary per day. There is usually one single vitamin complex tablet that you might need to take. As male who eats normally, you shouldn't need any supplements unless you suffer from some disease that affects absorption of nutrients from your gastro intestinal tract

ok, i decided to take 5 tablets a day. I have a very bad eating habit. Yesterday I drank a cup of tea in the morning by 8am, had peanuts and pinapple juice in the afternoon by 4pm, then beans and fried plantain in the night by 9pm then slept about 10.30pm. Today I had drank a cup of tea by 9am, had cookies and a bottle of water by 2pm, time check is 3:30pm

Hi Balogun,
Just sent you a pm

I've had catarrh for 6 yrs now. Any cure. it comes durring rainy seasons.