ASK DR ZOE
I’ve had terrible flatulence for the last few years and it’s starting to worry me
The Sun's resident GP, Dr Zoe also helps a reader who is suffering pain in their foot after chemotherapy
WITH the warmer weather comes a plague of health problems, including hay fever, insect bites and skin problems such as rashes.
A heat rash causes small, raised spots that feel itchy and prickly, and there may also be some swelling.
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Other skin problems can be worsened by summer weather too. Rosacea is triggered by the sun, causing red flushing, usually in the face, and sometimes small bumps.
Eczema sufferers can experience a worsening of symptoms when sweat irritates the skin. Both conditions may be sensitive to products such as suncream, though it shouldn’t be avoided as there are brands that are suitable.
A pharmacist can advise on a calming lotion or antihistamines for a heat rash.
But if symptoms persist, you should visit your GP to see if a topical steroid cream or gel can help to control more chronic conditions.
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Here is a selection of what readers have asked me this week . . .
No help for seizures
Q) MY 13-year-old granddaughter suffers from non-epileptic attack disorder and we need more help with her condition.
She has constant seizures as well as vocal and physical tics.
Her school doesn’t give us any support and we’ve been told by healthcare professionals there’s nothing that can be done.
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We are all devastated by this as it came from nowhere. Is there any help or support we can access?
A) A diagnosis like this can be scary and confusing, especially when it involves children in our families, so thank you for reaching out.
Childhood bullying left me suffering 17 seizures a day and tics so bad I stab myself in the head
Epileptic seizures are caused by abnormal electrical impulses in the brain. But non-epileptic attacks – like the ones that happen in non-epileptic attack disorder – are caused by our brains not being able to handle particular thoughts, memories, emotions or sensations.
They can stem from trauma, so it’s worth having a think or asking her whether anything has happened that she cannot cope with.
Other symptoms can include numbness, tingling, pain, poor concentration, poor sleep, blurred vision, frustration, anger, dizziness, worry, bladder problems, tiredness, headache, feeling distant, low mood, limb weakness and panic.
If you’re able to have a good chat with her, she may be able to identify a pattern or triggers, and this can be the key to reducing the frequency of episodes. It may be that she’s uncomfortable talking to you or other family members, in which case the welfare officer at her school may be able to offer support, given they correctly understand the condition.
Her neurologist should have referred her for talking therapies, counselling or psychological help.
If they haven’t, please pursue it – access to treatment may not be instant but it’s vital she gets on the list.
If you’re with her when she has an attack, make sure she’s comfortable and not at risk of hurting herself – put a pillow under her head. Speak calmly to her, or play a soothing piece of music. Sometimes the same words being said helps – these attacks are emotionally based so maintaining calm can help.
Please do keep in touch and let me know how she gets on.
She’s young to be diagnosed with this condition so getting to the bottom of it will hopefully mean she can outgrow it and deal with the trauma that’s causing it.
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Q) I AM a woman aged 73. I have had bad flatulence for the last few years and it’s worrying me. There is no smell. Can you advise what I can do?
A) You would be surprised at the number of people who ask about this.
Firstly, please rest assured that flatulence – which most of us know as farting – is completely normal and nothing to worry about.
In fact, we all fart and anyone who says they don’t is either lying, or unaware of the gas coming out, because maybe they hold on to it until they go to the toilet or whilst they sleep.
Flatulence comes from gas leaving the gastrointestinal tube, and while everyone does it, there are certain foods that can alter how much gas and the smell.
Spicy foods, beans and vegetables such as sprouts and cabbage have been found to increase flatulence – and whilst a diet high in fibre is absolutely great for our health, it can mean more gas.
It’s a good idea for most of us to increase our fibre intake but it’s best to increase it slowly and gradually to prevent any unpleasant symptoms.
But if there’s a change in your flatulence that persists and is also accompanied by other symptoms, such as tummy ache, bloating, diarrhoea, constipation or changes to bowel habit then it’s important to get it checked out as it could be a symptom of an underlying condition.
It’s completely normal for farts not to smell or to smell strongly.
It depends on the person, what they’ve eaten and their individual microbiome – that’s the community of bacteria and other microbes that live inside our digestive tract and help us digest certain nutrients, especially those from fibre-rich foods.
Should I worry about my farts smelling?
The NHS states that you should see a GP if farting is affecting your life and treatments from the pharmacy and self-help haven't worked.
You should also book in to see a medic if you have a stomach ache or bloating that will not go away or keeps coming back.
If you keep getting constipation or diarrhoea or if you've lost weight without trying then you should also see your GP.
If you've had blood in your poo for three weeks or longer then it's important to get help.
These symptoms might be down to issues like constipation or irritable bowel syndrome.
But if in doubt, go and get checked out.
Tip of the week
IT is good to get the family outside to enjoy the weather.
Stock up on easy, picky bits for dinner this week – such as sandwich fillers, vegetable sticks and yoghurt – and take it to your local park for a stress-busting evening, rather than sweltering indoors on the sofa.
Foot pain lingers since chemo
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Q) I WAS diagnosed with myeloma in June 2020.
I was treated with weekly doses of chemotherapy and daily thalidomide capsules for nine months.
Twelve months later, I had a stem cell transplant.
For the past three years my feet and calves have been tingling and it’s painful to walk.
Is there any cure or treatment for my problem?
A) It sounds like you’ve got peripheral neuropathy, which is a pain, a tingling or a loss of sensation in the foot or calves. Damage to the nerves of the feet and lower legs is a well-known potential side effect of many forms of chemotherapy, including thalidomide.
Unfortunately there’s unlikely to be a cure once that nerve damage is done, but the symptoms can be managed in a number of ways.
Some other causes, such as B12 or folate deficiency, diabetes and thyroid issues, can be treated and sometimes symptoms may improve.
Paracetamol and ibuprofen usually do little to alleviate nerve pain but there are a number of medicines that can be effective at calming the nerves down, such as amitriptyline and duloxetine, which are typically taken to treat depression, and gabapentin and pregabalin, used in the treatment of epilepsy.
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Capsaicin cream, made from chillies, can also help too. It’s not available everywhere as it’s in short supply at the moment, so it’s worth checking both at your local pharmacy and online too.
There’s some evidence that acupuncture and talking therapies, such as CBT, can support people and help them to cope better while living with painful conditions like this.
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