Lady's Hernia?

Lady's  Hernia?

Dear Sir,

I am a very good reader of your column and a girl of 16[sixteen]. I must commend you for the way you tackle peoples' problems. Some things have been bothering me and I have a few questions to ask you about them. [1] Can a woman/girl have hernia? If so, what are the signs and symptoms? [2] What is the difference between a "labia minora" and "Bartholin's glands" in the external genitals of a vagina? [3] I read in a book that the labia minora varies in size, i.e one can be bigger than the other. Is it true or is it an infection? If it is an infection, what can be used to cure it or prevent it from getting to an uncontrollable state?

Worried Girl.

Dear Worried Girl,

Yes ladies do have hernias too---a case of what a man can do a woman can do also! The features are hardly different from that of the man---they're the same ---swelling in the groin that comes and goes especially with any form of strain like coughing, etc etc. Note that hernias are dangerous--very much so. Anyone who has or thinks he has a hernia is hereby advised to go, quickly and see a surgeon who will confirm or deny the suspicion and do the necessary. Hernias kill if mismanaged and allowed to strangulate--which is practically all the time if you do not allow your surgeon/doctor to help you with it. Now for the external genitals. These are also called the vulva-- collectively. The labia minora are different from Bartholin's gland. All women are blessed with wonderful external genitalia that are almost uncontrollably attractive to men--in fact they make a man crazy anytime he sees them or thinks of them. This consists of half a dozen structures: the clitoris is at the upper end of the oval shaped area called the vulva or external genitals. It is covered with a small hood which divides out into the two minor lips --one on each side of the oval, called labia minora--singular-- labium minus. The large lips or labia majora are thick fat filled structures that on both sides cover the minor lips -- you have to open the large lips to see the minor ones. The hymen grows around the introitus which is the entry into the vaginal barrel. In between the cltoris and the introitus is the urethral meatus -- the spot from which the lady urinates. The minor lips having bloomed in the middle of their length to accommodate the vagina now join together, once again, below the introitus, to form the vaginal vestibule. Now, the labia majora are the structures in which you find the Bartholin's glands and their own job is to provide lubricant secretions for sex. They cannot be felt or seen when they're not diseased --so you will not feel them unless you have an infection. The sizes of the minor lips of the vagina may vary but mostly inappreciably unless of course when there is disease. An infection will involve pain and swelling and loss of function-- do you have any of these? See a doctor for proper cure after correct assessment because the commonest cause of Bartholin's gland trouble is Gonorrhea.

Cheers

 

Stroke and Witchcraft?

Stroke and Witchcraft?

 

Dear Doctor,

 

My brother suffer red a stroke about

a year ago. He was flown abroad and later sent back home. He has been getting

better but only slightly and a bit too slow for my liking. He is no longer in

the hospital because we have been made to realize that what he needs now is

some physiotherapy and so on. But I am not satisfied. He can hardly talk or recognize

any body. I am worried - some of our relatives are sure there is witchcraft

involved and, as if they are right, certain people at home, I am told, have in

fact, already confessed their involvement. Doctor, what can I do? What do you

think about the witchcraft angle? What can I do to help? I don't want to lose

him! Please help. Thank you

 

Mrs Mata Humuani, Epe, Lagos

 

Dear Mrs Humuani,

 

Stroke is defined as "a sudden

loss of brain function caused by a blockage or rupture of a blood vessel to the

brain, characterized by loss of muscular control, reduction or loss of

sensation or consciousness, dizziness, slurred speech, or other symptoms that

vary with the extent and severity of the damage to the brain. Also called

cerebral accident, cerebrovascular accident and apoplexy, stroke involves a

sudden loss of consciousness resulting when the rupture or occlusion of a blood

vessel leads to oxygen lack in the brain. Hypertension is usually the disease

behind a stroke. It increases the pressure --or force of flow-- of the the

blood vessels to the brain are carrying beyond the point of endurance and the

poor vessels burst --rather like when the water pipe from water corporation

bursts at some point before it gets to your house! Then you will suffer a

"no water" situation-- just like the brain suffers a no oxygen

situation causing brain cells to die. And since nerve cells do not regenerate

when they die, rehabilitation will have to take long -- the function of dead

nerve cells will need to be taken over and learnt slowly (by dint of repetition

and practice) by other nerve cells unaccustomed to those functions. When there

is a blockage of blood vessel rather than a busted blood vessel at the root of

stroke however, then we have -- not hypertension -- but something else as the

underlying disease condition causing the stroke. A good example is when there

is a Road traffic accident and some long bones are broken-- maybe the thigh

bone or femur. Here the displaced bone marrow fat from the broken bone may

travel through blood vessels as an embolus to go and block vessels in the brain

and cause a stroke. Emboli may also form from the cholesterol plaques found in

the inside walls of old and ageing atherosclerotic blood vessels --again dislodging

and travelling to block smaller blood vessels in the brain to cause stroke.

This is why a high cholesterol level and atherosclerosis are dangerous. The

care of a stroke patient involves making sure they are receiving as and when

due their medications against hypertension (commonest cause in these parts) and

or whatever else may be the root of their stroke, because if care is not taken

the high blood pressure will soon cause another stroke in a patient that has

just been diagnosed of the same!!! Psychologically, there must be committed,

caring , supportive, non- complaining and anticipatory care best given from

loving members of the family. You see, a person with stroke is either paretic

or paralyzed --(very weak or totally non-functioning muscles) and cannot move

by themselves to some or every degree and may not even be able to help

themselves to toilet. So as not to demoralize them and thereby make them prone

to further deterioration, the care and support must be of high quality and

committed -- it takes very little carelessness for a paralyzed patient to

develop a bed sore -- deadly in its effect - and usual when nursing care is

deficient -- a paralyzed patient's position must be changed at least every 2

hours!! Spiritually, you will find that prayers will help --seriously. You

can't pray? Well psalms are ready -made prayers and work if prayed

conscientiously. Witchcraft? Confessions? Hmmh. Let's just be open to the

suggestion  that many diseases

disabilities, discomforts, disasters and depressing adversities could be

negatively spiritually engineered by agents of darkness. If you read my book ,"Destroying

the Strongholds of Witchcraft" you will learn much in its 333 pages that

will be useful to your brother and your prayers. Call the helplines, check out our blog www.mediamedix.blogspot.com or send an e

mail to find out how to obtain the book.

 

Cheers

 

Relationship Woes, Help!!

 

Relationship Woes, Help!!

Good day, Dr

Once in a while when I'm opportuned to read your column in the Sun newspaper and I must commend your fatherly advice. May GOD bless you.

I'm a 26 years old female legal practitioner based in the South South part of Nigeria. Every aspect of my life has been smooth except MY RELATIONSHIPS. I'm so worried. My relationship is almost 2 years old and it seems it's just stagnant. Before I left for the Law School this guy was so much on my neck that he wanted to bring his people to come and see my people because he was scared that I would meet someone else at the Law School. Now I'm done with Law School yet he does not show all that seriousness he used to show. He hardly calls me and when he manages to he's always in a hurry to go. We break up and make up at will. I'm so sick and tired of the whole thing but whenever we break up we make up so easily. At times I feel he's just testing my patience because he received all manners of insult and stress before I accepted to date him. I used to drink and smoke so much before now but I gave my life to Christ last year and inwardly I've been so happy and fulfilled but this guy thinks that I'm boring now because we've different values now Meanwhile he was always complaining of my habits then. My parents are always reminding me indirectly that it's time to settle down. My younger sisters are

also worried because they believe that men are scared of female lawyers. I'm so confused. My work schedule is a bit tight. My spare time is just to attend service in church. I've prayed so much I don't know what else to do. I was not too comfortable when I went for last Xmas because almost all my friends and mates are married. No man is even saying hi to me anymore. At 26 I feel it's too early to be off the shelf without admirers. I thought I could share my worries with you. And i would like you to give me a private reply through

this mail address. I hope I'm not asking for too much.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH SIR AND GOD BLESS YOU.

Lisa, Yenagoa, Bayelsa

 

Dear Lisa,

At my email address, docmarrylove@yahoo.com, you or anybody can get a lot of resources and help on relationships. Just write in and I'll reply you. You should also visit my blog "www.mediamedix.blogspot.com". Health-wise, it's very wise to stay off tobacco and alcohol so I commend your courageous step. I'm also happy you pray. It's not normal for a man who was in a hurry to suddenly slack and be so cold about taking you to the altar. And at 26!!! My free report, "How to Take your Husband(or wife) Back" you or anyone can obtain if you ask for it. What has happened to your relationship with this guy is that it's under attack; some forces want to steal or have succeeded in stealing your man -- of course this is still in the pre-physical realm. Call the helplines and I'll show you how to pray through this kind of situation to be married to the man of your dreams in no time. After all, Eve never had to languish or wait for a man!!

Cheers

What is Polyhydramnios?

Dear Dr

I wedded recently and got pregnant immediately. I have enjoyed antenatal care at one of the best centres in the north central zone up until now. In my seventh month, I went for routine ultrasound scan from one of the best sonologists in town and I got a diagnosis of polyhydramnios. When I asked the doctors what that is they explained but have not been so forthcoming. First of all what is polyhydramnios and why have the doctors been so stingy with information about it? I was asked to do the fasting blood sugar test for diabetes which came out negative after which the matter was closed; my doctors have said there will be no trouble but I am scared. How can you help me?

Deidre Fahnbulleh, Lekki

Dear Deidre,

Generally less than or up to just 1% of pregnancies are diagnosed with polyhydramnios, so doctors don’t get to see the condition too often; again generally we do not  have a cure for it, nor do we know what causes it. This may be why your doctors have not been forthcoming with information on it—there simply precious too little. What is polyhydramnios? Too much fluid in the womb during pregnancy; that’s all. You see, all pregnancies have some fluid or liquid or water surrounding the baby. This is the waterfall that comes out during labour which the midwife always wants to know about—has she seen her waters, have the waters broken? Now, long before labour as the pregnancy progresses, every baby and pregnancy has this bag of waters around the baby which helps cushion any accidental fall or trouble like infection from easily getting to the baby. This fluid we call amniotic fluid located in the amniotic sac. When it is too plenty, a pregnant mother has what we call polyhydramnios. Some factors are associated with polyhydramnios including infection, a condition of the placenta called chorioangioma, multiple pregnancies and Rh isoimmunisation. Infection includes Toxoplasmosis, Other infections like chicken pox, chlamydia, syphilis and HIV. Rubella, Cyto-megalovirus and Herpes Simplex. When a twin pregnancy has polyhydramnios, the twin-to twin transfusion syndrome is usually what is going on. Conditions or abnormalities that affect the ability of the baby in the womb to swallow the amniotic fluid as is normal for babies in the womb also cause this condition. These include duodenal and esophageal atresia. Diagnosis is by the overlarge abdomen or womb that is larger than the age of the pregnancy, tight shiny abdominal skin with marks called striae, difficulty breathing, heart-burn and chest pain in the woman and by ultrasound findings.

What can a mother with this condition expect? Delivery complications like cord prolapse is common as is abruption placenta; premature births; perinatal death and congenital abnormalities. Treatment is symptomatic; nothing to cure. Most cases pull through without any repercussion. This, obviously is why your doctors have been lethargic. In my own opinion, polyhydramnios must not be managed passively but most actively by reversal through prayers and the reversal must be confirmed by ultrasound before delivery – how else can anyone guarantee the delivery of a baby without complications or abnormalities? Call the helplines