Dr Le Fanu"s on the internet health clinic, Friday 27th June 2014

Mrs Valerie C

Dear Mrs Valerie C,

Thanks for your query and my sympathies for this distressing problem you describe that is recognized technically as Craniofacial Hyperhidrosis. This is due to an age relevant disturbance of perform of the autonomic nerves that handle the sweat glands in the head and neck. There is regrettably no certain treatment but this sweating can surely be minimised by regular use of an aluminium based antiperspirant that blocks the sweat glands as does yet another Facade Facial antiperspirant that is obtainable on the internet. You may discuss with your physician a trial of the drug Oxybutynin typically used for the treatment of bladder problems which can reduce the volume of sweating. The topical remedy Glycopyrrolate is also reported to be powerful but is very pricey. There is an informative website at www.hyperhidrosisuk.org.

Dear Dr Le Fanu

I have just go through your column in today’s Day-to-day Telegraph and your piece on psychic unease notably struck a chord with me.

My mother had been unwell for some years although I had no specific cause to consider her death was imminent when a single night I woke abruptly to locate her standing at the foot of my bed. I acquired the telegram announcing her death the following morning and when, in due program, I saw her death certificate, I mentioned that the time of death coincided with that of her apparition in my bedroom. Coincidentally, she died on my 23rd birthday. I like to feel that might have had some thing to do with her look and have usually identified it comforting.

Kind regards

Jennifer H

Dear Jennifer H,

Thanks for that most intriguing account that I have pointed out in the column this week (30th June).

Dear Dr. le Fanu,

I enjoy and learn from your column quite significantly – my G.P. likes it as well!

Concerning the story of ‘psychic unease’ I will place right here my encounter, which I did not recognize or consider onboard at all, at the time.

In excess of a time period of a 12 months or two, when my youngest daughter was about 14, I often would feel really anxious, and would telephone my husband at work to ask, ‘Is everything alright?’ I told him that I considered anything terrible was about to happen. It wasn’t normal to mobile phone him at work, and I did not like to do so, but the urge was so great to seek reassurance. I am a fairly well-balanced particular person and rather sceptical, or logical. I certainly didn’t connect this feeling with both of my daughters, and was in a quite satisfied predicament with a happy marriage and moderately comfy way of life. I just felt a big fear which came into my mind. This carried on intermittently until finally…..

My daughter was harm in a car crash at the age of 16, and was paralysed. Now 45, she is nonetheless paralysed and has tremendous bodily issues – but lives a complete daily life in the hours left in her day right after care, and is wonderfully happily married.

When my husband came into the bedroom at 2.a.m. that morning, getting answered a mobile phone contact, saying, ‘There’s been an accident. She is all right but has broken her neck somewhat,’ I could only say, ‘ I can not inform you how much I knew this would happen.’ The hospital had informed him that she had a small damage in buy not to shock us till we knew much more.

Of course, no-a single can demonstrate that I had a premonition – I can only say that I felt this fear very strongly, at sudden moments, above a couple of many years. I haven’t had it given that.

Yours with extremely greatest wishes,

Janet R (Mrs.)

Dear Mrs Janet R,

Thanks for currently being in touch and your most intriguing account of your sense of prescient foreboding about your daughter’s injury. It is, as you say, particularly interesting that it need to have 1st started so extended just before the occasion itself.

My tall,slim,non-smoking twenty-five 12 months old son first seasoned his right lung collapse 7 years ago.Whilst chatting to buddies on line, laughing at a joke resulted in a pneumothorax without having any warning.He believed he was having a heart assault simply because the chest soreness was so excruciating.By the time we arrived at A&ampE his lung had begun to re-inflate.After several more episodes he had his lung cavity aspirated(drained).Three years later on,his left lung out of the blue collapsed as he walked property from college.This time,following many more episodes,aspiration and a series of chest drains failed,he at some point had to have surgical procedure.Since then,he has suffered from persistent chest pain and following numerous attempts has been forced to give up his studies at university.We believe he often has partial collapses which he manages by resting and slowing down his breathing and heartbeat.He has now been at property for almost eighteen months turning into more and more depressed and struggling from acute anxiety.Physiotherapy and Pilates have failed to support.A lot more lately,normal visits to a chiropractor and a cranial-sacral therapist have provided some limited relief.He has been obtaining some counselling for a even though and is awaiting an appointment at the Ache Clinic.He has been striving to manage his pain amounts with paracetamol and ibuprofen cream .He stays desperately unhappy and worries about the future.We have been unable to uncover a support group.Is there anything else we can try?

A extremely concerned mother.

Dear Anon,

Thanks for your query. This problem of persistent soreness following corrective surgical procedure for a pneumothorax is, as you will know, not unusual becoming reported in almost a third of patients. I would have imagined that in the first instance your son requirements to be taking significantly more powerful painkillers this kind of a Co-codamol and – as there is virtually undoubtedly a neuropathic element to the soreness – a drug this kind of as Gabapentin. I would hope the medical professionals at the ache management clinic need to advise on this. Your son has obviously grow to be, however scarcely remarkably, depressed by it all and would advantage I am sure from each some Cognitive behavioural treatment and an antidepressant such as Sertraline to enhance his spirits and restore his self confidence.

Hello Dr James

I have leg soreness considering that October final. It came on abruptly and has been with me ever considering that. I get serious discomfort in I feel my calf muscle in my left leg only. I had MRI scans completed but showed up nothing. What is leading to this pain. It improves when i raise my leg up and I find standing on it helps make it worse and then it will get extremely serious.

Hope you can help as I am a gardener and I need to have to get it sorted.

A lot of thanks.

Sincerely

Monica O’B

Dear Monica O’B,

Thanks for your query. There are, as you will know, numerous brings about of calf pain such as muscle strain and blood clots Still, it is difficult to envision – offered the regular MRI scan – what could account for its persistence above the last 9 months. I would talk about with your doctor the possibility of a referral for a specialist viewpoint – if he has not carried out so currently.

ALAMY

Response to Mr TS of Leeds Bladder pain (23 June)

It sounds as if I had the identical issue as the above gentleman, though I am a 53 year outdated female! I have at some point identified that I am struggling from candida. I had many programs of antibiotics following an operation and my bladder grew to become significantly worse as a result. I discovered with the yeast overgrowth that it was essential to cut out sugar as much as achievable as this absolutely aggravated the dilemma. I hope this may possibly be valuable to Mr TS of Leeds.

G K

Dear G K,

Thanks for that valuable suggestion. I hope to mention in the column this week.

The death of a near buddy far away

Dear Dr Le Fanu,

A dear and very near pal of mine had to move all of a sudden from her residence in Hull after the floods of 1977. She went to her daughters in Plymouth without a likelihood to say goodbye. Ringing her daughters a couple of weeks later I was shocked to find out that she had died of undiagnosed cervical cancer…..she had been taken care of for pain in her hip!

That night she appeared at the finish of my bed dressed in shimmering blue. She just mentioned, ‘Hello Tony’ and was gone….it had never ever took place before and has never happened considering that!

Variety Regards,

Tony C

Dear Tony C,

Thanks for your most intriguing account of your friend’s go to from ‘the other side’ – though your observation that she was sporting a shimmering blue dress raises the challenging query as to how a non sentient material object, such as a dress, can appear in spiritual type.

Dear Dr Le Fanu,

Like Mr T S of Leeds I have been unable to discover a remedy for bladder pain either by way of my GP or the urological division of my nearby hospital who performed a cystoscopy. I take a 400gr capsule of Tamsulosin everyday to offset benign prostate enlargement and the bladder soreness began some months soon after commencement. I am 78.

Yours genuinely

GM.

Dear GM,

Thanks for your query. I have summarised the responses in this week’s column.

Dual bowel movements

Dear Medical professional,

I have suffered similar problems to your correspondent, and have put it down to my every day intake of 1 Pantoprazole 40mg pill, which I take for Barratt’s Oesophagus.

My GP, and consultant at the Hammersmith, the two have a tendency to disagree, and items just wander on.

Yours sincerely,

Charles H

Dear Charles H,

Thanks for getting in touch. It is not apparent why Pantoprazole should result in this dual bowel motion. The only way to clarify the matter would be to temporarily discontinue it and see what transpires.

Dear Dr.Lefanu, really sympathise with this gentleman, obtaining typically suffered with a painful bladder (which my GP says is ‘irritable bladder’ not unusual in men and women like me who have IBS) I wonder if he has ever tried consuming pearl barley water? It’s rather gloopy and not to everyone’s taste but it constantly seems to assist me. Please pass on my ideal wishes to Mr.TS

Dear Anon,

Thanks for that suggestion talked about in the column this week.

Dear Dr

Concerning significant discomfort – lasting up to an hour – right after emptying the bladder.

I reduce out Polo sweets, Tea and all variety of cereal (they all have sugar) and my pain almost gone.

SA

Dear SA,

Thanks for that suggestion that I hope to mention in the column next week.

Dr Le Fanu"s on the internet health clinic, Friday 27th June 2014