Archive for the ‘Ask your doctor’ Category

How To Make the Right Decision About Medications

November 19th, 2009 Parker Chuks

Medicine can do wonderful things. Our lives are better in the last 50 or so years because of medical advances. We have birth control pills, vaccines for childhood illnesses and medications for blood pressure and cholesterol. These are only a few of the “miracle drugs” that now are life-changing and sometimes even save our lives. However, because there are now so many different types of drugs, we have a new challenge. It is to make sure the medications we are taking to not interact with each other.

Your pharmacist can give a quick and educated answer for any problem that you may have with medications. If for some reason you do not want to talk with your pharmacist, you can call your physician’s office or search on line for a drug interaction site. This site will also advise you what medications you cannot take with grapefruit juice.

If you have an inflammatory condition such as arthritis, the doctor may want to prescribe a narcotic drug, which may be habit-forming. The reason for this is that most of the anti-inflammatory drugs that will help these conditions also produce serious side effects.

However, it is up to you, as a consumer to figure out your quality of life without the anti-inflammatory medications, as opposed to the possible side effects. If you do decide to take NSAIDS, your physician will administer tests about every three months for liver and stomach problems.

You can help your physician decide what is best for you by the following:

  • Every time you visit your doctor, make sure he or she knows what drugs that you are allergic to.
  • When a physician prescribes a medication, do your own research about that drug.
  • Always ask about drug interaction.
  • If you have side-affects from a drug, stop taking it immediately and call your doctor.
  • Keep a list of your medications.

Drugs are sometimes necessary, but if you could find a doctor or pain clinic that is open to all types of treatment, such as acupuncture, counseling and physical therapy, you would have more options to choose from.

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Do You Know Whether You Have Inverted Nipples?

September 20th, 2009 Parker Chuks

An inverted nipple (occasionally invaginated nipple) is a nipple that, instead of pointing outward, is retracted into the breast. In some cases, the nipple will be temporarily protruded if stimulated, but in others, the inversion remains regardless of stimulus. Women and men can have inverted nipples.

Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Women with inverted nipples may find that their nipples protract (come out) temporarily or permanently during pregnancy, or as a result of breastfeeding. Most women with inverted nipples who give birth are able to breastfeed without complication, but inexperienced mothers may experience higher than average pain and soreness when initially attempting to nurse. When a mother uses proper breastfeeding technique, the infant latches onto the areola, not the nipple, so women with inverted nipples are actually able to breastfeed without issue. An infant that latches on well may be able to slush out an inverted nipple. The use of a breast pump or other suction device immediately before a feeding may help to draw out inverted nipples. A hospital grade electric pump may be used for this purpose. Some women also find that using a nipple shield can help facilitate breastfeeding. Frequent stimulation such as sexual intercourse and foreplay (such as nipple sucking) also helps the nipple protract.

Methods which cause inverted nipples to protract

Some people with inverted nipples consider them to be a cosmetic deformity and seek methods to protract them.

Plastic surgery is one method of protracting inverted nipples. If a woman elects to have this surgery performed on her inverted nipples, it can permanently destroy her capacity to breastfeed. Another method of protracting inverted nipples is to have the nipple pierced. This method will only be effective if the nipple can be temporarily protracted. If pierced when protracted, the jewellery may prevent the nipple from returning to its inverted state. Like surgery, this method can have adverse effects. The success of both of these methods, from a cosmetic standpoint, is mixed.

Other strategies for protracting inverted nipples include regularly stimulating the nipples to a protruding state, in an attempt to gradually loosen the nipple tissue. Some sex toys designed for nipple stimulation, such as suction cups or clamps may also cause inverted nipples to protract or stay protracted longer. There are special devices specifically designed to draw out inverted nipples or a homemade nipple protractor can be constructed out of a 10 cc disposable syringe. These methods are often used in preparation for breast-feeding, which can sometimes cause inverted nipples to become protracted permanently.

Two methods which are now discouraged are breast shells and the Hoffman technique. Breast shells may be used to apply gentle constant pressure to the areola in order to try and break any adhesions under the skin that are preventing the nipple from being drawn out. The shells are worn inside the bra. The Hoffman technique is a nipple stretching exercise that may help loosen the adhesions at the base of the nipple when performed several times a day. Although both techniques are heavily promoted, a 1992 study found that not only do shells and the Hoffman technique not promote more successful breastfeeding, they may actually disrupt it

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Three Questions to Ask the Doctor in Your First Visit

December 13th, 2008 Parker Chuks

Over the years, I’ve seen hundreds of patients in the hospital suffering from various illnesses. When they see me, some seniors usually bring a bagful of medications. Yes, a grocery bag full of prescription bottles. I’m surprised though that most patients don’t know why they are on medications especially that some even take at least 15 yellow, red, pink, and blue tablets. No wonder, some can’t even remember their spouses’ names.

Sure, it’s cumbersome keeping track of chores, how much more trying to remember this entire treatment regimen. If I were in their shoes, I’d be confused as well and perhaps forget my mother-in-law’s name.

What are the three questions you need to ask the doctor in your first visit?

First Question: What’s my illness?

Before you agree to a treatment, you need to know your illness or your diagnosis. Ask your doctor what’s going on. Don’t hesitate to ask hard questions such as:

Why I can’t breathe?

Why I easily get tired?

Why do I have headache all the time?

Why do I worry every day?

Why am I down?

After your doctor tells you the diagnosis, ask for possible causes. Is your tiredness and fatigue due to heart or chest problem? Is it because of depression? If the doctor tells you that you have “chemical imbalance,” ask him or her what the specific illness is and what it means to suffer from it.

Second Question: What is the treatment?

Once you know the illness, ask for major treatment choices and the benefits and risks of each choice. What’s the advantage of one expensive treatment over the other cheaper alternative? Don’t hesitate to know the indications of the proposed treatment options and their side effect profiles.

Also, know the consequences of not taking any medication. What’s the disease’s course with or without treatment?

After you’ve chosen the treatment you feel is right for you, then ask for the details. Know a detailed list of side effects and benefits and risks. Know the drug’s mechanism of action. Ask when you expect some improvement, about intake schedule, and duration of treatment.

Third Question: While treatment is ongoing, what other things should I do to get well?

Ask your doctor what food, activities, and exercises are allowed or should be avoided. If you’re on antihypertension pill, how much salt can you add to your meal? Should you start avoiding fatty foods as well?

Know when you can restart your hobbies such as carpentry project or when you can return to work. If taking a sedative, what precautions you should know. Will it affect your driving or the use of mechanized equipment such as a mower or a snow blower? Should you be careful standing up after sitting or lying down for a while?

Ask your doctor if your illness can be passed on to another person through conversation or handshake. Should you be isolated from family members and friends for a few days to avoid contaminating them?

As a patient, you should be responsible for your treatment and recovery. This only means that you should know as much as possible about the illness, the treatment, and precautionary and preventive measures.

Through these three questions, you should go home not only with a bagful of medications but also with enough information to help you in the healing process.

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