I have suffered from excessive flatulence for some time and it is very annoying: I feel like I need to go to the bathroom all the time. Is there anything that can be done about this? Or is it something I will have to live with?
Flatulence may be temporary, but for some people it is a medical condition.
Dr. Ellie Cannon responds: Flatulence is normal, of course. But when someone suffers from excessive flatulence, it can be very uncomfortable and socially embarrassing. How much is normal then? It’s difficult to give an exact number of times a person “should” pass gas, but a general rule of thumb would be that if it becomes noticeably more frequent than a person is used to, it could be considered excessive.
Sometimes it is temporary, caused by eating fibrous foods such as beans, legumes and vegetables. Intestinal bacteria help break them down and a byproduct of the process is gas.
But for some, it is a medical condition. Irritable bowel syndrome can cause excessive bloating and gas along with belly pain and diarrhea or constipation. Peppermint oil capsules can be prescribed by prescription to reduce symptoms. It may also be helpful to avoid certain food groups under medical supervision.
Excess gas can also be caused by intestinal problems such as constipation, celiac disease, and lactose intolerance. Less commonly, a condition called small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) would be diagnosed, when excess bacteria build up in the intestine. Flatulence can be caused by a food intolerance. They are difficult to diagnose and depend on you keeping a food diary to see which foods are linked to the problem. Some medications can cause excessive gas, such as statins and anti-inflammatories such as ibuprofen. Laxatives are also known to cause the problem.
I had a mini stroke when I was 50 and took ramipril, pravastatin and clopidogrel to prevent another one. Now my doctor wants me to take another medicine, lansoprazole, to prevent stomach bleeding caused by the other medicines. But if it’s the pills that are causing the problem, couldn’t I take less?
Dr. Ellie answers: It is common that after a mini stroke, also known as a transient ischemic attack (TIA), medications are prescribed to prevent another one. These will usually be blood pressure pills and a cholesterol-lowering statin, plus an anticoagulant or anticoagulant.
Clopidogrel is one of them: it prevents certain blood cells (platelets) from clumping together and forming a clot. And it is blood clots that travel to the brain that can cause TIA.
However, one of the side effects of clopidogrel is bleeding. Stomach bleeding can happen to anyone, especially people with stomach irritation or ulcers. The concern for someone taking clopidogrel is that this bleeding could become excessive and dangerous. Therefore yes
If someone is taking an anticoagulant medication, they will often be recommended something to protect their stomach from irritation and possible bleeding. Lansoprazole is a medicine that protects the stomach to make any irritation or bleeding unlikely.
If clopidogrel is working and not causing any problems, there is no reason to stop it. At age 77, the risk of a new TIA is higher than at age 57 simply due to age, so it wouldn’t make sense to stop clopidogrel unless it was causing problems.
I’m 80 years old and fit. But recently, I found that my legs become numb and difficult to control after about 10 minutes of walking. My GP suggested it was due to nerve problems in my back and referred me for an x-ray. But I don’t have back pain. What do you think?
Dr. Ellie answers: Numbness and problems walking could be a neurological problem: conditions that affect the nerves. But symptoms like the ones you describe could also be due to a problem with blood circulation in the legs.
It is called peripheral vascular disease and it causes a very characteristic pain after walking, which disappears when you rest. It can cause aching pain in both legs and there may also be changes in skin color (legs or feet may appear blue or purple). numbness or weakness. Peripheral vascular disease is more common in people who have heart disease. And anyone with high blood pressure, obesity, or high cholesterol is also at risk.
Smoking is the main cause. However, a doctor might think this is less likely in someone with a healthy lifestyle who has these symptoms. Pulse and blood pressure in the feet and legs may be checked as a first check to see if there is a vascular problem; This can be done at your local GP surgery. That said, numbness in the legs is also often caused by spinal problems and may not be accompanied by any back pain.
All of the nerves that supply the legs are connected to the spine, and any swelling or damage caused by conditions such as arthritis can cause pressure on the posterior nerves.
This can cause numbness and possibly tingling, tingling, or even weakness in the legs. It can occur only in certain positions, such as when you are walking and the pressure on the nerves is maximum. It may stop when you move, sit, or lie down and the pressure is released.
Danger of slapped cheek syndrome
Parvovirus is known as ‘slapped cheek syndrome’
Have you heard of parvovirus? It is the cause of “slapped cheek syndrome” in children and, despite the rash, is virtually harmless.
However, if a pregnant woman contracts the virus, in one in eight cases, it can cause a miscarriage. And, more worryingly, the number of women of childbearing age testing positive for parvovirus has increased since Covid.
I have heard stories of women who lost babies as a result of the infection. We don’t have a vaccine right now, so it’s something we need to keep an eye on.
I was never shy about expressing my concern about endless lockdowns and the side effects they would have on our health. Many common infections were suppressed for years while we were isolated and now appear to be circulating strongly. I’m sorry to say that this appears to be another example.
How you can help our A&Es
A&E’s seemingly intractable problems are depressing. The departments are so inundated with patients that hundreds of thousands wait more than 12 hours to be seen; in the most extreme case, according to recent data, it was waited ten days.
The situation is getting worse and worse. GPs are often blamed for not being able to see patients quickly enough. In reality, people are overwhelming emergency services with things like mouth ulcers and coughs, things they really shouldn’t need medical help for.
A patient of mine this week who had fainted never made it to the hospital; The ER was too busy, so they treated him in the ambulance outside. Fortunately, that ended well.
Others have not been so lucky. I read about a disabled woman with severe asthma who died after waiting 39 hours in the emergency room.
How is your local hospital coping? Write to me and let me know.
Do you have a question for Dr. Ellie Cannon? Email DrEllie@mailonsunday.co.uk
Dr. Cannon cannot engage in personal correspondence and her responses should be taken in a general context.