This week, we look at two subjects that my friends/readers requested I look into, and hopefully provide some answers.
One is morning sickness, and the other notalgia paresthetica.
- MORNING SICKNESS
My dear reader Samiye Öz, made the following comment:
“Do you have any suggestions about stomach and intestinal problems during pregnancy…don’t say ginger, my daughter doesn’t like it… Thanks in advance.”
I replied that I had never thought about this “problem”, but that I would look into it.
Vomiting during pregnancy, can be one of the first signs of pregnancy and usually begins around the 6thweek.
It can occur at any time of the day, and for most women, it seems to stop after the 12thweek.
Morning sickness is not harmful to the mother or the baby, but if excessive vomiting is the case and one cannot manage to keep food down, one may have hyperemesis gravidarum, which could be harmful for the mother and the baby due to the possible lack of nutrients and electrolytes. One should discuss this with one’s doctor and agree on possible treatments.
- Morning sickness facts
More than 50 % of pregnant women experience morning sickness. This refers to the nauseas feeling women may have during the first trimester of pregnancy. This happens as a result of increased hormones in the body.
Morning sickness can be accompanied by vomiting. Many doctors think morning sickness is a god sign because it means the placenta is developing well.
- Helpful do’s and don’ts
Do:
- Eat small meals often
- Drink fluids ½ hour before or after a meal, but not with the meal
- Drink small amounts of fluids during the day to avoid dehydration
- Eat soda crackers 15 minutes before getting up in the morning
- Eat whatever you feel like eating, whenever you can
- Ask someone else to cook for you; open the windows, or turn on fans if the odor bothers you
- Get plenty of rest and nap during the day
- Avoid warm places
- Sniff lemons or ginger, drink lemonade or eat watermelon to relieve nausea
- Do mild exercises
Don’t:
- Lie down after eating
- Skip meals
- Cook or eat spicy foods
- Hyperemesis Gravidarum
If severe nausea, vomiting, and weight loss occurs immediately check with your doctor. It could be treated with dietary measures, rest and antacids.
More severe cases may require a stay in the hospital.
2. NOTALGIA PARESTHETICA
This request came from a dear classmate, as his wife has been battling with this common localized itch for quite some time.
I promised that I would research it, but what I’ve come up with doesn’t look too promising.
- Causes
The causes of this condition have not yet beencompletely defined. Patients are usually older persons.
It is thought that spinal nerve impingement might be a contributing cause.
- Treatment
Therapy for notalgia paresthetica is directed at controlling symptoms, as no cure exists for the condition.
Available treatments include local anesthetics, topical capsaicin, topical corticosteroids, hydroxyzine, oxcarbazepine, palmitoylethanolamide, and gabapentin. Paravertebral nerve block and botulinum toxin injections may also be helpful.
There seem to be many similarities between this condition and FIBROMYALGIA that I wrote about 2 weeks ago.
Therefore, I suggest that instead of trying to control the symptoms, try to drastically change your lifestyle; what you eat, your daily activity, and aiming at a serene and calm mental state.
Start with the complete elimination diet, which has cured a medical doctor of multiple sclerosis (MS). Please read the posts on autoimmune diseases November 18, 2016, November 25, 2016, December 2, 2016) for details.
The complete elimination diet, means:
- No grains
- No dairy or dairy products
- No sugar or artificial sweeteners
- No legumes
- No corn
- No soya
Given the discomfort you have to put up with, don’t you think it’s worth a try? Try it for a month.
That’s it for now; see you all next time.
