ASK DR ZOE
I’m worried I’ll end up in a wheelchair – Dr Zoe Williams reassures readers who have turned to Google
Plus, Dr Zoe helps out another reader whose daughter suffers with fibromyalgia
EVERY week for the past five years the mood of the nation has been tracked – and the findings make for an interesting read.
Major lows were recorded when the Ukraine war broke out, Queen Elizabeth II died and, of course, when Covid lockdowns hit, the YouGov poll shows.
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Meanwhile, our Women’s Euros win, hot summers and Christmas saw bumps in the nation’s mood.
The data reveals those who exercise regularly, get eight hours’ sleep and have more sex tend to be happier and less stressed.
As a GP, I understand there can be obstacles to these goals, including chronic conditions and those affecting mental health.
But the findings suggest we could all benefit from a little stress relief and taking time to be kind to ourselves.
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Whether it be going for a walk, calling a friend or telling the kids you need a bath in silence – don’t let stress build up.
Carve time out to release it to better face any struggles that come your way.
Here’s a selection of what readers asked me this week . . .
Will I lose limb use?
Q) TESTS have revealed I have sensory motor axonal polyneuropathy.
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I am waiting for my appointment to see a consultant.
I have read on the internet I could end up in a wheelchair and have problems swallowing, plus loss of the use of my arms and legs, which is very scary. Is this correct?
Amputees could walk normally again thanks to 'bionic leg' that's 41% faster than prosthetics
I am 80 and the symptoms started a few months ago.
The only medication I’m taking is statins for cholesterol.
A) The internet is a great source of information, but it can also terrify people unnecessarily – and I suspect this may have happened in your case.
There is a condition called acute motor axonal neuropathy, which is rare and very serious, but the key word is “acute”. It develops over days and weeks.
It can affect people of any age and is often triggered by an infection, such as food poisoning.
This causes the immune system to damage some of the nerves and tends to follow a pattern where weakness starts off in the hands or feet and can ascend inwards towards the body, in some cases affecting the muscles that we use to swallow or breathe.
A person with this condition would usually be admitted to hospital immediately for treatment.
This neuropathy is a type of Guillain-Barre syndrome, which you may have heard of.
Chronic axonal polyneuropathy, on the other hand, is much more common, and mostly tends to affect people over the age of 60.
The pattern is very different in that it is a very slow-progressing disease, over months and years, with less severe symptoms.
This type of polyneuropathy doesn’t usually cause severe disability, but it can reduce your quality of life and impact on daily activities.
There are a lot of similarities in the names of these two conditions, but they are very different.
It’s sometimes helpful to have a bit of understanding around what the medical words mean.
Neuropathy means nerve damage.
When someone has polyneuropathy, it means that multiple nerves are not working properly, which can cause symptoms such as numbness, tingling, weakness or pain.
Hopefully your symptoms are much more in line with the chronic condition, and you feel reassured while awaiting your appointment with the specialist.
No meds for daughter’s fibro pain
Q) MY daughter has fibromyalgia and the doctors keep telling her to just get on with her life.
She is in pain, tired all the time and has swelled up.
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They haven’t given her any medication, merely advice to exercise.
But when she does, she is in more pain.
Any advice would be very helpful.
A) Fibromyalgia is a long-term condition causing widespread body pain and tenderness, mood difficulties, fatigue and sleep disturbances.
People with fibromyalgia may also have trouble concentrating or remembering things, sometimes called “fibro fog”.
Fibromyalgia tends to be an “invisible illness”, meaning other people can’t see it, and there’s no definitive blood tests or scan to diagnose it.
But it’s very serious and often debilitating to the person suffering from it.
This means people with fibromyalgia may feel lonely and misunderstood, and it sounds like this is the case with your daughter, so I’m so sorry about that.
Unfortunately, there is currently no cure for fibromyalgia, but there are several ways to manage the symptoms.
There isn’t a single treatment that works for everyone with fibromyalgia, so management of this condition requires an individualised approach.
Exercise is indeed a recommended strategy.
Low-impact activities such as swimming or yoga can be especially effective for improvement of pain level and quality of life.
However, exercise needs to be introduced gradually and carefully, as over-doing it can make fibromyalgia symptoms worse, especially when first starting out.
Other lifestyle changes include stress management and relaxation techniques.
Medications including painkillers and antidepressants can also be used, and a referral to a pain clinic might be warranted.
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) has also shown promise in helping to manage the psychological impacts of chronic pain.
Tip of the week
RESISTANT starch, which is found in potatoes, pasta, rice and beans, is good for your gut health.
These foods are even higher in resistant starch when they have been cooled after cooking and then reheated, studies show.
In this state, they also cause a more favourable blood glucose response.
Q) I HAVE just been told I have haemochromatosis.
I think it means I will have to have a pint of blood taken each week.
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That’s all I’ve been told. I cannot seem to get in touch with my doctor, so can you please explain a bit about this?
All I know is what I’ve read online.
A) Haemochromatosis is a genetic condition where your body takes in too much iron from the food you eat.
Iron is naturally found in many foods, such as dark chocolate, red meat and leafy greens.
Iron is important because it allows the red blood cells to carry oxygen around the body.
Normally, your body only absorbs the iron it needs.
However, in haemochromatosis, excess iron builds up.
This can cause liver damage, heart problems, diabetes and joint pain.
Symptoms can be vague at first, for example joint pain, tiredness and tummy pain.
Treatment usually involves regularly removing blood to lower the iron levels – this is called venesection.
The other main treatment is chelation therapy, which means using medicine to reduce the body’s iron levels.
Most people with haemochromatosis do not need to make major diet changes, but it is advisable to avoid iron or vitamin C supplements and not to drink excess alcohol.
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I also recommend you keep trying to reach your GP, who can answer any specific questions you have.
Or if there is a specialist nurse at the hospital where you have blood removed, they would be a great source of all the information that you need relating to this.