The statistics are that Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) affects 5-10% of women of childbearing age, personally I believe the numbers needs to be much higher.  I believe present diets and lifestyles are making the situation more prevalent.  Greater than regular blood sugar ranges interfere with regular egg growth every month. these improperly developed eggs can stay on the ovary as a cyst.

Since ovulation is either delayed or doesn’t happen at all, the hormone progesterone is either reduced or absent in that cycle, leading to most of the symptoms of PCOS. Lack of progesterone leads to a relative imbalance between estrogen and progesterone in order that estrogen’s exercise is not balanced out correctly by progesterone; that is known as estrogen dominance.

We also have an article you might like to read about Low Estrogen Symptoms

The 2 hormones are inclined to have equal and opposite functions: estrogen causes proliferation of the liner of the uterus, while progesterone helps preserve it, estrogen causes proliferation of breast tissue while progesterone keeps it healthy, estrogen tends to provoke feelings like disappointment and progesterone had anti-depressant qualities. Progesterone reduces spasm of easy muscle, normalizes clotting and vascular power, helps thyroid operate and bone constructing and helps prevent endometrial cancer.

You might like to read about Pregnancy Test after Iui on our new website.

PCOS ladies have more circulating, active testosterone to trigger issues like anovulation, infertility, zits, extra physique and facial hair growth and loss of head hair. Regulation of dietary starch and sugar intake can enormously improve symptoms of PCOS together with infertility, hair loss, weight gain, absence of standard periods, lack of ovulation, and facial hair growth. PCOS just isn’t an infertility sentence and may be treated naturally by means of eating regimen, train and dietary supplements.

Due to the hormone imbalances related to PCOS (excessive insulin, excessive androgens, low progesterone, and imbalanced ratio of estrogen to progesterone), ladies can endure from the following symptomsHigh ranges of male hormones, androgensAn irregular or no menstrual cycle

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this entry was posted on Monday, May 2nd, 2011 at 4:37 pm and is filed under . you can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. you can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

What women have to know about ovarian cyst symptoms is they aren’t always present. However, when they’re, women have to report them to a doctor to be able to select a treatment. After performing diagnosing based on the symptoms, the doctor knows the development stage from the cysts and will be in a position to recommend a suitable treatment. there are several kinds of cysts and each type is characterized by certain symptoms. For example, cystadenomas are cysts that appear on the exterior of the ovaries. Dermoid cysts are another variety that can grow several types of tissue, among which hair and teeth are the most typical. Functional cysts contain eggs, form during the period and are gone when the eggs are released. On the other hand, polycystic ovaries are ovarian cysts that contain eggs that aren’t set free and that continue growing. Endometriomas develop inside and out the uterus. The quantity of pain that is felt depends greatly about the dimension of the cysts in every case. most frequently, the ovarian cysts symptoms include pain the pelvic or abdominal area, nausea, fever and vomiting. Dyspareunia is the name of the pain that occurs in the pelvic area throughout the intercourse and can be among the signs that indicate the development of ovarian cysts. Pelvic pain might be constant or intermittent and may extend to the thighs minimizing back. more than that, this type of pain may appear prior to the period or close to its end. because of the ovarian cysts, the time will come earlier or later than expected, and this fact should also be reported to the doctor. Some from the ovarian cysts symptoms look like signs of pregnancy. For example, women may feel nausea and vomiting, as well as breast tenderness. these symptoms could be accompanied by pain, too. Additionally, women may feel some type of heaviness in their abdomen. Pressure about the rectum or bladder has additionally been reported to point ovarian cysts. due to this pressure, going number 2 are sometimes painful. Emptying the bladder completely is also difficult. when fever and extreme pain are observed, women must look for medical attention immediately, because these ovarian cysts symptoms really are a threat to health. probably, the ovarian cysts that produce such symptoms are malignant and measures have to be taken at once, to be able to prevent ovarian cancer.Once you discover you have ovarian cysts, there’s one initial thing you need to do: start eating, drinking, and living right. The thing is – most doctors will explain either to take birth control pills, or simply wait and see if the cysts go away. Although this works a lot of times, you are able to actively be eating, drinking, and living properly to actively combat the cysts. It doesn’t take much work – the right diet every single day and achieving many of the proper juice can definitely take care of the ovarian cysts before they’re a problem. Don’t let them grow and get big – then you will have to get surgery which could cost a ton more money, and a lot more stress inside your personal life.

Get more information about ovarian cyst symptoms and ovarian cyst pain

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Food allergies are a huge public health threat.

However, for the first time, a panel of experts has agreed on the best way to diagnose and manage the problem.

One in 25 people suffer from food allergies.

In some cases, food allergies can lead to anaphylaxis, a severe and even deadly reaction.

But now there’s help.

New guidelines developed by a panel of experts will help doctors better diagnose and treat food allergies.

More than 43 recommendations are listed, including how to diagnose a food allergy, and which tests are most effective.

The recommendations also include common allergy-causing foods and their symptoms, and how to manage non-life threatening allergic reactions, as well as potentially life-threatening anaphylaxis.

Though it’s unclear why, experts believe food allergies are on the rise.

The most common aggravators include peanuts, tree nuts, seafood, milk, and eggs.

Food allergies are more common in children than adults.

Fortunately, most children will outgrow their allergy to eggs, milk, soy, or wheat.

There is no cure for food allergies. if you think you’ve suffered a reaction to food, talk to your doctor, and be sure your doctor knows about the new guidelines.

The menopause, sometimes known as the “change of life,” occurs when levels of the female hormones oestrogen and progesterone fall and your ovaries stop producing eggs. Menstruation ends and you are no longer able to conceive.

Perimenopause is the months and years prior to menopause. For some women the perimenopause period may be short, only a year or two. For others it may be as long as seven to ten years. Some women in their late thirties and early forties may begin to show symptoms. Menopause is defined one year after menstrual periods have ended.

Sign and symptoms  • Hot flashes, flushes, or power surges—sense of warmth that starts suddenly, usually over your face, neck, and chest. • Related to fluctuations in estrogen, occurs only during perimenopause when estrogen levels are decreasing. • Fluctuating estrogen levels may cause an imbalance in the hypothalamus. The body is tricked into thinking it is too hot. To cool itself blood is rushed to the surface of the skin, therefore resulting in a flushed appearance. • Night sweats—when hot flashes interfere with sleep• Vaginal dryness, itching, and irritation. • Thinning of the vaginal lining may cause painful intercourse. • Urinary tract infections, need to urinate frequently, burning on urination, itching in the urethra area. • Urinary incontinence if the uterus and bladder slip lower into the pelvis. • Osteoporosis—or bone density loss occurs when estrogen diminishes to a low level. The most rapid bone loss occurs during the first ten years of menopause. • Heart rate rises after menopause. Estrogen helped to dilate the arteries. Menopausal women are at greater risk of heart attacks. • Skin changes with an increase in wrinkles. The decreasing estrogen levels makes the skin more elastic.

Major depression in menopause Women who experience a major depression in the postpartum period may be at greater risk of experiencing a depression in menopause. if a woman’s body is sensitive to hormonal shifts in the past, it may be sensitive to shifts in the future. however, not all women who experience a major depression in the postpartum period will experience a major depression during peri-menopause or menopause. Women who experience major depression during menopause can be successfully treated with anti-depressants alone, or in conjunction with hormone replacement therapy.

Self care • Vitamin E may alleviate hot flashes. • Eat foods rich in natural estrogens—yams, lentils, oat bran, tofu, and soy milk. • get plenty of relaxation and sleep—the brain regulates its biochemistry during sleep. • Take time for yourself. Read, keep a journal, and take a class you have always wanted. • Exercise regularly to reduce your stress and to help regulate your sleep cycle (eg walking, swimming).• Prevent osteoporosis. • Eat calcium rich foods.

Menopause and hormone replacementOnly consider hormone replacement therapy (HRT) after looking at your psychological and physical risks, your personal history, and your family history. HRT is a treatment used to replace the female hormones that a woman’s body is no longer producing because of the menopause. The menopause, sometimes known as the “change of life,” occurs when levels of the female hormones oestrogen and progesterone fall and your ovaries stop producing eggs. Menstruation (your periods) ends and you are no longer able to conceive (become pregnant).

Oestrogen and progesterone have very important roles in a woman’s body. When levels fall, this causes a wide range of physical and emotional symptoms. HRT can restore these hormone levels and enable the body to function normally again. HRT has been extensively studied and a great deal of information is known about the benefits and the risks. The main and most obvious benefit of HRT is that it has proved very successful in controlling the symptoms of the menopause.

One on the most memorable persons in my medical career for whom I have had profound sympathy was a beautiful fifteen year old girl who lost both her ovaries to cysts.

I was a medical student and assisted a gynecologist in the operation.  It meant she could not have children and was thrown into artificial menopause.  (Recall my article on menopause).  I honestly had to fight the tears from showing in my eyes.

WHAT ARE OVARIAN CYSTS?

They are fluid-filled sacs in or on the surface of one or both ovaries.  Remember these are where the woman’s eggs are found and are released every month in the child bearing years.  Many women have ovarian cysts at some time of another, but they usually cause little of no discomfort and are harmless, and most disappear without treatment in a few months.  Some produce serious symptoms, however, especially those that have ruptured.  Rarely, they can be life- threatening.

Most women are likely to have no symptoms at all.  if they do, the symptoms may mimic other conditions such as pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), an infection affecting the reproductive organs, endometriosis, where tissue from the womb abnormally implants elsewhere in the system of even outside it, ectopic pregnancy, (pregnancy in the wrong place), or ovarian cancer.

Appendicitis or some large bowl disorders can appear as a ruptured cyst.  One should still be watchful for any suspicious change in the area of one’s reproductive system, because a cyst may cause some of the following signs and systems.

•    Menstrual irregularities•    Fullness or heaviness of your abdomen•    Pressure on your rectum or bladder – difficulty emptying your bladder completely•    Pelvic (below the waist) pain – a constant or occasional dull ache that may be felt in the lower back and thighs.•    Pelvic pain also: 1) just before your period begins of just before it ends.2) during intercourse (dyspareunia).

An immediate visit to the doctor or Emergency Room is warranted if there isa)    sudden, sever abdominal or pelvic painb)    pain accompanied by fever of vomiting.

Each month, the ovaries grow cyst-like structures called follicles.  these produce the female hormones, estrogen and progesterone, and release an egg (ovulation).

Occasionally, a normal follicle just keeps growing, becoming a functional cyst, meaning that it began during the normal function of the menstrual cycle.  There are two types of functional cysts.  before I go into these, allow me to try to explain what really goes on with hormones, your brain and the ovaries.

During the first half of a menstrual cycle (the first 13 or so days in a normal 28-day cycle there is no estrogen circulating in the blood.  Then, at about mid cycle, there is a rise in estrogen and as a result, a message goes to a part of your brain, the hypothalamus, to produce a hormone, the FSHRH (Follicle stimulating hormone releasing hormone).  these hormones travel to another area of the brain, the front part of the pituitary gland to produce the Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH), to allow the follicle to grow, and the Leutenizing Hormone (LH), to cause the egg to be released from the ovary.  the final part, 14 days, of the cycle, is the luteal phase.

ONE TYPE OF CYST IS THE FOLLICULAR CYST.

When the LH surge does not occur, a follicular cyst begins because the follicle doesn’t rupture or release its egg; it grows and turns into a cyst.  these are usually harmless, seldom cause pain and often disappear on their own after two or three periods.

THE OTHER TYPE IS THE CORPUS LUTEUM CYST.

When the LH surge does occur and the egg is released, the ruptured follicle begins to produce large amounts of estrogen and progesterone in preparation for possible conception.  It is now called the corpus luteum.  sometimes, however the egg’s escape opening seals off and fluid accumulates in the follicle, causing the corpus luteum to expand into a cyst.  It usually goes away on its own in a few weeks, but can grow to almost four inches in diameter.  It can bleed into itself or twist the ovary, producing pelvic or abdominal pain.  It may rupture if it fills with blood, causing internal bleeding and sudden, sharp pain.  By the way, the fertility drug clomiphene (clomid), used to induce ovulation, increases the risk of a corpus luteum cyst developing after ovulation.

If you’ve followed the reasoning so far, a follicular cyst precludes pregnancy – the egg is not released to be fertilized.  But a corpus luteum cyst doesn’t prevent or threaten a pregnancy – the egg is already released but the opening gets resealed.

If you experience severe or colicky pain in your lower abdomen, with fever and vomiting.  There are symptoms of shock such as cold, clammy skin, rapid breathing, lightheadedness or weakness, indicating an emergency is on your hands.  get to the doctor!!

SCREENING AND DIAGNOSIS

A cyst may be found during a pelvic exam.  if one is suspected, further testing may be advised to determine type or need for treatment.  we want to find out certain things to help diagnostic and management (how to handle) decisions.  for instance, what size is it? Is it fluid-filled, solid or mixed?  Fluid-filled cysts aren’t likely to be cancerous.  Solid, or a mixture of fluid filled and solid may require further evaluation to check for cancer.

To identify the type of cyst, we may want to do the following:•    Pregnancy test.  Remember I said you will not get pregnant with a follicular cyst; a positive test means a corpus luteum cyst.•    Pelvic Ultra Sound Scan.  I dare say that a good number of women reading this know this well.  this produce can identify a cyst, its size, location, and whether solid of fluid filled.•    Laparoscopy.  this, too, is well known.  A slim lighted instrument inserted through a small cut below the navel can see the ovaries and remove a cyst.•    CA125 blood test.  this is cancer antigen 125, which is increased in cases of ovarian cancer.  So if you are at risk of ovarian caner and you have a cyst that is partially solid, a high CA125 could be especially important.  however high CA125 levels can be found in non-cancerous conditions like fibroids, PID, and endometriosis.

Yes.  A large one can cause abdominal discomfort.  if it presses on your bladder, you urinate frequently because the bladder’s capacity is reduced.  this symptom is often due to bladder  infection, but bear a cyst in mind if there are reasons to be suspicious.  see the doctor.

There are other types of cysts which are much less common but which may be found on pelvic examinations.  Cysts or ovarian masses occurring after menopause may be cancerous.

The less common cysts are:Dermoid cysts: these may contain tissue such as hair, skin or teeth because they are formed from cells that produce human eggs. Rarely cancerous, they may become large and cause painful twisting of the ovary.  you must be thinking ‘how gross!’Endometriomas: these cysts develop from endometriosis, mentioned earlier.Cystadenomas: these may be filled with a watery liquid or a mucous material.  They may grow as large as 12 inches (one foot) in diameter, and cause ovarian twisting.

HOW DO WE TREAT CYSTS?

This depends on your age, type and size of your cysts, and symptoms.  the options:Watchful waiting: Regular examinations and monitoring for size by this method or ultra sound is all that’s needed a lot of times.Birth control pills: these reduce the chance of new cysts developing in future menstrual cycles.  the added benefit of reducing your risk of ovarian cancer also make them useful.  the risk decreases the longer you take birth control pills.Surgery: this is done if: a cyst is large and causes symptoms, does not look like a functional cyst, is growing, persists through more than a few cycles.  either a cyst can be removed (cystectomy) or if necessary, one or both ovaries (oophorectomy).  Remember that a cyst after menopause suggests cancer, so surgery is almost always done in this case.

None definite.  Just get regular examinations, so that any change in your ovaries can be diagnosed as early as possible.  Pay attention to changes in your cycle, and especially any changes or symptoms that persist for more than a few cycles.  Basically, talk to us about any concerns to do with your menses.

See you next week.

Dr. Victor Emanuel has been an educator of medical professionals in training, and the public, for over 20 years in Dominica. the contents of his articles are based on facts and research conducted, and not of his opinion.

Copyright 2011 Dominica News Online, Andrews Publishing co. Ltd. all Rights Reserved. this material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.

I don't know yet, but wondered myself too. I believe as long as your still having your cycle, yes you can still get pregnant. Jennifer

If you're only having symptoms, I would assume that, yes, there is a possibility of pregnancy because you could still ovulate. ask your doctor to be sure, though!

Yes, yes, yes! one or both ovaries can still be producing eggs.

We want egg-free flu vaccine for our son Christopher, 2

1:30pm Tuesday 1st February 2011

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PARENTS of a toddler who suffers from severe allergies have added to calls for an egg-free flu vaccine to be made available.

Michael and Michelle Merrett have not considered getting their two-year-old son, Christopher, immunised against flu because the vaccination is cultivated in hen’s eggs.

Last year there was an egg-free version available because of swine flu, but mrs Merrett, 35, said it had not been widely taken up, so many primary care trusts had not stocked it this winter.

She added: “We think it’s ridiculous that the Department of Health does not take these risks more seriously and order egg-free vaccine as a matter of course for those with life-threatening allergies.

“We’ve tried to stay completely away from the flu vaccine because of the egg.

“They say the risk is only very small, but we don’t want to chance it.”

mrs Merrett, of Ipswich Road, Colchester, said the combined measles, mumps and rubella jab was not available for those allergic to eggs either.

Mr Merrett, 47, and his wife discovered Christopher had serious food allergies when he was 17 months old.

he had an allergic reaction to a cheese topping and received treatment in a high-dependency hospital unit.

his symptoms were so severe that Mr and mrs Merrett initially thought he had meningitis.

Christopher is now recognised as being allergic to dairy products, wheat, eggs, and histamines and sulphates, such as dried fruit and re-heated chicken.

the couple have now started an internet-based company selling allergy products, and they want to see a greater awareness for allergy sufferers.

the Gazette recently reported on Simon and Michelle Edney, of Halstead, who are struggling to find an egg-free flu vaccine for their child.

Seven-year-old Marshall Edney is in the “at-risk” flu category because he is asthmatic, but he has an egg allergy.

NHS North East Essex said there were no egg-free flu vaccinations available nationally this year from manufacturers.

Advice for allergy sufferers who cannot have the injection is to follow health guidelines to stop the spread of flu and seek anti-viral treatment from their GP if they develop flu-like symptoms.

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Sitting in the bathroom, I am looking apprehensively towards the pregnancy test on the bench. My heart is pounding as I reach out to turn it over. Then I let out a huge sigh of relief: I’m not pregnant.

But, of course, I shouldn’t be. That’s because I’ve had the contraceptive implant Implanon in my arm for more than a year.

This matchstick-sized rod is designed to release hormones that prevent pregnancy. Licensed in 1999, it has become a ?popular form of ?contraception, with around 800,000 women using it, according to Department of Health estimates.

Implanon: The matchstick-sized rod is implanted in the arm to release hormones that simulate pregnancy (posed by models)

After a local anaesthetic, the implant is inserted into your upper arm through a tiny cut — you can just feel it under your skin.

It works by gradually releasing the ?synthetic ?hormone etonogestrel into the bloodstream, which fools the body into believing it’s pregnant. This stops eggs maturing in the ovaries and the womb becomes a hostile environment to sperm.

Implanon is designed for women who don’t want any more children, but don’t want to be sterilised, or who want long-lasting contraception (the device lasts for three years, when you then ?simply have it replaced).

And there are lots of plus points. Unlike the Pill, very few medicines affect Implanon (St John’s Wort is one that does). Nor do you have to worry about Implanon if you have a stomach bug (unlike with an oral contraceptive).

You also don’t have to ?remember to take it. No wonder so many women like the idea of it.

But last week it emerged that hundreds of women have been permanently scarred or become pregnant after their implant ?apparently failed — 584 have reported unwanted pregnancies and 1,607 ?complained about the implant going wrong.

As well as these side effects, the National ?Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) states that almost half of women will have infrequent, ?frequent or prolonged bleeding. Up to 43 per cent stop using it within three years — 33 per cent because of irregular ?bleeding.

That’s a lot of dissatisfied customers. I am one of them. for me, Implanon has been a nightmare from day one, starting with almost ?constant heavy bleeding for the first five months, which ?inexplicably stopped suddenly.

I then had all the ?symptoms of pregnancy — sore breasts, exhaustion, going off ?certain food. This was the reason I took the pregnancy test. it was to be the first of three such scares.

It really was terrifying because I nearly ?haemorrhaged to death after giving birth to my third child (I have a son aged two, and daughters who are four and six). I’m 38, and my husband and I have no ?intention of having any more children; we’re lucky to have three who still have a mother.

Health issues aside, we simply can’t afford another child. when I first went to my GP, just a couple of months after my son Ben’s birth, Implanon seemed like the only viable option (I can’t take the Pill because, with a history of migraines, it puts you at risk of stroke).

It sounded brilliant. Quite apart from the convenience, statistically, there is no question that Implanon performs extremely well.

‘though the Pill and Implanon are quoted as being over 99 per cent effective, that’s with ?correct usage,’ says Dr Alyson ?Elliman, vice-president of the ?Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare of the Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.

‘The actual failure rate is more like 0.05 per cent in Implanon and 8 per cent with the Pill in real-life situations.’

Personal choice: Implanon is more convenient than taking a daily pill but can have adverse side effects (posed by model)

But there are those adverse effects. ‘Bleeding patterns may be affected,’ says Dr Elliman.

This is because the membranes ?lining the uterus can be affected. ‘but any method of ?contraception that targets egg release may cause erratic bleeding,’ she says.

Skin problems such as acne may also be ?exacerbated and you might ?experience breast tenderness.

A week after my first pregnancy scare, the bleeding started again. I was sufficiently concerned about it to return to the private gynaecologist who looked after me following the traumatic birth of my son.

He conducted various ?investigations — ultrasounds and even a biopsy — to ascertain whether something more sinister going on, but concluded that the Implanon was at fault.

He suggested that I find an ?alternative method of contraception — advice I foolishly ignored.

A few months later, I returned to my GP. The almost incessant ?bleeding was starting to affect our family life and holidays. but my GP was reluctant to remove the implant (another option, the Mirena coil, can also cause bleeding or spotting for the first six months).

My second pregnancy scare was highly traumatic and occurred a couple of months after the first. I was suffering all the symptoms, but despite taking test after test over a week, the results were all negative. but the symptoms were so strong I assumed I didn’t have sufficient ?levels of pregnancy hormones in my body to show up on the tests.

One evening I sat my ?husband down and, in floods of tears, asked him what we’d do. The thought of abortion is hideous at any time; if you have children, I think it an ?especially hard choice.

Throughout all this stress was the frustrating fact that I’d thought I was thoroughly protected.

I returned to my GP. it was time to consider other options.

‘just sit it out,’ he said, without looking up from my patient notes. ‘I’m sure it’ll all die down in time.’

‘I want to talk about sterilisation,’ I said firmly. He started and put his pen down.

‘That’s a very long and onerous process. You have to undergo all sorts of psychological assessments. You’re much better off as you are.’

I don’t believe I am. I know I don’t want any more children and I’m sure the stress of this is far worse than any of the assessments.

Of course, my experience with Implanon pales in comparison to those who actually got pregnant or badly scarred on their arms.

‘Statistically, it may be unlikely you suffer problems,’ says ?Jennifer ?Emerson of the law firm Irwin ?Mitchell, which represents a number of women affected by Implanon. ‘but if you’re one of the few who does have scarring or an unwanted ?pregnancy, it’s incredibly traumatic.’

One theory about those unwanted pregnancies is that the device wasn’t inserted properly; sometimes it is not released from the applicator.

Scarring may be caused if the device is inserted too deeply. Implanon can’t be detected by X-rays, so there is no way of ?finding it without an operation under general ?anaesthetic.

In one case handled by Irwin Mitchell, the device was inserted so deeply it couldn’t be found by the nurse.

‘The poor woman went through the ordeal of a nurse cutting deeper and deeper into the tissue before she realised that it had been wrongly inserted into the muscle in her arm,’ says Jennifer Emerson.

‘In these cases, the patient may need to have surgery under ?general anaesthetic to remove the implant, which carries risks and leaves scarring.’

Dr Elliman puts such problems down to a lack of training rather than the implant itself and is calling for a nationally recognised standard of training.

Yet not all medical professionals are convinced by Implanon. a ?leading gynaecologist, Dickinson Cowan from the Portland Hospital, says he has ‘reservations’.

‘I don’t use it myself, but have removed one from a patient who suffered incessant and heavy bleeding.’

He points out that if Implanon suits the patient then fine, but ?suggests there are superior ?alternatives.

‘I don’t understand why women wouldn’t simply opt for the Mirena coil — which releases progesterone locally in the lining of the womb — rather than having something which affects your whole body.’

Dr Elliman suggests that last week’s news reports about adverse effects of Implanon are unhelpful: ‘Women who were perfectly happy with their ?contraception will be ?worrying and those considering ?contraception might decide against it.’

Yet many women have been ?traumatised by its use. Who knows how many have suffered severe side-effects or pregnancies and not reported them?

As all the doctors concur, contraception is a ?personal choice. for me, Implanon was the wrong one.

Though I believe mine was ?correctly inserted, it has caused an awful lot of trouble and pain. and, 18 months later, I am going to have it removed. Sterilisation seems the easier option.

Whilst there is always an ongoing search to try and stop colitis symptoms some sufferers appear keen to go to some very extreme lengths to try and reduce or even eradicate the amount of symptoms that they are enduring.

Would you happily ingest worms? Now, the intestines alteady have worms and there job is to contirubute to the health of the gut. but it has recently been reported that a 35-year-old man with severe colitis who tried worm (or “helminthic”) therapy to avoid surgical removal of his entire colon. he researched the therapy, flew to a doctor in Thailand who had agreed to give him the eggs, and swallowed 1,500 of them.

The man contacted an intestinal consultant after his self-treatment and “was essentially symptom-free,” it was reported. Intrigued, the consultant and his colleagues decided to follow the man’s condition.

The study analysed slides and samples of the man’s blood and colon tissue from 2003, before he swallowed the eggs, to 2009, a few years after ingestion. During this period, he was virtually symptom-free for almost three years. when his colitis flared in 2008, he swallowed another 2,000 eggs and got better again.

Tissue taken during active colitis showed a large number of CD4+ T-cells, which are immune cells that produce the inflammatory protein interleukin-17, the team found. However, tissue taken after worm therapy, when his colitis was in remission, contained lots of T-cells that make interleukin-22 (IL-22), a protein that promotes wound healing.

Further, after worm therapy, the man’s colon produced significantly more mucus, said Loke, who noted that a lack of mucus in the colon is linked with severe symptoms. “we think the worms increase or restore mucus production in the colon,” he said. “Basically, the gut is trying to expel the worms. this increase in mucus may play a role in relieving the symptoms.”

Who would undertake such means to try and reduce the impact colitis symptoms have on their life? or are you content with taking anti inflammatories and steriods when the condition flares up? maybe at some point in the future you could well have a choice!

Tags: colitis, colitis symtpoms, coping with colitis, coping with colitis symptoms, living with colitis symptoms, ulcerative colitis

this entry was posted on Friday, December 3rd, 2010 at 9:48 am and is filed under Colitis Symptoms Articles, The Colitis Experience Posts. you can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. you can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

Food allergies are the dodgiest kind of allergies of all. This is because these allergies are caused by the intake of food, a basic necessity of life. Food allergies show up when a person is allergic to some kind of food. Being allergic means the immune system of the person may not be acquainted much to the components of foods and reacts very aggressively towards any kind of contact of the body with those foods, considering them as threat to the body. Well, there are various foods that cause allergy, but the most common ones are egg plant (brinjal), tomatoes, corn, banana, eggs, caffeine, and so on. This post will bring to you some facts regarding egg allergy symptoms.

Some people get egg allergies when they consume eggs, while some suffer from the severe egg allergy symptoms even when they just touch or smell eggs. These allergy symptoms are quite common among children, esp. those around the age of 5 years. in egg allergies, the immune system of affected human beings overreacts to the proteins contained in eggs, which are categorized by the immune system as allergens, or threats to be fought against. The immunity responds towards these components of eggs by releasing immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies that fight against the assumed invaders. Chemicals like histamine are then released and it begins to counter attack the allergens by bringing up various reactions in the body. These are nothing but symptoms of egg allergy. The actual effect of egg allergies is described under 4 main headings – skin reactions, oral reactions, sinus related symptoms, and gastrointestinal problems. Let us give a detailed eye to egg allergy symptoms.

Skin reactions

The first instance of symptoms of egg allergies is seen on the skin. They can be any kind of skin retort from bumps to redness, from rashes to hives, from irritation and itching to eczema. These kinds of skin reactions are common for most food allergies. Hence, a self, as well as clinical, diagnosis is quite necessary to trace back exactly what food is causing the reactions.

Oral reactions

Apart from the external skin reactions, there are allergic retorts caused on the inner skin of the oral cavity also. Redness and swelling are the first oral symptoms seen in the areas surrounding the mouth, like the lips, the part above the upper lip and the chin. even inside the oral cavity, egg allergy symptoms like swelling of the tongue, rashes and peeling of skin of the oral roof, ulcers in the oral cavity, throat irritations and infections. Itching of lips, red bumps and burning of the skin of lips after consuming eggs are also signs of egg allergy.

Sinus related symptoms

Egg allergy symptoms also stretch to bother the sinuses of the patient. It all begins with a runny nose, leading to itchy eyes continuously watering, some sneezing and at last to the point of give asthma a trigger. yes. Indeed, egg allergy symptoms could get severe enough to give rise to asthma. These signs may also turn up to a severity level where it causes trigger of angiodema, which means swelling of blood vessels underneath the superficial skin. These conditions generally occur in areas of the hands, tongue, face, and the genitals. Migraine headaches are common egg allergy symptoms. even nocturnal enuresis, i.e. inability to control urine and frequent urination at night, are also common during phases of egg allergies. other symptoms of egg allergy associated to sinus are allergic nasal rhinitis, i.e. inflammation of the nasal tract that leads to the sinus.

Gastrointestinal symptoms

Cramps in the belly, diarrhea, constipation, nausea, vomiting, etc. are quite the egg allergy symptoms. While abdominal cramps and indigestion are common signs of other temporal illnesses, as they can be though of, they can be quite deceptive. Egg allergies can cause intense heartburns and lethargy or fatigue.

Anaphylaxis

Be it any kind of allergy, and esp. a food allergy, this term has to be there among the symptoms or risk factors. This is the severest and most fatal kind of reaction among all allergy symptoms. When it comes to the situation of anaphylaxis, it is not time to be thought about which allergy might have caused it. It gets assured that there is some kind of allergy that has caused severe reaction, and things need to get fixed. Anaphylaxis is a set of symptoms that characterize an allergic attack. Anaphylaxis is closely related to egg allergy. People with hard core egg allergy get irritated even by the smell, touch and fumes of egg. Consumption of raw, as well as cooked egg, and even small amounts of egg used in garnishing, causes severe troubles for them. in anaphylaxis, what basically happens is that the allergic person suffers from swelling of the mouth and the throat after consuming the allergenic food item. This swelling causes respiratory problems. This further creates problems with the blood pressure, dropping it to a dangerous level, and results into dizziness, and breathlessness. Wheezing also occurs as an instance of anaphylaxis.

Cures

Epinephrine shots, to sedate the histamine chemical, work well for egg allergies. Various other treatments are also available, depending upon the severity of symptoms and conditions, age of patient and so on. The best solution, however, continues to remain prevention from eggs. Once an instance of allergic attack is witnessed and once the cause is traced to eggs, evasion from them is the best one can do.