Do I have appendicitis?

For some people, pain in any part of the stomach means appendicitis. But this is not the case as the doctor explains.

Dear doctor, I get pain in the lower left part of the stomach. I have done many scans but I am always told they are normal. Someone said I probably have appendicitis and needed an operation. Please save me from worries. What is wrong with me. Anita

Dear Anita: Pain in the lower left abdomen can be from many causes resulting from the body parts there. Sometimes it can be the back or even psychological problems.

Therefore, your problem requires a thorough investigation so that proper treatment will remove the pain forever.
Infections of the lower abdomen include skin (herpes zoster infection or scars, problems with a hernia), muscles (abscess in the muscles or sports injury),and internal organs among others.

Internal organs like intestines can lead to pain if one has chronic constipation, diarrhoea, or even infections of small pouches in the big intestine called diverticulitis sometimes referred to as left appendicitis because of causing pain from appendicitis. The appendix is normally on the right and, therefore, appendicitis-related pain is usually on the right.

The kidneys and the tubes that drain urine from them (ureters), the fallopian tubes (infection alone or with pregnancy in the tubes) and even ovaries can lead to pain there.

The so called irritable bowel syndrome can also cause pain whereby all tests may indicate no problem with the area but one may require to deal with psychological problem to avert the pain.

Doctor I have a very long foreskin and at 25 years I fear sex because of pain that could come as a result. Is circumcision the only answer? I fear! Baluku

Dear Baluku: The length of a man’s foreskin may vary from person to person with some having a foreskin so short as to look naturally circumcised and others so long as to cover the penis even when it is erect.

The latter may have difficulties retracting and cleaning the inside of the foreskin and head of the penis risking infections, scarring and more problems with foreskin retraction.

This invariably leads to painful sex, in a few men difficulty passing urine and anxiety because of the penis looking different from that of peers. A long foreskin though, can be useful if one is a bed wetter. It can be tied with a string so that pain if one is about to urinate t he is forced to wake up.

Foreskin also plays an important role in sex. It is thought that men without foreskin do not enjoy sex which in part explains why some men do not want to get circumcised. However, the aspect of pain can also not be ruled out especially if one is not properly counselled.

That sais, it is important to visit a doctor who will advise on the best way to deal with your problem.

Dear doctor, I suffer from gout. However I stopped taking meat and drinking beer. However, the problem is not going away. So what can I do? Lokut.K

Dear Lokut: Gout is a form of arthritis marked by sudden attacks of pain and swelling of joints which if not controlled can cause severe damage to joints, tendons, and organs like the kidneys.

It is caused by a buildup of uric acid crystals in the joints, uric acid being a breakdown product of substances called purines that are part of many foods we eat. Uric acid can also be produced in our bodies without coming from our diets.

People with gout produce too much uric acid or have problems eliminating it through the kidneys.
While uric acid exists naturally in the body, it can be increased in the body by eating certain foods that contain purines risking gout. Avoiding foods high in purines may help reduce the recurrence or severity of gout especially if this is done in conjunction with drugs. Without diet control therefore the situation could have been worse.

Obesity, excessive weight gain, especially in youth, alcohol intake, high blood pressure, and abnormal kidney function are among the risk factors for developing gout.

Certain drugs like for high blood pressure, and diseases like those of low thyroid hormone also risk gout.
Maintaining adequate fluid intake, avoiding alcohol and dietary changes can help reduce uric acid levels in the blood.
Since purines are converted by the body into uric acid, purine-rich foods such as meats, organs like liver and kidneys should be avoided or taken in moderation.

Apart from containing purines, fats increase obesity and avoiding them will help weight reduction which is helpful in lowering the risk of recurrent gout attacks.

Beer has purines, which reduces urinary loss of uric acid, and leads to dehydration and obesity, all risks for gout.
Beer raises gout risk by 49 per cent of daily serving, while spirits only raises by 15 per cent. Sweetened soft drinks can raise gout risk by 35 per cent and as such they should not be substituted for beer.

Diet sodas, however, do not affect gout risk but should not be taken as a substitute to other healthy drinks like juice and water.

Doctor's word
“When it comes to weight control, what really matters is the number of calories we consume. No matter how healthy something is, if you eat too much of it, you will also be consuming too many calories and you will not lose weight.”
Dr Vincent Karuhanga