MENSTRUATION PAINS CAN KILL? ---------- [ACUTE AND CHRONIC PELVIC PAINS]
I came to the office one morning to meet our female receptionist weeping on her desk with her hand guarding her pelvic region, before I could.......
http://ping.fm/4VkDq

THAT HEAVY MENSTRUATION CAN KILL ANY WOMAN ‘’MENORRHAGIA’’

THAT HEAVY MENSTRUATION CAN KILL ANY WOMAN ‘’MENORRHAGIA’’



In 1994 there is a woman I knew , she is a mother of 2 children, she has being having the problem of heavy menstrual periods for years, like many other women in Nigeria.
This particular month, the menstrual period came and refuse to stop, she bled heavily for days and fainted [she almost died, many other women have died from excessive bleeding], her husband and neighbours had to quickly rush her to the nearest hospital, the doctor did all he could to stop the bleeding and revive the woman, all failed , the last resort was to remove the entire womb [hysterectomy] so as to save the woman’s life.
The entire womb was removed and the woman survived till this day, but she could no more have any other child.

In this article we are going to talk about menorrhagia, what causes it, the diagnosis/tests to check out for it, and treatments.


DEFINITION/COMPLICATIONS

Menorrhagia is an abnormal heavy and prolonged menstrual period at regular intervals.
Only females are affected by menorrhagia
At some time in your reproductive life, you have probably experienced heavy bleeding during your menstrual period [some times with blood clots]. If you are like some women, every period you have causes enough blood loss pelvic pain and cramping that you can not maintain your usual daily activities.
The medical term for periods like these---heavy excessive or prolonged is MENORRHAGIA.
Aside from the social distress of dealing with a prolonged and heavy period, overtime the blood loss may prove to be greater than the body iron reserves or the rate of blood replenishment, leading to ANEMIA.
Symptoms attributable to anemia may include shortness of breath, tiredness, weakness, tingling and numbness in fingers and toes, headaches, depression, becoming cold more easily and poor concentration.


CAUSES

There are several possible cause of menorrhagia , including the following
[1] Hormonal imbalance [particularly estrogen and progesterone], especially seen in adolescents [young girls] who are experiencing their menstrual period for the first time and in womaen approaching menopause.
[2] Pelvic inflammatory disease [PID]
[3] Uterine fibroids
[4] Abnormal pregnancy [like miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy]
[5] Infection, tumours, or polyps in the uterine cavity.
[6] Certain birth control devices [like intrauterine devices or IUCDs]
[7] Bleeding or platelet disorders
[8] High levels of prostaglandins [chemical substances which help to control muscle contractions of the uterus]
[9] High levels of endothelins [chemical substances which help the blood vessels in the body dilate]
[10] Liver, kidney, thyroid disease or diabetic
[11] Polycystic ovarian syndrome
[12] Fat/obesity
[13] Cancer of the womb, ovaries or cervix
[14] Inherited bleeding disorder



SYMPTOMS

[1] Menstrual flow that soaks through one or more sanitary pads or tampons every hour for several consecutive hours.
[2] The need to use double sanitary protection to control your menstrual flow
[3] The need to change sanitary protection during the night
[4] Menstrual flow that includes large blood clots
[5] Heavy menstrual flow that interferes with your regular life style
[6] Menstrual period, lasting longer than several days
[7] Tiredness, fatigue, or shortness of breath
[8] Severe pelvic pain with heavy menstrual blood flow



DIAGNOSIS/TESTS

[1] Blood tests
[a] PCV to rule out anaemia
[b] Hormonal assay study
[c] Thyroid disorder
[d] Blood clotting abnormalities

[2] Pap Smear Tests
Collection of cells from your cervix for microscopic examination to detect infection, inflammation or changes that may be cancerous or may lead to cancer.

[3] Endometrial Biopsy

[4] Ultrasound Scan
This imaging method uses sound waves to produce images of your uterus, ovaries and pelvis , especially Transvaginal Scan

[5] Sonohysterography [SonoHSG]
This ultrasound scan is done after fluid is injected through a tube into the uterus by way of your vagina and cervix. This allows us to look for problems in the lining of your uterus.

[6] Hysteroscopy

[7] Dilation and Currettage.


TREATMENTS

Specific treatment for menorrhagia is based on a number of factors including

[1] Your overall health and medical history
[2] The cause and severity of the condition
[3] Your tolerance for specific medications, procedures or therapies
[4] The likelihood that your periods will become less heavy before long
[5] Your future childbearing plans
[6] Effects of the condition on your lifestyle
[7] Your opinion or personal preference.

Management of bleeding in pregnancy requires gynaecology referral and potential hospital admission especially if bleeding does not stop or is substantial and surgical intervention is required.
Blood transfusion maybe required for blood loss resulting in compromised hemodynamic stability
Treatment options include pharmaceutical or surgical and radiological options



Regards
Dr. Victor Efughi
Consultant Clinical Specialist Sonographer
JOAS MEDICAL DIAGNOSTIX
JOAS MEDICAL DIAGNOSTIX-------WE ARE AN ULTRAMODERN MEDICAL IMAGINGCENTER, WE ARE EXPERTS IN ULTRASOUND SCAN SERVICES, X-RAY/RADIOLOGYSERVICES, ECG SERVICES, INFERTILITY SERVICES, LABORATORY SERVICES,BLOOD BANKING SERVICES AND HEALTH CONSULTANCY/COUNSELLING SERVICES.
We are located at
JOAS HOUSE, 2, Okesuna Street, Opposite Synagogue Church Busstop, Bolorunpelu, Ikotun, Lagos, Nigeria, WestAfrica.
TEL: +23418112054
+2348023069403
EMAIL: joasdiagnostix@yahoo.com
joasmedicaldiagnostix@yahoo.com
http://www.joasdiagnostix.8m.net
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0DqKdifKE7I
http://joasdiagnostix.wordpress.com/
http://joasmedicaldiagnostix.blogspot.com/

DISCLAIMER
The contents, blogs and postings provided in this site are offered strictly for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal, medical nor financial advice on any matter. We have made every effort to ensure the accuracy of the information presented, and if you have any questions regarding the contents please contact us.The informations provided in this site is subject to change without notice.This site may contain links to other internet sites, we are not responsible for the privacy, practices nor the content of such sites, nor their relationships

MENS’ SILENT KILLER ‘PROSTATE CANCER’

MENS’ SILENT KILLER ‘PROSTATE CANCER’

Prostate cancer is a number one silent killer of men.
The prostate is a gland found only in men, it is located just below the bladder and just behind the front wall of the rectum.

There are three main conditions that can affect your prostate. They are
[a] Prostate enlargement
[b] Prostatitis [inflammation of the prostate gland]
[c] Cancer of the prostate

Prostate cancer is a disease in which cancer develops in the prostate.

Prostate enlargement and prostate cancer usually affect men over the age of 50years and about half of men over this age will have some sort of prostate enlargement.

Prostatitis can affect men of any age

SYMPTOMS
Symptoms depend on what condition you have .
But common symptoms of prostate disease are
[a] Difficulty in passing urine
[b] Pain when ejaculating during sexual intercourse
[c] Frequent or urgent need to pass urine
[d] A weak, sometimes intermittent flow of urine
[e] Pain when passing urine
[f] Erectile dysfunction

DIAGNOSIS
Prostate diseases and prostate cancer can be detected by
[a] Prostate ultrasound
[b] Laboratory tests like Prostate-Specific Antigen[PSA] blood tests, will test the amount of PSA in a sample of your blood.
[c] Prostate biopsy
[d] CT, MRI and bone scans
[e] An ultrasound scan of your bladder to see how it empties urine
[f] Transabdominal and transrectal ultrasound scan
[g] Swab tests [laboratory tests] of the lining of your urethra or penis.

TREATMENT
Treatment for prostate diseases depend on the condition and how severe the symptoms are.


Regards
Dr. Victor Efughi
Consultant Clinical Specialist Sonographer

For further informations , FREE CONSULTANCY and COUNSELLING , Contact
JOAS MEDICAL DIAGNOSTIX
JOAS MEDICAL DIAGNOSTIX-------WE ARE AN ULTRAMODERN MEDICAL IMAGINGCENTER, WE ARE EXPERTS IN ULTRASOUND SCAN SERVICES, X-RAY/RADIOLOGYSERVICES, ECG SERVICES, INFERTILITY SERVICES, LABORATORY SERVICES,BLOOD BANKING SERVICES AND HEALTH CONSULTANCY/COUNSELLING SERVICES.
We are located at
JOAS HOUSE, 2, Okesuna Street, Opposite Synagogue Church Busstop, Bolorunpelu, Ikotun, Lagos, Nigeria, WestAfrica.
TEL: +23418112054
+2348023069403
EMAIL: joasdiagnostix@yahoo.com
joasmedicaldiagnostix@yahoo.com
http://www.joasdiagnostix.8m.net
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0DqKdifKE7I

DISCLAIMER
The contents, blogs and postings provided in this site are offered strictly for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal, medical nor financial advice on any matter. We have made every effort to ensure the accuracy of the information presented, and if you have any questions regarding the contents please contact us.
The informations provided in this site is subject to change without notice..
This site may contain links to other internet sites, we are not responsible for the privacy, practices nor the content of such sites, nor their relationships

naijablog: Stepping Stones - press release

THE  SCOURGE  OF  FIBROIDS

 

Hi all,

This  is Victor, I am a Consultant Clinical Specialist Radiographer[Ultrasounds], with over 15 years post qualification experience, I have worked as a sonographer in Nigeria for over 14 years, presently I live and work in The Republic of Ireland [though temporarily]as a sonographer

I have decided to start writing into my blogs to communicate with my entire community. Where we can share experiences and relate better on different issues, not just medical , but general issues.

I know that many of my colleagues are on my page, so I will not be shooting offline always because you are there to put me straight and correct me always. Remember no man is an island. I could also give the wrong information by error, so we can work together to give the right information to the world.

 

 

My topic today is for the general online community, but specially for the Nigerian online community, because this is an issue that affect us seriously.

Today  I will be writing about fibroids. Uterine fibroids are benign tumours, which grow from the muscle layers of the womb. They are the most common benign tumours in female, often asymptomatic, they cause symptoms in about 25% of white and 50% of black women.

Fibroids are named according to where they are  found. There are four types

[1] INTRAMURAL FIBROIDS are found in the walls of the womb and are the most common type of  fibroids.

[2] SUBSEROSAL FIBROIDS are found growing outside the walls of the womb and can become very large. They can also grow on stalks [called pendunculate fibroids]

[3] SUBMUCOSAL FIBROIDS are found in the muscle beneath the inner lining of the womb walls

[4] CERVICAL FIBROIDS are found in the walls of the cervix [neck of the wombs]..

 

In rare cases, fibroids can turn cancerous

 

 

 

SYMPTOMS

 

Symptoms relate to the location of the fibroids and its size. Important symptoms include abnormal gynaecologic haemorrhage[bleeding], heavy or/and painful periods, abdominal discomfort or bloating, back ache, urinary frequency or retention, and in some cases infertility. There may also be pain during intercourse depending on the location of the fibroids.

During pregnancy they maybe the cause of miscarriage, bleeding, premature labour, or interference with the position of the fetus.

 

 

 

DIAGNOSIS

 

Diagnosis  is usually accomplished by bimanual examination, better yet by gynaecologic ultrasonography[SCAN], magnetic resonance imaging[MRI] and laparascopy. Fibroids can also be diagnosed during HSG examination.

 

 

 

TREATMENTS

 

[1] Surgery   [a] hysteroscopic myomectomy   [b] laparoscopic myomectomy   [c] laparotomic myomectomy.

[2] Uterine artery Embolization [UAE]

[3] Magnetic Resonance Guided Focused Ultrasound [HIFU]

 

 

 

Fibroids are very serious issues in Nigeria where I practiced for over 14years. Fibroids became a real issue in Nigeria after the death of popular  MEE Mofe-Damijo in 1996 from post surgical complications from removal of fibroids. I was a very young sonographer at that time and I attended to thousands of women and up till this day fibroids is still a big issue.

I have being opportuned to have travelled to 4 continents in the world [Africa, Asia, Middle East, and Europe] and worked in Africa and Europe as a specialist sonographer, fibroids still remain an issue though much more in Africa. It is also a big business, good pay for the surgeon and also good money to traditional healers.

I have no problems with traditional healers and alternative medical practitioners, but what I believe is that some of them should give true information to the patients.

I have attended to so many women in Nigeria who have visited some of these alternative medical practitioners and they claimed to be able to give them some concoction that will make these women to excrete these fibroids, to me this is not fair , for years I have followed these women and I must confess non received any so called cure.

I am not against anyone taking any form of cure she wants whether orthodox or traditional, but safety should come first, NAFDAC must confirm that these concoction are safe for human consumption.

I also noticed that some of the concoction given to these women with fibroids/infertility problems are the same ones given to women with general infertility problems. From the numerous scans I did on this issue in Nigeria  I noticed that their ovaries produce multiple mature follicles than usual, which shows that these drugs contain some natural hormonal substances that stimulate the ovaries and help the infertile women to get pregnant.

If such drugs  are given to women with fibroids, these could lead to increase in the size of the fibroids. While these women are looking to reduce the size of the fibroids, the administered concoction increases the size [Please be careful]. These concoction have also being known to lead to kidney failure.

 

I want to advise clearly that any woman with fibroids should not get stressed, if there is no threatening symptoms, be relaxed, don’t go running up and down and get duped.

If you are an infertility patient with known fibroids, don’t always assume that the fibroids are the problem, do tests to checkout  your fallopian tubes, ovarian functions, sperm tests etc [Ask your gynaecologist for further information]. If you are having excessive bleeding or the fibroids are very large make sure you see your doctor, surgery is best in this instance, because the fibroids can twist, or compress the ureters and give renal problems.

 

I want to specially talk to Consultant radiologists in Nigeria, Uterine Artery Embolization[UAE] is relatively cheap and very effective treatment for fibroids. It only needs an X-ray fluoroscopy unit, which is available in some centres in Nigeria.

I have known women in Nigeria who paid as much as N200000 for traditional cure of fibroids and they are getting no results.

Uterine Artery Embolization is known to have worked , I have attended to some women in Europe that have done it and have seen the fibroid masses shrink, saving the women the complication of surgery.

I recommend that Nigerian radiologists should come to Europe and learn these skills, the Nigerian women need it, they will be saved from the complication of unnecessary surgeries, and drinking of strange concoctions from some strange healers .

 

 

VICTOR  EFUGHI

Consultant Clinical Specialist Sonographer

JOAS MEDICAL

JOAS MEDICAL DIAGNOSTIX

 

JOAS MEDICAL DIAGNOSTIX-------WE ARE AN ULTRAMODERN MEDICAL IMAGING
CENTER, WE ARE EXPERTS IN ULTRASOUND SCAN SERVICES, X-RAY/RADIOLOGY
SERVICES, ECG SERVICES, INFERTILITY SERVICES, LABORATORY SERVICES, AND HEALTH
CONSULTANCY/COUNSELLING SERVICES.

We are located at

JOAS HOUSE, 2, Okesuna Street, Bolorunpelu, Ikotun, Lagos, Nigeria, WestAfrica.

TEL: +23418112054

EMAIL: joasdiagnostix@yahoo.com
http://www.joasdiagnostix.8m.net
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0DqKdifKE7I

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DISCLAIMER . The contents, blogs and postings provided  in this site are offered strictly for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal, medical nor financial advice on any matter. We have made every effort to ensure the accuracy of the information presented, and if you have any questions regarding the contents please contact us. The informations provided in this site is subject to change without notice. This site  may contain links  to other internet sites, we are not responsible for the privacy, practices nor the content of such sites, nor their relationships

 

 

 

THE  SCORGE  OF  FIBROIDS

 

Hi all,

This  is Victor, I am a Consultant Clinical Specialist Radiographer[Ultrasounds], with over 15 years post qualification experience, I have worked as a sonographer in Nigeria for over 14 years, presently I live and work in The Republic of Ireland [though temporarily]as a sonographer

I have decided to start writing into my blogs to communicate with my entire community. Where we can share experiences and relate better on different issues, not just medical , but general issues.

I know that many of my colleagues are on my page, so I will not be shooting offline always because you are there to put me straight and correct me always. Remember no man is an island. I could also give the wrong information by error, so we can work together to give the right information to the world.

 

 

My topic today is for the general online community, but specially for the Nigerian online community, because this is an issue that affect us seriously.

Today  I will be writing about fibroids. Uterine fibroids are benign tumours, which grow from the muscle layers of the womb. They are the most common benign tumours in female, often asymptomatic, they cause symptoms in about 25% of white and 50% of black women.

Fibroids are named according to where they are  found. There are four types

[1] INTRAMURAL FIBROIDS are found in the walls of the womb and are the most common type of  fibroids.

[2] SUBSEROSAL FIBROIDS are found growing outside the walls of the womb and can become very large. They can also grow on stalks [called pendunculate fibroids]

[3] SUBMUCOSAL FIBROIDS are found in the muscle beneath the inner lining of the womb walls

[4] CERVICAL FIBROIDS are found in the walls of the cervix [neck of the wombs].

 

In rare cases, fibroids can turn cancerous

 

 

 

SYMPTOMS

 

Symptoms relate to the location of the fibroids and its size. Important symptoms include abnormal gynaecologic haemorrhage[bleeding], heavy or/and painful periods, abdominal discomfort or bloating, back ache, urinary frequency or retention, and in some cases infertility. There may also be pain during intercourse depending on the location of the fibroids.

During pregnancy they maybe the cause of miscarriage, bleeding, premature labour, or interference with the position of the fetus.

 

 

 

DIAGNOSIS

 

Diagnosis  is usually accomplished by bimanual examination, better yet by gynaecologic ultrasonography[SCAN], magnetic resonance imaging[MRI] and laparascopy. Fibroids can also be diagnosed during HSG examination.

 

 

 

TREATMENTS

 

[1] Surgery   [a] hysteroscopic myomectomy   [b] laparoscopic myomectomy   [c] laparotomic myomectomy.

[2] Uterine artery Embolization [UAE]

[3] Magnetic Resonance Guided Focused Ultrasound [HIFU]

 

 

 

Fibroids are very serious issues in Nigeria where I practiced for over 14years. Fibroids became a real issue in Nigeria after the death of popular  MEE Mofe-Damijo in 1996 from post surgical complications from removal of fibroids. I was a very young sonographer at that time and I attended to thousands of women and up till this day fibroids is still a big issue.

I have being opportuned to have travelled to 4 continents in the world [Africa, Asia, Middle East, and Europe] and worked in Africa and Europe as a specialist sonographer, fibroids still remain an issue though much more in Africa. It is also a big business, good pay for the surgeon and also good money to traditional healers.

I have no problems with traditional healers and alternative medical practitioners, but what I believe is that some of them should give true information to the patients.

I have attended to so many women in Nigeria who have visited some of these alternative medical practitioners and they claimed to be able to give them some concoction that will make these women to excrete these fibroids, to me this is not fair , for years I have followed these women and I must confess non received any so called cure.

I am not against anyone taking any form of cure she wants whether orthodox or traditional, but safety should come first, NAFDAC must confirm that these concoction are safe for human consumption.

I also noticed that some of the concoction given to these women with fibroids/infertility problems are the same ones given to women with general infertility problems. From the numerous scans I did on this issue in Nigeria  I noticed that their ovaries produce multiple mature follicles than usual, which shows that these drugs contain some natural hormonal substances that stimulate the ovaries and help the infertile women to get pregnant.

If such drugs  are given to women with fibroids, these could lead to increase in the size of the fibroids. While these women are looking to reduce the size of the fibroids, the administered concoction increases the size [Please be careful]. These concoction have also being known to lead to kidney failure.

 

I want to advise clearly that any woman with fibroids should not get stressed, if there is no threatening symptoms, be relaxed, don’t go running up and down and get duped.

If you are an infertility patient with known fibroids, don’t always assume that the fibroids are the problem, do tests to checkout  your fallopian tubes, ovarian functions, sperm tests etc [Ask your gynaecologist for further information]. If you are having excessive bleeding or the fibroids are very large make sure you see your doctor, surgery is best in this instance, because the fibroids can twist, or compress the ureters and give renal problems.

 

I want to specially talk to Consultant radiologists in Nigeria, Uterine Artery Embolization[UAE] is relatively cheap and very effective treatment for fibroids. It only needs an X-ray fluoroscopy unit, which is available in some centres in Nigeria.

I have known women in Nigeria who paid as much as N200000 for traditional cure of fibroids and they are getting no results.

Uterine Artery Embolization is known to have worked , I have attended to some women in Europe that have done it and have seen the fibroid masses shrink, saving the women the complication of surgery.

I recommend that Nigerian radiologists should come to Europe and learn these skills, the Nigerian women need it, they will be saved from the complication of unnecessary surgeries, and drinking of strange concoctions from some strange healers .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DISCLAIMER . The contents, blogs and postings provided  in this site are offered strictly for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal, medical nor financial advice on any matter. We have made every effort to ensure the accuracy of the information presented, and if you have any questions regarding the contents please contact us. The informations provided in this site is subject to change without notice. This site  may contain links  to other internet sites, we are not responsible for the privacy, practices nor the content of such sites, nor their relationships

 

 

 

 

 

HI NIGERIAN RADIOGRAPHERS

HI   NIGERIAN   RADIOGRAPHERS Special greetings to all radiographers on my page, especially Nigerian radiographers. I am really impressed by all of you, especially the younger radiographers.  All the diplomate radiographers that joined The Queen Margaret Univervity Edinburgh Scotland Uk, BSc Conversion Course, I specially raise my hat for you all. Even though most of you were in Nigeria and earn naira, you could still make the great sacrifice of paying so much pounds to improve yourself [that is wonderful]. I want encourage you all, not to stop there there are still great oppurtunities if you could go up to MSc  , MBA and PhD. I believe you can all do it. I want to take this oppurtunity to CONGRATULATE  all those Nigerian radiographers graduating from The Queen Margaret Univervity Edinburgh Scotland UK, on Wednesday 8th July 2009.  I hope to be in Edinburgh on that day, so I will be able to see as many of you that will come.. Keep the flag flying and remember to join and support The Association of Radiographers of Nigeria [ARN] federal and state branches including the Radiographers Registration Board of Nigeria [RRBN]. Those of you practicing ultrasounds like me, there is a newly formed association called THE MEDICAL ULTRASOUND PRACTITIONERS OF NIGERIA,  you can get in touch withComrade AFK Bakre or send an email to  ultrasoundpractitioners@gmail.com  for more information. I am presently based in the Republic of Ireland acquiring more advanced knowledge in medical  ultrasounds  and will be back to naija very very soon. I intend to write more blogs, where we can all interact and share knowledge online on many issues of radiography, ultrasounds and general issues of life REGARDS VICTOR  EFUGHi

JOAS MEDICAL DIAGNOSTIX

JOAS MEDICAL DIAGNOSTIX-------WE ARE AN ULTRAMODERN MEDICAL IMAGING
CENTER, WE ARE EXPERTS IN ULTRASOUND SCAN SERVICES, X-RAY/RADIOLOGY
SERVICES, ECG SERVICES, INFERTILITY SERVICES, LABORATORY SERVICES, AND HEALTH
CONSULTANCY/COUNSELLING SERVICES.
[http://www.joasdiagnostix.8m.net]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0DqKdifKE7I