I'm Too Wide To Be A Bride

May 11 2008 Dr Gareth Smith

I've Piled On 2st Since I Started Tablets

Q I AM 45 and due to get married in September. I had a hysterectomy last year and I'm now on HRT. Since then I have put on more than two stones. My doctor says it is nothing to do with the tablets but the side-effects on the packet say otherwise. Is there anything else I can take?

A YOU need HRT for a few years to reduce the risk of heart disease and bone-thinning after a hysterectomy. Women who take it often put on weight as your balance of hormones changes.

Your body now stores more calories as fat, so cut your calorie intake and do more exercise. Your local Scottish Slimmers class can offer healthy eating advice.

Q I SUFFERED a torn meniscus in my knee playing football and I'm due to have surgery this month. Is this really necessary?

A THE meniscus is part of the disc of cartilage that helps the knee to bend. If it tears, some of the cartilage comes loose, which leads to rubbing when you bend your knee. It then swells, becomes stiff and may lock.

It will not repair itself and will almost certainly leave you with an arthritic knee if you don't have surgery.

Take cod liver oil daily as this aids cartilage repair and prevents arthritis.

Q THE joints on the first two fingers of my hand are swollen and tender. Is it arthritis? I'm 48.

A JOINTS become inflamed due to arthritis, so technically the answer to your question is yes. It has many different causes, ranging from an immune reaction to an infection in the joint.

You need to have your hand X-rayed to see if the swelling is due to irreversible wear and tear or if there is a reversible cause such as an infection.

Q MY wife has been diagnosed with Hashimoto's encephalopathy. Can you tell me more about the condition?

A THIS is a disease of the brain caused by antibodies usually associated with thyroid disease attacking the cells. Symptoms include memory loss, tiredness, difficulty concentrating, difficulty problem solving, confusion, problems speaking and sometimes seizures.

It is treatable with steroids and immunosuppressants and the dementia resolves over time. Your local hospital should be able to put you in contact with a support group.

Q I WAS in hospital last year with septicaemia. After being discharged, my hair began to fall out. I have now been diagnosed with low B12 and anaemia. Is this causing the hair loss or is it related to my earlier illness?

A SEVERE stress such as being in hospital can cause hair loss. Low vitamin levels is another likely reason. Hair tends to grow back after a stressful time, so give it a while to recover.

Q WHAT can I take for excessive wind? It is really embarrassing.

A AN over-the-counter remedy such as Deflatane can help but it is likely you need to change your diet. Cut down on dairy and increase fibre. You could also try taking prebiotic tablets, available from health food shops. These will help alter the levels of gas-forming bacteria in your gut.