DR ELLIE CANNON: How can I ease the worsening tremors in my right arm?

I started having a mild tremor in my right arm and hand 18 months ago. After several visits to my GP and a private visit to a neurology consultant, I was diagnosed with benign essential tremor. I'm told it's not sinister, but it is untreatable – and it is gradually getting worse. Can I do anything to improve it?

Benign essential tremor (BET), which can occur at any age, is a neurological condition that usually affects both hands equally, causing them to vibrate rhythmically. We don't know what causes it, but it appears to be hereditary.

People often find that an essential tremor is made worse by stress, lack of sleep and coffee, but interestingly it can often improve after a small amount of alcohol.

An essential tremor doesn't just affect the hands; some patients also report problems with their head and neck.

The shaking is usually sporadic at first, but it often gets worse over time.

Patients are usually not offered treatment initially. This is fine if the earthquake is mild and does not affect your food and drinks, for example.

Because the tremor can vary in different people, it is crucial that you keep a symptom diary to see if any obvious triggers, such as caffeine, emerge. It would then be worth considering whether avoiding this is a practical and worthwhile option.

Some treatments help reduce tremor and patients usually choose to take them intermittently. This could, for example, involve taking a beta blocker – a medicine that lowers blood pressure – before certain activities or before social contacts.

This is not just reserved for more severe tremors and it is reasonable to use it at any stage for relief.

I am 75 and generally healthy, but have had bacterial cellulitis for a long time. I keep antibiotics on hand for flare-ups – when my leg swells and I get a high fever. The most recent episode was serious: after five days on the tablets my leg is still red and warm, but is now subsiding. Should I consult an expert?

Cellulitis is an infection and inflammation of the skin and underlying tissue layers, often found in the legs. The infection enters the body through a break in the skin, such as an insect bite or a wound.

For some it can become a chronic problem. This is common in people who generally suffer from swollen legs due to a condition called lymphedema, diabetes or skin conditions such as eczema or leg ulcers.

Urgent antibiotic treatment is essential as it can quickly worsen and cause sepsis, which is a potentially fatal immune system response to infection.

It is not uncommon for patients in the hospital to require intravenous antibiotics.

The symptoms of cellulite are usually easy to recognize. The leg becomes red, warm and swollen and it is common to feel unwell with fever or flu-like symptoms.

Having recurring episodes of cellulite is likely caused by an underlying condition, such as circulation problems in the lower leg. This is normally managed by a GP, but patients may also need input from the vascular team at the hospital.

Leg clubs are also useful – these are community groups for people with lower limb problems such as difficulty walking, swelling, ulcers and infections including cellulitis. Meeting others in the same situation can be a great help, and there are also nurses on site to provide advice on treatment.

I had emergency surgery in August to remove part of my intestine, and shortly afterwards I developed an infection. I still feel uncomfortable, especially when I cough or laugh, and I have what looks like two belly buttons. Is the tenderness normal and is there anything I can do about my appearance?

Recovery from abdominal surgery takes time.

The muscles of the abdominal wall are complex and are involved in many small and large movements – such as coughing and laughing, but also in changes in posture and opening the intestines. Healing may take even longer if patients develop a postoperative infection.

The muscles of the abdominal wall are complex and are involved in many small and large movements – such as coughing and laughing, but also in changes in posture and opening the intestines. Healing may take even longer if patients develop a postoperative infection

Scar tissue is not like muscle: it is fibrous and does not have the same movement or flexibility. Areas of scarring can often feel tight and can restrict movements that were previously normal.

Post-operative abdominal exercises are said to help gently stretch the scars in the abdomen and improve the situation. This should be done under the supervision of a physiotherapist to ensure that the wounds are protected while the muscles are trained.

A consultation with the GP is important for everyone after emergency surgery. They can help with pain relief, refer you to a physiotherapist and provide emotional support.

Situations like this can be traumatic, and I always think it is helpful to explain to patients what happened and why. The GP can also examine the wounds to check whether everything is healing properly and whether further referral is necessary for scar revision. This is a surgical procedure to change the appearance of the scar for cosmetic reasons or to restore movement.

Is this the end of morning sickness?

A cure for morning sickness could be close at hand.

The condition affects as many as two-thirds of pregnant women, who experience waves of nausea and vomiting. Expectant mothers can also develop hyperemesis gravidarum – if the vomiting is so relentless, they will need to be hospitalized as they can become dangerously dehydrated.

It was unclear what causes morning sickness, but researchers at the University of Cambridge say they have found the source: a hormone produced by the fetus called GDF15. The scientists say gently exposing women to increasing levels of the hormone before pregnancy can help resilience and reduce symptoms.

However, it is still early. There will need to be rigorous testing before women get it, but it's something I'll be keeping a close eye on because if successful it could be a game changer.

High bloodpressure? Have your kidneys examined

Do you have high blood pressure or diabetes? If so, have you been told that these conditions significantly increase your risk for chronic kidney disease (CKD)?

If you haven't, you're not alone. A report from Kidney Care UK found that around two-thirds of CKD patients who developed the condition after a high blood pressure or diabetes diagnosis were not warned about the link. Many were not offered a simple urine test that would pick up the early signs – meaning it was only picked up when the problems were advanced.

Do you have high blood pressure or diabetes? If so, have you been told that these conditions significantly increase your risk for chronic kidney disease (CKD)?

If chronic kidney disease is caught early, it can be easily treated with lifestyle changes and careful monitoring. But if left untreated, it can cause the kidneys – which filter the blood – to stop working, requiring patients to undergo dialysis or a transplant.

I would like to know if you have had a similar experience. Do you know your CKD risk? Have you been offered a test or does the CKD diagnosis come as a shock? Please write it and let me know.