My husband has an enlarged prostate and uses the drug tamsulosin. The problem is that his body is now emitting an unpleasant odor that I can smell throughout the house. What can he do?
Dr. Ellie Cannon replies: Tamsulosin can be a very effective treatment for an enlarged prostate.
It addresses one of the most common and uncomfortable symptoms of the condition – difficulty urinating – by reducing bladder blockage.
But it can have some unwanted side effects, including dizziness, dry mouth and heart palpitations. However, some patients may also experience excessive sweating – and this can lead to a worsening of body odor.
A possible solution would be to switch medications.
The finasteride tablet is one of the most commonly prescribed treatments for an enlarged prostate, so it may be worth trying.
But there are other possible causes of body odor.
Some medications, such as antidepressants, have been linked to bad body odor
People who are obese, as well as people with kidney or liver disease, are more likely to have bad odors.
Some medications, such as antidepressants, are also linked to the problem.
I have a painful wart and have tried all the usual remedies at the pharmacy, but to no avail. I went to my doctor for help, but she said doctors don’t deal with it. What other options do I have?
Dr. Ellie answers: A verruca is a type of wart that grows on the sole of the foot.
They are caused by a virus called human papillomavirus (HPV), which is usually picked up by walking barefoot in contaminated places, such as public showers.
People with breaks in the skin of their feet – also called fissures – are at greater risk.
In the past, GPs offered cryotherapy – a freezing treatment – but this is no longer funded by the NHS. Despite plantar warts being highly contagious and often painful, guidelines now state that we should tell patients to simply leave them alone.
This is not an ideal situation. Verrucas eventually disappear on their own, although this may take years. One over-the-counter treatment is a cream called salicylic acid, applied every day for three months. But it’s often ineffective, so it may mean paying a podiatrist for the treatment.
In rare cases, a GP may refer a patient to hospital, but this would only apply to people with multiple warts or a weakened immune system that makes it difficult for the body to clear the infection.
A home remedy is the duct tape method. This involves covering the wart with duct tape for six days before soaking it in warm water and rubbing it with a nail file or pumice stone. This is repeated for two months. Research shows that it is just as effective at removing the wart as cryotherapy.
I have had pain in my back for more than three years. It feels like he’s under constant pressure, like there’s something inside him. My consultant prescribed me nortriptyline, but I read online that it can cause depression and other side effects. What should I do?
Dr. Ellie answers: Problems affecting the buttocks are worrying – not only are they uncomfortable, but they can also affect bowel movements.
Feeling constant pressure in the rectum is a condition called tenesmus. Patients often feel like they have to constantly go to the toilet, even after just going.
It can also cause intestinal spasms and cramps, which can be very uncomfortable.
Tenesmus can be a sign of inflammatory bowel disease, such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis. However, these are usually accompanied by other disturbing symptoms such as diarrhea and bloody stools.
In rare cases, cancer can also be a cause. That is why a colonoscopy – a small camera that checks the inside of your intestines – is always recommended.
However, many people experience tenesmus that is not related to an underlying problem – and if the cause cannot be found, it is more difficult to treat.
There is some evidence that tenesmus is related to stress or anxiety. While they may not be the cause of the pain, they can make it worse.
Two common treatments for tenesmus are amitriptyline and nortriptyline, which are antidepressants that can combat nerve pain and reduce the feeling of needing to go to the toilet.
Like all medicines, they can cause side effects including dizziness, constipation, dry mouth and –
in rare cases – depression. However, for the vast majority of patients they are safe, so it is worth trying them if other treatments have failed.
In addition, it can sometimes take several weeks before any effect is noticeable, so it is important that patients stick to the tablets before stopping.
Have dizziness left you in limbo?
Thousands of Britons suffer from chronic dizziness – which can sometimes last for months
Over Christmas I suffered from severe dizziness, which left me feeling vulnerable and disoriented.
Fortunately it went away after ten days. But I wondered whether the NHS is well equipped to tackle this extremely common problem.
Thousands of Britons suffer from chronic dizziness – which can sometimes last for months – and doctors often cannot find the exact cause.
When this happens, there are very few treatments the NHS can offer patients.
However, in many cases, GPs do not treat the problem as a serious problem. And we may not be spending enough time with patients discussing their possible options.
It’s easy to feel ignored when you have an invisible medical problem that doesn’t have a clear diagnosis.
Have you suffered from dizziness and felt fobbed off by your doctor? Write and let me know, as my team at The Mail on Sunday plans to investigate.
No way to free up NHS beds
I was shocked to read last week about a vulnerable woman who was forced to leave an NHS hospital after being threatened with a £600 fine.
According to a report, which first appeared on MailOnline, the woman was still suffering from a chest infection and ‘looked like she weighed five stone’.
However, staff at a south-east London hospital told her she would have to leave to free up a hospital bed for a new patient.
I’ve never heard of this happening, but it doesn’t surprise me. The NHS has been facing a shortage of hospital beds for years due to delays in the discharge of elderly or vulnerable patients.
But this is a problem caused by our ailing social care system, which means it is difficult to find homes or care staff to care for vulnerable patients once they leave hospital.
Fining people who haven’t found a place to go is not only heartless, but it doesn’t solve the underlying problem.
Have you ever received a fine or threat because you were in the hospital for too long? Write and let me know.