THE DOC REPLIES

I sometimes have bouts of behave. In many cases, shingles which flare up on my especially if the cancer is at neck. I had one about three an early stage and not months ago but the pain has causing any symptoms, it may lingered. Is this worth getting be kept under review without seen by my GP? any treatment at first. Your

It is not uncommon for pain specialist will tend to review to linger following a bout of you on a regular basis. In shingles. This can be quite many cases this is the safest severe at times. If it is very way to deal with it rather than troublesome and not having what may be responding to normal unnecessary or radical over-the-counter painkillers treatment. your GP might be able to help. Can you pass scabies on from

one person to the next? Our My wife has to have her teenage son had them for a gallbladder removed in an while but following treatment operation. Could it have been – which involved soaking in her lifestyle that caused it? medicated bathwater –

The main reason to have they’ve cleared up. I’m the gallbladder removed is worried they might be on due to bouts of cholecystitis, his clothes or bed which are usually due to sheets, however. gallstones. Women are more Yes, scabies can often affected than men and be passed on from it becomes more common in person to person. later life. Obesity and Usually when diabetes can be risk factors treatment is given it but there is certainly a family is advisable to tendency to gallstones. If your ensure that all wife is overweight then this clothing and bed may be partly the cause. sheets are washed at the

same time and any other I have prostate cancer but the family members, if they have doctor is happy to leave this. symptoms, should be treated. I’m a bit worried – is this the safest way to treat it? I’ve got an essential tremor in

Prostate cancer can often my hand. Is this something to be around for many years be worried about as I get before the patient has older? symptoms. In many cases it is Essential tremor is a benign slow growing and may only condition which is very be a very small focus of common. Its cause is abnormal cells within the unknown. Sometimes it does prostate gland. No doubt you get a bit worse as you get will have had a biopsy which older. There are some will have given the doctor an medications that can help idea of the grade of your such as Propranolol – which is cancer and how it is likely to a beta blocker – and this can WHEN IN DOUBT CONTACT YOUR OWN GP I have something called Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder. Have you encountered it, and what are the best treatments?

Premenstrual dysphoric disorder is similar to premenstrual syndrome but the symptoms tend to be more severe. It usually results in fairly severe mood swings, depression and anxiety which occur on a cyclical basis in relation to the menstrual cycle. Usually symptoms start a few days to a week prior to menstruation and typically settle once the period arrives. Anti-depressant medication can help. In some cases cognitive behavioural therapy has been helpful and is often used in addition to medication.