The Doc Replies

Our expert answers your medical questions

I feel extremely fatigued all of a sudden, although I feel otherwise healthy. What is going on?

Fatigue can be a symptom of lots of different conditions. At the minute, the main one we are seeing is postcovid fatigue, but you want to rule other things out too. Lifestyle can do it, such as not getting enough sleep, and stress and depression can also be a factor. Your doctor may take bloods to rule out common problems such as an underactive thyroid, anaemia or diabetes. In terms of post-covid fatigue, we are seeing a lot of people try and get back to their normal activities too quickly, and that tends to set you back in your recovery. Pace, plan and prioritise, and ask for help where you can when it is not essential for you to over exert yourself.

My daughter always gives me a telling off because I do not drink water, but I tell her I only drink when I feel thirsty. Why is it important to stay hydrated?

It is a little bit of a myth that you have to be drinking all of the time – for most people, it is enough to drink when you are thirsty. You should drink more if you have kidney stones, are prone to bladder infections, have a fever, are vomiting and/or have diarrhoea, and if you are exercising at a high intensity. Older people may find it harder to sense dehydration, so they should make an effort to drink more to offset that. An easy way to check if you are dehydrated is if your urine colour is very dark, more fluids would be a good idea. Other symptoms of dehydration can include a headache, dizziness, and dry mouth, and elderly people can become confused.

What is Morton’s neuroma?

It is a thickening around the tissue leading to the toes, most commonly in the area between the third and fourth toes. It causes pain in the ball of the foot, and classically feels like you are standing on a pebble in your shoe, or as if there is a fold in your sock. There can also be a burning sensation that can spread into the toes. It can be a result of wearing tight, high heeled shoes, so if you are prone to wearing them, try to switch to flats, or shoes with a wider toe box. It can be treated with steroid injections or surgery.

The Doc Replies

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