Daughter has a spot of bother (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Daughter has a spot of bother

8:32am Tuesday 11th November 2008 in Questions & Answers By Dr Tom Smith

Q: My daughter has developed a ‘pimple’, that looks like a sebaceous cysts between her nose and the corner of her eye. It isn’t painful or red, it isn’t becoming larger or swollen, yet she is convinced that it is an infection and is causing her to become rundown and feel awful. Is that possible? She never goes to the doctor.

A: It certainly doesn’t sound as if it is infected. If she feels low and run down, then she should see her doctor. This sounds more like depression, and she seems to be blaming the cyst for it. That doesn’t make sense, unless she is hiding from you the cause of her low mood. Her doctor will help her through whatever it is that is bothering her.

Q: I’m having a lot of trouble sleeping, and my doctor wants me to come off my regular sleeping tablets and go back to diazepam. I weaned myself of diazepam more than a year ago, and don’t want to go back on them. I’m caring for my husband who has prostate cancer, and I am partly disabled, so I don’t get out on my own. Do I really have to stop the sleeping tablets?

A: If they aren’t working, there is no point in taking them. It sounds as if your doctor wants to use the diazepam to deal with your anxiety, and that may be more effective in helping you to sleep than an ordinary sleeping tablet. In any case, as people grow older, routine sleeping tablets lose their effect and can even keep people awake. Talk over your family problems with your doctor, who may be able to organise more help for you, and ease your anxieties. In the meantime don’t worry about taking a small dose of diazepam every day: it can often help a lot.

Q: I’m 56 and happily married. Recently I’ve had trouble starting and keeping up an erection, and my wife wants me to see our doctor about it. Problem is she is a young woman, and I’m embarrassed about it. How can I talk to her about something so personal? She may not be able to help anyway.

A: Don’t be shy about it. She will have heard your story many times before and will be very professional about it. You will be put at ease. She will want to find out why you have become impotent, so you may have to have some tests, but they are simple and not embarrassing. I’m sure you will benefit from seeing her, and it will hugely improve the quality of life for both of you.