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Showing posts with label difficult. Show all posts
Showing posts with label difficult. Show all posts

Wednesday, May 1, 2019

How to Get Along with Difficult People: Especially in the Medical Community





According to https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/8-ways-to-deal-with-people-that-you-dont-like-a7810126.html,




"Unless you're a genetic anomaly, it's likely you will meet people you don't like throughout your lifetime. Whether it's your mother-in-law or one of your colleagues, you're bound to come across someone you simply don't click with.

According to Deep Patel, author of the book A Paperboy's Fable: The 11 Principles of Success, it helps to remember nobody's perfect. That includes you.

In a blog post for Entrepreneur.com, Patel highlights some tips successful people use to deal with people they don't get along with. After all, it's unlikely you'll simply be able to avoid people you don't like — in fact, Patel argues if you restrict who you can work with, you are only limiting yourself.

Instead of burying your head in the sand, try and shift your perspective in the ways successful people do. Here are some tips from Patel and other sources such as Psychology Today.


1. Accept that you can't get on with everyone

As much as we hope to like everyone we meet, it often simply isn't the case. Patel says the first step to dealing with the people you don't click with is accepting nobody gets on with everyone, and that's okay. It doesn't mean you're a bad person, and it doesn't mean they are either (not necessarily, anyway.)


According to psychologist Dr Susan Krauss in a blog post on Psychology Today, it's likely that you and the person just aren't a good fit. Consultant and author Beverly D. Flaxington explains in another blog post on Psychology Today that our behavioural styles can get come between people. Some are dominant, whereas others are timid. Some people are optimists and others consider themselves 'realists.'

A research paper by Hamstra et al looked at something called 'regulatory fit,' which translates as: we are much more likely to put effort into the things we like doing. Chances are you don't enjoy interacting with the people you don't like, and so you don't put much effort in. Over time, this lack of effort can turn into contempt.




2. Try and put a positive spin on what they are saying

Krauss says you could try and look at how people are acting differently. Your in-laws might not have meant to imply that you aren't smart, and your co-worker may not actually be trying to sabotage you.

Even if the person you're having difficulty with is aggravating you on purpose, getting angry about it will probably just make you look bad. So try and give them the benefit of the doubt.




3. Be aware of your own emotions

Patel says it's important to remember your own emotions matter, but ultimately you alone have control over how you react to situations. People will only drive you crazy if you allow them to. So don't let your anger spin out of control.

If someone is rubbing you the wrong way, recognise those feelings and then let them go without engaging with the person. Sometimes just smiling and nodding will do the trick.

The key, Patel says, is in treating everyone you meet with the same level of respect. That doesn't mean you have to agree with a person you don't like or go along with what they say, but you should act civilised and be polite. In doing this, you can remain firm on your issues but not come across like you're attacking someone personally, which should give you the upper hand.




4. Don't take it personally and get some space

More often than not a disagreement is probably a misunderstanding. If not, and you really do fundamentally disagree with someone, then try and see it from their perspective.

Try not to overreact, because they may overreact in return, meaning things escalate quickly and fiercely. Try to rise above it all by focusing on facts, and try to ignore how the other person is reacting, no matter how ridiculous or irrational. Concentrate on the issue, Patel says, not the person.

If you need some space, take it. You're perfectly within your rights to establish boundaries and decide when you interact with someone. If you feel yourself getting worked up, take a time-out and get some breathing space. President of TalentSmart Dr. Travis Bradberry explains it simply in a post on LinkedIn: if they were smoking, would you sit there all afternoon inhaling the second-hand smoke? No, you'd move away and get some fresh air.




5. Express your feelings calmly and consider using a referee

Usually, the way we communicate is more important than what we actually say. If someone is repeatedly annoying you and it's leading to bigger problems, Patel says it's probably time to say something.

However, confrontation doesn't have to be aggressive. Patel recommends you use 'I' statements, such as 'I feel annoyed when you do this, so could you please do this instead.'

Being as specific as possible will make it more likely the person will take what you're saying on board. It will also give them a better opportunity to share their side of the story.

Krauss says it might be a good idea to use another person as a mediator in these discussions because they can bring a level of objectivity to a situation. You may not end up as friends, but you might find out a way to communicate and work together in an effective way. She says learning to work with people you find difficult is a very fulfilling experience, and it could become one more way of showing how well you overcome barriers.




6. Pick your battles

Sometimes it might just be easier to let things go. Not everything is worth your time and attention. You have to ask yourself whether you really want to engage with the person, or your effort might be better spent just getting on with your work, or whatever else you're doing.

Patel says the best way to figure this out is weighing up whether the issue is situational. Will it go away in time, or could it get worse? If it's the latter, it might be better expending energy into sorting it out sooner or later. If it's just a matter of circumstance, you'll probably get over it fairly quickly.




7. Don't be defensive

If you find someone is constantly belittling you or focusing on your flaws, don't bite. The worst thing you can do is be defensive. Patel says this will only give them more power. Instead, turn the spotlight on them and start asking them probing questions, such as what in particular their problem is with what you're doing.

If they start bullying you, call them out on it. If they want you to treat them with respect, they have to earn it by being civil to you, too. Dr Berit Brogaard, a neuroscientist, explains in a blog post on Psychology Today that workplace gossip and bullying can be a method of power play, or a way of bullying others into submission.

If you want to be sneaky to get someone to agree with you, there are psychological tricks you can use. Research suggests you should speak faster when disagreeing with someone so they have less time to process what you're saying. If you think they might be agreeing with you, then slow down so they have time to take in your message.





8. Ultimately, remember you are in control of your own happiness

If someone is really getting on your nerves, it can be difficult to see the bigger picture. However, you should never let someone else limit your happiness or success.

If you're finding their comments are really getting to you, ask yourself why that is. Are you self-conscious about something, or are you anxious about something at work? If so, focus on this instead of listening to other people's complaints.

You alone have control over your feelings, so stop comparing yourself to anyone else. Instead, remind yourself of all your achievements, and don't let someone gain power over you just because they momentarily darken your day."






Image Source: HERE


Image Source: HERE









According to https://lifehacker.com/how-not-to-care-when-people-dont-like-you-1823964733,
"How Not to Care When People Don't Like You
Rebecca Fishbein
3/29/18 9:00am


When I was in high school, I found out that my friends didn’t like me. One of the girls in my 'group' told me I wasn’t invited to a birthday party because 'everyone' thought I was annoying—which, to be honest, at 15 I probably was—and for months I was ostracized. It took some time for me to worm my way back into the gang, but until then, I was devastated, and I swore I would spend the rest of my life being likable.

But, as David Foster Wallace (sorry) wrote in Infinite Jest (sorry again), 'certain persons simply will not like you not matter what you do,' and no matter how likable you think you are, you’re not going to win over every person you meet. 'Remember that it is impossible to please everyone,' Chloe Brotheridge, a hypnotherapist and anxiety expert, tells us. 'You have your own unique personality which means some people will love and adore you, while others may not.' Of course, while this concept is easy to understand on its face, it’s difficult to keep your perspective in check when you find you’re, say, left out of invitations to happy hours with co-workers, or getting noncommittal responses from potential new friends, or you overhear your roommates bad-mouthing you. Rejection is painful in any form, whether it be social or romantic, and it’s a big ego blow to get bumped from the inner circle.

Before you freak out, keep in mind that it’s not just normal to be occasionally disliked, but in fact, it’s healthy. Rejection is a way to suss out who’s compatible with whom, and just as getting romantically dumped by someone leaves you open to finding a better suited partner, getting axed from a social group gives you space to find folks that are a little more your speed. Plus, it’s empowering not to fear being disliked—not that you should run around violating social norms, but when you’re not wasting energy molding your personality to someone else’s to be accepted, you’re more likely to find people who genuinely like you for you, and those relationships are far less exhausting to keep up.

Still, it sucks to feel disliked. Here’s how to get through it without falling down a rabbit hole of sadness.






Everyone Is Not Constantly Being Friends Without You


Everyone does not have more friends than you, even though, as a study at UBC Vancouver indicated, It’s okay to feel the pain [sic].

Humans are social creatures, and so we experience painful biological responses to rejection. 'Historically it was essential for our survival,' Brotheridge explains. 'When we were evolving and living in tribes, being rejected and kicked out of the community would have been a matter of life or death.' When we get rejected, our brains register an emotional chemical response so strong, it can physically hurt. We’re also likely to cycle through a series of responses that’s not dissimilar to the stages of grief.

First, the blame game starts. 'The first stop on the train is self blame: ‘It’s my fault, I did something to upset them,’' Sean Grover, a psychotherapist and author of When Kids Call the Shots, tells us.

Up next is shame: 'You feel ashamed, you feel humiliated, you feel weak,' Grover says.

Then, like any dumped individual, you’ll probably try to win back your rejecter. 'Not because, necessarily, you want them to like you, but you just don’t like this feeling of being disliked,' Grover says. 'It’s, ‘Let me get you to like me so I can feel better about myself.’' Last but not least, you’ll likely feel like you’re a failure, and that’s when it gets dark. 'These are very, very, primitive early feelings. For somebody not to like you, it induces a regression,' Grover says. 'Generally, that brings you back to high school, middle school, elementary school, when it was all about whether you’re cool or not. Once you get caught in the feeling, it really pulls you under, and then you’re struggling.'

These feelings aren’t exactly pleasant, but they’re also perfectly healthy and normal, so long as you don’t end up dwelling on them, preventing yourself from moving forward.









Image Source: HERE








How to Shut Down a Troll, Once and For All


Even if Twitter finally bans the Nazis (lol yeah right), there will always be boring, dumb, Know [sic] that it’s not (totally) your fault.

This type of rejection is literally personal, and it’s easy to start questioning your self worth when someone makes it clear they don’t like you. But we all act out of our own insecurities and unique experiences, and for the most part, being disliked is a measure of mutual compatibility. So, it’s not really that it’s not you but them, so much as it’s both you and them. 'This person, this situation, where they are in their life, it’s not compatible to where you are,' Jennifer Verdolin, an animal behavior expert and adjunct professor at Duke University, tells us. 'We have preferences in terms of personality, and that’s not to say that your personality is bad. It’s different from mine, and I prefer to hang around people who are similar to me.'

Sometimes, the people who dislike you don’t think certain facets of your personality jibe with theirs; sometimes, you just don’t offer them enough social capital to be worth their time. 'Because we’re a very social species with a pretty intense dominance hierarchy, especially when it comes to work, and sometimes in social situations, people make specific strategic alliances and switch alliances as it suits them to meet their needs as they define them,' Verdolin says. 'So people will try to achieve status, and a lot of time, whether they like you or don’t like you may have nothing to do with who you are.'

Either way, likability has a lot to do with what you bring to someone else’s table, whether or not you realize it. 'We see this in all kinds of species. They preferentially tend to spend time, outside of mating, with either individuals who are similar to them in status, individuals who are similar to them in personality, individuals who are similar to them in some sort of way genetically, so, family,' Verdolin says. 'So if you don’t have anything in common that is equally valuable to both parties, then you will likely be rejected. It’s kind of an inevitability.'







Why It Feels So Good to Cancel Plans Last Minute, and How to Stop


There’s something magical about cancelling plans last minute—yes, I’ve heard the John Mulaney joke. [sic] But watch for signs of your own bad behavior.

While you shouldn’t always blame yourself if someone doesn’t like you, if you’re finding this is a pattern, you may want to take an unbiased look at your own behavior. 'When I put people in a [therapy] group, I get to see immediately what problems or tics or bad social habits they have,' Grover says. He recalls a successful, handsome male patient of his who was having trouble holding onto romantic relationships. Though they were unable to solve the problem together in individual therapy, Grover managed to convince the patient to join a group. 'Within five minutes, I was horrified,' Grover says. 'He gets very anxious in front of people, and to camouflage his anxiety he becomes overly confident, which comes across as arrogant. The women in the group commented that he was becoming less popular the more they got to know him.'







Make Friends As an Adult By Reconnecting With Acquaintances



Making new friends as an adult is hard. However, you might have more options than you think.

The patient’s anxiety was manifesting in such a way that he had difficulty relating to people in a social setting, but because our own egos tend to protect us from our faults, he wasn’t aware of his bad habits. 'I had to help him be aware of how his anxiety manifested,' Grover said. 'Anxiety can make people act aggressive or really anxious, and in a group situation it’s super effective to see that.'







Image Source: On Image






How I Work: NYC's Only Taffy Maker
9/10/18 11:30am

One way to find out what’s going on, Verdolin says, is to ask for feedback as to why you’re disliked. Then, if someone tells you, say, you’re annoying, or overly braggy, or self-obsessed, you can take a step back and analyze whether there’s some validity to the criticism. 'Ultimately you have to know who you are well enough to say, okay, that information sounds pretty valid, I do tend to do that, I can see why that might not be attractive to other people, so I’m going to work on changing it,' Verdolin says. 'You might be being given important information that you should take a look at seriously, and evaluate to see if there’s truth to it.'

Still, remember that while some of your behaviors might turn people off, likability is typically a two-way street. 'It is, more often than not, some sort of reflection of [the other person’s] history, their prejudices, their fears,' Grover says.





The Best Way to Answer 'Do I Look Okay?'



You’re getting ready for a big night on the town when your companion turns to you and asks, “Do I…Remind yourself that making new friends is no easy task [sic].

One of my greatest fears is that I’ll start a new job or move to a new place where I don’t know anyone and have to make new friends. Changing your social circle can be isolating; it’s when you’re most likely to feel disliked or suffer from social anxiety. 'I think we have a little bit of an unrealistic expectation that we should be able to [enter social groups] anywhere, with all people,' Verdolin says. 'When you’re first trying to establish rapport in relationships with people in, say, a new work environment, you’re coming into a dynamic that’s already set in structure. There are already cliques, there are already personalities, there are already dynamics, and you have no idea what you’re stepping into.'

Verdolin suggests that people faced with starting a new job or making a big move start slowly to get a sense of their new social environment. 'With animals, sometimes they’ll integrate by having a sampling interaction with everyone else in the group before making decisions, to kind of get a lay of the land, so to speak, before trying to jump right in,' Verdolin says. At a new job, for instance, it might be worth suggesting going to lunch with folks one-on-one, to find the group’s friendliest entry point. 'Some people are very welcoming and some people are not,' Verdolin says. Get to know people slowly, and focus your energy on those who seem most receptive, rather than the group’s most exclusive members, or toughest nuts to crack.





This Is How Many Friends You Need to Be Happy



Friends make you happy, healthy, and they’ll be there for you when the rain starts to pour. But how:


Spend extra time with the people who do like you

Even if you find yourself on the outs with some folks, chances are, you’ve at least got a few people you can rely on when you’re feeling low. 'Spending time with people that care about you can boost your self-esteem and help you to feel more secure,' Brotheridge says. Besides acting as a balm to your wounded ego, focusing your energies on relationships with people who appreciate you will, in the larger picture, be a much more fulfilling use of your time and social energy.



And keep in mind that the best way to make genuine friendships is to be genuine yourself. 'If you just walk around wanting to be liked, it’s very stressful, and people will read that as inauthentic,' Grover says.
And tell the haters to suck it.




At least, tell them in your head. Grover says that when all else fails, it’s best to embrace having the occasional enemy. “Delight in it. Really, just enjoy it,' he says. After all, as Grover says, sometimes it’s actually better to be formidable. 'If people are jealous or whatever, all feelings are welcome.' You don’t need to go around antagonizing people, but if someone doesn’t like you and the feeling is mutual, you don’t necessarily have to go out of your way to appease them, either.'"






Image Source: On Image








According to SLIDESHARE,,







Saturday, December 21, 2013

Ovarian Cyst on Top of Gastroparesis

I went to the emergency room tonight because not only do I have an allergic reaction from adhesive tape and/or latex, but now I have a right ovarian cyst.

The allergic reaction happened after the doctor removed my Impanon. He put a strip of tape on my arm to stop the bleeding that I wasn't supposed to take off for another two days. However, I removed it when I saw this reaction:

My allergic reaction.

It was bothering me and really burning, so I called the doctor and sent him a picture on my cell phone. He wanted me to come to his other office today (more than an 1 & 1/2 away) but I wouldn't make it before he closed. I was in so much pain and I thought it was from the procedure yesterday. After I sent him the picture and waited a bit, he called me back to tell me to go to the Emergency Room.

We got there at 6pm and left at 1:30am. I thought I was going to die of boredom after my Kindle died. I didn't think to bring my charger and my husband tried his best to distract me. The nurse came in and gave me morphine and steroids in my IV. At least they got my IV on the first try but I would have loved to see my labs.

They came and got me for an ultrasound - regular and vaginal. I made them call my doctor because I didn't know if I could have the latter yet but he OK'ed it. It HURT like hell. They stopped and made me empty my bladder, so I went until I couldn't go anymore and went back in for the pelvic. That made me want to cry and jump off the table. This was around 12am, so my morphine had worn off. It was like torture and usually ultrasounds aren't bad. When they finished, they told me that the doctor would take 30 minutes to get the results.

When we got to my room, I waited more. The nurse came in and gave me Toradol, which helped with the cramping day before yesterday. Then, the doctor finally came in. He told me that I had an ovarian cyst on my right ovary and that my GYN will see me on Monday. I've seen my GYN twice this week, I should just put a cot in his office. So, I'm going Monday to see the doctor. I have an ovarian cyst on top of Gastroparesis now. I just want to scream!

The ER Doctor gave me prescriptions for codeine and for steroids. I put cortisone on the allergic reaction to speed up healing a bit.

Information about ovarian cysts can be found here: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/ovarian-cysts/DS00129

You can read it here:

Ovarian cysts are fluid-filled sacs or pockets within or on the surface of an ovary. Women have two ovaries — each about the size and shape of an almond — located on each side of the uterus. Eggs (ova) develop and mature in the ovaries and are released in monthly cycles during your childbearing years.

Many women have ovarian cysts at some time during their lives. Most ovarian cysts present little or no discomfort and are harmless. The majority of ovarian cysts disappear without treatment within a few months.

However, ovarian cysts — especially those that have ruptured — sometimes produce serious symptoms. The best ways to protect your health are to know the symptoms that may signal a more significant problem, and to schedule regular pelvic examinations.


Symptoms:

Most cysts don't cause any symptoms and go away on their own. A large ovarian cyst can cause abdominal discomfort. If a large cyst presses on your bladder, you may feel the need to urinate more frequently because bladder capacity is reduced.

The symptoms of ovarian cysts, if present, may include:

Menstrual irregularities

Pelvic pain — a constant or intermittent dull ache that may radiate to your lower back and thighs

Pelvic pain shortly before your period begins or just before it ends

Pelvic pain during intercourse (dyspareunia)

Pain during bowel movements or pressure on your bowels

Nausea, vomiting or breast tenderness similar to that experienced during pregnancy

Fullness or heaviness in your abdomen

Pressure on your rectum or bladder that causes a need to urinate more frequently or difficulty emptying your bladder completely



When to see a doctor:

Seek immediate medical attention if you have:

Sudden, severe abdominal or pelvic pain

Pain accompanied by fever or vomiting

These signs and symptoms — or those of shock, such as cold, clammy skin, rapid breathing, and lightheadedness or weakness — indicate an emergency and mean that you need to see a doctor right away.


Treatment:

Treatment depends on your age, the type and size of your cyst, and your symptoms. Your doctor may suggest:

Watchful waiting. In many cases you can wait and be re-examined to see if the cyst goes away on its own within a few months. This is typically an option — regardless of your age — if you have no symptoms and an ultrasound shows you have a small, fluid-filled cyst. Your doctor will likely recommend that you get follow-up pelvic ultrasounds at periodic intervals to see if your cyst has changed in size.

Birth control pills. Your doctor may recommend birth control pills to reduce the chance of new cysts developing in future menstrual cycles. Oral contraceptives offer the added benefit of significantly reducing your risk of ovarian cancer — the risk decreases the longer you take birth control pills.

Surgery. Your doctor may suggest removal of a cyst if it is large, doesn't look like a functional cyst, is growing, or persists through two or three menstrual cycles. Cysts that cause pain or other symptoms may be removed.

Some cysts can be removed without removing the ovary in a procedure known as a cystectomy. In some circumstances, your doctor may suggest removing the affected ovary and leaving the other intact in a procedure known as oophorectomy.

If a cystic mass is cancerous, however, your doctor will likely advise a hysterectomy to remove both ovaries and your uterus. Your doctor is also likely to recommend surgery when a cystic mass develops on the ovaries after menopause.




Brief drawing of the cyst that I have. Image found: http://www.mayoclinic.com/images/image_popup/r7_follicularovary.jpg




According to http://www.medicinenet.com/ovarian_cysts/article.htm#what_is_the_ovary_and_what_are_ovarian_cysts

Ovarian cysts facts:

Ovarian cysts are closed, sac-like structures within the ovary that are filled with a liquid or semisolid substance.

Ovarian cysts form for numerous reasons.

Pain in the abdomen or pelvis is the most common symptom of an ovarian cyst, but most are asymptomatic.

Most cysts are diagnosed by ultrasound or physical exam.

The treatment of an ovarian cyst depends upon its likely diagnosis and varies from observation and monitoring to surgical treatment.


What is the ovary and what are ovarian cysts?

The ovary is one of a pair of reproductive glands in women that are located in the pelvis, one on each side of the uterus. Each ovary is about the size and shape of a walnut. The ovaries produce eggs (ova) and female hormones estrogen and progesterone. The ovaries are the main source of female hormones, which control the development of female body characteristics such as the breasts, body shape, and body hair. They also regulate the menstrual cycle and pregnancy. Ovarian cysts are closed, sac-like structures within an ovary that contain a liquid, gaseous, or semisolid substance. "Cyst" is merely a general term for a fluid-filled structure, which may or may not represent a tumor or neoplasm (new growth). If it is a tumor, it may be benign or malignant. The ovary is also referred to as the female gonad.



What causes ovarian cysts?

Ovarian cysts form for numerous reasons. The most common type is a follicular cyst, which results from the growth of a follicle. A follicle is the normal fluid-filled sac that contains an egg. Follicular cysts form when the follicle grows larger than normal during the menstrual cycle and does not open to release the egg. Usually, follicular cysts resolve spontaneously over the course of days to months. Cysts can contain blood (hemorrhagic cysts) from leakage of blood into the egg sac.

Another type of ovarian cyst that is related to the menstrual cycle is a corpus luteum cyst. The corpus luteum is an area of tissue within the ovary that occurs after an egg has been released from a follicle. If a pregnancy doesn't occur, the corpus luteum usually breaks down and disappears. It may, however, fill with fluid or blood and persist as a cyst on the ovary. Usually, this cyst is found on only one side, produces no symptomsand resolves spontaneously.

Endometriosis is a condition in which cells that normally grow inside as a lining of the uterus (womb), instead grow outside of the uterus in other locations. The ovary is a common site for endometriosis. When endometriosis involves the ovary, the area of endometrial tissue may grow and bleed over time, forming a blood-filled cyst with red- or brown-colored contents called an endometrioma, sometimes referred to as a chocolate cyst or endometrioma. The condition known as polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is characterized by the presence of multiple small cysts within both ovaries. PCOS is associated with a number of hormonal problems and is the most common cause of infertility in women.

Both benign and malignant tumors of the ovary may also be cystic. Occasionally, the tissues of the ovary develop abnormally to form other body tissues such as hair or teeth. Cysts with these abnormal tissues are really tumors called denign cystic teratomas or dermoid cysts.

Infections of the pelvic organs can involve the ovaries and Fallopian tubes. In severe cases, pus-filled cystic spaces may be present on or around the ovary or tubes. These are known as tubo-ovarian abscesses.



How are Ovarian Cysts Treated:

Most ovarian cysts in women of childbearing age are follicular or corpus luteum cysts (functional cysts) that disappear naturally in one to three months, although they can rupture and cause pain. They are benign and have no long-term medical consequence. They may be diagnosed coincidentally during a pelvic examination in women who do not have any related symptoms. All women have follicular cysts at some point that generally go unnoticed.

Ultrasound is useful to determine if the cyst is simple (just fluid with no solid tissue, suggesting a benign condition) or compound (with solid components that often required surgical resection).

In summary, the ideal treatment of ovarian cysts depends on what the cyst is likely to be. The woman's age, the size (and any change in size) of the cyst, and the cyst's appearance on ultrasound to help determine the treatment. Cysts that are functional are usually observed unless they rupture and cause significant bleeding, in which case, surgical treatment is required. Benign and malignant tumors require operation.

Treatment can consist of simple observation, or it can involve evaluating blood tests such as a CA-125 to help determine the potential for cancer (keeping in mind the many limitations of CA-125 testing described above).

The tumor can be surgically removed either with laparoscopy,, or if needed, an open abdominal incision (laparotomy) if it is causing severe pain, not resolving, or if it is suspicious in any way. Once the cyst is removed, the growth is sent to a pathologist who examines the tissue under a microscope to make the final diagnosis as to the type of cyst present.




What are the risks of ovarian cysts during pregnancy?

Ovarian cysts are sometimes discovered during pregnancy. In most cases, they are an incidental finding at the time of routine prenatal ultrasound screening. The majority of ovarian cysts found during pregnancy are benign conditions that do not require surgical intervention. However, surgery may be indicated if there is a suspicion of malignancy, if an acute complication such as rupture or torsion (twisting of the cyst, disrupting the blood supply) develops, or if the size of the cyst is likely to present problems with the pregnancy.

Medically reviewed by Edmund Petrilli, MD; American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology with subspecialty in Gynecologic Oncology
REFERENCE: eMedicine.com. Ovarian Cysts.
http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/255865-overview

Previous contributing author: Carolyn Crandall, MD, FACP




Thursday, October 4, 2012

Research sheds light on debilitating medical condition

Researchers from the Auckland Bioengineering Institute (ABI) have accurately mapped the patterns of abnormal gastric electrical activity that occurs during gastroparesis, a debilitating stomach condition.

Dr Gregory O'Grady, from the Auckland Gastrointestinal Research Group based at the ABI, says the new findings provide for the first time an accurate and detailed description of gastric dysrhythmias in humans that will help in the development of new diagnostic and treatment options.

Gastroparesis, which affects predominately women and 10 per cent of diabetics, is a medical condition that affects the stomach's ability to empty itself resulting in a reduced quality of life due to chronic nausea, vomiting, abdominal bloating and pain.

Abnormal electrical activity in the stomach or gastric dysrhythmias was known to be associated with gastroparesis but until now no accurate descriptions of these abnormalities existed, says Dr O’Grady.

“This is because previous research had been impeded due to there being no adequate methods to investigate gastric electrical activity,” he says.

The research project involved surgeons, engineers and biomedical scientists from The University of Auckland, the Mayo Clinic in the US, and The University of Mississippi.

The Gastrointestinal Group’s research, which was published in the prestigious international medical journal Gastroenterology, required several years of technical development.

“We developed new clinical devices consisting of sheets of hundreds of electrodes that could be laid over the stomach to precisely track electrical patterns during surgery. A new software platform for processing these patterns also had to be developed by the research team, says Dr O’Grady.

“Gastroparesis is a devastating disease that is particularly difficult to diagnose and treat, and its causes have been poorly understood. Our research provides significant new insights into the disease, and opens the door to advanced new treatment options such as the use of gastric pacemakers, he says.

“We hope that over the next few years our devices will evolve into routine clinical tools for diagnosing gastroparesis as well as other significant disorders of stomach function,” says Dr O’Grady.

The research programme was led for many years by the late Professor Andrew Pullan, a principal investigator with the ABI and a member of the Department of Engineering Science within the Faculty of Engineering, who passed away earlier this year.

The research is continued by Dr O’Grady, and the other lead investigators of the study Drs Leo Cheng and Peng Du from the ABI and Professor John Windsor from the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences.

The research was funded primarily by a project grant from the Health Research Council of New Zealand (HRC).

The University of Auckland

The Link is HERE.

Also, I feel this way right now: