I’ve had tingling in my nose for a few years. It’s not painful, but pretty unrelenting. A private GP suggested I try a nasal spray with mometasone, but it didn’t do much. I’ve also noticed that my eyes have become swollen and dry. What do you think is going on?
Most people know the tingling. It means something is happening to the nerves, causing tingling and numbness.
If this feeling persists – and spreads throughout the body – it can be a sign of a problem with the nervous system. But if it’s limited to just one area without spreading to the rest of the body, it’s unlikely.
Numbness in this particular area of the nose and eyes indicates a problem with the ethmoid sinuses.
These are cavities in the skull located just behind the tip of the bridge of the nose. An ear, nose and throat doctor would further examine these areas with a CT scan.
“I’ve had a tingling in my nose for a few years,” says today’s reader to Dr. Ellie Cannon (archive image)
The sinuses are air-filled cavities that have a lining similar to the nose. As a result of allergies, smoking, or nasal polyps, they can become inflamed and infected, causing acute sinusitis and causing long-term inflammation.
It sometimes causes swelling around the cheeks, eyes, and forehead. The inflammation that occurs in acute sinusitis can usually be detected in a scan.
Another option would be to try treatment rather than looking for a cause. Tingling and needles may respond well to certain nerve pain relievers or a topical cream.
It’s possible that a numbing or pain-relieving cream is all you need to get relief.
I’ve struggled to get more than four or five hours of sleep a night since I became my wife’s caregiver. I seem to wake up and need the toilet, then I can’t go back to sleep because of anxiety attacks. I heard that amitriptyline is used to treat insomnia. Shall I try?
“I’ve struggled to get more than four or five hours of sleep a night since I became my wife’s caregiver,” says one reader to Dr. Ellie Cannon (archive image).
Insomnia and sleep disorders are a very common problem. But amitriptyline isn’t the drug doctors would typically prescribe, as it’s approved for pain relief, depression, and migraines. One of its side effects is drowsiness, so I can understand why some assume it might help.
Many factors affect how a family doctor treats this type of insomnia. Here are a few things to consider: a potential bladder problem, anxiety, and the practicalities of long-term care for a loved one.
For example, it can be crucial that a caregiver is awake overnight or awake first thing in the morning. This is important because some sleep aids can leave people feeling sluggish and hungover the next day.
Dealing with the urge to go to the bathroom might help. There are medications that can control the urge to urinate overnight.
Becoming the caregiver of a loved one is exasperating and overwhelming – it’s only natural for someone in this position to feel scared.
It is important for caregivers to ask for help. It can be comforting to talk to people in a similar situation who understand the strain. We know that family caregivers suffer from more physical and mental illnesses than others. Talking about worries and concerns can help ease some of the anxiety.
A GP can talk to patients about options – melatonin for sleep may be preferable, or a daily anti-anxiety medication. However, this would need to be weighed against other health conditions and caregiving responsibilities.
I’m 69 and relatively healthy. But in the last few months I’ve fallen quite a few times by accident. I don’t tend to trip over things and it seems to happen sporadically with no explanation. I cut myself badly and get very nervous going anywhere. What could be the problem?
More from dr Ellie Cannon for The Mail on Sunday…
It’s really important to get a thorough evaluation of falls with a GP. Falls are a leading cause of disability, isolation and even premature death in people over the age of 65.
If you fall without stumbling, it’s probably due to a problem with your balance, vision, mobility, or brain function.
This differs from the collapse, which usually occurs due to a heart problem or dizziness. It is often accompanied by dizziness, light-headedness or even fainting.
The data tells us that someone who starts falling at age 69 will continue to fall if left untreated. Causes include anything that affects your movement or balance, such as arthritis, a stroke, or Parkinson’s disease. There are also muscle weakness, visual disturbances, alcohol and balance disorders.
Medications can be a cause, as certain medications, including blood pressure pills, heart pills, and mood enhancers, can lower blood pressure and trigger falls. They can also be caused by simple things like poor lighting, loose carpets, or slippery surfaces.
All of these possible causes are clarified and examined in a specialized fall clinic. Anyone over 65 who has had more than two falls in a year can be referred by a GP. Experts test gait, balance and muscle strength and do blood tests.
Treatments are available to improve vision, strength and balance, and household hazards can be reduced.
Has a new partner left you with a sticky problem?
ENERGY CRISIS: Emma Thompson stars alongside Daryl McCormack in Good Luck To You, Leo Grande
Recently, some concerned women came to me complaining of intimate discomfort and unexplained bleeding. Seeing a doctor with such symptoms is absolutely right.
However, investigation and a little gentle questioning turned up a rather unexpected cause: they had suffered an injury, well, sex.
Around menopause, a drop in estrogen causes changes in the already delicate tissues of the vagina and labia. Types of HRT can help, but caution is still needed.
All of these patients had recently started new relationships when all were feeling more… shall we say enthusiastic.
But even those who have been with partners for years may find that romance can lead to hurt.
I would like to hear if you have had such difficulties as GPs can help. Send an e-mail to the address below – we will, of course, treat all correspondence as strictly confidential.
Face masks that are not good for us
A review of 80 international studies concludes that face masks are useless. Probably (stock photo)
Are face masks useless? It’s a debate that’s been going on for almost three years during the Covid pandemic.
I’ve been very supportive of them, particularly in healthcare, but now it seems we finally have a definitive answer. A review of 80 international studies concludes that face masks are useless. Probably.
Analysis by research organization Cochrane looked at whether masks slow the spread of viruses like the flu and Covid in schools, offices and hospitals. It turns out even wearing a medical device makes little difference.
However, washing your hands properly has been found to stop insects. So there you have it – sticking to basic hygiene rules you already know is about the best thing you can do.