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STOMACH SPASMS IN TEENAGER
URINARY INCONTINENCE
Question: My 14-year-old daughter has suddenly developed stomach spasms. We have tried all medications. Could this be IBS?
Question: I had my second baby six months ago and am suddenly having issues with urinary incontinence. I’m only 35 and worried. How can I treat this?
Dr. Rimzim Gupta, Specialist Pediatrician
Dr. Maria Karakoulaki, German Board Certified Aesthetic and Functional Gynecologist responds, “Urinary incontinence is a very common problem especially among women post-childbirth. During pregnancy, the pelvic floor muscles weaken as a result of the weight of the growing fetus. This can lead to urinary incontinence, or stress urinary incontinence and leakage, which can range from mild to severe. Non-surgical or conservative modes of urinary incontinence treatment are the first to be implemented, with the first option being physical therapy, also known as Kegel exercises. This works to strengthen the weakened pelvic floor muscles through repetitive movements of contracting and relaxing the sphincter muscles at intervals. Additionally, there is a new FDA approved nonsurgical urinary incontinence treatment known as the Emsella Chair (also known as The Kegel Throne), which performs the same function as Kegel exercises, but this time at a faster and more effective rate. The chair releases electromagnetic fields which stimulate the weakened pelvic floors muscles by causing 11,300 intense contractions in 30 minutes. This particular therapy is done in 6 sessions, twice a week for 3 weeks.”
responds, “There is a good chance that she may have functional abdominal pain which although is severe and difficult to respond to medication, is usually not caused by any serious medical condition. If she is having this type of abdominal cramps recurrently, especially if triggered by some emotional disturbance and associated with diarrhea or constipation, then this might be due to irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Or if the abdominal pain is periodical, it may related to menstrual cycles. But if it is recurrent, but of recent onset or stand-alone episode then the other physical causes of abdominal pain needs to be ruled out; medical causes like gastritis, pancreatitis, colitis, enteritis, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), renal stones, or acute surgical causes like acute appendicitis. Therefore, as there are varied causes of abdominal pain, she will require consultation with the pediatrician for proper history, examination, and if required, relevant investigations to reach to a proper diagnosis and provide her the appropriate treatment.”
Oct/Nov 2021
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