After After being diagnosed with prolapse, my doctor recommended a hormone cream. He also fitted me with a vaginal pensary.

It’s something I have tried to accept, though sometimes it is hard to forget.

Are these products successful? Is there an alternative?

The pelvic floor is the “hammock” of ligaments and muscles that surrounds the pelvis. It supports, among other things, the bladder, rectum, and the womb.

When these muscles become weak due to ageing or obesity after pregnancies they may not be able to hold all the pieces in place. This can cause some shifting downwards.

Prolapse is a term doctors use to describe this condition. Prolapse can refer to a variety of problems depending on the organ affected and how severe it is.

After I was diagnosed with a prolapse problem, my doctor prescribed a hormone cream and I've been fitted with a vaginal pessary. How successful are these devices, and is there any alternative?

Following my prolapse diagnosis, my doctor recommended a hormone cream. He also fitted me with a vaginal pensary. Is this a successful device?

If there’s a substantial prolapse, your womb might bulge from the vagina. It is important to determine the extent and type of prolapse. Symptoms can include feeling heavy, dragging, feeling like you’re moving, pain in your uterus, and bladder symptoms.

For people who do not want to have surgery, a vaginal band is one method of supporting prolapse. This is usually a small, plastic device in the shape of a doughnut that holds everything up at the top.

The doctor must fit it. It may take several attempts to achieve the correct size. To keep your tissues healthy and comfortable, you can use oestrogen-containing hormone substitute therapy creams.

Why new “fat jabs” are welcome

The NHS chiefs approved a brand new treatment called semaglutide for people with obesity who are struggling to lose weight last week.

The weekly injection – which essentially tricks the body into thinking it’s had enough food – has been widely criticised, with some branding it unethical, or dismissing it as a ‘fat jab’.

I do however welcome this drug which GPs, like myself can now prescribe to patients with obesity-related disorders such as diabetes.

Obesity, whether it’s something we love or not, is the main problem that causes most chronic diseases seen in my clinic.

Many patients tried everything, and nothing worked.

We welcome any additional tool. It’s better to have this tool than to continue with another useless diet.

To strengthen pelvic floor muscles and improve gynaecology, pelvic-floor exercises are recommended by a trained pelvic specialist.

Important are weight loss and constipation prevention.

Prolapse can be treated with many different surgical procedures depending on the symptoms and your general health. This is something to discuss with your gynaecologist.

They were once performed to correct prolapse, but they now only serve as research because of the many complications. New techniques and other options for surgery are continually being discovered.

The past four weeks have been very difficult for me.

The incidents are more common than usual, and they sometimes occur when I am most vulnerable. Although I’m not experiencing pain, this isn’t normal.

What should I do if something is serious?

You should see your doctor immediately if there is any significant changes in your bowel habits.

Pancreas is a gland located in the abdomen which produces enzymes that help food break down.

The enzyme that we require to process fat is one of them. It is essential to digest fat. Without it, the stomach will not absorb the fat and end up in your stool.

Steatorrhoea is a medical term that refers to this condition. It can also be an indication of pancreatic carcinoma. You may also experience pancreatitis. This is when the pancreas becomes inflamed.

Steatorrhoea may also indicate coeliac disorder, an inflammatory gut disease. It can happen to those with cystic fibris, a genetic condition that causes many of the organs to malfunction.

It is necessary to immediately test for these conditions in order to identify the source.

A CT scan is the best type of scan for looking at the pancreas. However, a GP will usually start with an ultrasound because it’s easier to obtain. 

After eating a meal, I find I sweat profusely – all over my body – for about an hour.

Some tests by my GP showed that I have high blood glucose levels. Since he knew I didn’t like to take pills, he recommended a diet.

Is that what you believe will fix it?

It is common to feel shaky after eating. This is known as gustatory or after-dinner sweating.

But if it happens regularly, it could be a sign of an unusual condition associated with nerve damage – and in particular damage to the nerves in the mouth.

It can happen after an injury or surgery.

When a cancerous tumour presses onto a nerve, we also often see nerve issues.

Vitamin B12 deficiencies are also associated.

Do you have a question for Dr Ellie?

Email DrEllie@mailonsunday.co.uk or write to Health, The Mail on Sunday, 2 Derry Street, London, W8 5TT.

Dr Ellie cannot answer specific questions and can’t give personalized answers. Always consult your GP if you are experiencing a medical condition.

And, yes, it can also be the result of diabetes, which is in fact the most common cause of problems with autonomic nerves – the nerves that control involuntary movements such as breathing, heart rate, and sweating.

Nerve-function testing is required to diagnose this issue. They are often done at the hospital. 

A rare symptom such as this requires more than a simple blood test.

Scans are possible depending on the outcome of nerve-testing. 

If it’s not obvious, treatment or medication may be an option.

The specialist would refer you to a hospital.

Some treatments include a cream, tablet, that blocks nerves leading to sweat glands or Botox injections. These have been shown to decrease sweating around the site where Botox is administered.

We will only get better oral health if there are more dentists

Are you able to book an appointment at your NHS dentist?

I have read numerous reports about people waiting in line for years to receive dental care.

Horror stories have also been told to me, including patients who ripped out their own teeth using pliers and teens forced to wait for two years before they can be treated with agonising pain.

Have you managed to get an appointment with your NHS dentist recently? I've read endless reports of people across the country waiting months on end for dental treatment

Did you manage to book an appointment for your NHS dentist last week? I have read numerous reports about people waiting in long lines for treatment.

The Government has blamed the backlog on the pandemic and has injected £50 million into NHS dentists’ resources so they can see more patients.

However, the problem is not that there aren’t enough dentists in certain locations.

Patients who lived in remote areas of Scotland have had to drive for hours to get to the nearest dentist. There’s no place to go if the dentist is ill.

What time have you waited for a dentist to come see you? Please write and let me know.