Father-to-be tormented by rare condition that made him terrified of everyday noises died after he was hit by Tube train.

ADS

A father-to-be tormented by his fear of noise may  have thrown himself under  a Tube train, an inquest  heard yesterday.
Neil Carter, 37, ‘felt like there was no way out’ due to his phobia of certain sounds, the hearing  was told.
The IT consultant suffered from misophonia, a rare and incurable neurological disease that gave him a heightened sensitivity to noise.

Neil Carter (left, with his wife Lucy in Australia in 2010) died after he was hit by a tube train, an inquest has heard

WHAT IS MISOPHONIA?

Misofonia, literally 'hatred of sound', is a newly diagnosed condition which usually sets in between 10 and 12 years old.
The sounds trigger a 'flight or flight' style response in the sufferer, provoking either extreme anger or fear, most commonly anger.
The closer a sufferer is to the person making the trigger sound, the stronger the response.

The illness means specific sounds – such as other people walking, chewing or breathing – can trigger rage, panic and even the urge to be violent towards those making the sound.
Mr Carter’s psychiatrist, Dr Elise Stephen, said she had referred him to The Priory clinic in Roehampton, South-West London, less than a fortnight before his death in November last year. He became a voluntary inpatient after being made redundant.
Dr Stephen told West London Coroner’s Court: ‘I was concerned at the frequency and intensity of his suicidal thoughts the last time I saw him on November 7.
‘He told me that he had been at his brother’s party recently and the noise had been too much. He felt like there was no way out and feared he could not be a provider for his family because of his illness. He said he struggled to cope.’
Mr Carter, of East Ewell in Surrey, died when he was hit by a train at Turnham Green Underground station on November 20 last year, after going missing from The Priory.

IT consultant Neil Carter 'felt like there was no way out' due to his fear of certain sounds, the inquest was told

A report by Dr Stephen described the patient’s ‘very low mood’ and said: ‘We discussed his mental  state with his depressive symptoms. We discussed how he had thought about jumping in front of a train, but he said he definitely would not do it.’
She added: ‘We had discussed getting new headphones for him as his other ones were hurting his ears.’
Dr Niall Campbell, a psychiatrist from The Priory, said no formal risk assessment had been carried out as to whether Mr Carter was a suicide risk. The inquest heard he used a cash machine at 1.30pm on the day he died, but was not officially recorded as missing until 5.30pm.

Mr Carter suffered from a rare and incurable neurological disease called Misophonia, which means 'hatred of sound'

Mr Carter died when he was hit by a tube train in west London on November 20 last year

A Priory report on the patient’s state of mind written in October last year said: ‘He felt like there was no way out. The noise and fear of noise is an intrusion into his life. He has suicidal thoughts, but no plan to carry it out.’
Dr Campbell said he thought Mr Carter’s situation may improve with the right treatment, ‘but Neil said he was not so optimistic’. The psychiatrist added: ‘The anti-depressants had not been working for him, but it was still early days.’
The inquest heard Mr Carter had the painkiller Tramadol in his system when he died, but he had not been prescribed it by The Priory.
The inquest continues.

Share or comment on this article

ADS

'Every time I eat I look nine months pregnant': Teenager suffers from agonising stomach problem - but doctors can't find a cure.

ADS

A teenager suffers from a condition that she says makes her look like she is nine months pregnant every time she eats.
Rachael Harley has a problem with her digestive system which means her stomach swells and leaves her in tremendous pain.
The 19-year-old was diagnosed with abdominal adhesions - bands of fibrous tissue between her organs - earlier this year.

Rachael Harley, 19, has a problem with her digestive system which means she says she looks nine months pregnant every time she eats

Every time she eats her stomach balloons so much that people think she is pregnant.
She has now been in Aberdeen Royal Infirmary since October and doctors don't know what to do to treat her problem.
Rachael, of Balmedie, said: ‘My weight's gone up and down in a very small space of time.
‘I put on weight after surgery, but it did get down to six stone at one point because I couldn't eat.
‘My mum couldn't bring herself to look at me. I was just bones.
‘But every time I do eat, I look about nine months pregnant. Somebody in the hospital canteen actually asked me how far along I was.

Rachael has abdominal adhesions - bands of fibrous tissue between her organs - which cause her extreme pain

‘I didn't even know what to say. I felt so awful that I lied. It's horrible. It feels as though my stomach is about to stretch open.’
Rachael's problems began when her stomach suddenly swelled overnight and she was rushed to hospital on April 28.
She had various tests and scans but doctors could not determine what was wrong.
The teenager was released from hospital a few days later after she seemed to get better.
But the crippling pain and swelling came back and she was readmitted later in the week.
After a range of tests could not show what was wrong, an investigative operation in July finally revealed Rachael was suffering from adhesions, bands of fibrous tissue, on her bowel and appendix.
They were removed and Rachael, who worked as a supervisor at clothes shop Warehouse before she became ill, returned home. But her symptoms soon began to resurface.
She said: ‘Originally the adhesions were intertwined and were cut out.
‘They were causing an obstruction in my bowel and my organs were struggling to move about.
‘Everything was just fantastic and I started eating again. I went home and was looking forward to returning to my course.
‘But it didn't last long and I never got back to anything. I was put on different medications and even tried nerve-blocking injections, but nothing seemed to help.
‘Then eventually about eight weeks ago, I was taken back into hospital.’
Doctors have been at a loss with what to do, fearing that more investigative surgery could make her problems worse.

Rachael said: 'Every time I do eat, I look about nine months pregnant. Somebody in the hospital canteen actually asked me how far along I was'

Due to the seriousness of her condition, Rachael has now been in hospital since October, but she vows to remain positive.
She said: ‘Unfortunately, now a little down the line we are back to square one. We believe that the adhesions have returned and are day by day possibly causing damage to my bowel, stomach, gallbladder and fertility organs.
‘I am unable to eat much and am deteriorating again. We are losing faith in the NHS doctors and in the care that I am receiving here in ARI.
‘You have to keep your spirits up, but it's difficult. I've managed with my mum to get into town in a wheelchair a few times.
‘I go clothes shopping, even though I can't wear them because my stomach swells so much.’
Rachael had to leave her photography course at Aberdeen College because she has missed classes through her illness.

Rachael had surgery to remove the fibrous bands in her stomach but they soon returned and they are now threatening her reproductive organs - she fears she may have to have a hysterectomy

And she also had to turn down a place at London Metropolitan University to study fashion buying.
But she is now trying to raise money for specialist treatment which she hopes will give her back her life – and she wants to train to be a midwife.
She said: ‘I've missed out on so much. I see photos on Facebook of all of my friends out enjoying themselves. It's heart-breaking.
‘After being in hospital now though, I want to be a midwife. I don't want to waste time.
‘Getting the right treatment would give everything back to me and my family. It would be brilliant. I want to start 2014 afresh.’
Rachael is hoping to raise enough money to pay for treatment from a private adhesions specialist in London, who would have the expert knowledge to investigate.

Surgeons in Aberdeen have run out of options for treating Rachael - they fear if they perform another operation it will make the problem worse

Generous friends and family rallied round and have already raised almost £2,000 in just two days.
Rachael said: ‘I can't believe how supportive everyone has been, especially in December.
‘It was a last chance thing and it's given me so much hope.’

WHAT ARE ABDOMINAL ADHESIONS?

If the tissues inside the body become injured, the immune system triggers a response that involves forming bands of scar tissue, called adhesions.
This usually occurs after surgery.
Most of the time, the adhesions don't cause any problems.
However, sometimes the scar tissue can cause the bowels to stick together.
This can cause it to become partially blocked - this causes pain and vomiting.
Adhesions can also pull the fallopian tubes out of place causing infertility.
Causes of adhesions include appendicitis, endometriosis, an infection and STIs.
The main forms of treatment are surgery and painkillers.
Source: BUPA

In London, a barrier mechanism would be inserted to help prevent the adhesions from returning and hopefully allow Rachael to carry on with a pain-free life.
The teenager believes that the adhesions formed and attached themselves to her bowel and appendix after she suffered from appendicitis.
They normally develop in patients after they have had surgery, but doctors believe that Rachael was born with the condition.
She said: ‘My stomach doesn't empty fast enough so it just swells up. I can eat little things like snacks but when it's really bad I can barely even take in water because I just feel sick.
‘Other people I have spoken to [with the condition] are having to get hysterectomies because the adhesions have spread so much.
‘The pelvic pain I have is really severe and we're worried about mine.
‘We found out online that when you have them congenitally that there's 93 per cent chance of them coming back.’
Rachael now wants to raise as much money as she can in the hope that she can travel down to London for the surgery next year.
The cost of the surgery and all the tests involved will be about £4,000.

Share or comment on this article

ADS

Charity creates mannequins based on the bodies of disabled people to raise awareness in the image-obsessed fashion world.

ADS

A Swiss charity has created mannequins based on the bodies of disabled people in a bid to raise awareness that no one has a perfect body.
Pro Infirmis, an organisation for people with disabilities, worked with people suffering from scoliosis (a curved spine), shortened limbs and a woman in a wheelchair.
Each had a mannequin made to perfectly reflect their body shape - which, to their delight, was then displayed in a high street store in Zurich's main shopping street.

A Swiss charity has created mannequins based on the bodies of disabled people in a bid to raise awareness that no one has a perfect body

Each person had a mannequin made to perfectly reflect their body shape

 

People with disabilities glad to meet special mannequins

The project was devised to mark the International Day of Persons with Disabilities this week.
Called 'Because who is perfect? Get closer', the story is captured in a moving four-minute film directed by Alain Gsponer.
The film follows four volunteers who enter a warehouse with trepidation. 
The models are radio host and film critic Alex Oberholzer, Miss Handicap 2010 Jasmine Rechsteiner, athlete Urs Kolly, actor Erwin Aljukić and blogger Nadja Schmid.

The project was devised to mark the International Day of Persons with Disabilities this week

Called 'Because who is perfect? Get closer,' the story is captured in a moving four-minute film directed by Alain Gsponer

The film follows four volunteers who enter a warehouse with trepidation. They include actor Erwin Aljuki (pictured)

Each is measured before mannequins are painstakingly crafted to mirror their bodies.
Each person returns to the warehouse to see their carefully created model - hidden under a blanket when they first enter.
The film captures the remarkable moment each person sees their unique sculpture - and reveals the internal struggle some of those involved have accepting their appearance.
Upon seeing her mannequin, one woman declares: 'It's special to see yourself like this, when you usually can't look at yourself in the mirror.'

Each is measured before mannequins are painstakingly crafted to mirror their bodies

Each person returns to the warehouse to see their carefully created model - hidden under a blanket when they first enter

The film captures the emotional moment each person sees their unique sculpture - and reveals the internal struggle some of those involved have accepting their appearance

Viewers then see the mannequins carefully dressed and placed in the front window in a shop on Bahnhofstrasse, Zurich's main downtown street.
Far from the tall, curve free models seen worldwide, passers-by see a a woman with a curved spine, or a man or woman in a wheelchair.
One model said: 'Seeing it there for real is quite a shock.'
This, says the charity Pro Infirmis, is the point of the campaign. It hopes to raise awareness of people with disabilities, specifically in the image-obsessed worlds of fashion and retail.

Upon seeing her mannequin, one woman declares: 'It's special to see yourself like this, when you usually can't look at yourself in the mirror'

The aim of the project is to raise awareness of people with disabilities, specifically in the image-obsessed worlds of fashion and retail

Viewers then see the mannequins carefully dressed and placed in the front window in a shop on Bahnhofstrasse, Zurich's main downtown street

Far from the tall, curve free models seen world wide, passers-by see a a woman with a curved spine, or a man or woman in a wheelchair

Share or comment on this article

ADS

Drunken legacy of the baby-boomers.

ADS

The terrible toll of the baby-boomer generation’s drinking habits was laid bare today.
Official figures showed alcohol-related hospital admissions among those aged 45 and over have more than doubled in the past decade.
Among those in their 60s, admissions have almost tripled.

Figures released by the Government's Health and Social Care Information Centre reveal alcohol-related admissions for those of the age of 45 have doubled in the last decade. File picture

The increase is much lower among young adults, indicating that liver disease and alcoholism are much bigger problems among the middle-aged than previously thought.
Data from the Government’s Health and Social Care Information Centre shows that in 2012/13, a total of 26,209 men and 12,461 women aged 45 to 49 ended up in hospital purely due to alcohol.
This was the highest total for any five-year age group.
But the statistics reveal that the greatest increase in hospital treatment for alcohol problems over the past decade was among those in their 60s.
During that period there was a 178 per cent rise in admissions of men aged 65 to 69 and a 177 per cent increase in admissions for women aged 60 to 64.
Admissions more than doubled for every age group over 45.

 

Experts said this was the cumulative effect of life-long drinking by the baby-boomer generation who felt liberated from societal constraints in the 1960s and 1970s.
But they added that many older people are drinking too much now.
In contrast, the smallest rises among adults in the past ten years were seen among those in their 30s – perhaps because this is the age at which many people settle down and have children.
Eric Appleby, of charity Alcohol Concern, said: ‘Too many of us of all ages are drinking too much too often and risking our health because of it.
‘It’s easy to think that this is just a problem for binge-drinking youngsters but Alcohol Concern’s harm map shows that it’s the middle-aged, and often middle-class drinkers, regularly drinking above recommended limits, who are actually requiring complex and expensive NHS care.
'We have to wake up to the scale of the problem across the whole of society if we’re to reverse these frightening statistics.’

Julia Manning, of the 2020 Health think tank, said: 'There is often a focus on binge drinking amongst the young but these figures show that older people need to take a look at their drinking'

Julia Manning, of the 2020 Health think tank, said: ‘There is often a focus on binge drinking amongst the young but these figures show that older people need to take a look at their drinking. Middle-aged, middle-class drinkers are drinking much more than they realise.
‘They are drinking more frequently, they are drinking stronger alcohol and they are using it as a common antidote for stress. Alcohol has also become much cheaper in real terms.’
She added: ‘We have become ever more rebellious in recent decades and it makes me wonder whether there has been a significant culture shift away from taking responsibility and behaving like a grown-up.’
The figures show there has also been a significant surge in alcohol-related hospital admissions among women in their 20s.
In the past ten years, there was  a 111 per cent increase in admissions for women aged 20 to 24, and a 124 per cent rise among those aged 25 to 29.
More than 10,600 women in their 20s were admitted for alcohol problems in 2012/13. The figures are likely to spark fresh fears of a rising ‘ladette culture’.
Though there was an increase among men in their 20s it was not as stark – just over 80 per cent.
Worryingly, there was a 36 per cent rise in alcohol-related hospital cases among girls aged 15 to 19 and an 8 per cent rise for boys. But the number of admissions for youngsters aged 14 and under has fallen.
Separate analysis shows that since 1970, deaths from liver disease have risen five-fold among the under-65s. Mortality from every other major disease has fallen.
Dr Nick Sheron, a liver specialist at the University of Southampton, said: ‘What we are seeing is really dramatic and absolutely tragic.
‘Society’s relationship with alcohol has changed fundamentally in the past few decades … and this is the impact of it.’

Share or comment on this article

ADS

How safe is donated blood? Inquiry is launched amid fears of infection from human form of mad cow disease.

ADS

People could become infected with vCJD – the human form of ‘mad cow disease’ – from blood transfusions, experts are warning.
An independent inquiry will be carried out into the safety of blood donations following fears of infection from vCJD, it has been reported.
Studies have revealed that one in every 2,000 Britons could be carrying variant CJD and this has prompted the Commons Science and Technology Committee to call for action, the BBC said.

People could become infected with vCJD - the human form of 'mad cow disease' - from blood transfusions, experts are warning

While blood tests cannot detect vCJD, strict measures are in place to prevent the risk of infection via blood.
NHS Blood and Transplant does not allow donations from high-risk individuals - such as people who have had a blood transfusion - donor blood is stripped of white blood cells, and disposable instruments are used when possible in retrieving donor tissues.
But some experts believe more could be done.
Committee chairman Andrew Miller MP told the BBC: ‘Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease is a terrible condition and we were extremely concerned to hear evidence that this incurable disease still poses a significant risk to public health.

One in every 2,000 Britons could be carrying variant CJD - the disease is most likely to be caused by consuming beef that has been infected with 'mad cow disease'

‘Although the risk of developing the disease as a result of eating contaminated beef was long ago eliminated, it is possible that the infection could still be unwittingly spread through medical procedures.
‘We were told that this may happen through failure to properly clean medical instruments, or, even more worryingly, through widespread contamination of the blood and organ supply.’

NHS Blood and Transplant says the UK has one of the safest blood supplies in the world.
A spokeswoman said: ‘We are constantly looking to increase scientific understanding of risks of disease transmission through blood, organ and tissue donation.
‘We will submit evidence to this inquiry.’
CJD is a rare and fatal disease that affects the brain causing brain damage that becomes worse over time.
Symptoms include loss of intellect, changes in personality, loss of balance, slurred speech, blindness and loss of mobility.
Most people with the disease die within a year of the symptoms starting.
Patients usually die from an infection because they become immobile meaning they are more vulnerable to infection.
CJD is thought to be caused by an abnormal protein called a prion - these prions accumulate in the brain and cause irreversible damage to the nerve cells.
It has killed 177 people in the UK - most in the 1990s and early 2000s.

Share or comment on this article

ADS

New gel could relieve the agony of arthritis without the side-effects of painkillers.

ADS

A new drug-free gel, called Flexiseq, is set to bring relief to Britain's nine million arthritis sufferers

A new drug-free gel may bring relief to Britain’s nine million osteoarthritis sufferers.
It can be rubbed into painful joints twice a day and, because it is drug-free, it is not thought to cause any dangerous side effects
Researchers carried out six clinical studies involving 4,000 patients and found Flexiseq can reduce pain and improve the mobility of osteoarthritis sufferers.
One study of 1,300 patients found it creates a natural lubricant for the joints and is as good for pain relief as commonly prescribed non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
It was published in Rheumatology - the British Society of Rheumatology’s official journal.
Dr John Dickson, a co-founder of the Primary Care Rheumatology Society, worked on the study.
He said: ‘It is well recognised that effectively managing chronic pain, particularly in patients with other conditions and risk factors, is a massive challenge that GPs and patients face on a daily basis.
‘This topical treatment is drug-free and seems to have an excellent safety profile.’
The water-based gel is made up of millions of droplets of fat, called phospholipids, which travel through the skin and tissue, penetrating the joint.
They then coat the cartilage with a layer of protective lubricant, replacing naturally occurring phospholipids which have been ruined by arthritis.
This reduces friction between adjoining bones, resulting in less pain and better mobility.
Professor Philip Conaghan, from the University of Leeds, who led the research, said: ‘The need for new treatment options is well recognised as existing treatments don’t always work and many can cause serious side effects.
‘Many [osteoarthritis] patients are elderly and have additional health conditions that mean they are especially at risk of these side effects.

The water-based gel contains millions of fat particles which penetrate the joint and act as a lubricant between the bones. This increases mobility and reduces pain

‘Safety is therefore a key concern for new therapies and patients and healthcare professionals would welcome new treatment options which are effective and without such safety concerns.’
The gel, produced by company Pro Bono Bio, was developed in Germany and is already available in Germany and Ireland.
It was awarded Innovation of 2013 by the Federal Association of German Pharmacists.
Michael Earl, chief operating officer of Pro Bono Bio, said: ‘The proven physical mode of action and the lack of an active pharmaceutical ingredient give Flexiseq the best of both worlds – it works, and it’s safe.’
Until January the gel is only available from Arthritis Research UK and LloydsPharmacy. After that it will be available in all pharmacies at £16.80 per tube.

Share or comment on this article

ADS

Beware it kills; Mixing alcohol and energy drinks increases the risk of poisoning, experts warn.

ADS

Jäger bombs (pictured) are a favourite among many party goers but new research suggests they could increase the risk of alcohol poisoning

Jäger bombs are a favourite among many party goers, but new research suggests they could put people at greater risk of alcohol poisoning.
U.S. researchers found mixing alcohol with energy drinks is riskier than drinking alcohol alone.
They say young adults who mix the two tend to drink more, and become drunker, than those who do not.
Dr Megan Patrick, from the University of Michigan Institute for Social Research, said: ‘We found that college students tended to drink more heavily and become more intoxicated on days they used both energy drinks and alcohol, compared to days they only used alcohol.’
Dr Patrick, who worked with Professor Jennifer Maggs from Penn State University, says mixing alcohol with energy drinks could increase the risk of alcohol poisoning because it encourages people to drink more.
She added it could also have other implications as it makes people more likely to be ‘wide awake drunk’ after a night of partying meaning they are more likely to behave in an antisocial way.
The researchers studied 652 students and during four two-week periods they asked them to answer questions about their consumption of energy drinks and alcohol.
They also asked them to record any problems they experienced as a result – from suffering a hangover, to getting in trouble with the police.
Dr Patrick said: ‘Our findings suggest that the use of energy drinks and alcohol together may lead to heavier drinking and more serious alcohol-related problems.
‘As energy drinks become more and more popular, we should think about prevention strategies for reducing the negative consequences of using energy drinks and of combining energy drinks with alcohol.’
The news comes just after it was revealed that energy drinks that are high in caffeine change the way the heart beats.
Researchers at the University of Bonn, in Germany, found the drinks could increase the risk of potentially fatal heart rhythm problems.

People who mix alcohol and energy drinks tend to drink more and to get drunker. This means they are more likely to engage in antisocial behaviour

They discovered that healthy adults who consumed the drinks had significantly increased heart contraction rates one hour later.
This means that the chamber of the heart that pumps blood around the body - the left ventricle - was contracting harder an hour after the energy drink had been consumed.
Dr Jonas Dörner said: 'There are concerns about the products' potential adverse side effects on heart function, especially in adolescents and young adults, but there is little or no regulation of energy drink sales.'

Share or comment on this article

ADS

Mother who didn't even know she was expecting discovers pregnancy hormones had destroyed cancerous tumour.

ADS

This is the miracle baby who saved his mother’s life - by destroying a cancerous tumour that was growing in her womb.
Doctors feared for Nicola Weller’s life when they discovered a tumour in her womb after she had complained about a swelling under her ribs.
She was referred for a hospital scan 12 weeks later prior to an operation to remove it, but when they carried out the scan, doctors made the most startling discovery.

Nicola Weller's life was saved by her son Brandon as the pregnancy hormones in her body when she was carrying him destroyed a cancerous tumour in her womb

Mrs Weller, 29, was unknowingly seven weeks pregnant - despite using the contraceptive coil - and the pregnancy hormones had causes the tumour to disintegrate.
Mrs Weller, a recruitment specialist, said: ‘It was absolutely unbelievable. I hadn’t planned to get pregnant and I’d had the contraceptive coil fitted.
‘So getting pregnant was a miracle in itself - but to find that my unborn baby had caused this tumour to disappear was a further miracle. All that was left on the scan was a few blobs of blood floating around. There was no other sign of it.
‘My baby ended up saving my life. Without him I may not have been here today.’
Mrs Weller first discovered the swelling under her rib in September 2009. She went to see her GP who referred her to Bridport Community Hospital in Dorset for a scan.
Doctors told her there was a tumour growing around her womb and she needed an operation to remove it.

Mrs Weller, 29, went to hospital to have the tumour removed but before the operation she had a scan which revealed that she was seven weeks pregnant and the tumour had disappeared

Mrs Weller, who has a daughter Alisha, eight, said: ‘I was absolutely devastated. My world just fell apart. My daughter was four years old, and I was being told that I was facing cancer. It was terrifying to think that I may leave her without a mum.’
In January 2010 she went to Dorset County Hospital to have the tumour removed, but before she was taken down for her operation, she had another scan.
And it was then that the doctors made a remarkable discovery.
She said: ‘I waited as the nurse tried to locate the tumour on the scanner, and then she suddenly went out the room. She came back in a few minutes later with another three radiologists.’
The medical team then broke the news to her that the tumour had disappeared.
She said: ‘I couldn’t take it in. I’d come into hospital for an operation to remove the tumour, yet now I was being told that it had gone.

Mrs Weller required no further treatment for the cancer and Brandon was born in September 2010 none the worse for his experience

‘The doctors couldn’t believe it either. Everyone was amazed. One radiologist said he’d never seen it before. The second one said he’d seen one case, after medication, and the other said he’d seen it once before, where pregnancy hormones had caused a tumour to disappear.’
They then broke the news to Mrs Weller that she was seven weeks pregnant. The pregnancy hormones had caused her tumour to disappear.
She said: ‘I was stunned to find out I was expecting a baby - but even more stunned to hear that this baby had caused my tumour to disappear. It was like he had been sent from above to save my life.’
The doctors carried out a biopsy on the small residue that was left from the tumour and found that it was in the early stages of cancer.
She added: ‘We’ve had family members who have battled with cancer and there hasn’t been a happy ending. To me, cancer has always meant chemotherapy treatment and losing people you love. It never occurred to me that a tumour could literally disappear overnight.’

Doctors at Dorset County Hospital said they had only once before seen a womb tumour be destroyed by pregnancy hormones. There is still no sign of the tumour returning

Mrs Weller was monitored closely during her pregnancy and she was scanned regularly in case the tumour did come back.
Her pregnancy went smoothly and her baby son Brandon arrived in September 2010, weighing a healthy 7Ib 8oz.
Mrs Weller, who lives with husband Russell, 29, who runs a scaffolding company, in Bridport, Dorset, said: ‘It was a relief when he was born, and it was lovely to meet and hold my wonderful son who had saved me. He was delivered with his right arm pointing forwards so we nicknamed him Superman.
‘And he really is a Superman, after saving my life.’
So far there has been no sign of the tumour returning, and Mrs Weller is enjoying on being a mum.
She said: ‘I hadn’t planned another baby, but I’m so glad I did. The tumour was in the early stages of cancer, so it was life-threatening. I’ve never heard of a baby destroying a tumour before - but I’m very glad that Brandon did.
‘One day when he’s old enough to understand I’ll tell him how he saved his mummy’s life. Alisha understands what has happened and she’s very grateful to him too. She dotes on her little brother.’

Share or comment on this article

ADS

Baby who had the most misshapen head doctors had ever seen undergoes pioneering surgery to stop her brain from being squashed.

ADS

A toddler who had the most misshapen head doctors had ever seen has undergone pioneering surgery to prevent her brain from being squashed. 
Three-year-old Kaydence Theriault  and her fellow triplets Taylor and Kaylin were all born with Crouzon Syndrome, which causes the baby's head to become misshapen.
Kaydence had the most severe form doctors had ever seen because her skull was shaped like a cloverleaf.

Rare: Kaydence Theriault had the most severely misshapen head doctors had ever seen. She and her fellow triplets Taylor and Kaylin were all born with Crouzon Syndrome, which causes the baby's head to become misshapen. Because of the severity of her case, Kaydence's skull was shaped like a cloverleaf

She needed life-saving surgery to ensure her brain didn't become damaged.
A team of expert cranio-facial surgeons came together to save her, and now Kaydence and her siblings are like any playful toddlers who will celebrate their fourth birthday in December.
They are suffering no health issues or learning problems and are catching up in height with other youngsters.
Their mother Bobbie Jo, 38, of Indianapolis, said: 'The doctors have been amazing.
'When Kaydence was born no-one knew if she would survive. But thanks to their incredible talent we have a normal healthy daughter and we can't thank them enough.'
Crouzon Syndrome is a genetic condition that causes the plates of a baby's skull to lock in position too early, before the brain has had chance to grow.

Genetic: The triplets, who are now three, their older brother Jayden and parents Bobbi Jo and Jason. Both Mrs Theriault and her son also suffer from milder forms of Crouzon Syndrome, which causes the plates of a baby's skull to lock in position too early, distorting the shape of their head

Most children born with the condition have surgery before they are 18 months old to separate the skull before it fuses.
But Kaydence's condition was so severe the bones were already joining together, pushing her head into an odd shape at the top and sides, like a three-leaved clover.
Mrs Theriault had no idea there was a problem until her 20-week scan showed one of the triplets had a deformity.
She said: 'When the doctors told me about Kaydence having a cloverleaf shaped head, I couldn't picture that. I have never seen it before so I had no idea what to expect.'
She and her eldest son Jayden, eight, also have Crouzon Syndrome, which Mrs Theriault inherited from her father. But each of them has a milder form and underwent small operations just before they were one.

Emergency: Kaydence needed surgery to open up her skull at two months old so her brain would have room to grow. Then, three months later, a team of expert surgeons came together at to perform a delicate operation to reshape her head

Her husband Jason said: 'The shape of Jayden's head started changing and that's when we and the doctors realised he needed surgery. He was in hospital two or three days and then he was home and that was the end of it and he was completely fine.
'That's one of the main reasons why we had decided to have another child. I didn't want Jayden to grow up without a sibling.'

WHAT IS CROUZON SYNDROME?

Crouzon syndrome is a rare genetic condition that causes the early fusing of the bones of the skull and the abnormal development of the face.
It occurs when some of the bones fuse too early, meaning the they cannot grow normally and the face becomes misshapen.

In babies with the condition, the bones normally fuse prior to birth.

Some are born with an abnormal head shape - a tall and narrow skull with wide-set eyes - while others develop problems later.
Other abnormalities associated with the syndrome include having a prominent lower jaw, hearing and spinal problems.
The syndrome affects 1.6 people in every 100,000 and is caused by a genetic mutation.
Only one parent needs to be a carrier for a child to inherit the condition - a person with Crouzon syndrome has a 50 per cent chance of passing it on to each of their children.

About 97 per cent of children with the condition have normal levels of intelligence.
The main treatment is surgery to expand and reshape the skull.
Source: Seattle Children's Hospital

The Theriaults were overjoyed when they discovered they were expecting triplets and say they had 'no idea' that their babies would be in danger of having a life-threatening form of Crouzon.
Mrs Theriault said: 'Jayden had been fine so I thought it would all be okay.'
Her husband added: 'But when Kaydence came out I knew she would be the one who would have the most problems. I was just absolutely astounded at the severity of it.'
Kaydence needed emergency surgery to open up her skull at two months old, as soon as she was strong enough, so her brain would have room to grow.
Then, three months later, a team of expert surgeons came together at Peyton Manning Children's Hospital in Indianapolis to perform a delicate operation to reshape her head.
World famous cranio-facial surgery Dr Kenneth Salyer, from Texas, was brought in to help with the surgery, which took place in May 2010 and lasted eight-and-a half hours.
Neurosurgeon Dr Ronald Young said: 'The only way to reshape the head is to take that bone apart and put it back together in a different shape and that's what we did.'
Mrs Theriault, a health admin worker, said: 'I was scared, I was worried, I was sad. I wanted it to be over, I just wanted to see her. I didn't know how such a small baby could cope with being under anaesthesia for so long.'
Dr Young added: 'Our main worry was bleeding. This was a very small child and we were working over a very large blood vessel. After that it was exposing the brain to possible infection or damage during the surgery.'
To their relief, everything went well and Kaydence made an incredible recovery and was out of hospital and back with her siblings in a matter of days.

Misshapen: An MRI scan of Kaydence's skull soon after she was born, showing the severity of her case

Her cloverleaf shaped head was transformed, and with the help of smaller follow-up surgeries, she is now virtually unrecognisable from how her appearance as a newborn.
Taylor and Kaylin, who had a milder form of Crouzon, underwent their surgeries at seven months old and are also doing well.
Each child underwent physical and speech therapy to help them catch up with other three-year-olds because of their time spent in hospital. But the girls are expected to start nursery soon and will have no lasting effects.
When the triplets are older they will be able to have plastic surgery to help make their face and eye shape more normal if necessary.
As a child, Mrs Theriault admits she was teased by schoolmates because of her mildly protruding eyes, but she believes it made her a stronger person and better able to help her own children.

Doing well: The girls are expected to start nursery soon and will have no lasting effects. When they are older they will be able to have plastic surgery to help make their face and eye shape more normal if necessary

Her husband said: 'I've know Bobbie Jo since she was 14 and she has always stood up for herself and never backed down from anybody.
Mrs Theriault added: 'Children are going to be children. Bullying is everywhere no matter who are. All three of the triplets will probably come across somebody who is going to bother them. But if they do get called names they will have me to help them.
'When Jayden started school he said some of the kids made fun of his eyes. But now he has learned about Crouzon Syndrome and tells people about it. That has helped him stand up for himself.
'We're so happy they can have a normal life," said Bobbie. Jo. "I love those doctors for what they have done for my family.'
The story appears in Unlock My Skull: Body Bizarre at 10pm on Monday December 2nd on the Discovery Channel.

ADS

Lung transplant patient gets rare opportunity to meet the family of the man who saved her life.

ADS

A young woman has been given the opportunity to meet the mother of the man who, through his death, saved her life.
Lyndsey McLaughlin, 28, met Diana Rodriguez whose 18-year-old son’s lungs she was given during life-saving transplant surgery.
Normally, organ donors legally have to remain anonymous but the two New York women were so keen to meet that they made it happen.
Scroll down for video

Lindsey McLaughlin (right), 28, met Diana Rodriguez (left). Ms McLaughlin would not be alive today if Ms Rodriguez had not agreed to donate her son's lungs when he died in an accident at the age of 18

Ms McLaughlin, who has cystic fibrosis, nearly died while waiting for a lung transplant, ABC News reports.
She struggled for every breath and had been told she did not have long to live.
At the time she told ABC News: ‘I'm 26 years old. I should be out every Friday and Saturday night. I should be at the bars having a couple of drinks, not worrying about how many medicines I'm going to have to take the next day.’
Lyndsey's mother, Donna McLaughlin, added: ‘I used to go to her apartment every day when she really got sick… and I would walk to work crying knowing that my daughter was dying before my eyes and there wasn't a thing I could do about it.’
After seven months on the New York organ donor list, Ms McLaughlin received a call to say a donor had been found.
During lengthy and complicated surgery on April 3, 2011, at the New York Presbyterian Hospital, Ms McLaughlin received Adrian Rodriguez’s lungs.
Unfortunately your browser does not support IFrames.

Ms McLaughlin has cystic fibrosis and was dying when she received Adrian's lungs. Adrian (pictured) was hit by a train when he slipped on the station platform on his way to school

The aspiring chef had been declared brain dead after being hit by a train when he slipped and fell on the station platform on his way to school.
After the surgery, Ms McLaughlin says she was haunted by thoughts of the person who saved her life – at the time, all she knew was that he was an 18-year-old man from New York.
As a result, she contacted the New York Organ Donor Network and was told her donor’s family was as keen to meet up as she was.
The meeting gave Ms McLaughlin and her family the chance to thank Ms Rodriguez in person.

The transplant surgery took place at New York Presbyterian Hospital (pictured) after Ms McLaughlin had been waiting for a donor for seven months

Donna McLaughlin explained that she cannot imagine how Ms Rodrigues felt the day her son died.
She said she just hopes Ms Rodrigues knows how grateful they are that she decided to allow her son’s organs to be donated.
Ms McLaughlin told ABC News: ‘It's crazy for me to think that she can literally put her hands here and she can feel it's him breathing. It's him breathing and I'm breathing with him.’
Ms McLaughlin added that she thinks about Adrian all of the time and that she is always thanking him.

ADS

51% forget their Pill, need emergency contraception or have an unplanned pregnancy because of alcohol.

ADS

More than half of women risk unwanted pregnancy at Christmas, a survey has revealed

Many people worry about piling on the pounds or arguing with the in-laws at Christmas, but new research suggests there are other hidden dangers.
More than half of women risk unwanted pregnancy at Christmas, a survey has revealed.
Some 51 per cent forget to take their contraceptive pill, have to get the morning after pill, or have an unplanned pregnancy during the festive season, the researchers found.
They believe these lapses are down to drunken partying, hectic diaries and visiting family.
The research comes from LloydsPharmacy Online Doctor which says its data shows a 32 per cent increase in the use of its online contraception services at Christmas.
The pharmacy interviewed 2,000 women and discovered one in six have forgotten to take the Pill because they were drunk.
One in seven have missed taking it because they were distracted by the hustle and bustle of Christmas.
According to the survey, one in six women have missed taking the Pill for a few days while they struggled to get a repeat prescription.
And one in three say they find it hard to see a doctor or nurse in December.
Another 28 per cent admit to failing to take the Pill because they had gone to stay with relatives and forgotten to pack it.
As a result, it is perhaps no surprise that 13 per cent of women admit to having had to take the morning after pill over Christmas and one in 14 say they have needed it after their office Christmas party.

Some 13 per cent of women admit to having had to take the morning after pill over Christmas and one in 14 say they have needed it after their office Christmas party

Dr Tom Brett, Medical Director for LloydsPharmacy Online Doctor said: ‘We often see peaks in our contraceptive services after the weekend but during November and December as the party season gets underway, there is a clear and significant uplift in orders. 
‘The combination of an increased need for contraceptive services with reduced hours at local GP surgeries over the festive holiday period can leave some women wondering where to go as many might not be aware that it is possible to seek this sort of help online.’
Only five per cent of people say they have used an online pharmacy but 45 per cent say they would consider it if the Pill could be prescribed and delivered to their door for a small fee.

comment on this article

ADS

BEWARE; Some people don't realise how much sugar there is in Coca-Cola,' admits the company's PRESIDENT - as it emerges a large cinema serving contains 44 teaspoons of sugar.

ADS

Mr Quincey argued that a regular can of the drink - which contains 35g or six teaspoons of sugar - was similar in calories to 'a cappuccino or a half a croissant'

The European president of Coca-Cola has admitted that some customers 'don't realise' how much sugar is in the company's drinks.
Speaking on Newsnight, James Quincey also conceded that 'things need to change' and servings had to reduce in size.
The admission came after Jeremy Paxman took him to task on the size of servings available in cinemas - some of which contain a staggering 44 teaspoons of sugar.
When asked by Mr Paxman what good Coca-Cola did its consumers, Mr Quincey said: 'It does have some sugar in it... it has energy, but is it a necessity? No it's not. But millions of people enjoy it as part of their diet across the UK.' 
Mr Quincey also pointed put that a regular can of the drink - which contains 35g or six teaspoons of sugar - was similar in calories to 'a cappuccino or a half a croissant'.
He stressed that the company was working hard to promote the calorie and sugar content of its products so that consumers could make informed choices.
But when asked by Mr Paxman if he thought people had any idea how much sugar is in small and large servings of Coke at the cinema, he was forced to reply: 'I think maybe they don't',
He conceded: 'Things need to change and the bigger cups need to come down,' he said.
A 'small' cinema serving is said to contain a 23 teaspoons on sugar, while a large contains 44 - 'each to be consumed in a single sitting,' Mr Paxman added.
Mr Quincey argued that the company wasn't trying to hide the information and was 'focused on
getting the information out there'.
'Then they can make choices and if they don't want to buy one... clearly [these sizes] won't be for everyone,' he added.
But he agreed that the 'bigger cups need to come down' and there may be 'smaller packages'. 
'I don't think we are saying that the world can't change and doesn't need to move on - we do need to recognise that things need to change,' he said.

Supersize: A 'small' cinema serving is said to contain a 23 teaspoons on sugar, while a large contains 44 - 'each to be consumed in a single sitting,' Mr Paxman told Mr Quincey (right)

UK guidelines recommend that ‘added’ sugars - those used to sweeten food, fizzy drinks, honeys, syrups and fruit juices - shouldn’t make up more than 10 per cent of the total energy we get from food.
This is around 50g of sugar a day, equivalent to 10 cubes of sugar for adults and older children, and nine for five to ten-year-olds.

But just one 500ml bottle of Coke will send you over this limit, with 10.5 cubes.
Earlier this year Coca-Cola, the parent company of Sprite, announced that the fizzy lemon and lime flavoured drink was to be scrapped in favour of a lower-calorie version that uses a 'natural' sweetener, Stevia.
The new formulation contains 30 per cent fewer calories. The drink was altered as part of Coca-Cola's anti-obesity drive and followed a call by the government to address the issue.

 

Which has more calories, a coke or a cappuccino?

UK guidelines recommend that 'added' sugars - those used to sweeten food, fizzy drinks, honeys, syrups and fruit juices - shouldn't make up more than 10 per cent of the total energy we get from food. But just one 500ml bottle of Coke will send you over this limit, with 10.5 cubes

Coca-Cola also began airing anti-obesity TV ads this year to 'remind' viewers that all calories count in managing weight, including those in Coca-Cola's products.
Aside from Sprite, the company also said to be exploring more diet options.
Diet drinks already make up nearly half of Coca-Cola's UK sales, with Diet Coke and Coke Zero accounting for 45 per cent of sales.
At the Sprite announcement the company said that since 2007, it had reduced the calorie content of Fanta Orange by 30 per cent, Oasis by 35 per cent and Lilt by 56 per cent.
It also plans to reduce the average calories per litre in sparkling soft drinks by five per cent by the end of 2014.
Revealed: How Coke compares to other foods on the market

 

1. BOTTLE OF COKE (500ml); 2. JORDANS FRUSLI BAR, BLUEBERRY; 3. VOLVIC TOUCH OF FRUIT LEMON AND LIME (1.5 litre); 4. RED BULL (250ml); 5. BEN & JERRY'S PHISH FOOD ICE CREAM (500ml); 6. TESCO CHICKEN KORMA & PILAU RICE (550g); 7. INNOCENT MANGOES & PASSION FRUITS SMOOTHIE (250ml); 8. 1 TBSP (15ml) KETCHUP; 9. BB Q PRINGLES, (190g); 10. 2 MCVITIES DIGESTIVES; 11. NEW COVENT GARDEN PLUM TOMATO & MASCARPONE SOUP (600g); 12. PRET CORONATION CHICKEN & CHUTNEY SANDWICH; 13. MCDONALD'S LARGE STRAWBERRY MILKSHAKE; 14. WAITROSE LOVE LIFE CRAYFISH & MANGO SALAD; 15. SUN-MAID RAISINS (14g); 16. MULLER LIGHT STRAWBERRY (175g pot); 17. 1 BANANA; 18. DOLMI O BOLOGNESE ORIGINAL SAUCE (500g jar); 19. 1 PLAIN BAGEL; 20. GLASS OF TROPICANA SMOOTH ORANGE JUICE (200ml); 21. GLASS SEMI SKIMMED MILK (200ml); 22. APPLE; 23. BRAN FLAKES (30g with milk, 125ml); 23. BRAN FLAKES (30g with milk, 125ml) ; 24. STARBUCKS SIGNATURE GRANDE HOT CHOCOLATE & CREAM; 25. MCDONALDS FILLET-O-FISH; 26. GALAXY BAR (125g)

 comment on this article

ADS