How to Tell if Your New Boyfriend Might Abuse You
How can you tell if your new boyfriend is capable of abusing your children from another relationship or your future children with him?
Are you sick and tired of reading about a toddler or baby dying at the hands of the boyfriend, whom the mother left in charge of the victim while she was at work?
Do you wonder: How could she not have known that he was capable of murdering a two-year-old?
Heaven forbid if she DID know he was capable of harming a baby, but decided to leave the child in his care anyways… but that’s a whole new topic.
The topic here is how a woman can tell if her new boyfriend is capable of child abuse, even if she has no kids.
How a Woman Can Screen a Boyfriend for Child Abuse
“A woman can screen out boyfriends who are potential child abusers by getting to know them well, and not jumping into marriage out of desperation or because she is prioritizing superficial traits, such as wealth or attractiveness,” says Carole Lieberman, MD, a forensic psychiatrist and author of Lions and Tigers and Terrorists, Oh My! How to Protect Your Child in a Time of Terror.
A woman also shouldn’t jump into arranging for the new boyfriend to babysit the toddler or baby while she’s at work until after she’s really gotten to know him over a period of time … though time passage alone may not be good enough.
- Who’d be babysitting if she had never met the boyfriend?
- Who WAS babysitting before she met the boyfriend?
- Maybe she thought the previous babysitter — perhaps her sister or her own mother — was being mean to the child and decided to hand the child over to the new man in her life?
- And then he ends up killing the child or causing brain damage via “shaken baby syndrome.” How could she have missed the warning signs?
Additional Ways to Screen the Boyfriend for Child Abuse
Dr. Lieberman adds, “Women should look for red flags such as his having been severely punished or abused as a child, having a dysfunctional relationship with his parents or siblings, or his abusing alcohol or drugs.”
Wow, can’t get bigger, redder flags than these! Let’s also not forget how he treats her.
If a man lays a hand on you out of anger, you can count on him beating your child.
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“A woman should also carefully observe how her boyfriend interacts with her children. Is he cold, neglectful and easily annoyed, or is he sensitive, empathic and truly interested in doing fun things together?” adds Dr. Lieberman.
She can even straight-out ask him how he’d respond in a certain situation involving a crying toddler, or preschooler who won’t put away a toy or eat their lunch.
Don’t ask a close-ended question such as, “Would you ever shake my baby?” Otherwise he may end up telling you what you want to hear: “Of course not, never!”
Instead, set a trap for him with an open-ended question: “By the way, how would you manage a baby who won’t stop crying?”
This unique wording is stealthy and more apt to draw an honest response out of him: “I’d go f—cking bananas and do everything possible to shut him up.” Hmmm…a very unsettling response to hear.
Another effective way to screen a boyfriend for potential child abuse is to nonchalantly ask his parents “how was he disciplined” (though if you sense they’re lying, they probably are), as well as to flat-out ask him how his parents “showed their anger towards you.”
He may respond, “Oh, I got lectures and groundings.” Or, he may say, “I got my ass whooped.” Buyer beware.
Dr. Lieberman analyzes the psychological impact of world events, as a guest and/or host on all major media outlets. Her appearances include “Larry King Live,” “The Today Show,” “Good Morning America,” “Entertainment Tonight,” CNN and Fox News.
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
Top 5 Drug Treatments for Microscopic Colitis
A gastroenterologist names the top five drug treatments for microscopic colitis.
There are five drugs that can be effective treatments.
“Budesonide is a steroid and is the best available medicine,” says Matilda N. Hagan, MD, an inflammatory bowel disease specialist at The Center for Inflammatory Bowel and Colorectal Diseases, part of The Melissa L. Posner Institute for Digestive Health and Liver Disease at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore.
“It costs a lot even with insurance coverage; therefore some patients cannot get it.
“We typically treat daily for 2-3 months, then wean dosage if we achieve remission.”
Dr. Hagan then recommends anti-diarrheals such as Imodium; “Lomotil can work to slow the gut and decrease the diarrhea.”
Another drug treatment option is Pepto Bismol, which can decrease the diarrhea.
Dr. Hagan also recommends prednisone if the patient can’t get the budesonide. Prednisone may have fewer side effects.
Finally there is Mesalamine, which is an anti-inflammatory drug that’s used in the treatment of mild to moderate ulcerative colitis.
Now keep in mind that like microscopic colitis, ulcerative colitis is an inflammatory bowel disease—but just a more severe type of IBD.
If you are not comfortable taking a drug for treatment of microscopic colitis, you can experiment with your diet to see if any particular foods are triggers of flare-ups.
For instance, you may find that certain fruits seem to cause diarrhea.
Fruits like apples and pears have high fiber content, which can lead to diarrhea if consumed in large quantities.
Certain fruits contain sugar alcohols (like sorbitol in apples and pears), which can have a laxative effect on some people.
Fructose: Some people have difficulty digesting fructose, a sugar found in many fruits. This can cause gastrointestinal symptoms including diarrhea.
Fruits with high acidity, such as oranges or lemons, might irritate the digestive system in some individuals.
Eliminate the suspect specific food (not food group) from your diet and see what happens.
Dr. Hagan is dedicated to collaborating with IBD specialists to discuss and explore advanced treatment options for the most complex inflammatory bowel disease cases.
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
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Top image: Shutterstock/ sasha2109
Is Microscopic Colitis Related To Gluten Sensitivity?
Do gluten sensitivity and microscopic colitis go hand in hand?
“There is an association between microscopic colitis and celiac disease for reasons that are not clear,” says Matilda N. Hagan, MD, an inflammatory bowel disease specialist at The Center for Inflammatory Bowel and Colorectal Diseases, part of The Melissa L. Posner Institute for Digestive Health and Liver Disease at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore.
“Microscopic colitis tends to affect older women in their sixth decade or older.
“However, younger patients with celiac disease can have microscopic colitis at the same time.
“In fact, if you have celiac disease and have persistent symptoms despite a gluten free diet we test for MC.
“Also if someone with MC is not responding to our best treatment we test for celiac disease.”
Microscopic colitis is believed (though not proven) to be an autoimmune disease.
Celiac disease is definitely an autoimmune condition, in which the body’s immune system “thinks” that gluten — a type of protein in certain grains — is a foreign invader of some sort.
Thus, even one crumb of gluten triggers an immune response, and this response, over time, damages the small intestine and causes other problems throughout the body, unless the patient ceases gluten ingestion completely.
There is a higher percentage of diagnosed microscopic colitis in celiac patients and vice versa, so yes, there is an association, but the details have yet to be discovered.
A person with microscopic colitis (which is confirmed via large-colon biopsy) can always undergo genetic testing to see if they have the gene/s for celiac disease.
If you do not have one of these genes, you cannot develop celiac disease.
However, this doesn’t mean that you cannot ever develop gluten sensitivity (which is not the same as celiac and is far less damaging).
The verdict is not out whether or not those with microscopic colitis should avoid gluten, even though doing this may relieve symptoms in some patients.
Dr. Hagan is dedicated to collaborating with IBD specialists to discuss and explore advanced treatment options for the most complex inflammatory bowel disease cases.
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
Does Microscopic Colitis Increase Risk of a DVT ?
Do you have microscopic colitis and fear getting a deep vein thrombosis (DVT)?
A deep vein thrombosis (blood clot in a deep vein) is a serious situation — because the blood clot in your leg or hip area can break loose and travel to your lungs, which is a major deal.
If this happens, it’s called a pulmonary embolism and can block airflow to your lungs.
This is a medical emergency that can be life-threatening, so it’s important to act fast if you think you have a DVT.
It takes only seconds for the clot substance, once it breaks loose, to reach your lungs.
Symptoms to watch for include swelling, pain, unusual warmth or redness in your leg.
However, the first symptom of a pulmonary embolism (depending on its size and precise location) could be the inability to inhale air, quickly followed by death.
If you have microscopic colitis, you may have wondered if this inflammatory bowel disease might actually raise the risk of developing a DVT.
“Some inflammatory conditions such as inflammatory bowel diseases, specifically Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, are associated with increase in clotting state,” says Matilda N. Hagan, MD, an inflammatory bowel disease specialist at The Center for Inflammatory Bowel and Colorectal Diseases, part of The Melissa L. Posner Institute for Digestive Health and Liver Disease at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore.
“Therefore, there is an increased risk of DVT,” continues Dr. Hagan.
“Microscopic colitis, although is also due to inflammation of the lining, you can argue is less inflammation than the classic inflammatory bowel diseases; therefore [there is] no clear evidence that it is associated with an increased risk of DVT.”
So even though that’s a popular question, “Can microscopic colitis increase the risk of a deep vein thrombosis?” this is not something you should worry about.
In fact, ask yourself if you have other risk factors for a DVT – some you may not even be aware of that are risk factors.
You may already know that smoking, obesity and extended air travel are risk factors for a deep vein thrombosis.
If you’re an obese smoker who has microscopic colitis, the microscopic colitis does not bump up your risk of developing a blood clot.
But you should definitely lose weight and quit smoking.
Though the risk of a DVT is significantly higher in the few months following a knee or hip replacement surgery, there are other risk factors that can be ongoing, such as excessive sitting throughout the day if you have a desk job.
So rather than worry about microscopic colitis causing a DVT, focus on decreasing your sitting time and commit to a structured exercise regimen.
Dr. Hagan is dedicated to collaborating with IBD specialists to discuss and explore advanced treatment options for the most complex inflammatory bowel disease cases.
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
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Top image: Shutterstock/Solarisys
Can Microscopic Colitis Diarrhea Deplete Nutrient Intake?
Wondering if the nutrients you eat go out with the diarrhea of microscopic colitis?
I sure was, after I was diagnosed and would see what appeared to be a lot of produce intake in my diarrhea.
So I was wondering if ingesting all the nutrients of the fruits and vegetables I juiced and also ate in whole form was being offset by “all the diarrhea.”
Bear in mind, however, that the diarrhea of microscopic colitis appears to be in a greater volume than it truly is, due to all the water that comes out with it.
Does the diarrhea of microscopic colitis cause the patient to lose nutrients?
“Microscopic colitis is a disease that affects the large intestine,” says Matilda N. Hagan, MD, inflammatory bowel disease specialist at The Center for Inflammatory Bowel and Colorectal Diseases, part of The Melissa L. Posner Institute for Digestive Health and Liver Disease, Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore.
“Malabsorption is not a typical part of this disease. The large intestine is primarily responsible for water absorption.
“Other causes of diarrhea that affects the small intestine can cause malabsorption where nutrients can be lost.”
In MC, the large intestine (colon) does not absorb water very well. As a result, the fecal matter that builds up gets mixed with a lot of water, causing the stools to be in the form of diarrhea once it’s voided, rather than in formed stools.
And if you can see fragments or bits of the fruits and vegetables you’ve recently eaten, that’s largely because the looseness or liquid nature of the diarrhea makes these undigested scraps easier to see, whereas with hard, formed stools, they are less visible.
So if you have microscopic colitis, feel free to eat all the nutrients you want without fearing that they are being voided out of you.
Dr. Hagan is dedicated to collaborating with IBD specialists to discuss and explore advanced treatment options for the most complex inflammatory bowel disease cases.
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
Can Microscopic Colitis Cause Malabsorption?
Microscopic colitis can cause numerous problems including tons of diarrhea.
Can it also cause food — even healthy food — to be malabsorbed, depriving you of nutrients?
“Malabsorption is not a classic feature of microscopic colitis since the disease affects the large intestine which handles fluid absorption,” says Matilda N. Hagan, MD, an inflammatory bowel disease specialist at The Center for Inflammatory Bowel and Colorectal Diseases, part of The Melissa L. Posner Institute for Digestive Health and Liver Disease at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore.
She adds, “You can get dehydration from large amounts of watery diarrhea.”
Here’s why you might think that microscopic colitis can cause malabsorption:
You may see particles of undigested food in your diarrhea. This can include seeds and shreds of spinach and what appear to be fragments of grapes and strawberries. You may see grains of rice.
Seeing food in your diarrhea can lead to the conclusion that there’s malabsorption.
But what’s really happening is that, due to the looseness of the diarrhea, or its dispersability in the toilet bowl water, any undigested food is easily visible.
In formed, harder stools, however, fragments of fruit, olives, or seeds or grains of rice, will be well-hidden; you’d have to break apart the stools and examine closely to see undigested material.
Some Causes of Malabsorption
• Celiac disease. Interestingly, diagnoses of microscopic colitis is higher in the celiac population than in the general population, but no causative link between celiac disease and microscopic colitis has been identified.
It may simply be that having one autoimmune disease (celiac) raises the risk of developing another at some point in time (e.g., microscopic colitis).
• Severe pancreatic insufficiency
• Cirrhosis of the liver (caused by excessive alcohol intake)
• Gastroenteritis
• Lactase deficiency
• Abnormal motility due to diabetes or thyroid disorder
• Acute intestinal infection
• Crohn’s disease
There’s quite a few other causes of malabsorption, but rest assured, none of them are microscopic colitis.
Dr. Hagan is dedicated to collaborating with IBD specialists to discuss and explore advanced treatment options for the most complex inflammatory bowel disease cases.
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
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Top image: Shutterstock/Simon Kadula
Acid Reflux vs. Esophageal Spasms vs. Hiatal Hernia
Do symptoms of acid reflux, esophageal spasms and hiatal hernia really overlap that much?
“There is a continuum of disorders that can affect the esophagus,” says gastroenterologist Larry Good, MD, who’s been in practice for 40+ years; has a private practice in Lynbrook, NY; and is affiliated with Concierge Choice Physicians, a leading provider of personalized care in the U.S.
Dr. Good continues, “Patients often equate the presence of a hiatal hernia, the herniation of the stomach above the diaphragm, with GERD. This is not true.
“About a third of adults have a hiatal hernia and the vast majority of these patients do not have symptomatic heartburn.
“Adding obesity, diabetes mellitus and delayed gastric emptying to the presence of a hiatal hernia is a good recipe for heartburn.
“Symptomatic acid reflux occurs when the esophageal lining or mucosa becomes inflamed.
“The esophagus is lined with stratified squamous epithelium, so it is exactly like the skin. Imagine how your skin would react to being exposed continuously to hydrochloride acid!”
What really causes heartburn?
Dr. Gordon says, “Physicians have always believed that heartburn was primarily caused by acid injury to the esophagus.
“Medication [such as with PPI pills] is extremely effective in treating heartburn and in allowing inflamed esophageal mucosa to heal.
“There is, however, some recent evidence that this simple explanation for heartburn may not be entirely accurate.
“An allergic response to certain foods (unrelated to the typical food triggers for heartburn) may generate an inflammatory reaction in the esophagus called eosinophilic esophagitis, and that may presage many episodes of reflux esophagitis.
“Gastroenterologists are now seeing many patients with eosinophilic esophagitis and are studying the links between these conditions.”
Dr. Good has additional expertise in the diagnosis/treatment of IBS and inflammatory bowel disease, and is extremely proactive in genetic testing, individualization of pharmacologic treatment, and risk mitigation in cancer screening/prevention. Concierge Choice Physicians
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
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Top image: Freepik.com
Why Does Heartburn Come and Go?
If you suffer from heartburn that comes and goes without any apparent cause, you should keep track of what you eat.
This tracking includes how much you eat and when, since food may very well be the trigger of your acid reflux.
“Classically, certain foods trigger reflux and symptomatic heartburn,” points out Gastroenterologist Larry Good, MD, who’s been practicing for 40+ years, with a private practice in Lynbrook, NY; and is affiliated with Concierge Choice Physicians, a leading provider of personalized care in the U.S.
Types of Food that Can Make Heartburn Come and Go
Dr. Good says, “Fatty and fried foods, carbonated beverages, chocolate, mints and onions are typical triggers.
“Alcohol and caffeine are also frequent culprits.
“It takes about 90 minutes for the stomach to empty completely, so very large meals, especially if they contain the foods listed, taken just before bed will often precipitate nocturnal heartburn.
“Acidic foods like citrus juices can also provoke symptoms, especially if the esophagus is inflamed.”
Another reason for heartburn to come and go is when it’s being triggered by anxiety and stress.
Anxiety and stress, much like food consumption, can fluctuate throughout the day.
Their intermittent nature can be influenced by various factors, such as the occurrence of stressful events or changes in the individual’s mental state.
For instance, someone might experience heightened anxiety during a particularly stressful period at work or while facing personal challenges.
A particularly troublesome scenario arises when the physical symptoms of stress and anxiety, such as chest discomfort or heartburn from acid reflux, are exacerbated by both food intake and emotional strain.
This creates a double burden: the distressing physical sensations from acid reflux, which can be triggered or worsened by certain foods, and the additional strain from stress, which can also contribute to or intensify these symptoms.
In such cases, managing both the psychological and physiological aspects becomes crucial to alleviate discomfort and improve overall well-being.
Imagine what might happen if a person who’s prone to heartburn turns to reflux-triggering foods to deal with stress or anxiety!
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Eating a big piece of emotionally-soothing chocolate cake right before bedtime is the last thing a person with acid reflux problems needs to do.
Dr. Good has additional expertise in the diagnosis/treatment of IBS and inflammatory bowel disease, and is extremely proactive in genetic testing, individualization of pharmacologic treatment, and risk mitigation in cancer screening/prevention. Concierge Choice Physicians
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
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Top image: Shutterstock/Thomas Foldes
HOW Does Lexapro Trigger GERD?
Lexapro can trigger GERD, but just how does this happen?
Lexapro is an antidepressant drug, but it can also help reduce anxiety.
It belongs to a class of drugs called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).
Among the possible side effects to taking Lexapro is that of gastroesophageal reflux disease.
How Lexapro Leads to GERD
“Lexapro and other antidepressants can relax the lower esophageal sphincter and promote heartburn,” explains Larry Good, MD, a gastroenterologist who’s been in practice for 40+ years; has a private practice in Lynbrook, NY; and is affiliated with Concierge Choice Physicians, a leading provider of personalized care in the U.S.
Dr. Good continues, “Many medications can have similar effects, and doctors should take a very careful medication history when evaluating patients with heartburn.”
Since Lexapro can relax the lower esophageal sphincter, there is something that you can do to help manage the acid reflux — at least overnight.
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Relief for Acid Reflux from Lexapro
When you’re lying in your bed, with your body horizontal, the sphincter becomes more relaxed.
Gravity’s vertical effect is not present to help keep the stomach’s acidic juices contained where they belong: in the stomach.
So while you’re asleep, the acid refluxes upward, getting past that weakened sphincter, and makes its way up the esophagus.
It may even reach the throat, causing throat related symptoms when you awaken: a bitter or unpleasant taste in your mouth; a cough; a scratchy throat; a hoarse voice.
Drinking water won’t help because the problem is that your vocal cords have been contacted by acid reflux.
The water will go down the esophagus, not having any effect on the vocal cords.
What you can do is prop your torso up a bit to bring some gravity into the equation.
Do not eat within three hours of bedtime, since eating close to bedtime can contribute to overnight acid reflux.
For daytime management, avoid foods that give you heartburn, and avoid eating a lot of food at one sitting.
If the GERD from Lexapro cannot be managed with these natural approaches, do not quit taking this antidepressant unless your doctor gives you instructions to do so.
Your doctor may also prescribe a drug to help control the acid reflux.
Dr. Good has additional expertise in the diagnosis/treatment of IBS and inflammatory bowel disease, and is extremely proactive in genetic testing, individualization of pharmacologic treatment, and risk mitigation in cancer screening/prevention. Concierge Choice Physicians
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
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Top image: ©Lorra Garrick
GERD vs. Costochondritis Symptom Comparison
