FAMILY SECRETS

"He is not ashamed to call them his brothers and sisters."  Hebrews 2:11

Most families like to keep their family secrets a secret.  Yet amazingly, you have barely dipped a toe into Matthew's gospel when you realize that Jesus hails from a less-than-perfect family.  Rahab was a Jericho harlot.  Grandpa Jacob was slippery enough to warrant an electric ankle bracelet.  David had a personality as irregular as a Picasso painting - one day writing Psalms, another day seducing his captain's wife.  But did Jesus erase their names from the list?  Not at all.  Why did He hang His family's dirty laundry on the neighborhood clothesline?  This is because your family has secrets too.  A cousin with a prison record.  A dad who left and never came home.  A grand-parent who ran away with a co-worker.  If your family tree has damaged fruit, Jesus wants you to know "I have been there".  The phrase "I have been there" is Christ's theme song.  

To the lonely He whispers "I have been there".  To the discouraged, He nods His head and sighs "I have been there".  The absence of Joseph in the adult life of Jesus suggests that Mary may have raised Him and the rest of their children alone.  Jesus was not reluctant to call His ancestors His family - and He is not ashamed of you either!  Jesus, who makes people holy, and those who are made holy, are from the same family.  "He is not ashamed to call them his brothers and sisters."  That means He is not ashamed of you; nor is He confused by you.  Your actions do not bewilder Him.  Your family secrets do not trouble Him.  So come to Him.  After all, you are part of the family.

THE REIGNING WORKMAN

Introduction

Reigning means the possession or exercise of supreme political, power, sovereignty or dominion while a workman is referred to as an artisan, mechanic who possesses peculiar skills.

In our context, a reigning workman can be described as one who possesses some peculiar skills.  May the Lord give us a better understanding as we study in Jesus name, amen.

1.       Who Is A Reigning Workman?

In the house of God, such a person is a carrier of the holy spirit, whom God has called and bestowed upon him wisdom, understanding, knowledge and creative skills.  Exodus 31:1 – 5, Exodus 35:31 – 32.

2.       What Does The Work Entail?

The work entails good works on our part.  These are the works that cannot be hidden and men will see such works and glorify God in heaven.  1 Tim. 5:25, Acts 9:36, John 10:32.

3.       How Is He To Prepare For The Work?

You should work by faith and not by sight.  A workman is worthy of his wages.  Our God will meet all your needs.  Matthew 10:10, Phil. 4:19, Gal. 3:11, Heb. 10:38.

4.       What Are The Benefits of Such Good Works?

The benefits are numerous.  The blessings of God such as healings, deliverance, abundant grace, will abound towards you.  The blessings of God maketh rich and addeth no sorrow.  Acts 9:37 – 42, Proverbs 10:22.

5.       As Believers, What Are We Expected To Do?

We should always meditate on the Word of God by spending our time wisely in His presence and avoid profane/vain issues that will lead us to ungodliness.  It will profit us to do so and pride ourselves about the knowledge of it.  1 Tim. 4:15, 2 Tim. 2:15 – 16, Eph. 2:10.

HEMORRHOIDS (PART 2)

Diagnosis of Hemorrhoids

Diagnosis of hemorrhoids is usually made by history and physical examination by the doctor. Depending upon the situation, past medical history, medications and stability of the patient, treatment may follow with no further testing.

Inspection of the anus and a digital rectal examination are often performed. Sometimes anoscopy may be required where a small, lighted scope is introduced into the anus to examine the inner lining of the anus and rectum. The procedure is often performed in the doctor’s office without sedation. If there is the potential that the bleeding source originated above the rectum from other parts of the colon, tests by a gastroenterologist may be recommended.

Hemorrhoid Treatment

Self-Care at Home

Fortunately, many effective options are available to treat hemorrhoids. Most people can get relief from symptoms using home treatments and lifestyle changes.

1. Warm Sitz Baths

       Sitting in a few inches of warm water (not hot water) three times a day for 15-20 minutes may help decrease the inflammation of the hemorrhoids. It is important to dry off the anal area completely after each Sitz bath to minimize irritation of the skin surrounding the anus.

2. Dietary Changes

       Increased fluid intake and dietary fiber (roughage) will decrease the potential for constipation and lessen the pressure on the rectum and anus during a bowel movement, minimizing further swelling, discomfort, and bleeding. Dietary fiber supplements may also help bulk up the stools.

3. Stool Softeners

       Stool softeners may help but once hemorrhoids are present, liquid stools may cause inflammation and infection of the anus. Your doctor and pharmacist are good resources to discuss their use.

4. Activity Suggestions

       Individuals with hemorrhoids should not sit for long periods of time and may benefit from sitting on an air or rubber donut available at some pharmacies.

Exercise is helpful in relieving constipation and in decreasing pressure on the hemorrhoidal veins. Individuals should be encouraged to have a bowel movement as soon as possible after the urge arises. Once that urge passes, stools can become constipated and straining with a bowel movement may occur.

5. Over-the-Counter Medications

Many creams, ointments, and suppositories are available for symptom relief and may be used for comfort. However, they do not "cure" hemorrhoids. Analgesics like paracetamol may reduce pain. Avoid taking Ibruprofen and aspirin because they may worsen bleeding.

Medical Treatment

·         Prolapsed Internal Hemorrhoids

Most prolapsed internal hemorrhoids can be pushed back into the anus but occasionally your doctor may need to reduce them by gently pushing them with constant pressure.

If the hemorrhoids remain swollen and trapped outside the anus and nothing is done about it, the hemorrhoid tissue may not receive enough blood and can become infected. In such situations, surgery may be required to resolve the problem.

·         Thrombosed Hemorrhoids

Thrombosed external hemorrhoids can be extremely painful and are associated with a hard lump that is felt at the anus and cannot be pushed back inside. Most often the clot within the hemorrhoid will need to be removed with a small incision.

There may be some mild bleeding from the hemorrhoid for a couple of days. Sitz baths and over-the-counter pain medications may be recommended.

Sitting on a rubber or air rubber donut may help relieve the pain as well.

Preventing constipation is also a priority.

Surgical Treatment

A variety of surgical options exist for persistent pain or bleeding.

·         Rubber band ligation: Here the surgeon places a couple of tight rubber bands around the base of the hemorrhoidal vein causing it to lose its blood supply. Rubber band ligation of internal hemorrhoids can be done in the doctor’s office on an outpatient basis.  

·    Sclerotherapy: Sclerotherapy describes a procedure when a chemical is injected into the hemorrhoid causing it to scar.

·         Laser therapy: Laser therapy can be used to scar and harden internal hemorrhoids.

·      Hemorrhoidectomy: Hemorrhoidectomy is a surgical procedure done in the operating room with an anesthetic agent (general, spinal or local with sedation) where the whole hemorrhoid is removed (ectomy=removal). This is the most aggressive approach and there is a markedly decreased chance of the hemorrhoids returning. However, there is also an increase in the complication rate.

·         Stapled hemorrhoidectomy: Stapled hemorrhoidectomy is the newest surgical technique for treating hemorrhoids, and it has rapidly become the treatment of choice for third-degree hemorrhoids. Stapled hemorrhoidectomy is faster than traditional hemorrhoidectomy, taking approximately 30 minutes. It is associated with much less pain than traditional hemorrhoidectomy and patients usually return earlier to work.

Regardless of the surgery, Sitz baths and dietary suggestions for increased roughage are usually recommended.

Prevention of Hemorrhoids

·      Avoid sitting for many hours at a time, take a break and walk around for at least five minutes.

·         Regular exercise will help to keep your weight in check and make constipation less likely and at the same time improve your muscle tone.

·         Drink at least 8 glasses of water each day; more if you lead a very active lifestyle.

·         Watch your salt intake as excess salt may result in fluid retention which causes swelling of veins including hemorrhoids.

·         Eating a high fiber diet especially lots of fruits and vegetables will help prevent constipation.

·         Avoid straining when passing faeces.

·         Avoid toilet paper that is to irritating, try dampening it first or use alcohol free baby wipes.

·         Good anal hygiene is also very important in preventing hemorrhoids.

Dr. Olukayode Williams

HEMORRHOIDS (PART 1)

HEMORRHOIDS (Treatment and Prevention).

Hemorrhoids also commonly known as piles or “jedi-jedi” in Yoruba, “basir” in Hausa and “Avara” in Igbo are painful, swollen veins in the lower portion of the rectum or anus.

This condition is very common especially in women during pregnancy and after childbirth. It is also quite common in men.  By age 50 about half of all adults will have experienced the itching, discomfort and bleeding that can signal the presence of hemorrhoids.

Causes of Hemorrhoids

Hemorrhoids result from increased pressure in the veins of the anus. The pressure causes the veins to bulge and expand, making them painful particularly when someone is sitting.

The most common cause is straining during bowel movements. Hemorrhoids may therefore result from constipation, sitting for long periods of time, and anal infections.

Some cases may be caused by other diseases such as liver cirrhosis (chronic failure).

Types of Hemorrhoids

• Internal hemorrhoids occur just inside the anus, at the beginning of the rectum. Internal hemorrhoids usually do not hurt but they may bleed painlessly.
• External hemorrhoids occur at the anal opening and may hang outside the anus. They can be itchy or painful and can sometimes crack and bleed.
• Prolapsed hemorrhoids may stretch down until they bulge outside your anus. A prolapsed hemorrhoid may go back inside your rectum by itself, or you can gently push it back inside.

Symptoms of Hemorrhoids

1.   Bleeding

The most common symptom and sign from hemorrhoids is painless bleeding. There may be bright red blood on the outside of the stools, on the toilet paper, or dripping into the toilet. The bleeding usually is self-limiting.

Bleeding with a bowel movement is never normal and should prompt a visit to a health care practitioner. While hemorrhoids are the most common cause of bleeding with a bowel movement, there may be other reasons to have bleeding including inflammatory diseases of the bowel, infection, and tumors.

2. Prolapsed Internal Hemorrhoids

Prolapse or protrusion of an internal hemorrhoid occurs when the internal hemorrhoids swell and extend from their location in the rectum through the anus. A prolapsed internal hemorrhoid:

·         can be felt as a lump outside the anus;

·         can be gently pushed back through the anus, this may resolve the problem of prolapse but does not fix the hemorrhoid itself;

·         may enlarge and swell even more if they cannot be pushed back;

·         may become entrapped, which requires urgent medical attention.

Hemorrhoids may also cause itching around the anus, and a constant feeling of needing to have a bowel movement.

3. Thrombosed External Hemorrhoids

Thrombosed external hemorrhoids are a painful condition. These occur when a blood clot develops in the hemorrhoid causing swelling and inflammation. When a blood clot occurs in a hemorrhoid, the hemorrhoid will become even more swollen. This swelling leads to increased pain. The pain is usually worse with bowel movements and may increase with sitting. Thrombosed external hemorrhoids often need medical care and treatment.

When to Seek Urgent Medical Care

·     Bleeding from the rectum or anus is never normal and although hemorrhoids are the most common reason to have blood in the stool, it should be discussed with your physician as soon as possible. Other causes of rectal bleeding exist and can be serious. Inflammatory bowel disease and colon cancers can present with rectal bleeding.

·       Individuals who have associated symptoms such as lightheadedness and weakness may have significant blood loss and may require more urgent care.

·    Hemorrhoids do not cause abdominal pain; should this be present with bleeding, medical care should be accessed immediately.

·         Prolapsed hemorrhoids that cannot be pushed back through the anus require medical care.

·         Thrombosed external hemorrhoids may cause significant pain and medical care may need to be sought.

Dr. Olukayode Williams

HOW TO MANAGE SICKLE CELL (PART 3)

Living With Sickle Cell Anaemia

With good health care, many people who have sickle cell anaemia can live productive lives. They also can have reasonably good health much of the time and live longer today than in the past. Many people who have sickle cell anaemia now live into their forties or fifties, or longer.

If you have sickle cell anaemia, it's important to:

• Adopt or maintain a healthy lifestyle
• Take steps to prevent and control complications
• Learn ways to cope with pain

If you have a child or teen that has sickle cell anaemia, you can take steps to learn about the disease and help your child manage it.

Adopt or Maintain a Healthy Lifestyle

To take care of your health, you should adopt or maintain healthy lifestyle habits.

Follow a healthy diet. A healthy diet includes a variety of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. It also includes lean meats, poultry, fish, beans, and fat-free or low-fat milk or milk products. A healthy diet is low in saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol, sodium (salt), and added sugar.

Your doctor may suggest that you take folic acid (a vitamin) every day to help your body make new red blood cells. You also should drink at least 8 glasses of water every day, especially in warm weather. This will help prevent dehydration, a condition in which your body doesn't have enough fluids.

Your body needs regular physical activity to stay healthy. However, you should avoid exercise that makes you very tired. Drink lots of fluids when you exercise. Talk with your doctor about how much and what kinds of physical activity are right for you.

You also should get enough sleep and rest.

Take Steps to Prevent and Control Complications

Along with healthy lifestyle habits, you can take other steps to prevent and control painful sickle cell crises. Many factors can cause sickle cell crises. Knowing how to avoid or control these factors can help you manage your pain.

Avoid extremes of heat and cold. Wear warm clothes outside in cold weather and inside of air-conditioned rooms. Don't swim in cold water. Also, be cautious at high altitudes; you may need extra oxygen.

If possible, avoid jobs that require a lot of heavy physical labour, expose you to extremes of heat or cold, or involve long work hours.

Don't travel in airplanes in which the cabins aren't pressurized (that is, no extra oxygen is pumped into the cabin). If you must travel in such an airplane, talk with your doctor about how to protect yourself.

Ongoing Care

Get a flu vaccine and other vaccines to prevent infections. You also should see your dentist regularly to prevent infections and loss of teeth. Contact your doctor right away if you have any signs of an infection, such as a fever or trouble breathing.

For people who have sickle cell anaemia, just like for everyone else, regular medical care and treatment for health issues are important. Your checkups may include extra tests for possible kidney, lung, and liver diseases. See a sickle cell anaemia expert regularly. Also, see an eye doctor regularly to check for damage to your eyes.

Learn the signs and symptoms of a stroke. They include a lasting headache, weakness on one side of the body, limping, and sudden changes in speech, vision, or hearing. If you have any of these symptoms, contact your doctor immediately.

Get treatment and control any other medical conditions you have, such as diabetes.

Talk with your doctor if you're pregnant or planning to become pregnant. Sickle cell anaemia can worsen during pregnancy. You'll need special prenatal care.

Women who have sickle cell anaemia also are at increased risk for an early birth or a low-birth-weight baby. However, with early prenatal care and frequent checkups, you can have a healthy pregnancy.

Emotional Issues and Support

Living with sickle cell anaemia may cause fear, anxiety, depression, and stress. It's important to talk about how you feel with your health care team. Talking to a professional counselor also can help. If you're feeling very depressed, your doctor may recommend medicines or other treatments that can improve your quality of life.

Joining a patient support group may help you adjust to living with sickle cell anaemia. You can see how other people who have the same symptoms have coped with them.

Support from family and friends also can help relieve stress and anxiety. Let your loved ones know how you feel and what they can do to help you.

Learn Ways to Cope With Pain

Pain is different for each person. Pain that one person can live with is too much for another person. Work with your doctor to find ways to manage your pain.

You may need both over-the-counter and prescription medicines. Your doctor may prescribe strong pain medicines. If so, talk with him or her about how to safely use these medicines.

Other ways to manage pain include using a heating pad, taking a hot bath, resting, or getting a massage. Physical therapy might help ease your pain by helping you relax and strengthening your muscles and joints.

Counselling may help. You may find that activities that keep your mind off the pain, such as watching TV and talking on the phone, are helpful.

Caring for a Child Who Has Sickle Cell Anaemia

If your child has sickle cell anaemia, learn as much about the disease as possible. This will help you recognize early signs of problems, such as fever or chest pain, and seek early treatment.

Sickle cell centres and clinics can give you information and counselling to help you handle the stress of coping with your child's disease.

Ongoing Care

Your child will need to see the doctor often for blood tests. The doctor also will check your child for any possible damage to his or her lungs, kidneys, and liver.

Talk with the doctor about your child's treatment plan, how often he or she needs checkups, and the best ways to help keep your child as healthy as possible.

Preventing Infections

To prevent infections, make sure your child gets all of the vaccines that his or her doctor recommends. Good hygiene also can help prevent infections. Make sure your child washes his or her hands often. This will help lower the chances of getting an infection.

Call the doctor right away if your child has any signs of infection, such as fever or trouble breathing. Keep a thermometer on hand and know how to use it.

Preventing a Stroke

Know the signs and symptoms of a stroke so you can take action. Signs and symptoms include a lasting headache, weakness on one side of the body, limping, and sudden changes in speech, vision, or hearing. Changes in behaviour also may be a sign of a stroke.

 

Dr. Olukayode Williams

HOW TO SUCCEED ON THE JOB

“With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men.”  Ephesians 6:7

How do you succeed on the job?

·       By keeping your eyes on your objective.  Focus on what you are called to do.  People can be easily offended, and by speaking about areas outside your expertise – what your customer has solicited your help in – you can jeopardize good opportunities.  Learn to appreciate people, even those you do not like.  Customers are not friends; friends are friends.  Place value on others.  Respect them, even if your personal opinions differ from theirs!  Remember, your success is not determined by their personality.

·     By treating everyone fairly and equally.  If you show favoritism by only being kind and respectful to those you like, you are in for trouble – if not now, and then down the road.  You need to learn how to work with people who are not your favorites.  Why?  They will remember your attitude, whether good or bad, and not be particularly inclined to help you in the future.

·      By trying not to take things personally.  You must learn to let go of grudges and to set aside past histories with some of your co-workers.  When you find your emotions flaring up and you are tempted to react, stop and remember what is really going on; you are in the midst of a battle and the first shots have been fired.  This is the time to say a silent prayer, remember your true calling, and respond with love, patience and a professionalism that will cause those around you to want what you have got.

HOW TO RETAIN YOUR JOB

"Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath." James 1:19

Most times, people do not loose their job because of technical incompetence, but because of relational incompetence; they do not know how to get along with others.  If you have control of the 3 directions that James gave, the probability of that happening to you will be removed.

• Be swift to hear!  When you are calm and do not react, you obtain understanding and respect! "A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards." Proverbs 29:11
• Slow to Speak!  If you talk too much or too fast, there are 3 tips to slow you down: [a] Stop talking and inhale.  Count up to ten.  You can go to the restroom.  [b] Practice not interrupting.  Allow the other person to continue what they are saying until they are through.  [c] Ask yourself these questions: Why am I talking too much?  Is it insecurity?  Anxiety?  The need to control?  The desire to impress?  The reason most of us try to convince, impress or control others is we have a hard time trusting God to work things out.  That is, "our talk issue, is a trust issue."
• Slow to wrath!  When you observe the first two directions, you will come out all right on number 3.  It will just happen.

You can make progress on these 3 directions and you can start now.  If you do it consistently, you will say to yourself, "I am glad that I took the wisdom of God seriously."

Welcome to the month of Grace