Siphakeme .Mnindwa
In the past, we have published some disturbing stories. Disturbing in the sense that they were stories of women suffering from serious conditions that were unfortunately deemed as not deserving medical attention.
In one story, a woman allegedly died after her stomach ballooned as a result of running out of human flesh supplies. This condition befell the 70-year-old Masvingo woman after tsikamutandas allegedly confiscated her snake, which supplied her with human flesh after killing people in the area.
The other story was of a young woman “Primrose Sakupwanya” from Bulawayo whose marriage collapsed due to a bed-wetting problem. The woman’s husband, Takesure Banda said his wife’s bed-wetting problem had turned his life into hell just eight months into their marriage.
Although Banda alleged that he had travelled all over Zimbabwe and even sought advice from programmes such as Chakapfukidza Dzimba Matenga and Inhlupho Zalamuhla on Radio Zimbabwe where he spent over $7 000 trying to get help for his wife, it is possible that he was looking in the wrong places.
A simple visit to the doctor could have brought the relief that he so much wanted. According to one Bulawayo medical practitioner, Nomthandazo Nkomo, Primrose Sakupwanya likely suffers from a medical condition called secondary nocturnal enuresis, which is caused by stress or bladder infection.
People suffering from such a disorder are encouraged to approach specialists for assistance. There are many underlying medical conditions that could manifest themselves through bed-wetting. They include diabetes, urinary tract infection, urinary tract stones, neurological disorders, anatomical abnormalities, urinary tract calculi, prostate cancer, prostate enlargement, bladder cancer, or obstructive sleep apnea or pelvic organ prolapse in women.
Medical practitioners say bed-wetting is involuntary and not anyone’s fault. However, according to online research, if your child is under the age of six and is still wetting the bed, don’t be overly concerned. He/She probably will outgrow the condition. The cause is likely due to one or a combination of the following: The child cannot yet hold urine for the entire night, the child does not waken when his or her bladder is full or the child produces a large amount of urine during the evening and night hours. It could also be a result of poor daytime toilet habits. Many children habitually ignore the urge to urinate and put off urinating as long as they possibly can. Most parents are familiar with the leg crossing, face straining, squirming, squatting, and groin holding that children use to hold back urine.
Turning to the issue of the Masvingo woman whose stomach ballooned, although everyone was quick to conclude that this was a result of human flesh drought, research shows that there are medical conditions that could lead to a swollen stomach.
According to Wikipedia, a ballooned stomach which is commonly referred to as abdominal distention, occurs when substances, such as air (gas) or fluid, accumulate in the abdomen causing its outward expansion beyond the normal girth of the stomach and waist. It is typically a symptom of an underlying disease or dysfunction in the body, rather than an illness in its own right.
People suffering from this condition often describe it as “feeling bloated.” Sufferers often experience a sensation of fullness, abdominal pressure sometimes nausea, pain or cramping.
It is unfortunate that the old woman died before she could get help. It is therefore paramount to make a timely visit to the doctor or hospital if you do not understand something unusual happening to your body. This could save you a whole lot of trouble and most of all save your life.
