I HAVE an operation coming up and have been told I need a general anaesthetic. What does it involve?

General anaesthesia is a state of controlled unconsciousness where medications are used to send you to sleep.

It means you're unaware of surgery and don't move or feel pain while it's carried out. It's usually used for long operations or those that would otherwise be very painful. All anaesthetics interrupt the passage of signals along the nerves. This means that any stimulation to the body doesn't get processed or recognised by the brain. Before having an operation, you'll meet a specialist doctor called an anaesthetist to discuss which anaesthetic is most suitable for you. They will look at your medical history and ask about your health and lifestyle.

You'll be given clear instructions to follow before the operation, including whether you can eat or drink anything in the hours leading up to it. Just before you have surgery, you'll usually be taken to a room where your anaesthetist will give you the general anaesthetic.

It will either be a liquid that's injected into your veins through a thin, plastic tube that feeds into a vein or gas that you breathe in through a mask.Other tyeps of anaesthetic invovle injections around nerves e.g. in your back as in an epidural. The anaesthetic should take effect very quickly. You'll start feeling light-headed, before becoming unconscious within a minute or so. The anaesthetist will stay with you throughout the operation. Afterwards, you will be in a recovery room before being transferred to a ward.

health, but can be annoying to live with. People with Reynaud's often go for long periods without any symptoms and sometimes the condition goes away altogether.

MY big toe is sore, red and swollen around where the nail meets the skin of my toe. What is going on?

This could be an ingrown toenail. If caught early enough your GP or a foot care specialist may recommend self-care such as soaking your foot in warm water three to four times a day, using a cotton bud to gently push the skin away from your toenail, wearing comfortable shoes with enough space around your toes and taking painkillers. If symptoms persist, ypou may need removal of part of the nail that is digging into your skin. Speak to your GP or chiropodist about this. If there is an associated infection you may be prescribed a course of antibiotics.

WHAT is Giardiasis?

Giardiasis is an infection of the digestive system caused by tiny parasites called Giardia intestinalis.

The most common symptom of Giardiasis is diarrhoea, other symptoms can include nausea, bloating, fatigue and loss of appetite.

Your GP may be able to diagnose giardiasis upon asking about your symptoms; however he or she may have to send stool samples to be tested in a laboratory to diagnose the condition. Up to three samples may need to be taken over a number of days to confirm giardiasis.

Giardiasis is usually treated successfully with antibiotics that kill the giardia parasite. If you're diagnosed with giardiasis, other members of your household may be advised to have treatment. This may be recommended as a precautionary measure in case they've also been infected.