Section: Health Services
Q:
How can you tell if you have fibromyalgia? What are the symptoms and is there a test for it? Lately I have been so tired, and muscels have ached so that I can hardly get around.
A:
Fibromyalgia is a disease that causes the body to feel stiff and sore. Most of my patients describe their symptoms of having pain all over. It is usually associated with trouble sleeping and there also can be a link with depression. There is no specific test to order for it and it is what we call a diagnosis of exclusion. The American College of Rheumatology has criteria that they use to diagnosis the disease. These include a history of widespread pain has been present for at least three months. This pain is in both sides of the body and above and below the waist. There are also 18 sites on the body that are consistent with fibromyalgia pain and there must be involvement of at least 11 of those sites. Other symptoms are as follows, going from most common to less common: muscular pain, fatigue, insomnia, joint pains, headaches, restless legs, numbness and tingling, and impaired memory or concentration. Treatment for fibromyalgia will involve multiple options. The first would be adding a daily exercise program, which will help with pain and stress reduction. The next option would be treatments to help with sleep at night as this is a major problem in almost all people with the disease. There are also FDA approved medications that your doctor can prescribe to help as well. You may also benefit from counseling or a fibromyalgia support group.
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Section: Health Services
Q:
What are the symptoms of colon cancer?
A:
The symptoms can be very nonspecific and you may not have any symptoms at all in an early stage cancer. With colon cancer it is important to screen early for the disease before it starts causing symptoms. Colon cancer screening is best done with a colonoscopy and should start at age 50 or younger if you have risk factors such as family history or certain ethnic backgrounds. If you or someone you know is concerned about having colon cancer I would want you to be seen by your physician to discuss your symptoms and possibly be screened for this.
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Section: Health Services
Q:
Do you take walk-ins, or do you have to have an appointment?
A:
Yes we take walk in appointments, but we encourage patients to call ahead and let us know you are on your way if you can.
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Section: Health Services
Q:
Two times recently I have heard about people who have had their flu, pneumonia, and tetnus shot all at once, and had reactions. One came down with the flu and very angry red swollen arm, and the other developed a nerve -muscular disorder which is believed to be tied to this, and was in the hosptial for weeks.
Is it really safe to have all three shots at once?
A:
Overall the immunizations are safe and effective and the risks of something serious happening are rare and much less then the benefit of protection they provide. If you look at a few posts down I reviewed the most common reactions to immunizations. Of course if you have any serious reaction make sure you are seen right away by in an emergency room setting and let any future providers know this as part of your medical history.
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Section: Health Services
Q:
Over the last few months, I have been having nosebleeds, and they seem to be getting more often. I used to have them as a child occasionally, but am beginning to wonder if I need to see a doctor. What can cause this, and do I need to worry?
A:
Nosebleeds are also known as epistaxis and can be caused from several factors. It most often comes from the front part of the nose so check and make sure that you have not caused any trauma to the area from things such as nose picking. It can also be caused by a sinus infection, a foreign body stuck in the area, nasal polyps, irritants such as smoke, or allergies. These are local causes in the nose itself. It can also be from other more serious issues such as high blood pressure, bleeding disorders, or liver disease. Medications such as NSAIDs like ibuprofen or Coumadin can cause bleeding as well if taken on a regular basis. If you are having nose bleeds that are coming more often than I would be seen by a doctor as they would likely examine your nose and order blood testing to look for the above problems.
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