Dr. Jerold J. Fadem, M.D.

ABSOLUTELY!!!!!!! Thus, if you have ANY, again ANY, cardiac sx--like chest discomfort, SOB, weakness, faintness, palpitations, exercise intolerance, easy fatiguing, etc.--you MUST see your heart doc right away and have TESTING for coronary ischemia (reduced blood flow to your heart).

Since I know nothing else about your age, risk factors, medical Hx, or situation(other than 2 days of sx)--I would either go to the ER or to a good Internal medicine doc for a good exam, a cxr, and an EKG---ASAP!

Possibilities include the following:

1) Asthma/Bronchospasm--maybe set off by allergies/viruses/irritants/smoking/etc. (wheezing would be a clue)

2) Bronchitis--set off by viruses or bacteria (especially if you are a smoker)

3) Heart failure--maybe due to coronary dz, high BP, valvular abn, cardiomyopathy (heart muscle dz), or dysrhythmias like atrial fibrillation, etc.

4) Pneumonia--usually due to viruses (like COVID) or bacteria

5) Pulmonary Embolism (blood clot to the lung, usually from clot in the legs)

You must see a good diagnostician right away (like a very good Internist, cardiologist, or lung specialist), but if you are very symptomatic and you can't get into one of the above very soon, then go to the local ER for evaluation and treatment. Untreated, many of the above possibilities can be LIFE THREATENING!
Good luck.

SEE YOUR DOCTOR! YOU need to have a urinary tract or abdominal infection(appendicitis, diverticulits, kidney stone, or other intra-abdominal disorders ruled out asap. Good luck.

YES!

Absolutely not! You are probably referring to ethyl mercury (thimerosol, -a constituent of a few older vaccines (in very small amounts). That untrue rumor was promulgated in the past by some parents of children with autism and a few misguided scientists. But it has been scientifically proven that there is no correlation between mercury in older vaccines and autism.

These are some possibilities:

1) gall stones/gall bladder dz
2) liver disease (like fatty liver, tumor, e.g.)
3) gastritis, colitis, or enteritis
3) R Kidney issues (i.e., stones, tumor, etc.), R adrenal dz (i.e., tumor, etc.)
4) R lung dz
5) spinal issues (DDD,DJD, Tumor, etc.) with radicular sx

These are just a few of the possibilities. Seeing a good Internal Medicine diagnostician who can examine you and then order the correct BLOOD TESTS and IMAGING STUDIES of the abdomen/chest (i.e., US, CT, or MRI) will likely make the right diagnosis and prescribe the necessary treatment, be it medicine or surgery.
Good luck!

You can try an oral agent--like Milk of Magnesia if your kidney function is normal(1/2-1 TBSP every 6-8 hrs until you have a BM) or an enema like a "Fleet's enema." If these fail, manual disimpaction may be needed. Of course you must find out what caused the constipation in the first place--like pain medication, for example, or some other medical or medicine related issue. Not eating enough FIBER and not drinking enough WATER both can worsen constipation.

Based on your symptoms, you have probably had COVID PNEUMONIA. "Pneumonia" means that the lungs(mainly the alveolar air sacs--that are normally thin walled and empty) beccome filled with inflammatory cells and fluid. Thus the normally very light, empty, and compliant air scas become heavy and stiff--thereby resulting in symptoms that might include shortness of breath, difficulty taking a breath, a sensation of "heaviness" in the chest, cough, etc, etc. These symptoms commonly last for weeks to months and could be permanent(if the lung inflammation turns into fibrosis and scarring.)

If you DON'T have any sign/symptom of cardiovascular disease (heart attack, stroke, TIA, peripheral vascular disease, etc.), it is very debatable if you need to take it at all!

If you were exposed to ASBESTOS, especially having lived with a family member of someone who worked with ASBESTOS--you are definitely at risk. I would strongly advise you to talk to your doctor, or see an excellent INTERNIST, PULMONOLOGIST, or ONCOLOGIST.

Your symptoms of bloating are non-specific, but could be due to a pancreatic or intestinal ENZYME DEFICIENCY or an abnormality in your STOMACH, GALL BLADDER, PANCREAS, INTESTINE, or even in your PELVIC ORGANS (i.e., uterus or ovary). Thus, I suggest seeing a very reputable GASTROENTEROLOGIST and he will order imaging of your abdomen and pelvis, lab work that looks for issues involving the above organ systems, and maybe endoscopy looking for abnormalities in the upper and/or lower GI tract.
Good luck!

Yes, it is perfectly safe to soak your feet in epson salts even if you have cirrhosis. But in cirrhosis, foot swelling is usually due to EDEMA (fluid retention), and can be treated by salt restriction, leg elevation, compressive stockings, and, if all fails, judicious diuretics or spironolactone will usually reduce leg swelling (but electrolytes and kidney function must be closely monitored, and your daily weight needs to also be monitored to avoid over diuresis).

if your incisions are healed and you have no more pain, having sex is usually safe.

It usually means having BACTERIA infect the kidney--the medical term is PYELONEPHRITIS and generally requires a week or two of effective ANTIBIOTICS to cure the infection.

Anxiety, panic attacks, hyperventilation, caffeine, cold medicines, hyperthyroidism, and various cardiac conditions(like mitral valve prolapse, valvular dysfunction, cardiomyopathy, and coronary or ischemic heart disease can all "mimic" or cause palpitations

Deep breathing, coughing (to help clear secretions from the trachea and bronchial tubes), avoiding and/or treating nausea and vomiting (which can lead to aspiration into the lungs), and frequent use of an incentive spirometer can all help prevent pneumonia after surgery.

Yes, you could be in kidney failure, but you also could be having heart or liver problems. Thus, you MUST see an internal medicine MD, or a kidney or heart specialist to diagnose your problem and start appropriate treatment. But if you can not see any of those doctors, I advise going to the ER as soon as possible--before it is too late!

At 96, If she is not symptomatic(ie--weak, fatigued, dizzy on standing, short of breath, has ankle or other swelling, is having chest pain, or otherwise is not feeling well)--there is no reason to do anything. But, if you want to cover all bases, take her to a medical doctor for a full physical evaluation.

Other than PPI/H2B therapy, I also suggest doing the following:

1) LOSE WEIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!--if you are overweight--mainly by exercising/staying active and also by avoiding JUNK FOOD and anything "white or tan" and contains SUGAR or FLOUR (including potatoes, bread, pasta, dairy/ice cream, cookies, cakes, etc. (if you are very overweight, consider bariatric surgery).
2) Elevate the head of your bed by 6"--takes advantage of gravity at night
3) Avoid FATTY or FRIED foods, and also avoid ALCOHOL and anything SPICY or TART or acidic tasting--fruit juices, tomato sauce (from CITRIC ACID and its ACIDIC EFFECT on the stomach/esophagus
4) Don't eat after about 6pm at night so the stomach is EMPTY when you go to bed
5) Avoid any medications that worsen reflux or exacerbate gastric sx (especially NSAIDS, many BP meds, and many meds for mental health therapy)
6) Avoid CARBONATED beverages, especially SOFT DRINKS
7) Consider TRYING OTHER PPIs--Nexium, lanzoprazol
8) Keep LIQUID ANTACIDS easily available--as taking a "swig" of this medicine like MYLANTA a few times a day may quickly relieve reflux sx

Good luck!