Dr. Anna Duncan

It’s very simple. Her height and weight make her diagnosed as obese. Fact. At that height and weight, she is not “fit”. Being overweight or obese puts her at risk for heart disease, diabetes, and other illnesses including joint wear and tear to the point of needing replacement.
I am truly concerned that you both think this is normal and the idea of her gaining more weight really worries me! I suspect you will not like my answer and rationalize discounting it. I could be wrong. But at the least please have her and yourself consult her PCP. If you all do not have a PCP get one! And get their opinion also. Take Care!

Because it worsens when you cough it does sound like a rib muscle strain. Does it hurt with movement, deep breath? That would be a strain. Now if you are having a productive cough, any elevated temperature, wheezing, or anything resembling an infection you need to call or see your doctor then to rule out pneumonia. If you have tried ibuprofen, if not allergic to it or don’t have kidney damage, and that helped it looks, again, like a strain.

It could depend on your other meds and illnesses. Are you diabetic, have the vascular disease? Are you doing specific activities that put you in the way of being bruised? Aging sometimes lends to thinning skin. Also if your lower arms are dry you may need to plump up the skin with an intense moisturizer. Diabetic creams over the counter are good for this. It would be good to tell your PCP and have some blood work to check your platelets and liver function. Just to rule out an organic cause. Take Care!

I went on a research run online. It appears there may be some muscle-building enhancement and it is derived from the ajuga plant. It is not banned but was said there are efforts to ban it due to unregulated products that may be unsafe. Ok, that said. You are 19. You don’t need to put unquestionable substances in your body. I am a very Pro supplement, but I would not recommend this to anyone. Exercise and condition and tone and build the muscles that God gave you. Avoid muscle-building products that are mostly hype. And a lot of products geared to build muscle can cause kidney damage!!! You don’t want that! Good luck. Take Care.

If you get hit in an area of your body, it makes sense to hurt. Underlying tissue and cartilage in that area are likely bruised, one that is not visible. But you have organs in that area also. Call your PCP or your doctor on call and report this. Any nausea, vomiting, worsening pain, feeling faint, fever, or any other abnormal symptoms have someone take you to the ER.

Yes, it could be. Where you live plays into the diagnosis. But it could also be a spider bite. Are you having aches, headaches, overwhelming fatigue, joint pain? Call your PCP or go to Urgent Care.

Opinions vary. I always treat it with an antibiotic.

There are over-the-counter creams and vaginal suppositories, you can use these if not allergic to their ingredients, and also call your infectious disease dr or whatever doctor manages your other chronic malady. Feel better!

The booster is due 6 months after your second shot of vaccine. So, technically since you had your second injection of the Covid vaccine in February, it was due in August of 2021. Therefore, your booster is due now. Try and get the same brand you had with your initial series, either Moderna or Pfizer. I don’t recommend the Johnson and Johnson vaccine. It’s less effective than the others and has caused clotting disorders. Though this side effect was extremely rare, I don’t recommend it.
I hope you have found my reply helpful!
Have a safe and Happy New Year. Wear your mask, wash your hands, and keep antibacterial hand gel with you and use it.

Dr. Anna M. Duncan

Get a Covid test.

Dr. Duncan

Gummies usually are not overly strong. If they are helping your arthritis it sounds like they may be good ones. You just need to be sure you are getting from a good lab and not down at the gas station. Doubt any problem with your other meds. Be sure to let your PCP know you use these. It’s best to always have a complete medicine list.
Good luck and take care.

First thing to say is you need to see your PCP. If you don’t have one you need one. It could be a hernia, but it could also be something else. Go to PCP and take care.

As any surgery, it has a level of pain. But the more severe level of pain usually is only the first few days and until after you have your first bowel movement. It usually doesn’t last very long at a high level. Of course your pain tolerance also is a factor. But if you need it, you should be glad you have it.

As always, you should see your PCP and if you don’t have one, get one. I wonder if you have irritable bowel? IBS can have either diarrhea or constipation or both. Also, ovarian problems can cause similar symptoms. Keeping bowel movements regular and taking probiotics and eating Activia everyday can help. But you need to be examined and tested.
Take care.

You need to get an appointment with a PCP, you need a family doctor anyway, and do it as soon as possible. There is no way I can tell you what is wrong with you, but here are some of the possibilities, all serious if not diagnosed AND TREATED: HEART DISEASE, GASTRIC REFLUX WITH A STRICTURE, DIABETES, HYPERTENSION, KIDNEY DISEASE, DIABETES……and these are just a few. YOU NEED TO SEE A REGULAR DOCTOR ASAP!
Good luck.

That area is a common symptom of diverticulitis. Inflammation and infection of diverticula in your large intestine. I hope by now you have had AT LEAST one colonoscopy and know if you have diverticulosis. In any case, see a doctor. Either your PCP or Urgent Care. A doctor needs to examine you and at least do some lab.

It could be strep. It could also be a nasty virus. Best to see your doctor or be seen as an urgent care.

No. Vertigo is a spinning sensation that usually lasts for awhile. It can cause you to fall over and if in a spinning position for too long is can cause vomiting. It is typically an inner ear issue
and can last a day one the average, but it can last longer. During vertigo do not drive. Call for help if you go to the dr., sneeze, get hoarse, or get dizzy. Probably a different inner issue prompted by eustachian tube dysfunction and mucous. Maybe allergy or a cold.

See an orthopedic doctor. If it is very damaged (and it's been quite abused recently!), you could have lifelong deformity and development of arthritis. Get it taken care of now!

You are young and that is on your side. I am sorry about your mother. I am sure you are under stress and suffering from the loss. Your symptoms are not distinct. They are typical of anxiety. But we need to rule out a systemic disorder. I am glad you had the Covid test and it was negative. Here you get my strict orders: Wear a mask ALWAYS when away from home. If someone comes to your home, wear a mask. 20 seconds with good soap of vigorous hand washing. Social distancing at least of 6 feet, more is better. Hand sanitizer on you and use it! I carry a small spray bottle of medical alcohol in my bag and I spray the handles of shopping carts even if they “have cleaned” them. Okay, back to your symptoms: you need to see your primary care physician. You are too old for a pediatrician. You need a Family Medicine doctor. So, schedule an appt with a primary care doctor and be sure you go to the appointment. You say you are hot and have heat. Have you taken your temperature? If not, buy a good thermometer you keep in a location you’ll remember. I say this because I'm bad about misplacing mine! You need some blood work drawn. You need a Complete Chemistry Panel, a CBC, a thyroid screen including at TSH with a free T3 and a free T4. And an HgbA1c. It tests your blood sugar over a 90 day period. And any other testing your doctor orders. Print out this email so he/she can see what I have discussed with you. You told me your mother is deceased from the Corona virus. I figure besides grief, you have developed some degree of increased fear of covid. Follow self protection measures and take good care of your body. Eat well, begin an exercise program your primary care doctor agrees to. And get plenty of sleep. Go to bed at a decent hour. I also recommend you find a counselor/psychologist so you can have a professional you can speak and work with. And think about this...the majority of Covid cases do not die. We hear about the ones that do and you lost your mother this way. Chronic medical problems and age above 65 increase mortality. You are 20 years old. If you follow protective measures, which I think I have stressed well, and take care if you do get it and have early medical attention, from your PCP (primary care provider...DO, MD, NP, PA) your chances are good. I hope this has been helpful. Now go make that appointment with a PCP and find a counselor.

Blessings,

Anna Duncan, DO