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Wichita hasn’t seen this kind of ATM yet, but I imagine it is on its way. It dispenses medicine. InstyMeds is the company and there is controversy over its benefit and safety. Read on… An ATM for what ails you | StarTribune.com.
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Interstitial cystitis (IC) affects more than 1 million people in the U.S. The cause is unknown, but there are things we can do to help.
We know the urothelium (the cells that line the inside of the bladder) in IC patients is damaged and can inadequately serve as a barrier against noxious components of the urine.
What are the symptoms?
Who does it affect? Mostly women.
What tests are used to diagnose interstitial cystitis? First, a physical exam, bimanual exam for females/rectal exam for males, and a urine specimen are tested. This is needed to assess if there is a genital or bladder infection, stone, or obstruction. If those tests are normal, a urology consult may be needed. There is a link to a questionnaire below which may help diagnose IC. The urologist may help with the potassium sensitivity test, the anesthetic bladder challenge, and perform a cystoscope. (A cystoscope is a lit camera placed into the urethra and up to the bladder which allows visual examination of bladder walls). During this exam the urologist may fill the bladder to distend the walls to see if this elicits pain.
Treatment options are oral medication (pentosan polysulfate sodium) , medications placed directly into the bladder (dimethyl sulfoxide) and dietary changes with supplements. The FDA has only approved the two above medications for IC. Antidepressants and allergy medicines have also been found to help decrease symptoms.
The O’Leary-Sant Symptoms and Problem Index is a
questionnaire that is available at http://www.ichelp.org/Page.aspx?pid=444
Hope this helps.
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Are you pregnant? or done having children? This is a timely and thoughtful article. It compares “tube tying” to intrauterine devices. Read on…
New mothers choose “tied tubes” over IUDs: study – chicagotribune.com.
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Summer is in full swing (107 degrees here yesterday in Wichita–ugh!). There are new labeling rules from the FDA to help consumers select effective sunscreen against wrinkles and skin cancer. If you read the phrase “Broad Spectrum protection” on the label, it means the sunblock has been tested to protect you from both UVA and UVB radiation.
In addition, the SPF needs to be 15 or greater to help decrease skin cancer, the major sign of aging. I urge patients to find a sunscreen with SPF > 15 that feels and smells good. That way you will incorporate it into your routine every morning.
For more information: www.fda.gov/sunscreen
Hope this helps.
A common condition when the veins in the anal canal are dilated is called hemorrhoids. If mild, patients can treat themselves with nonprescription cream and warm baths.
Better yet. . . to prevent hemorrhoids eat high fiber foods, take fiber supplements if needed, and drink at least eight glasses of water daily. If symptoms do not get better, then make an appointment with a physician. The doctor will consider other conditions including cancer, warts, tears in the anal sphincter, infections, or skin tags that could be the problem.
Hemorrhoids can be internal (inside the anal sphincter) or external (outside the anal sphincter). Pregnant women and patients with chronic constipation are at risk for hemorrhoids. Stool softeners can help with symptoms as well as other local therapy–to relieve swelling, pain and fullness. At times, the hemorrhoid needs to be incised and drained. Amazingly, this is not very painful to the patient and relief occurs momentarily. A colonoscopy may be warranted in patients older than age 50 or those at risk for colon cancer.
If hemorrhoids are diagnosed and do not resolve, surgical options are available. Ask your surgeon about an in-office procedure called rubber band ligation or infrared coagulation (using a special light) or operations requiring anesthesia like excisional hemorrhoidectomy or stapling.
As a medical student, I scrubbed in to help with a hemorrhoid surgery. The surgeon advised me he eats fiber to avoid hemorrhoids, so that he doesn’t have the kind of surgery that he performs. How honest!
I am a family physician who also performs obstetrics. And, as such, I keep up with pregnancy-related updates, too. There is a new indication for the TdaP (Tetanus with pertussis) vaccine.
And, yes, the vaccination of pregnant women for Tdap is thought to be safe for
both mother and fetus.
So, consider getting a vaccine while pregnant or if you have contact with a child under the age of one–to keep you both safe and healthy.
I am moving my medical practice 8 minutes EAST!
As of October 1, 2011 I’ll be practicing (the same) family medicine with obstetrics at 105 South Andover Road. I am excited for this opportunity to practice medicine at Andover Family Medicine in an intimate, progressive office.
I invite you to move with me! The office is clean, well run, with a great support staff. I will be seeing patients at my current office at 8020 East Central until the end of September. Starting October 1st I will work Mondays, Wednesdays and every other Thursdays in Andover. There will be acute care coverage for my patients on days that I am not in the office–just as there has been in the past.
To facilitate the move, you can fill out medical record transfer forms at http://www.lakepointfp.com/index.cfm?pageId=16&Page=Documents&getDoc=16#.pdf ) and submit to Lakepoint (fax number 316 636 2644) or my new office can do that.
I look forward to continuing to serve
you and I am accepting new patients.
Fondly,
Leslie Greenberg MD
Andover Family Medicine 105 South Andover Road, Suite D, Andover, KS 67002
w (316) 778 0919 fax (316) 733-1280
I am moving my medical practice 8 minutes EAST!
As of October 1, 2011 I’ll be practicing (the same) family medicine with obstetrics at 105 South Andover Road. I am excited for this opportunity to practice medicine at Andover Family Medicine in an intimate, progressive office.
I invite you to move with me! The office is clean, well run, with a great support staff. I will be seeing patients at my current office at 8020 East Central until the end of September. Starting October 1st I will work Mondays, Wednesdays and every other Thursdays in Andover. There will be acute care coverage for my patients on days that I am not in the office–just as there has been in the past.
To facilitate the move, you can fill out medical record transfer forms at http://www.lakepointfp.com/index.cfm?pageId=16&Page=Documents&getDoc=16#.pdf ) and submit to Lakepoint (fax number 316 636 2644) or my new office can do that.
I look forward to continuing to serve
you and I am accepting new patients.
Fondly,
Leslie Greenberg MD
Andover Family Medicine 105 South Andover Road, Suite D, Andover, KS 67002
w (316) 778 0919 fax (316) 733-1280
Some people are diagnosed with laryngitis when the reason
for hoarseness is from reflux of stomach
acid into the throat. Laryngopharyngeal
reflux, also known as “silent” reflux, may not have symptoms of
heartburn. Laryngopharyngeal reflux
should be suspected with the following symptoms
Symptoms may resolve with lifestyle changes so that
medication is not needed.
The American Gastroenterological Association and the
American Academy of Otolaryngology- Head and Neck Surgery do not agree
completely on treatment. They do agree that if lifestyle
changes do not resolve symptoms a trial of reflux medication (proton-pump inhibitors or H2 blockers) can be tried daily and reassessed in 3 months
Keep this diagnosis in mind.
Hope this helps.
Colon cleansing has been around since ancient times, as people believed that intestinal waste “poisons the body.” Colon cleansing has staged a come back in recent years. It is actively promoted as a natural way to enhance well-being. There are four points to know before engaging in this practice.
Colon cleansing can be performed at home with self-administered kits or at an office by a colon therapist/hygienist. Either way, colon cleansing is performed by lying on a table and a large volume of fluid—up to 60 liters—is introduced into the rectum through one tube while another tube in the rectum gathers the waste.
Be aware of the above risks and the lack of evidence showing benefit.
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