Question #1
Is gastroenteritis going around? - Dean
There does seem to be an increase in the number of gastroenteritis cases normally seen. This stomach disorder, usually caused by a virus, results in nausea, vomiting and diarrhea along with a mild stomach ache. Although there is no particular outbreak at this time there does seem to be higher numbers of patients complaining about this than normal for this time of the year. If you suffer from gastroenteritis your main goal is to stay hydrated while recovering. If you can keep fluids down than home treatment is your best course of action. If you can't hold liquids down than you will dehydrate quickly so should be seen by your doctor or an Urgent Care or emergency room facility. If you can keep liquids down make sure you drink plenty of fluids during the day to make up for the fluid losses from the diarrhea. Also, make sure you wash you hands frequently since this illness can pass easily from person to person.
Question #2
Hello Doctor, I suffer from allergies, I am allergic to grass pollen and nothing else. In the month of September, I am more itchy, sneezing and extremely stuffy. Can you tell me is there anything in the air in the fall/winter that I can possibly be allergic to and my not have been tested for? Thanks for all your help! Krystal
This has been a common issue this year. I have seen more patients complain of allergy symptoms than usual. Normally pollen counts around here work like this; tree pollen in the spring, grass pollen in the summer and weed pollen in the fall. But this year has been weird because of the dryness, fires and high winds. All of this has resulted in different pollen count patterns than normal and both higher and different pollen and particulate matter in the air than usual. This means that allergy symptoms will be on the increase. Also, our immune system changes over the years and you can become allergic to something you weren't allergic to before. If you were tested years ago but think you might be affected by things you weren't supposedly allergic to you might want to get retested. The other option is to keep an allergy journal, highlighting your symptoms and daily pollen counts. If it seems your allergies are worse on days when certain types of pollen are more abundant than chances are you are allergic to that particular allergen.
Question #3
I have neuropathy from chemo and statins. I have no pain but very uncomfortable feeling of bunched up socks, very hard to walk in confined shoes (easier in flip flops) would your therapy be able to help me? Thank you! Joyce
September is National Pain Awareness Month. And this includes increasing awareness about neuropathy. Neuropathy is a condition where the nerves get damaged which results in pain, numbness, and movement or sensation issues in the person affected. This is a long term and often lifetime condition. There are many causes behind neuropathy including diabetes, autoimmune syndromes like lupus, trauma or even certain infections. This condition often times affects a person's feet or legs and can be life altering because of the constant pain associated with it. There are many treatment options for helping with neuropathy. These range from medications aimed at relieving the pain or sensation issues to therapies designed to help out. Your best bet is to start by discussing your concerns with your primary care physician. Neurologists are often consulted or you might be referred to a treatment center for complimentary therapies that have proven very successful for some. There is no "one size fits all" treatment when it comes to neuropathy so you will most likely have to try a variety of approaches to see which ones help you resume as normal a lifestyle as possible.
(KUSA-TV © 2012 Multimedia Holdings Corporation)