Diseases & Conditions Archive

Diseases & Conditions

When You Visit Your Doctor - Parkinson's Disease

Updated January 30, 2017

Parkinson's Disease

Questions to Discuss with Your Doctor:

Do you have a tremor of the hands at rest?
Have you noticed a slowing of your movements?
Do you have a stooped posture or a slow, shuffling gait?
Are you becoming more unsteady?
Are your muscles becoming more rigid?
Have you noticed your handwriting is getting smaller?
Do you have any problems with speech?
Are you depressed?
Do you have problems with memory, concentration, or problem-solving?
Do you have a family history of Parkinson's disease?
Are you taking any medications?

Your Doctor Might Examine the Following Body Structures or Functions:

Complete neurological exam focusing on gait, muscle tone, strength, and vision
Mini Mental Status Exam (to test memory and concentration)

Your Doctor Might Order the Following Lab Tests or Studies:

The diagnosis is made based on medical history and physical exam
SPECT (Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography)
Response to drug treatment, such as a trial of levodopa

Diseases & Conditions

When You Visit Your Doctor - Peptic Ulcer Disease

Updated January 30, 2017

Peptic Ulcer Disease

Questions to Discuss with Your Doctor:

Do you have diffuse or localized abdominal pain?
Does the pain ever travel to the back or chest?
Do you have nausea associated with the pain?
Does eating make the pain better or worse?
Do you have black or bloody stools?
Do you ever vomit blood or material that looks like coffee grounds?
Do you take any medications (for example, pain relievers)?
Do you smoke cigarettes or drink alcohol?
Do you drink caffeine-containing beverages?
Have you ever been tested or treated for a bacteria called H. pylori that can infect the stomach lining?
Do you have a family history of peptic ulcer disease?

Your Doctor Might Examine the Following Body Structures or Functions:

Careful abdominal exam
Rectal exam

Your Doctor Might Order the Following Lab Tests or Studies:

Stool testing for blood
Blood or breath test for the presence of H. pylori
Upper endoscopy (internal examination of esophagus, stomach, and duodenum)
Upper GI series

Diseases & Conditions

When You Visit Your Doctor - Rash

Updated January 30, 2017

Rash

Questions to Discuss with Your Doctor:

How long have you had the rash?
Where did it start?
Has it spread?
Is the rash only on parts of your skin that have been exposed to the sun?
Does it itch or hurt?
Is the rash red, pink, or purple?
Is the rash smooth or bumpy?
Have you had sores in your mouth, eyes, or other mucous membranes?
Have you had blisters on your skin?
Have you had trouble breathing?
Have you had a fever?
Have you symptoms of an upper respiratory tract infection (for example, a cold)?
Have you had vomiting or diarrhea?
Are you taking any prescription drugs, over-the-counter drugs, herbs, or supplements? Did you start any of them in the past two months?
Have you had any new exposures to foods or chemicals?
Any exposure to insects?
Have you had any recent sun exposure?

Your Doctor Might Examine the Following Body Structures or Functions:

Temperature
Examination of your skin, mouth, eyes, mucous membranes, lymph nodes, liver, and spleen

Your Doctor Might Order the Following Lab Tests or Studies:

Skin scrapings for microscopic analysis or culture (if the rash looks infectious)
Complete blood cell count or other blood tests (if you appear sick or have a fever)
Skin biopsy

Diseases & Conditions

When You Visit Your Doctor - Sarcoidosis

Updated January 30, 2017

Sarcoidosis

Questions to Discuss with Your Doctor:

Have you had difficulty breathing? For how long? How far can you walk without feeling winded?
Do you ever have chest pain or tightness? If yes, is it related to activity?
Have you had a persistent cough? If yes, is your cough dry or do you produce sputum?
Do you suffer from fatigue or malaise?
Have you had any fevers?
Have you recently lost weight? If so, how much?
Do you have pain in your joints, bones, or muscles?
Have you noticed any lumps in your neck, armpits, or groin?
Have you noticed any rashes or changes in your skin?
Have you had blurry vision or watery eyes?
Have you ever had red or painful eyes or a past diagnosis of uveitis?
Do you smoke cigarettes?
Have you had an abnormal chest x-ray in the past?
Do you have a family history of sarcoidosis?
Are you taking any medications?
Have you ever been on steroids or any other treatment for you sarcoidosis?

Your Doctor Might Examine the Following Body Structures or Functions:

Temperature, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation, blood pressure, heart rate
Heart and lung exam
Joint exam
Skin exam
Lymph node exam

Your Doctor Might Order the Following Lab Tests or Studies:

Plain chest x-ray
Chest CT scan
Pulmonary function tests
Bronchoscopy with lung biopsy
Blood tests
Formal eye exam

Diseases & Conditions

When You Visit Your Doctor - Recurrent Urinary Tract Infections

Updated January 30, 2017

Recurrent Urinary Tract Infections

Questions to Discuss with Your Doctor:

With each of the bladder or urinary tract infections that you have you had, as far back as you can remember:
- What were the dates of each?
- Was a urine culture done to prove you had an infection?
- What treatment was given, and how quickly did you get better?
- Did you have a fever, pain in your back, or nausea and vomiting?
Have you ever been told that you have abnormalities in the way your kidneys or bladder, or the tubes connecting them, are built?
Do you frequently develop bladder or urinary tract infections after sexual intercourse?
Do you have any chronic medical problems (for example, diabetes or neurological disease)?
Are you on any antibiotics to prevent recurrent bladder or urinary tract infections? If so, which one?
If you are a woman, what type of contraception do you use (for example, a diaphragm, spermicide)?

Your Doctor Might Examine the Following Body Structures or Functions:

Abdominal exam
Genital exam
Back exam for the presence of tenderness in the area of the kidneys

Your Doctor Might Order the Following Lab Tests or Studies:

Clean-catch urine specimen for urinalysis and culture
Ultrasound of the bladder
Full pelvic/renal ultrasound
Abdominal CT scan
Cystourethrogram

Diseases & Conditions

When You Visit Your Doctor - Shingles

Updated January 30, 2017

Shingles

Questions to Discuss with Your Doctor:

Do you have a history of chicken pox?
Does your skin hurt, itch, or feel numb?
Is the pain sharp, dull, or piercing? How long have you had it?
Do you have a rash? If so, for how long?
Is the rash in more than one place on your skin?
Is the rash on one side of your body only?
Has the rash at any time looked like small blisters?
Do you still have pain even if the rash is gone?
What triggers the pain (for example, a light touch)?
Do your symptoms interfere with your ability to sleep or perform activities of daily living?
Are you taking any medications?

Your Doctor Might Examine the Following Body Structures or Functions:

Skin exam almost always confirms the diagnosis

Your Doctor Might Order the Following Lab Tests or Studies:

Skin scraping to examine under the microscope, or for viral culture, immunofluorescence, or polymerase chain reaction testing (rarely needed)

Diseases & Conditions

When You Visit Your Doctor - Spinal Stenosis

Updated January 30, 2017

Spinal Stenosis

Questions to Discuss with Your Doctor:

Where is the pain in your back?
Does it radiate to your legs?
Is it worse when you walk?
Does the pain from walking occur suddenly or gradually?
Is it relieved by standing?
Is it relieved by sitting or lying down?
What bothers you more, the pain in your back or the pain in your legs?
Does the pain worsen when you cough or sneeze?
Do you have numbness or decreased sensation in your legs?
Have you had problems with your balance?
Have you had any changes or difficulty in your ability to urinate?
How long have you had the pain?
Is it getting worse?
How much does it limit your usual activities?
How is your quality of life affected by the pain?
Have you ever had spinal surgery?
Have you ever injured your back?
Have you ever had hip surgery?
Do you have diabetes?
Do you have poor circulation, such as peripheral artery disease?
Do you have foot ulcers?
Have you ever had vascular surgery?
Do you have any sort of neuropathy (nerve damage)?
What are you doing to treat the pain?
Have you seen a physical therapist?
Are you interested in an injection of a cortisone-like medication into your back? Do you know anything about this procedure?

Your Doctor Might Examine the Following Body Structures or Functions:

Spine
Hip
Pulses in the feet, behind the knee and in the groin
Neurologic exam

Your Doctor Might Order the Following Lab Tests or Studies:

X-rays of the spine
CT scans of the spine
MRI scans of the spine

Diseases & Conditions

When You Visit Your Doctor - Thrombocytopenia

Updated January 30, 2017

Thrombocytopenia

Questions to Discuss with Your Doctor:

What medications do you take (including over-the-counter drugs and herbal remedies)?
Have you been ill recently?
What other medical problems do you have?
Could you be pregnant?
Have you ever been tested for HIV?
Have you had fever?
Have you had rashes?
Have you had diarrhea?
Have you had abdominal pain?
Have you had headache?
Have you had neurologic symptoms?
Have you been lightheaded?
Have you been short of breath with minimal exertion?
Have you had chest pain or pressure?
Have you had a cough?
Do you have any bruises or nosebleeds?
Do your gums bleed when you brush your teeth?
If you are a woman, have you had unusually heavy menstrual periods?
How long have you had symptoms?
Does anyone else in your family have low platelets?
How many alcoholic beverages do you drink in an average week?

Your Doctor Might Examine the Following Body Structures or Functions:

Eyes
Mouth
Heart
Lungs
Abdomen
Skin

Your Doctor Might Order the Following Lab Tests or Studies:

Blood tests, which might include complete blood count with microscopic evaluation, kidney function tests, liver function tests, antinuclear antibody, an HIV test
Bone marrow biopsy

Cancer

When You Visit Your Doctor - Multiple Myeloma

Updated January 27, 2017

Multiple Myeloma

Questions to Discuss with Your Doctor:

Have you had any recent infections?
Do you know when to call your doctor with symptoms of infection?
Do you have pain in any of your bones? If so, is it constant, or does it occur only when you move?
Have you had any recent fractures?
Do you have pain in your spine? Does it radiate to another part of your body?
Have you noticed a decrease in sensation or strength in your hands or feet?
Have you had loss of bladder or bowel control?
Do you know when to seek medical attention for back pain?
Have you been fatigued?
Have you been lightheaded?
Have you been short of breath with minimal exertion?
Do your gums bleed when you brush your teeth?
Do you bruise easily, or get nosebleeds?
Have you been weak, nauseated, constipated, or confused?
Have you had a headache or a change in your vision?
Can you feel any lumps or masses under your skin?
Are you aware of the possible complications that can develop from multiple myeloma?
Do you know which symptoms should cause you to call your doctor?

Your Doctor Might Examine the Following Body Structures or Functions:

Skin
Heart
Lungs
Arms and legs
Spine
Neurology examination (to check for strength and sensation in your hands and feet)
Lymph nodes (neck, axilla, and groin)

Your Doctor Might Order the Following Lab Tests or Studies:

Blood tests for complete blood count, electrolytes, kidney function, uric acid, calcium, and beta-2 microglobulin
Serum protein electrophoresis or SPEP
Urine protein electrophoresis or UPEP
Quantitative immunoglobulin levels in the urine and blood
Immunoelectrophoresis
24-hour urine collection for protein
Bone marrow biopsy
Skeletal radiographs
CT scan
MRI scan

Heart Health

When You Visit Your Doctor - Mitral Valve Prolapse

Updated January 27, 2017

Mitral Valve Prolapse

Questions to Discuss with Your Doctor:

Have you had an echocardiogram?
What did it show?
Does your mitral valve leak?
Do you get chest pain?
What brings it on?
How long does it last?
What relieves it?
Do you ever get a rapid or pounding heartbeat (palpitations) for no reason?
How long does it last?
Do you feel faint or develop chest pain or shortness of breath?
Have you ever fainted?
Do you get short of breath when you lie down or exert yourself?
Have you ever taken any medications for your heart?
Did you develop any side effects from these medications?

Your Doctor Might Examine the Following Body Structures or Functions:

Heart rate, blood pressure, and weight
Heart (sometimes while you are standing, squatting, or performing other maneuvers)
Lungs

Your Doctor Might Order the Following Lab Tests or Studies:

Electrocardiogram
Echocardiogram
Holter monitor or event monitor

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Diseases & Conditions Archive

Articles

When You Visit Your Doctor - Parkinson's Disease

Parkinson's Disease

Questions to Discuss with Your Doctor:

Your Doctor Might Examine the Following Body Structures or Functions:

Your Doctor Might Order the Following Lab Tests or Studies:

When You Visit Your Doctor - Peptic Ulcer Disease

Peptic Ulcer Disease

Questions to Discuss with Your Doctor:

Your Doctor Might Examine the Following Body Structures or Functions:

Your Doctor Might Order the Following Lab Tests or Studies:

When You Visit Your Doctor - Rash

Rash

Questions to Discuss with Your Doctor:

Your Doctor Might Examine the Following Body Structures or Functions:

Your Doctor Might Order the Following Lab Tests or Studies:

When You Visit Your Doctor - Sarcoidosis

Sarcoidosis

Questions to Discuss with Your Doctor:

Your Doctor Might Examine the Following Body Structures or Functions:

Your Doctor Might Order the Following Lab Tests or Studies:

When You Visit Your Doctor - Recurrent Urinary Tract Infections

Recurrent Urinary Tract Infections

Questions to Discuss with Your Doctor:

Your Doctor Might Examine the Following Body Structures or Functions:

Your Doctor Might Order the Following Lab Tests or Studies:

When You Visit Your Doctor - Shingles

Shingles

Questions to Discuss with Your Doctor:

Your Doctor Might Examine the Following Body Structures or Functions:

Your Doctor Might Order the Following Lab Tests or Studies:

When You Visit Your Doctor - Spinal Stenosis

Spinal Stenosis

Questions to Discuss with Your Doctor:

Your Doctor Might Examine the Following Body Structures or Functions:

Your Doctor Might Order the Following Lab Tests or Studies:

When You Visit Your Doctor - Thrombocytopenia

Thrombocytopenia

Questions to Discuss with Your Doctor:

Your Doctor Might Examine the Following Body Structures or Functions:

Your Doctor Might Order the Following Lab Tests or Studies:

When You Visit Your Doctor - Multiple Myeloma

Multiple Myeloma

Questions to Discuss with Your Doctor:

Your Doctor Might Examine the Following Body Structures or Functions:

Your Doctor Might Order the Following Lab Tests or Studies:

When You Visit Your Doctor - Mitral Valve Prolapse

Mitral Valve Prolapse

Questions to Discuss with Your Doctor:

Your Doctor Might Examine the Following Body Structures or Functions:

Your Doctor Might Order the Following Lab Tests or Studies:

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