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Medical Research on the Internet/Questions Answered by Expert Trisha Torrey, Every Patient's Advocate
| Subject | Date Asked |
| Father has +ve blood group and mother -ve blood group | 4/11/2009 |
| Q: My wife's blood group is A Negative and my blood group is B Positive. What complications can it ... A: Ud, You are asking about the Rh Factor. Here are three articles that may help you. Read them, but ... | |
| Parkinsons disease | 3/31/2009 |
| Q: "i would like to know if you could direct me to searches for the effects of menopause on Parkinson ... A: I was able to find some references to menopause, hormones and Parkinsons, but I'm not sure they ... | |
| Finger Pulse Oximeters | 3/27/2009 |
| Q: I would like to find out, & continue to monitor, my oxygen level. However, I see oximeters from ... A: There are several websites that allow people to rate various items for purchase. Here's a link to ... | |
| CARDIOLOGIST | 2/28/2009 |
| Q: I HAVE SEEN A CARDIOLOGIST FOR ABOUT 6 MONTHS NOW AND HE HAS RAN EVERY TEST ON ME FROM CARDIAC CATH ... A: Kimberly, I can certainly understand why this makes you nervous. For your own piece of mind, and to ... | |
| antibiotic | 2/19/2009 |
| Q: hey so i started my antibiotic the other day and and my biggest side effect bad taste in mouth just ... A: Whitney, There are so many different antibiotics, and I don't know which one you're taking. Also, ... | |
| Ichthyosis - a skin ailment | 2/15/2009 |
| Q: is there any effective treatment for "Ichthyosis simplex" under conventional treatment or otherwise ... A: Syed, The best approach seems to be to stay covered, completely covered so no sun can make contact ... | |
| skin ailment - Ichthyosis | 2/14/2009 |
| Q: is there any effective treatment for "Ichthyosis simplex" under conventional ... A: Syed, It's a good question, and as I'm sure you've found, there is not a lot of information ... | |
| rh | 2/6/2009 |
| Q: i was looking around the net and saw this site. my fiance is O pos and i am B neg, as far as you ... A: I found a number of references to Rh factor incompatibility, all of which state the problems appear ... | |
| marijuana and alzheimers | 1/27/2009 |
| Q: We have been having a discussion...whether or not marijuana slows the progression of dementia and ... A: Yes -- I was able to find some references to marijuana and dementia/alzheimers (good news for me -- ... | |
| menopause and weight gain | 1/15/2009 |
| Q: I would like to get some information about menopause and weight gain. I would like to understand ... A: I found a few references for you. See if these help: ... | |
| new prescribed medicines | 12/10/2008 |
| Q: I was recently prescribed 500 mg. of Metformin/day, will this affect me donating plasma twice a ... A: Tommy, I can't find a direct answer for you, but there are a few clues around the 'net. I'm ... | |
| Spina Bifida | 11/26/2008 |
| Q: In health class we are working on a project on diseases and conditions and i picked spina bifida. I ... A: For your purposes, you can do a google search. As long as you don't plan to include any of the ... | |
| cancer | 11/20/2008 |
| Q: how do i act or treat my friend that has been diagnosed with cancer thank you so much im just trying ... A: Steven, This is tough -- you're asking what I would do but there are so many variables. There are ... | |
| Stroke and Chiropractors | 10/17/2008 |
| Q: I had a stroke last year at the age of 42. Although I am now taking medication to help with blood ... A: Scott, I absolutely hear you on being torn, because I felt the same way, except that the oncologist ... | |
| Stroke and Chiropractors | 10/16/2008 |
| Q: I had a stroke last year at the age of 42. Although I am now taking medication to help with blood ... A: I am so sorry to hear about your stroke. It looks like you're coming back from it, though.... I ... | |
| Wisdom Teeth Removal while in first trimester of pregnancy | 10/15/2008 |
| Q: I had my wisdom tooth extracted last week with local anesthesia Lidocaine (I believe), I was given ... A: Christina, Let's tackle the x-rays first -- I'm well past childbearing years and they still put ... | |
| TPT | 10/13/2008 |
| Q: WHAT IS IT AND WHAT CAN YOU DO ABOUT LOW BLOOD PLATELETS? A: Ieshenia, TPT refers to thrombocytopenia which means (as you know) you don't have enough platelets ... | |
| massachusetts medical law | 10/7/2008 |
| Q: I currently work in a radiology area where it has become the technologists responsibility to write ... A: Marc, Very interesting question, and while I can't find an answer for you online, I think I can ... | |
| Prednisone - percentages of people who get each of the major side effects of the drug | 10/1/2008 |
| Q: My husband has Proteinuria and has been told that he might have to take Prednisone or another ... A: Bette (I hope you meant to ask this question of me -- I'm Trisha, not Margot -- but I'll help you as ... | |
| cancer and agent orange exposure | 9/21/2008 |
| Q: I worked at the cb base in gulfport, ms where agent orange was stored and leaked into the ground ... A: Linda, Scary proposition for you. Two cancers since 1992 -- I am so sorry you've had them, but ... | |
| leg cramps. | 9/12/2008 |
| Q: I bet you have been asked this tons of times. I have a question about leg cramps! Specifically.. ... A: I can't answer your questions directly because I'm not a medical professional... but I've found some ... | |
| Rh negetave | 9/9/2008 |
| Q: I am Rh O negetave and my husband is rh O positive. I have had 2 children and after my first child I ... A: Very interesting question! The shot you had is called RhoGAM -- here's a good explanation of why ... | |
| finding medical assistance help | 9/5/2008 |
| Q: My question is can you help put me in the right direction into finding information on helping my ... A: Tara, I'm guessing from your email that your father is not yet 65? If he is already 65, then he ... | |
| Medical research question | 8/14/2008 |
| Q: Torrey, My husband was diagnosed with kidney disease. He has high blood pressure which is under ... A: Elizabeth, You've asked a number of questions that require translations that can't necessarily be ... | |
| Legal Guidelines on sending a Fax | 7/31/2008 |
| Q: I was hoping to get some information on what legal guidelines there are when sending medical ... A: Christine, I'm not sure if you are a patient, provider or payer, so I'm not sure whether you are ... | |
| diagnostic/treatment clinic | 7/11/2008 |
| Q: I will be as brief as possible. I am a 49 yo female. I have been diagnosed with sternoclavicular ... A: Beth, I like the way you think! You are clearly an empowered patient, willing to do what it takes ... | |
| diagnostic/treatment clinic | 7/11/2008 |
| Q: I will be as brief as possible. I am a 49 yo female. I have been diagnosed with sternoclavicular ... A: Beth, You are an amazing woman to be able to keep all this straight! It tells me, however, that ... | |
| ultrasound scan | 7/9/2008 |
| Q: I am pregnant and had a scan at 11 wks and 4 days.I seen what i thought was a penis between babys ... A: I checked a number of places on the web, and the most comprehensive explanation of gender accuracy ... | |
| breathing problems | 6/22/2008 |
| Q: I have not had a diagnosis and even my doctor says he does not know what the problem is. I have been ... A: Robert, This all sounds very frustrating. I have talked to others who go for a long time with no ... | |
| Fluoroquinolones vs Macrolides | 6/8/2008 |
| Q: I was in NYC for holidays last christmas when I came down with bronchitis and fever. A GP there ... A: Junie, You're so smart to be looking for this connection -- however -- I think the only answer is ... | |
| pre term labor medications | 5/18/2008 |
| Q: In 1987, I went into preterm labor at 30 weeks. When I was admitted to the hospital, I had to sign ... A: Linda, Whether or not you can get the information you need depends on what state you live in. The ... | |
| chronic pancreatitis | 5/14/2008 |
| Q: My girlfriend has and still is suffering from this disease I love her a lot and I am willing to do ... A: Hovanes, The best way to learn about research is to know what work has already led to clinical ... | |
| Marjuana | 5/13/2008 |
| Q: If you smoke marijuana on a daily basis how long does it take to get out of your system. A: Dana, Doing a little research, I learned that it takes about a month for the chemical to get out of ... | |
| GENERAL HEALTH | 4/28/2008 |
| Q: What is meclizine? I was feeling dizzy and my doctor prescribed meclizine. Is it? 1)Meclizine is an ... A: Carlo, In fact, it looks like you have already found good descriptions of meclizine. It's a drug ... | |
| Clinical trials - availability to public | 4/25/2008 |
| Q: Where can a patient with kidney disease obtain the results of clinical trials done in order to get ... A: Elizabeth, I'm thinking you may have asked the wrong question to get to the information you need -- ... | |
| Clinical trials - availability to public | 4/23/2008 |
| Q: Where can a patient with kidney disease obtain the results of clinical trials done in order to get ... A: Elizabeth, You asked a great question, and I didn't have a complete answer for you. So I checked ... | |
| headaches | 3/3/2008 |
| Q: ... I just have a question. I have 2 compressed discs in my neck. I generally have to watch how I ... A: m, I am not a medical professional, so I can't offer medical advice. However, I have two good ... | |
| xanthragranulosispyelonephritis | 3/1/2008 |
| Q: My husband entered a small hospital with what he thought was a kidney stone and is now being told ... A: Diane, After trying a number of spelling combinations, I finally came up with this corrected ... | |
| Medical research | 2/27/2008 |
| Q: I'm trying to find information and maybe an expert to consult with on the topic of Malabsorption ... A: Evan, The term "malabsorption syndrome" seems to encompass anything related to the body's digestive ... | |
| about nail problems | 1/26/2008 |
| Q: i have problem in my toe nail.it breaks before growing completely.some rudiments.so please give ... A: Mohammed, I'm not a doctor, so I can't diagnose you. What I can do is give you resources to help ... | |
| vasectomy | 1/20/2008 |
| Q: how much is the vasectomy? price range? in california? A: Randy, I have to tell you, I was actually surprised I could get this kind of information for you. ... | |
| renal calculi | 1/12/2008 |
| Q: i have just tried getting into the british army and i cant because back in 2004 i had renal calculi ... A: Charlie, I can't help you with the British Army -- their policies are their policies. I'm ... | |
| disease | 12/22/2007 |
| Q: I would like to know the names of incurable disease that people get from kissing. This is not a ... A: Kate, I'm not a medical professional, but there are some resources you can use to look things up ... | |
| medicaid policies and procedures | 12/12/2007 |
| Q: where is a good place for me to go look to find out about medicaid policies and procedures? A: Etaya, Medicaid is administered through each state, so you'll need to get info that pertains to ... | |
| extreme sweating at night | 12/11/2007 |
| Q: 38/f/healthy For the past month I have been waking up in AM soaked. All of bed is wet top and ... A: I can't diagnose you, certainly. I'm not a medical professional, I can only provide you with ... | |
| eye problems | 12/10/2007 |
| Q: I've had problems with my eyes ever since I can remember. When you're young, you assume that what ... A: You describe your eye problems very well, so it's surprising that you haven't been able to get a ... | |
| anemia | 12/3/2007 |
| Q: I am anemic and I just got my hematology results back today. I found my RBC, HGB, HCT and my RDW ... A: Rona, It's a great idea to check out drugs so you can have an intelligent conversation with your ... | |
| prescription drugs | 12/2/2007 |
| Q: Can you take cyclobenzaprine and bupropion at the same time? A: Elska, I can't give you the answer directly (I'm not a medical professional) but I can provide you ... | |
| Lasik Research | 11/30/2007 |
| Q: Can you please steer me to a good site that shows the most respected Lasik physicians in South ... A: "Most respected" is a subjective measurement that only someone's opinion can provide to you. You are ... | |
| Non-alcoholic wine and cirrhosis | 11/24/2007 |
| Q: I have been unable to find, no matter where I look and who I ask, if someone with fatty liver ... A: Richard, The FDA regulations say that as long as the amount of alcohol in a beverage is .5% or ... | |
| ionic silver water | 10/3/2007 |
| Q: What are the benefits and side effects and do they cure all the things they say for boosting immune ... A: Gordon, You are wise to ask this question before taking a supplement you aren't sure about! One of ... | |
| question | 9/13/2007 |
| Q: i was wondering what happens when someone has a massive heart attack. how quick is it that they die? ... A: Guy, A very interesting question. I wasn't sure if I could find references for you or not. I did ... | |
| Ovarian Cysts | 8/8/2007 |
| Q: Is there a chance that Ovarian Cysts can prevent pregnancy? A: I'm not a medical professional, so I can't give you a medical answer -- but -- I was able to find ... | |
| metalic taste | 7/31/2007 |
| Q: i have just recently (3 months ago) moved to the states from Austraila. i regularly take vitimins ... A: Welcome to the States. If you haven't figured it out yet, Americans love people from Oz! ;-) I ... | |
| Rhesus Factor | 7/5/2007 |
| Q: I am rhd-negative and my partner is positive. I had an aboriton over two years ago now and recieved ... A: Samantha, I'm not a medical professional, so I can't answer your question -- but -- I can help you ... | |
| ovarian cysts, smoking, the pill, and risks. | 6/27/2007 |
| Q: My doctor prescribed Ortho Micronor. And said there is NO risk whatsoever for smokers who take this ... A: Jan -- you are so smart delving into this drug the way you are. I'm not a medical professional, ... | |
| kidney stones | 6/27/2007 |
| Q: I get kidney stones all the time. How do I reduce the chance of getting one stuck as they are very ... A: Wil, Probably the best way to reduce the chances of getting one stuck, is reducing your chance of ... | |
| HDL cholesterol info | 6/23/2007 |
| Q: Torrey, I'm trying to find out if HDL cholesterol can be too high. And if very high HDL puts total ... A: If I'm reading between the lines correctly, you really want to know if YOUR 209 is healthier than ... | |
| video of streaming blood vessels | 6/23/2007 |
| Q: I am looking for a video that would show blood vessels flowing through the heart. Obviously this ... A: Jean, I'm a little confused because I'm not sure if you mean blood vessels or blood cells? I did ... | |
| medical | 6/22/2007 |
| Q: hey there--i've had this intermittent behind the right eye pressure-like pain--comes and goes, lasts ... A: first and foremost -- trust your intuition. If you think there's more to it than your eye doctor ... | |
| Myriad; leading to quickly shrinkinking brain | 6/11/2007 |
| Q: I don't know how much space I'm allowed here so I'm going to try to b brief and not go into too much ... A: Chip, You certainly do have plenty of problems, but you've done a good job of putting them ... | |
| antidepressants and pregnancy/breastfeeding | 4/18/2007 |
| Q: My husband and I are going to start trying to conceive this fall. I have been taking Zoloft to treat ... A: Caitlin, I'm not a medical professional, so I can't give you answers. But I can help you with ... | |
| bleaching cream/pregnancy | 3/29/2007 |
| Q: Can you please help me in finding information as to weather or not there are any skin bleaching ... A: I'm not a medical professional, so I can't answer your question directly, however, I can provide you ... | |
| Alopecia areata | 3/12/2007 |
| Q: I have a friend who suffers from alopecia areata. is there any cure or treatment that's really ... A: Alopecia is one of those diseases for which information changes all the time. New drugs, new ... | |
| pill/drug finder | 2/23/2007 |
| Q: I think you misunderstood my question. Assume that I've found a pill on the floor and had no idea ... A: You are holding a pill that you can't identify and you want to know what it is based on the letters ... | |
| pill/drug finder | 2/22/2007 |
| Q: I have a very simpleWhat is the best website to search medications on? What I mean is, if I find a ... A: Yes there is! There is actually a good list of websites that address pills and medications at: ... | |
| excessive sleepiness | 2/20/2007 |
| Q: My daughter, 24, can sleep up to 12 or 15 hours a day easily. She has had sleep tests; has a ... A: I'm not a medical professional, so I can't help you diagnose. All I can do is make suggestions for ... | |
| PREGNANCY/TUBAL | 2/8/2007 |
| Q: I CAN NOT GET A STRAIGHT ANSWER ON THIS I HAD A TUBAL DONE 2 YEARS AGO I HAVE ALL THE SYMPTOMS OF ... A: I'm not a medical professional -- but I had help you find resources so you can discuss this with ... | |
| Bipolar Disorder | 2/6/2007 |
| Q: I am very interested in looking for information regarding Bipolar Disorder and when is it that it ... A: Susan, Probably the most comprehensive information on the internet, and the most up to date, is ... | |
| Non-alcoholic red wine | 12/19/2006 |
| Q: I'm try to find out if non-alcoholic red wine has cardiac protection like regular red wine. I ... A: I poked around some, too, and it looks like the jury is still out. The only reference I could find ... | |
| RH Factor test | 12/18/2006 |
| Q: I have just had a test for Rheumatoid and the RH Factor came back 21 IU/ml. The expected range ... A: A couple of ideas for you -- with a reminder that I am not a medical professional, just someone who ... | |
| hepatitus c | 12/15/2006 |
| Q: My husband is currently in treatment for Hepatitis C, he is taking 150 Peg-Intron injections weekly ... A: Teresa, You've asked tough questions, and I'm not a medical professional, so I can't begin to give ... | |
| Borderline Fetal Heart Rate | 12/13/2006 |
| Q: I had a transvaginal ultrasound at 6 weeks, 4 days with a fetal heart rate of 115. I was told by ... A: I'm not a medical professional so I can't give you an answer. I can only help you find resources. ... | |
| medications | 11/27/2006 |
| Q: I have Chronic Ideopathic Demylineating Polyneuropathy (CIDP) and have been on Gamunex 10% product ... A: I have a couple of suggestions for online research -- not sure if it's anything you haven't already ... | |
| fetal alcohol syndrome | 11/18/2006 |
| Q: what are some of the long and short term effects of fetal alcohol syndrome? A: Lori, As you probably realize, I can't answer this question for you because I am not a medical ... | |
| tumis lupus | 11/15/2006 |
| Q: can tumid lupus turn systemic? A: Lupus is something I know a little bit about because it's in my family.... however.... I'm not a ... | |
| low platlets | 11/5/2006 |
| Q: he. my husband has been diagnosed with a VERY low platelet count,19. the docs cant find a cause for ... A: Jennifer, Sometimes you can get information by simply googling a question. I just tried "What ... | |
| curative and preventive diseases | 11/3/2006 |
| Q: what is the difference between curative and preventive diseases? i simple answer would be very ... A: Joe, first of all -- I can't provide answers -- I'm here to help you with resources. That said -- ... | |
| pregnancy after endometrial ablation | 10/27/2006 |
| Q: I have heard both good and bad things but not enough to make a decision do you have any suggestions ... A: It sounds like the answers are as much a matter of opinion as anything else? I'm not a medical ... | |
| Patient Advocate | 10/26/2006 |
| Q: there, nice site! Just when I needed it, of course! Regarding patient advocate, how does one ... A: Theresa, Are you my mother or one of my big supporters? !! I thank you for asking -- because you ... | |
| Finding a Patient Advocate | 10/26/2006 |
| Q: How can I find a patient advocate who will not be biased in favor of the hospital? One that might ... A: TR.... I believe the question I just answered was yours, too. Hopefully you are assured there are ... | |
| Medicine | 10/24/2006 |
| Q: I have a very bad cold, I need to take something for it! I may be pregnant, I will be testing soon! ... A: Jessica, It sounds like the pharmacist already gave you part of the answer -- don't take anymore ... | |
| toenail | 10/22/2006 |
| Q: when i was younger, i had a fungus that had affected my toe and it completely removed the nail from ... A: Michael, I'm not a medical professional so I can't answer your question, but I can help you find ... | |
| Uterus adhered to abdomen | 10/20/2006 |
| Q: I am 5.5 weeks pregnant. In March '06 I had a laproscopic appendectomy and the surgeon discovered ... A: Karen, I can see where that would make you nervous -- or at least make you vigilant. I would ... | |
| Best neurologists? | 10/19/2006 |
| Q: A friend's 13-year-old son, diagnosed ADHD and maintained on high-dosage Concerta, went into a ... A: Steve -- it all sounds quite frightening. I'm so sorry for your friend's son AND all of you who ... | |
| gall bladder problems and birth defects | 10/19/2006 |
| Q: Is there a link between gallbladder problems and birth defects? A: I'm not a medical professional, so I can't answer your question. I can only steer you toward ... | |
| pain and numbness in my arms | 10/14/2006 |
| Q: I am 53 years old and have been experiencing numbness in my arms. My right arm is the worst.Last ... A: Outlaw, You need to get to the doctor and let him/her review your symptoms and/or run some tests. ... | |
| Pregnant | 10/10/2006 |
| Q: Good Morning, I really hope you can help put my mind at rest. I have only just found out i am ... A: Lisa Marie, I'm not a medical professional, so I can't answer your question -- but I can provide ... | |
| Blood Pressure | 10/9/2006 |
| Q: Systolic and Diastolic. What makes one high and the other normal? Why can the Systolic be normal ... A: M, I am not a medical professional, so I can't answer your question -- however -- I can lead you to ... | |
| whats wrong with me | 10/6/2006 |
| Q: Hopefully someone here has had an experience like mine and can help. I havent had a real period ... A: Susan, You'll need to see a doctor to find out what is wrong with you. Do not try to diagnose ... | |
| qualified doctor | 10/4/2006 |
| Q: I RECENTLY GAVE BIRTH TO MY FOURTH CHILD AFTER A FAILED TUBAL AND WOULD LIKE TO FIND A EXCELLENT DR ... A: Stephanie -- what a horrible ordeal for you! Although, no doubt this fourth child will be a ... | |
| WEAK WITH OTHER SYMPTONS | 10/2/2006 |
| Q: In the past week I have gotten weak almost to wanting to faint, nausaed, and headache. It takes me 3 ... A: There are a few things you should be checking -- both information about Epstein Barr (I believe ... | |
| MRSA | 9/26/2006 |
| Q: Are my grandchildren at risk staying for a visit with their father who is not the cleanest person in ... A: Carol, I can't answer your question because I am not a medical provider. My expertise is in ... | |
| low white blood cells | 9/21/2006 |
| Q: since 1996 i have had low wbc ranges from 2.4 to 4.0 in 2003 i was in the hostipal for a bowel ... A: Glenda, I can't help you with a diagnosis, because I do not have medical training. However, there ... | |
| heart | 9/15/2006 |
| Q: trisha i am a 35yr old woman i had an ablation for avnrt 4 months ago and have just been discharged ... A: Janet, Some of your question is unclear. I'm not sure what you mean by avnrt, for example. If you ... | |
Medical Research on the Internet
Answers by Expert:
Trisha Torrey, Every Patient's Advocate
Top Expert on this page
Expertise
When you want to learn more about your diagnosis, medical tests, prescription drugs, talking to your doctor, or just want to find credible and reliable health or medical information on the internet, I can help steer you in the right direction. I'm not a doctor, nor a medical professional. I'm a patient safety, consumerism and advocacy specialist who believes patients do themselves a favor by finding reliable information on the internet, then sharing it with their health care providers.
Experience
The author of You Bet Your Life! The 10 Mistakes Every Patient Makes (How to Fix Them to Get the Health Care You Deserve), I am a consultant in patient advocacy and consumerism. I'm a newspaper columnist, radio talk show host, seminar leader, and owner of two websites to help those who want to learn more about their diseases or conditions: http://patients.about.com and EveryPatientsAdvocate.com
Organizations
Publications
EveryPatientsAdvocate.com, syracuse.com (Syracuse Post Standard -- daily newspaper)
Publications
You Bet Your Life! The 10 Mistakes Every Patient Makes (How to Fix Them to Get the Health Care You Deserve) -- About.com's Guide to Patient Empowerment (http://patients.about.com) EveryPatientsAdvocate.com, syracuse.com (Syracuse Post Standard -- daily newspaper)
Education/Credentials
Bachelors and Masters degrees in education. Marketing consultant for 25 years. This work, however, stems from a misdiagnosis I suffered in 2004 when I was told I had a rare cancer. I was able to do the necessary research to prove I had no cancer at all.
Awards and Honors
Named CNN's Hero of Patient Empowerment, 2008
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