Diseases & Conditions Archive

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

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

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

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

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)

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

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

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

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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