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Questions and Answers: General Health
I recently had a test on my CEA levels, and mine were elevated. What does this result mean?
I get stomach pains after I eat.
Help?
Where can I get treatment for a yeast infection?
What should I do about TMJ if I've already been
to Family Medicine?
I'm 50 and I ejaculate when I have a bowel
movement. Is this normal?
Are services at Family Medicine confidential?
Is mole removal covered under the student insurance?
Are there any lactation rooms available
on campus?
Who can give me a sperm analysis?
How do I know if I have hemorrhoids?
Are bone density tests covered by student
insurance?
Since surgery, I can only urinate with a
catheter. What can I do?
What services are available to diabetic
patients?
QUESTION: Recently I had
some problems with my menstrual cycle and I had done lots of
blood tests including CA125 and CEA. My CA125 is normal but
CEA is elivated to 3.5 Doctor asked me whether I am passing
any blood with my stools or I got constipation. I don't have
those symptoms but I get some pain on the left side of my stomach
sometime. He said that I have to do a colonoscopy. Is this blood
result indicate something serious? (March 29, 2005)
ANSWER: The carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) test measures
the amount of this substance in a sample of blood. CEA is normally
produced during the development of a fetus. The production of
CEA stops before birth, and CEA usually is not found in the
blood of healthy adults.
CEA may be found in the blood of people who smoke heavily or
who have some types of cancer, especially large intestine (colon
and rectal) cancer. It may also be present in people with cancer
of the pancreas, breast, ovary, or lung. Certain diseases (such
as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cirrhosis, and Crohn's
disease) may also raise CEA blood levels.
Greater-than-normal values may mean:
• High levels of CEA may indicate the presence of cancer of
the large intestine (colon and rectum). High levels may also
be present in people with lung, pancreas, breast, and ovary
cancer, and possibly other forms of cancer.
• Blood levels of CEA are also frequently elevated in people
with cirrhosis, pancreatitis, kidney failure, inflammatory bowel
disease, peptic ulcer disease, COPD, or obstructed bile ducts.
Smoking heavily over many years may also raise blood CEA levels.
It is important to remember that the CEA blood test is NOT reliable
for diagnosing cancer or as a screening test for early detection
of cancer. If you have concerns about your test results, it
is recommended that you speak with your clinician. S/he is more
informed about your situation and should be able to address
any concerns you might have.
Information taken from: my.webmd.com.
QUESTION: I have a right
hand side stomach problem five minutes after eating food. Sometimes
it has become unbearable. Please help me out (January
25, 2005)
ANSWER: Any time pain is unbearable, it is recommended
you discuss the issues surrounding your pain with a clinician.
QUESTION: Does
UIC provide students with free medicine for yeast infections,
such as monistat? And where could i get it? (November
30, 2004)
ANSWER: UIC does not provide students with free medication;
the UIC Family Medicine Center does provide students with free
testing for yeast infections, as well as other basic gynecological
care, as provided by the student health fee that all students
pay. Non-prescription yeast infection medication can be purchased
at a variety of places, such as a grocery store, drug store,
or pharmacy. If you are in need of a prescription medication,
your clinician could write up a prescription to be filled at
any pharmacy.
If this is your first infection, be sure to have your clinician
check the discharge under a microscope to make an accurate diagnosis.
Symptoms such as pain or burning with urination could indicate
a urinary tract infection, which would require prescription
antibiotics for treatment. Additionally, if you have recurrent
yeast infections, it is recommended that you see your clinician.
If you would like to schedule an appointment with Family Medicine
Center, please call 312/996.2901.
QUESTION:
i went to the family medicine center to get treatment for tmj.
the doctor said that my symptoms are minor (only popping and
clicking noises of the jaw when closing and opening my mouth).
i have insurance with campus care and i need a referral from
my pcp. this doctor i saw prescribed me some pain killers, and
said to wait 2 weeks to see what happens. i am not in pain,
only tightness in my neck. should i see another pcp? also is
tmj curable or will i have to live with this for the rest of
my life? (August 26, 2004)
ANSWER: "TMJ" stands for temporomandibular
joint, or the jaw joint. The TMJs are the small joints in front
of each ear that attach the lower jaw (mandible) to the skull.
They allow you to perform such functions as opening and closing
your mouth, chewing, speaking, swallowing, etc.
TMJ diseases and disorders refer to a complex and poorly understood
set of conditions, manifested by pain the the area of the jaw
and associated muscles and limitations in the ability to make
the normal movements of speech, facial expression, eating, chewing,
and swallowing. Conditions that routinely affect other joints
in the body, such as arthritis and trauma, also affect the TM
joint.
The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research of
the National Institutes of Health indicates that 10.8 million
people in the United States suffer from TMJ problems at any
given time. Both men and women experience TMJ problems; however,
90 percent of those seeking treatment are women in their childbearing
years.
Currently, there are no scientifically proven tests available
to diagnose TMJ diseases/disorders. The understanding of TMJ
disease has not matured to the point where tests such as tissue
or blood samples can establish a diagnosis in all instances.
At this time, clinicians note symptoms, take careful patient
history, and may use imaging studies.
Initially, you may wish to consult a medical doctor to rule
out other illnesses as a cause of your symptoms. If your physician
does not diagnose a medical condition, and you are referred
to a dentist, it is suggested you obtain several independent
opinions to confirm your diagnosis prior to committing to any
irreversible form of treatment.
TMJ patients experience one or more of the following:
facial
pain
pain
in the jaw joint and surrounding tissues, including the ear
jaw
locking open or closed
limited
opening or inability to open the mouth comfortably
headaches
bite
that feels uncomfortable, "off", or as if it is
continually changing
neck,
shoulder and back pain
swelling
on the side of the face
Pain lasting for a week or less may not require medical/dental
attention. Popping and clicking sounds in the joint have been
considered symptoms of a TMJ problem; however experts observe
that many perfectly healthy joints make noise. Jaw noises unaccompanied
by pain or decreased mobility do not mean you have a TMJ problem.
Sometimes TMJ problems resolve over time with patients taking
mild pain-relieving drugs and using heat, cold or other palliative
measures. At present, there are more than 50 treatments in use
ranging from very conservative, reversible therapies to more
aggressive, invasive approaches. None of the surgical treatments
for severe cases have been proven effective in long-term controlled
clinical trials.
If you wish to seek a second opinion, it is your right as a
patient to do so. Many insurance companies do not or only partially
cover TMJ-related treatment, so you might wish to check with
your insurance company before doing so.
The above information was taken from the TMJ Association. For
more information, visit tmj.org.
QUESTION: I am a 50 year old
male, and lately I have noticed that sometimes when I have a
bowel movement when I push really hard, that semen ejaculates
from my penis, even when it is limp. This also usually happens
when I have not ejaculated for some time. Is this normal?
(July 13, 2004)
ANSWER: Sometimes when men have a bowel movement, the
feces pushes on the prostate; the prostate may be stimulated
by either the pressure of the waste matter in the rectum or
by the muscular straining as waste is pushed out. The main function
of the prostate is to supply fluid for the sperm during ejaculation.
If the prostate gland is stimulated, fluid production may begin
and could cause semen to appear in the urine; it may also cause
semen to `ejaculate' from the penis during a bowel movement.
This is normal; however, if accompanied by pain or burning,
this may indicate a possible infection or disorder of the male
reproductive organs. If you are concerned about `ejaculating'
during bowel movements or are experiencing any pain or burning,
it is recommended that you discuss these concerns with your
physician.
QUESTION: If you go to take
a pregnancy test or get the morning after pill or get HIV/STI
testing done at the family medicine center, since the services
are free i think, will they show up as confidential on the insurance,
or will they show up as they are on the insurance and my parents
find out?, Even though the services are free? (March 5, 2004)
ANSWER: If you use the UIC Family Medicine
Clinic (FMC) for the services you mentioned (pregnancy test,
HIV, chlamydia, or gonorrhea testing) it is free and covered
under your student health fee - this is not considered the insurance.
Emergency contraception pills (ECP's or the "morning-after"
pill) are not covered under the student health fee or most insurances
for that matter, but the doctor's visit is covered under the
student health fee if you use the UIC FMC.
If you use the UIC FMC and you waived out of Mega Life (the
student health insurance) and do not want any insurance to be
used, you do have the option of telling them you do not have
insurance. But, if you would like your insurance on file at
UIC FMC then you can give them your insurance information.
The services covered under the student health fee are not supposed
to be charged to any insurances, therefore your guardian(s)
should not find out about it, but we cannot guarantee this.
You can contact the UIC FMC at 996.2901 and ask them as they
should know more about this topic.
QUESTION: I had a mole removed last
summer (while still under my
parents' insurance coverage), and when i was there the doctor
said that I should concider getting one on my leg removed. I
don't know why I didn't do it then, but I did not. I was wondering
if that type of service is covered at all under the student
insurance, and if not, how much it would set me back. I also
have a funny looking one (small, slightly raised, w/ hairs and
often looks irritated) on my wrist. None of these have changed
shape/color/etc., but I am still concerned. (February 5,
2004)
ANSWER: If your doctor recommended having the
mole removed, you may want to adhere to his or her advice. If
you have the student insurance, MegaLife, you can see a physician
at the UIC Family Medicine Clinic to discuss your options. To
schedule an appointment call 996.2901. If you go through the
UIC Family Medicine Clinic and are referred to another UIC doctor
then some services are completely covered. If you go outside
of UIC then you would be responsible for the deductible as well
as 20% of the cost of the bill if the service is provided under
MegaLife.
To find out if mole removal, specifically, is covered under
MegaLife you can look at the MegaLife website:
MegaLife
Student Health Insurance
Or you can contact the UIC representative for MegaLife at:
Student Insurance Representatives
Dean of Students Office
3rd Floor Student Services Building
1200 West Harrison Street
Chicago, IL 60607
(312) 996-3553
QUESTION: Are there any lactation
rooms available on campus. (February 4, 2004)
ANSWER: After contacting several departments
on campus, including the Office of Student Affairs, The Children's
Centers (east and west side), the Lactation Specialist at University
of Illinois Hospitals, Human Resources, Office of Women's Affairs,
and many others, there has been a general consensus that there
are no designated lactation rooms on campus. After speaking
with the Lactation Specialist at the UI Hospital, it has been
found that employers are required, by Illinois law, to provide
a room for their employees (that is not a bathroom stall) that
can be used for lactation purposes.
The Children's Center (on the east and west side) said they
could provide a room for mothers that would like to pump or
breastfeed, although the rooms are not extremely private. The
Children's Center is located at 728 W. Roosevelt Rd (East) and
1919 W. Taylor (West) and the information line for both sites
is 413.5330.
The Wellness Center has a confidential space available to students
and it could be used for women who need to breast feed or pump.
The Wellness Center is located in room B19 of the Student Center
East (formerly CCC). If you would like to reserve the space,
please contact the office at 413.2120.
QUESTION: Subject: SPERM ANALYSIS
TEST -- WHO CAN READ THIS KIND OF TEST AND GIVE US AN ADVICE?
THANKS FOR YOUR TIME. (December 9, 2003)
ANSWER: After speaking with UIC Family Medicine
they offered some information:
1. It would be very important to see your primary care physician
first so they can refer you to a specialist
2. If you are a UIC student and have Mega Life, this particular
test would not be covered
3. If you have another insurance, most of the time couples would
have to go through all the steps before sperm count analysis
would be covered.
As far as who would be able to read a sperm analysis test it
would be a urologist.
For more information, please call the UIC Family Medicine Center
at 312-996-2901 or check out their website at: http://www.uic.edu/depts/mcfp/shs-services.html
QUESTION: How do I know if
I have hemorrhoids?
ANSWER: For answers to clinical questions,
please call the UIC Family Medicine Center at 312-996-2901 or
check out their website at: http://www.uic.edu/depts/mcfp/shs-services.html
QUESTION: Is bone
density test included in the student insurance plan. If not
where can one get one and how much does it cost approximately?
ANSWER: The bone density test, DEXA, is offered
on campus in the Outpatient Care Center (OCC). To find out if
it is covered under your the student insurance please phone
312/996-3553.
The OCC states that the bone density test needs to be prescribed
by the doctor in order to schedule an appointment for the test.
The cost, without insurance, is approximately $231.
If you'd like to schedule an appointment with a clinician, please
contact Family Medicine at 312/996.2901.
QUESTION: Since I had
surgery on my hemorrhoids I have not been able to urinate on
my own, each time I have to get a catheter, it's been three
days can there possibly be a problem or is there an alternative
way to urinate without the catheter?
QUESTION #2: why do catheters cause UTI? And
how can that be prevented?
ANSWER: It's important to discuss this topic
with your clinician as it is more of a clinical question.
QUESTION: What kinds
of services on campus are offered to diabetic patients?
ANSWER: The following is a link relating to
diabetes and campus resources. It is for the Nutrition and Wellness
Center located on the West side of campus. On their web site
it list diabetes management classes offered through them. If
you'd like to find out more information you can contact their
office at 312.413.3631.
http://uillinoismedcenter.org/content.cfm/manage_diabetes
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