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I Wish I'd Asked My Doctor...I'm So Exhausted
by Terri L. Pilcher, MSHS, PA-C (Terri's bio)
IMPORTANT!: Please read our legal notice regarding this health column by clicking here.
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"I'm tired all the time, even though I sleep at least 7 hours a night. What's wrong with me?" Liz M.
Tiredness is a symptom of many things. For example, daylight savings time and other sudden change in sleep patterns can cause jet lag as your body adjusts. Exhaustion could also be a sign of stress, depression, thyroid disorders, or pregnancy.
You need to make an appointment with your family clinician so the two of you can work together to find the cause of your problem.
"My baby has sensitive skin and always seems to have a diaper rash, what can I do?" Melanie D.
Diaper rash is a breakdown of your baby's skin due to close contact with urine. Change your baby's diaper frequently. Check it every few hours, and if you detect even a small amount of urine, change it immediately.
Using an ointment to create a barrier that keeps moisture away from your baby's skin will also help a great deal. Ordinary petroleum jelly and zinc oxide are the two best choices. They cover well and are hard to remove from the skin.
Be sure to clean your baby's bottom thoroughly with every diaper change. Since your baby has a rash, then diaper wipes may make her cry in pain. Try wiping with a baby washcloth and warm water instead.
"How do I know if I need to go to the emergency room for stitches?" Mark C.
Stitches are necessary any time a cut will not heal on its own. Cuts over joints, deep tears that reach muscle, and cuts that will not stay closed may need stitches. If you apply pressure to the wound for fifteen minutes, lift your fingers, and the edges of the cut stay closed, then you probably do not need stitches. A teacher once told me that every cut will heal eventually, but without stitches some of them look ugly. If you are worried about a wound, call your clinician or go to an urgent care center.
"Is it better to leave a small cut uncovered so that air can allow it to heal quicker?" Diana V.
Bandages trap moisture against the skin, keeping the wound slightly moist. This helps your cut to heal faster. If the bandage is too tight and too much moisture is present, the wound may start to decay instead. Be sure that the bandage allows the cut to "breathe" a little.
The best thing you can do to help even a small cut heal quickly is clean it thoroughly with water. Thorough flushing reduces the risks of infection, which is the most frequent complication of cuts to the skin. Scrubbing is not necessary. Pour large quantities (1/2 liter or more) of water over the area. The water does not need to be sterile water; regular tap water will work well. Keep flushing the wound with water until all visible dirt is gone.
You should always use antibiotic ointments for abrasion injuries, such as scrapes, or any other wound that has a good chance of developing an infection.
Have a question for Terri? Click here.
Copyright 2002, Terri L. Pilcher. All Rights Reserved. Used by permission.
THE CONTENT OF THE "I WISH I'D ASKED MY DOCTOR" COLUMN IS PRESENTED IN SUMMARY FORM, IS GENERAL IN NATURE, AND IS PROVIDED FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. THE CONTENT IS NOT INTENDED IN ANY WAY TO BE A SUBSTITUTE FOR FACE-TO-FACE, IN-PERSON, PROFESSIONAL, MEDICAL, PSYCHIATRIC, OR PHARMACEUTICAL HEALTH CARE ADVICE. ALWAYS SEEK THE ADVICE OF YOUR PHYSICIAN OR OTHER QUALIFIED HEALTH CARE PROVIDER WITH ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE REGARDING A MEDICAL CONDITION, HEALTH DIAGNOSIS, OR TREATMENT. NEVER DISREGARD MEDICAL ADVICE OR DELAY IN SEEKING IT BECAUSE OF SOMETHING YOU HAVE READ IN THE "I WISH I'D ASKED MY DOCTOR…" COLUMN. Please read our full legal notice.
| About Terri L. Pilcher: Terri L. Pilcher, MSHS, PA-C is a physician assistant with a Masters of Science in Health Sciences. She has worked in the fields of family practice medicine and occupational health. Her articles have appeared in Physician Assistant and JAAPA. Currently, she stays home with her daughters and writes. Contact her at AskthePA@prodigy.net. |
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