General Health
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Hi, 
I'm not a doctor but what you have sounded like UTI, better go and check it will damage your kidney if you don't. 
@Marina
Hi @lynn . Thank you for your question!

I would say that you should definitely go down to see your GP. It is important to establish a timeline in cases where we are suspecting a possible drug allergy. In general, rashes relating to allergies can occur anytime between 24-72 hours after ingestion of the offending agent. In rare cases, a medication of which you previously had no allergy against can cause an allergy only a few months after. 

In this situation i would recommend review for 2 reasons
(a) If related to metformin it would require your to stop and possibly change to another drug temporarily (depending on the severity of your diabetes) 
(b) Itchy rashes around the breast or any skin folds can often be mistaken for allergies and can turn out to be bacterial/fungal infections instead or a form of eczema. Given that you are diabetic, you are at higher risk for these easily treatable skin infections. 

At times it may be difficult to discern if the rash is related to a drug or infection and most physicians would consider stopping the drug and treating at the same time. 

If Any alarm symptoms for severe allergy are present such as difficulty breathing/throat swelling/extreme eye swelling or hand/leg swelling/palpitations/chest pain, please go directly to the AnE for management as these could be suggestion of anaphylaxis (severe allergy) 

hope this helps!
Dr. Adnaan S
•space doctor
Hi @NIG . Thank you for your question!

In this scenario it would be prudent to see a doctor for full examination. Patients often don't realise if they have weakness if it is very slight and this would usually require examination by a physician. Though, given the activity that you think might have caused it, it sounds very unlikely that there could be a nerve injury involved or at worst maybe a mild compression of one of the small branches of the nerve from pressure. 

Best to see a doctor early if it is bothering you for some reassurance! Hope this helps!
Dr. Adnaan S
•space doctor
Hi @Human67 I cannot say for certain without examining it in person, but it sure appears so! Would you happen to have any other skin lesions elsewhere, preceding injury/insect bite, or any other symptoms?
Dr. Dinesh G
Hi @deadinside Im sorry to hear about this. If you have already completed the assessment at KKH, there may not be a need to return if the cost is a concern, unless you experience any change in symptoms (discomfort, spotting, abnormal discharge, etc). Alternatively, you can highlight this during your review with the doctor that has prescribed your other medications for them to speak to you about the potential alternatives to consider.
Dr. Dinesh G
Hi @CG , there are many possible causes for this, ranging from allergies to fungal infections or heat rash which is common in our local context in Singapore. The first step would be to monitor the rash and observe if any particular activities or exposures cause it to worsen. Practice hygiene and keep the area of skin exposed and dry at home. Unfortunately the remedies for some causes may make the others worse, such as creams containing steroids that may be soothing for some causes, can make fungal infections worse.

If it does not improve, it would be best to have a discussion with a GP to work this out, particularly if your symptoms are getting worse. You may want to do this right away if the rash is extensive (beyond just the upper arms), worsening, causing your child discomfort, or if they have any other symptoms such as fever. This can easily be done online via apps like DoctorWorld that provide video-based consultations, and the attending doctor would be able to prescribe medications and have them delivered to you. Here is a link that shares more about this: https://www.todayonline.com/brand-spotlight/doctor-will-see-you-next-app


Dr. Dinesh G
Hi @igotz99problemz unfortunately this is not very clear based on current published peer-reviewed research! Myoinositol is largely considered a supplement and appears experimental at the moment. Metformin on the other hand is an established drug to treat insulin resistance which can develop in PCOS as well as other diseases like Diabetes. I' m afraid I also could not find a listing for it in HSA's online register of therapeutic products in Singapore, although if it is labelled under a brand you may need to try searching accordingly.
Dr. Dinesh G
You can consider making an appointment with Dr Chen Lin Han at Specialist Women's Medical Centre. Blk 103 Yishun Ring Road #01-81 S760103. You can try make an appointment with their clinic at 67572323. Hope this helps.
Dr. Yan Y T
•facilitator
Dear @worriedmum Most nosebleeds are not serious and will resolve by itself. It is important to teach your son not to pick his nose or rub his nose too hard as the blood vessels at the front of the nose is fragile and will bleed easily. In the event, if his nose bleeds again, you can perform first aid by pressing on the tip of the nose that is soft. Remember to ask him to breathe through his mouth when the nostrils are pressed closed. You can wrap some ice with clothe and place them around the nose to reduce the blood circulation to the nose, helping to reduce the nose bleed. In the event of persistent nosebleed, you can bring your child to the emergency department where doctors can assist in performing procedures to stop the bleed. Do bring your child to see a GP or Ear, Nose, Throat specialist in the event if he has recurrent nosebleeds to rule out more serious conditions. Hope this helps and your son gets well soon.
Dr. Yan Y T
•facilitator
Dear @gerdboss You should try to keep the blister clean and not burst it ( intentionally or unintentionally) as the skin acts as a barrier, preventing bacteria from entering and cause an infection. You can apply antiseptic or antibiotic cream to the wound should the blister burst. There are blister plasters available in the pharmacy for you to paste on the blister to try make them subside. Should your blister continue to enlarge in size, you can consider visiting your General Practitioner and your GP can assist in draining the blister in a sterile manner, to make the blister subside. Hope you get better soon.
Dr. Yan Y T
•facilitator
Dear @Nouseforaname ,Yes Zantac ( Ranitidine) has been used to reduce the Asian flush by slowing the breakdown of alcohol to acetaldehyde. However the loss of the Asian flush reaction, leads to one consuming excessive amount of alcohol, becoming more drunk, greater impairment of judgement and even death due to alcohol- induced poisoning. Zantac has also been recalled off the shelves as on September 13, 2019, the FDA announced that preliminary tests found low levels of N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) in ranitidine. NDMA is a probable carcinogen and hence long term use of Zantac may cause cancer only after exposure to high doses over a long period of time. Therefore I will advise not to take zantac or other equivalent while drinking and to hydrate more before or while taking alcohol. Hope this helps.
Dr. Yan Y T
•facilitator
Hi @xty, bunions have varying severities with different underlying causes. Most happen in ladies with a known family history. To prevent worsening of mild cases, and to ease symptoms, use of broad toe box footwear, use of silicon toe spacers and avoidance of high heeled footwear is recommended. Cases which are more severe or refractory to management with the above-mentioned strategies would benefit from an orthopaedic consult. Let us know the progress of your recovery!
Dr. Bryan K
•space doctor
Dear @xty, while smoking is certainly bad for health, no one can say this for certain yet as long-term studies on the effects of vaping have yet to be conducted. Vaping is a relatively new and heterogeneous trend whereby many suppliers have created their own unique mixtures. It is illegal in countries like Singapore and unregulated in many other countries, which means the supply chains do not undergo the regular checks and may not be subject to the same health/product standards common for the smoking/tobacco industry. There have also been a spate of lung-related disease and deaths reported in many countries with ongoing investigation. When in doubt, best to play safe and avoid both smoking and vaping! See a doctor to discuss latest options for smoking cessation options that may be of help in this regard.
Dr. Dinesh G
Hi @crystalbell this problem warrants a more detailed assessment and testing to identify the root cause and narrow down the likely tests required to tailor a management plan for you. You will need to visit a doctor for a detailed discussion (including history of any prior procedures, implants/IUCD, etc) as well as a thorough examination. You can see your GP for the initial assessment, although depending on their findings you may be referred for specialised tests from a Gynaecologist or at a hospital.
Dr. Dinesh G
Hi @Gitangkim medications for sea sickness fall in the category of drugs for motion sickness, such as Hyoscine/Scopolamine or Dimenhydrinate, that can be administered before the journey. If your child is prone, you may want to visit a doctor for a physical review to confirm motion sickness through detailed discussion, ensure there is no organic cause for the symptoms, and select the best medication/dosage for your child. Other general non-medical measures to help reduce motion sickness include the following; 1) Look forward out of the vehicle at a fixed point ahead ("visual horizon") 2) Avoid looking at stationary objects while in the boat (e.g. book, screen of handphone/game boy) 3) Lying down (recline) with eyes closed If your child has already seen a doctor for examination to exclude organic causes previously, and just requires a top-up of the medication standby, you can try using a teleconsultation for this review. If the doctor evaluates your child and determines that that he is suitable for top-up, he may be able to prescribe it online. Apps such as www.doctorworld.co provide this service, and can also deliver any required medications to your doorstep. Hope this helps!
Dr. Dinesh G
Hi @Nana this is a little vague, if there is pain and/or difficulty with thumb movements there are several possible causes such as trigger finger or de quervain's tenosynovitis, among others. To differentiate between the causes and decide the best course of action to address this problem, you will require a visit to your local GP for a physical examination to start.
Dr. Dinesh G
Hi @Yingying mucus in the stool can be normal as the body produces it to facilitate passage of stools through the intestines, among other applications. That being said, usually the mucus is not visible. If you clearly see mucus discharge, especially with pain, diarrhea, or even blood in your stools, possible causes such as fissures, inflammatory/infectious diseases, growths, and others may need to be excluded depending on your condition. Other considerations include recent use of antibiotics/hospital stay, and recent travel. You can snap a picture of what you see and visit your local GP clinic for an assessment, as these require further evaluation and potentially even a referral to a specialist for scopes depending on the GP's findings. If time is a constraint, feel free to connect with a GP from home first using an app like DoctorWorld if you would like a more detailed review using teleconsultation to review options for your next course of action.
Dr. Dinesh G
Good evening @Ros , muscle tears are highly variable. Mild injuries usually recover with 2-6weeks of rest and avoiding triggers. More serious injuries however may require specific treatment and can take months to recover. It is also not uncommon for concomitant injuries like fractures in severe or persistent cases. It would be best to see your GP for an examination in these scenarios to determine the likely severity of the injury, any necessary investigations, recommended period of rest, and need for any interventions like physiotherapy to facilitate recovery, depending on his findings.
Dr. Dinesh G
Hi @Me 3-5 days is the quick answer to your question - after catching the infection, symptoms can take 3-5 days to surface. That being said, patients with HFMD can transmit the infection to others for weeks, although transmission is rare after 1 week. This usually occurs through contact (with the fluid in blisters) or respiratory droplets from (coughing/sneezing). It can rarely also occur through contact with fecal material. HFMD is a common infection caused by several viruses that can have rare but severe consequences such as infection in the brain. If you are worried about possibly having caught this infection, do have a more in-depth consultation with a doctor at a clinic or using a teleconsultation app such as DoctorWorld.
Dr. Dinesh G
Hi @Me generally, post operation care involves keeping the wound clean and dry with a review around a week post-procedure by the surgeon. Cochlear implants are used for severe hearing impairments, to bypass the hearing organ and transmit sound signals directly to the hearing (cochlear) nerve. The implant may not be turned on immediately after surgery until the surgical site has had some time to heal, and most patients require a period of rehabilitation to get accustomed to the implant. All in all, results vary between individuals and it may be weeks after the procedure that they are able to hear well. Have a detailed consultation with your husband’s surgeon for more personalised information about cost, recovery time, post op care, etc based on his condition as these will also depend on the type of implant and the surgical technique.
Dr. Dinesh G