Fibroids are abnormal, non-cancerous growths that develop in or on a woman’s uterus. These benign tumors of smooth muscle can vary from the size of a bean to being as large as a melon. Fibroids are also known by the following names: leiomyomas, myomas, uterine myomas, and fibromas. It’s unclear why fibroids develop, but several factors may influence their formation such as hormones, family history, and pregnancy. Symptoms of fibroids may include: heavy bleeding between or during periods that includes blood clots, pain in the pelvis or lower back, increased menstrual cramping, increased urination, pain during intercourse, menstruation that lasts longer than usual, pressure or fullness in the lower abdomen, and swelling or enlargement of the abdomen. If you would like to find out more and receive a second opinion regarding your diagnosis and treatment, please contact us at secondopinions.com.

Epilepsy is a central nervous system (neurological) disorder where brain activity becomes abnormal, causing seizures or periods of unusual behavior, sensations, and sometimes loss of awareness. Not all people who appear to have seizures have epilepsy which is characterized by a tendency for recurrent seizures. Non-epileptic seizures (called pseudoseizures) are not accompanied by abnormal electrical activity in the brain and may be caused by psychological issues or stress. Some seizure signs and symptoms may include temporary confusion, a staring spell, uncontrollable jerking movements of the arms and legs, loss of consciousness or awareness, and/or psychic symptoms such as fear, anxiety, or deja vu.

Doctors use brain scans and other tests to diagnose epilepsy. Some tests include Computed Tomography (CT) of the Head, EEG (Electroencephalogram), Magnetic Resonance, Functional (fMRI) of the brain, and/or Pharmacogenetic Tests. If you would like a second opinion on your treatment and diagnosis, contact us at secondopinions.com for your peace of mind.

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) occurs when a blood clot (thrombus) forms in one or more of the deep veins in your body, usually in your legs; although, they can occur in the arm or other veins. DVT can cause pain or swelling in the affected limb but can occur with
no symptoms at all. DVT blood clots are more common in women who are pregnant or taking birth control or other hormonal drugs, overweight people, people with cancer or autoimmune disorders, or anyone with a family history of DVT. Measures to prevent deep vein thrombosis include: avoid sitting still, especially after recovering from surgery or have been on bed rest; make lifestyle changes by losing weight and/or quit smoking if needed; and exercising since regular exercise lowers the risk of blood clots, which is especially important for people who sit a lot or travel frequently. If you would like to find out more and receive a second opinion regarding your diagnosis and treatment, please contact us at secondopinions.com.

A lot take this lightly, and that is a mistake. Depression can be very severe. Every human has a different mental state, and some are not so lucky. Major Depressive Disorder aka MDD is Caused by genetic, environmental, and psychological factors. Symptoms include feelings of
sadness, low self-esteem, and hopelessness. Medicines and therapy can help overcome the condition. This disorder is a life-threatening disorder that may also cause suicidal thoughts or self-harm. Depression can really take a toll on someone and make them do things they
normally wouldn’t do because they are not in the right state of mind. A misdiagnosis of depression leads to a worsened condition. In worsened cases the effects of depression can be:

• Psychosis
• Addiction
• Changes in brain structure and function.
• Deficits in thinking and motor skills.
• Increased distractibility.

If the prescriptions are not making a difference or you start to feel worse, you may need
a second opinion to receive better treatment options.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), is a mental condition where people are drawn compulsively to do the same activity over and over again as a way to ease the stress of unwanted, repetitive thoughts and fears. These obsessions and compulsions interfere significantly with daily life and can take the form around themes such as germs or contamination, doubting and having difficulty tolerating uncertainty, needing things orderly and symmetrical, aggressive or horrific thoughts about losing control and harming yourself or others, or aggression, sexual or religious subjects.

OCD obsessions are repeated, persistent and unwanted thoughts, urges or images that are intrusive and cause distress or anxiety. It is then through the use of compulsive action or behavior that people try to mitigate or alleviate their stress and anxiety by performing certain actions repeatedly. These repetitive behaviors or mental acts are meant to reduce anxiety related to your obsessions or prevent something bad from happening. However, engaging in the compulsions brings no pleasure and may offer only a temporary relief from anxiety.

OCD is a complicated mental health condition and can require medical assistance to be properly treated through therapy. If you or a loved one suffer from any of the conditions above, it is recommended to speak to a doctor to understand if you have been properly diagnosed, or if there is a different course of action you should be taking. SecondOpinions.com can provide peace of mind in minutes as you can promptly speak to an American Board Certified doctor, 24/7.

Citations: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/obsessive-compulsive-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20354432

High blood pressure or hypertension is a common condition in which the long-term force of the blood against your artery walls is high enough that it may eventually cause health problems, such as heart disease or stroke. Some risk factors include obesity, drinking too much alcohol, smoking, or family history. Most people with high blood pressure will not experience any symptoms, which is why people often call hypertension the “silent killer.” Once blood pressure reaches about 180/120 mm Hg, it becomes a hypertensive crisis, which is a medical emergency. Some symptoms of a hypertensive crisis include: a headache, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, blurred or double vision, nosebleeds, heart palpitations, and breathlessness. If you would like a second opinion on your treatment and diagnosis contact us at secondopinions.com for your peace of mind.

Hypothyroidism is an underactive thyroid that occurs when the thyroid gland produces less than the normal amount of the thyroid hormone known as thyroxine (T4). This causes the body’s system to slow down and can lead to symptoms like fatigue, feeling cold, drowsiness, weight gain due to fluid retention, constipation, increased sensitivity to many medications, dry skin, puffy face, and hair loss. Some tests used to diagnose hypothyroidism are increased levels of thyroid-stimulating hormones or thyrotropin through a blood test, estimates of free thyroxine (T4) that is not within normal limits in the blood, and the Anti-thyroid Microsomal Antibodies Testing which may indicate that these antibodies are present and attacking the thyroid cells because there has been thyroid damage. If you would like a second opinion on your treatment and diagnosis contact us at secondopinions.com for your peace of mind.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a potentially disabling disease of the central nervous system, which includes the brain and spinal cord, that disrupts the flow of information between the brain and the body. Some signs and symptoms include numbness and weakness in one or more limbs, electric shock sensations that occur with certain neck movements, involuntary shaking of the body or limbs, partial or complete vision loss, prolonged double vision, blurry vision, slurred speech, dizziness, fatigue, tingling or pain in parts of the body, and problems with sexual, bladder, and bowel functions. There is no cure for MS; however, there are treatments to help speed the recovery from attacks of the nerves. There are many different options for treatment whether it be through injections or oral medication that decrease the frequency of relapses and to delay disease progression. Research has shown that Multiple Sclerosis does more damage in the first year than in later years. If you would like a second opinion on your treatment and diagnosis contact us at secondopinions.com for your peace of mind.

There are many different types of Bariatric Surgery, some more invasive than others. When looking into Bariatric Surgery you should consult with, not only, your Primary Care Physician, but also a qualified Bariatric surgeon.

You should discuss the many different types of surgeries from Gastric Bypass, Gastric Banding, Gastric Sleeve, Duodenal Switch, Revisional Surgery, & Gastric Balloon.

Not only must you educate yourself on the different types of surgeries, you need to know if you’re a candidate for surgery, if you’ll have food restrictions, if there will be hormonal changes, the side effects of the different types of surgeries, what support systems are available to you, what medications or nutrition supplements you will have to take, amongst many other lifestyle changes that come with this life altering surgery.

This is a very important decision in your life and you should always seek a second opinion on life altering surgeries, even if only for your own piece of mind.

At SecondOpinions.com, you can receive a second opinion in the matter of a couple days from a board certified physician.

Simply create your SecondOpinions.com account, upload your medical records & images, and ask any questions you many have. In a few days, you’ll have a second opinion to help you make this life changing choice.

Thyroid cancer develops when the cells of the thyroid gland mutate and change. The thyroid gland is located in the lower front of the neck, above the collarbones and below the voice box (larynx). There are four types of thyroid cancer: papillary, medullary, anaplastic, and follicular. The most common types of thyroid cancer are papillary and follicular. 70-80% of all thyroid cancer cases are papillary with a great chance for a full recovery. Possible causes of thyroid cancer could be inherited genetically, iodine deficiency, and radiation exposure as a child. Some symptoms may include neck or throat pain, a lump in your neck, difficulty swallowing, vocal changes or hoarseness, and persistent cough. If you would like a second opinion on your treatment and diagnosis contact us at secondopinions.com for your peace of mind.