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Doctors may have more than one area of specialty interest. Board certification in a specialty area means the doctor has completed formal training and has practice experience in that specialty, and has passed the certification examination from the corresponding accredited medical specialty board.
Anesthesiology
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Doctor Q&A
183 Answers
48 Agrees
The number of answers this doctor has agreed with.
A 39-year-old member asked:

Dr. Rita Agarwalanswered
Anesthesiology 36 years experience
Varies: Usually at the end of the first cycle of pills you will get a period, it may be very short and scant. It can take several months for your body to sett... Read More
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 34-year-old female asked:

Dr. Rita Agarwalanswered
Anesthesiology 36 years experience
Yes: But all Drs are going to want to. They will need to examine you and make sure that that is the correct medication. PT and anti-inflammatories are bett... Read More
3.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 47-year-old member asked:

Dr. Rita Agarwalanswered
Anesthesiology 36 years experience
Not sure: OTC sedatives are going to primarily be antihistamine like Benadryl (diphenhydramine). Anything else will require a doctors prescription and close mon... Read More
3.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 36-year-old member asked:

Dr. Rita Agarwalanswered
Anesthesiology 36 years experience
Talk to your doc: There are lots if resources and treatment centers around, but will vary depending on your community. Your doctor can help you find the best place for ... Read More
3.7k viewsAnswered >2 years agoMerged
A 50-year-old member asked:

Dr. Rita Agarwalanswered
Anesthesiology 36 years experience
Addiction: Ketamine causes dysphoria, analgesia and sedation. It is an NMDA antagonist and may have antidepressant effects. Just like with any other medication t... Read More
3.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 30-year-old member asked:

Dr. Rita Agarwalanswered
Anesthesiology 36 years experience
Yes: But you should check with your doctor. Need to know your specific condition.
4.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 39-year-old male asked:

Dr. Rita Agarwalanswered
Anesthesiology 36 years experience
No: It will help guide therapy and is extremely important medical information for him to have. Please tell him as soon as possible, so that he can work ... Read More
4.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 35-year-old female asked:

Dr. Rita Agarwalanswered
Anesthesiology 36 years experience
Very rare: If it does occur, it is from one of the skin bacteria,
3.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 35-year-old male asked:

Dr. Rita Agarwalanswered
Anesthesiology 36 years experience
Talk to urologist: Cystoscopy is performed to evaluate the function and health of to urethra and bladder. It is usually not painful with the topical local anesthetics th... Read More
3.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 45-year-old member asked:

Dr. Rita Agarwalanswered
Anesthesiology 36 years experience
Many kinds: Volatile gases- sevoflurane, Desflurane and idoflurane. Nitrous oxide . There are many intravenous agents used as well including propofol, Midazolam a... Read More
4.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 21-year-old member asked:

Dr. Rita Agarwalanswered
Anesthesiology 36 years experience
No: It shouldn't if done by a skillful practitioner. Landmarks can be a little more challenging to find
3.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 44-year-old member asked:

Dr. Rita Agarwalanswered
Anesthesiology 36 years experience
Yes: it has been used for decades for sedation and sleep. However it has many side effects and is no longer used in many places
3.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 38-year-old male asked:

Dr. Rita Agarwalanswered
Anesthesiology 36 years experience
Reverse opioid: anesthesiologists do their best to give just the right amount of pain medications during surgery, but sometimes the surgery is shorter, or less painfu... Read More
3.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 37-year-old member asked:

Dr. Rita Agarwalanswered
Anesthesiology 36 years experience
You don't: There are walking epidurals which use very low doses of local anesthesia and opioids to give pain relief. You will not be nimb, but you will be comfor... Read More
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 41-year-old member asked:

Dr. Rita Agarwalanswered
Anesthesiology 36 years experience
Pain relief: Analgesia is the relief of pain, you may or may not need to be under anesthesia for that. Anesthesia implies either unconsciousness (general anesthes... Read More
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 48-year-old member asked:

Dr. Rita Agarwalanswered
Anesthesiology 36 years experience
Side effects: You risk increased over-sedation and breathing problems. This can be a bad combination and you should always contact your doctor and follow their reco... Read More
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 45-year-old member asked:

Dr. Rita Agarwalanswered
Anesthesiology 36 years experience
Certain medications: Effect can be indirectly measured by the Procainamide measurements. Other things may be to measure for procainamide's levels in the body, especially i... Read More
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 30-year-old member asked:

Dr. Rita Agarwalanswered
Anesthesiology 36 years experience
Varies: Depends on underlying cause (trauma versus congenital)but usually a few days.
5.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 22-year-old female asked:

Dr. Rita Agarwalanswered
Anesthesiology 36 years experience
Physical therapy: Back injuries and pain are complex, heat gentle exercise and stretching can help.Pt can be very helpful in improving function.
5.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 31-year-old member asked:

Dr. Rita Agarwalanswered
Anesthesiology 36 years experience
Numb: Most people put local at the site of the block they are placing, so the skin in that area is numb. You may still feel a little pressure or discomfort.... Read More
5.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 41-year-old member asked:

Dr. Rita Agarwalanswered
Anesthesiology 36 years experience
Yes: For surgical procedures, post-operative pain management, and chronic pain treatment.
5.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 27-year-old member asked:

Dr. Rita Agarwalanswered
Anesthesiology 36 years experience
Nausea, tiredness: The most common side effects are nausea, vomiting, lethargy and sore throat. Major side effects are extremely rare, but anesthesiologists monitor car... Read More
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 27-year-old member asked:

Dr. Rita Agarwalanswered
Anesthesiology 36 years experience
Very safe: In a healthy person undergoing a general anesthetic for any type of procedure the risk is dependent on the surgery, but it is extremely safe. The sick... Read More
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 40-year-old member asked:

Dr. Rita Agarwalanswered
Anesthesiology 36 years experience
Discharge readiness: It is used to help determine when patients are ready to be discharged from the post anesthesia care unit. It is based on alertness, pain, nausea and r... Read More
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 38-year-old member asked:

Dr. Rita Agarwalanswered
Anesthesiology 36 years experience
Epidural steroids: Are one option, surgery is another, pt, stretching and non-steroidal anti inflammatory medications are also very helpful.
5.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 33-year-old member asked:

Dr. Rita Agarwalanswered
Anesthesiology 36 years experience
Depends: On the chiropractor or osteopath and their experience. The potential for injury is much greater when doing any kind of manipulation under anesthesia, ... Read More
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A member asked:

Dr. Rita Agarwalanswered
Anesthesiology 36 years experience
Spinal is safe: Yes, spinal is very safe. General anesthesia is also safe, but their are questions that are currently being investigated regarding the effects of anes... Read More
6.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 51-year-old member asked:

Dr. Rita Agarwalanswered
Anesthesiology 36 years experience
It shouldn't: Effect your blood sugar very much or for vry long. It depends on the doses used and the type of sterid.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 41-year-old member asked:

Dr. Rita Agarwalanswered
Anesthesiology 36 years experience
A lot: An anesthesiologist has been to 4 years of medical school and 4 years of residency. Their pre-operative fund of knowledge is much greater and their ap... Read More
5.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 36-year-old member asked:

Dr. Rita Agarwalanswered
Anesthesiology 36 years experience
Varies: This varies greatly with the institution and their staffing, time of day and how busy the rest of the hospital is. You should discuss this with your O... Read More
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 35-year-old member asked:

Dr. Rita Agarwalanswered
Anesthesiology 36 years experience
Not far enough bacik: It is hard to gargle well enough to get it all the way back.It may also be that the pain is coming from deeper than the superficial layers, Lidocaine ... Read More
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 32-year-old member asked:

Dr. Rita Agarwalanswered
Anesthesiology 36 years experience
Not sure: Hyperventilation, doesn't have much benefit, it can change you acid base status amd make you light headed and dizzy. Slow deep breaths however can inc... Read More
5.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 43-year-old member asked:

Dr. Rita Agarwalanswered
Anesthesiology 36 years experience
Systemic: Side effects such as jitters, ringing in the ears, metallic taste in the mouth, irritability, seizures and eventually heart rythmn problems can occur.
5.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 30-year-old member asked:

Dr. Rita Agarwalanswered
Anesthesiology 36 years experience
Yes: Nitric oxide is a drug used to dilate blood vessels in the lungs and can effect your heart and lungs.
5.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 47-year-old member asked:

Dr. Rita Agarwalanswered
Anesthesiology 36 years experience
Barbiturates: These are different forms of barbiturates and heavy sedative. At one time used commonly to help with insomnia, they have fallen out of favor. They can... Read More
5.8k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 32-year-old member asked:

Dr. Rita Agarwalanswered
Anesthesiology 36 years experience
Get Help: Talk to your doctor about mental health professional near you. You should cut back slowly if you have been taking it for a long time. You need to talk... Read More
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 40-year-old female asked:

Dr. Rita Agarwalanswered
Anesthesiology 36 years experience
Chest X-ray?: I assume you mean on a chest x-ray? It can mean a lot of things, including old scarring, new infection or fluid overall.
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 27-year-old female asked:

Dr. Rita Agarwalanswered
Anesthesiology 36 years experience
Sleepy, : Very few of the side effects of an epidural will cross over to your baby. He/she may be a little more sleepy at first, but should recover pretty quick... Read More
5.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A member asked:

Dr. Rita Agarwalanswered
Anesthesiology 36 years experience
4-5 glasses a day : There is no need to drink more than normal on hydro codone. But you do need to make sure you don't get dehydrated.
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 35-year-old member asked:

Dr. Rita Agarwalanswered
Anesthesiology 36 years experience
Distract them: Just prepare them for the mask and that they may feel like they are floating or flying. Stories, songs sharing a fun memory are all effective means to... Read More
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A female asked:

Dr. Rita Agarwalanswered
Anesthesiology 36 years experience
Don't usually need i: Ask your doctor for a sedative. Local anesthesia is really really good on the eyes general anesthesia is really not required.
5.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A member asked:

Dr. Rita Agarwalanswered
Anesthesiology 36 years experience
Talk to pain doc: There are others fixations and combinations that might be more helpful.
5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 38-year-old male asked:

Dr. Rita Agarwalanswered
Anesthesiology 36 years experience
See your Doc: There are many causes, some related and most unrelated to your chronic opioid use. You definitely need a doctor to examine you.
5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 41-year-old female asked:

Dr. Rita Agarwalanswered
Anesthesiology 36 years experience
Possibly: With a doctor's evaluation and depending on your hr policies.
5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 55-year-old female asked:

Dr. Rita Agarwalanswered
Anesthesiology 36 years experience
Probably: Raynauds is a vascular problem, and cold extremities are a common symptom. This could be a recurrence.
5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 32-year-old female asked:

Dr. Rita Agarwalanswered
Anesthesiology 36 years experience
Prevention: There is no easy way to treat an od at home. Follow your doctor's instructions carefully and use lowest dose you can.
5.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 29-year-old member asked:

Dr. Rita Agarwalanswered
Anesthesiology 36 years experience
Need more info: If it is local swelling and pain, hot compresses amy help. Ibuprofen or another non-steroidal anti inflammatory may help. If there is any redness or p... Read More
5.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 31-year-old male asked:

Dr. Rita Agarwalanswered
Anesthesiology 36 years experience
You are right: Sudafed can worsen high blood pressure. Consider Benadryl (diphenhydramine) instead.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A female asked:

Dr. Rita Agarwalanswered
Anesthesiology 36 years experience
Yoga and stretching: Have doctor or chitopactercheck it to make sure there is nothing else going on. They can also give you specific exercises to help. Pt might also help... Read More
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 34-year-old female asked:

Dr. Rita Agarwalanswered
Anesthesiology 36 years experience
May be old blood: If it persists go see your gynecologist.
5.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
90,000 U.S. doctors in 147 specialties are here to answer your questions, provide medical advice, write prescriptions, and more.
TestimonialsRecommendations and Thank you notes are endorsements given from patients or other doctors.
Recommendations and Thank you notes are endorsements given from patients or other doctors.
2
Recommendations
347
Thank you notes
HealthTap member
Mar 30, 2015
Dr. Agarwal is an amazing doctor! #nationaldoctorsday2015 #virtualflower1
HealthTap member
Mar 31, 2015
Dr. Agarwal is an amazing doctor! #nationaldoctorsday2015 #virtualflower1
HealthTap member
Thank you, your answer was very helpful! I'M VERY CAUTIOUS OF THIS MEDICATION I REALLY DON'T WANT MY BODY TO BE DEPENDED ON THIS POTENT DRUG BUT TO RELIEVE MY PAIN WHAT CHOICE I HAV
HealthTap member
Thanks for your reply!The Dr called saying HR average of 151 is on the borders, we need 2 do another haltor monitor @6Mo old. How bad is it?
HealthTap member
Thanks for your quick reply! I thank you from the bottom of my heart your answer help me feel a lot more comfortable
Education & Training
Medical/Graduate school
Baylor College of Medicine, TX
Graduated 1986MD
Awards
Top Doctor, Second Place, Colorado Springs, CO - Winter
2013
Most Influential, First Place, Colorado Springs, CO - Winter
2013
Thought Leader, Second Place, Kansas - Winter
2013
90,000 U.S. doctors in 147 specialties are here to answer your questions, provide medical advice, write prescriptions, and more.
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