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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 37-year-old member asked:

Dr. Rita Agarwalanswered
Anesthesiology 37 years experience
No: Unless it is abused.
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5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 27-year-old male asked:

Dr. Rita Agarwalanswered
Anesthesiology 37 years experience
Talk to doctor: There may be other treatments and approaches. Exercise, pt, stretching can all help.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 21-year-old male asked:

Dr. Rita Agarwalanswered
Anesthesiology 37 years experience
Usually they can: Depends on background and training, but most can.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 38-year-old male asked:

Dr. Rita Agarwalanswered
Anesthesiology 37 years experience
Talk to doc: There are lots of different treatments and medications to try. For spinal degeneration one of the keys will be excellent physical therapy.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 70-year-old female asked:

Dr. Rita Agarwalanswered
Anesthesiology 37 years experience
What kind of test?: The results may help diagnose the underlying problem. If there is no abnormalities, PT, stretching, a different exercise regimen may help
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A male asked:

Dr. Rita Agarwalanswered
Anesthesiology 37 years experience
Heat, Deep breathing: Relaxation techniques. You are are pretty heavy doses of pain medications. If that is not enough you should probably be admitted to a hospital for mon... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 28-year-old male asked:

Dr. Rita Agarwalanswered
Anesthesiology 37 years experience
Synthetic opioid: Mixed with acetaminophen. Also known as vicodin. Oral medication.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 31-year-old female asked:

Dr. Rita Agarwalanswered
Anesthesiology 37 years experience
Get another opinion: A brace may help. Talk to another surgeon for options or referral to a pain specialist.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 23-year-old member asked:

Dr. Rita Agarwalanswered
Anesthesiology 37 years experience
Slow breathing: Pin point pupils, may stop breathing.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 28-year-old member asked:

Dr. Rita Agarwalanswered
Anesthesiology 37 years experience
Probably not: Ther is no evidence indicating that anesthesia or the medications you have listed would interfere with birth control pills.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 35-year-old member asked:

Dr. Rita Agarwalanswered
Anesthesiology 37 years experience
No: It is a neurotransmitter, it is needed for almost all functions of the body. Because it can be stimulating pain sensation can be decreased.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 42-year-old member asked:

Dr. Rita Agarwalanswered
Anesthesiology 37 years experience
Sometimes: The purpose of the cortisone injections are to decrease swelling and inflammation around the disc. While the herniation may not be healed, the pain an... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 35-year-old member asked:

Dr. Rita Agarwalanswered
Anesthesiology 37 years experience
General anesthesia: It is a volatile agent (gas) that causes general anesthesia. It is sedating, amnestic (makes you lose memory) and analgesic. You don't feel anything,... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 38-year-old male asked:

Dr. Rita Agarwalanswered
Anesthesiology 37 years experience
No: Most anesthesia has no effect on kidney function.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 24-year-old male asked:

Dr. Rita Agarwalanswered
Anesthesiology 37 years experience
Complicated: Opiates change mood and neurotransmitters in the brain. They can cause euphoria, sleepinesses, spaciness, addiction is very complicated and can occurr... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 60-year-old male asked:

Dr. Rita Agarwalanswered
Anesthesiology 37 years experience
1/2 the dose: 5mg oxy is 1/2 the dose of 10:325 Percocet, without the acetaminophen
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 35-year-old member asked:

Dr. Rita Agarwalanswered
Anesthesiology 37 years experience
Disinhibition: A percentage of the population will react to sedatives by getting agitated. It is a well recognized side effect that may occurs with other similar act... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 35-year-old member asked:

Dr. Rita Agarwalanswered
Anesthesiology 37 years experience
Different kinds: Depending on the amount of work they need to do and the child's personality. Some dentists use nitrous oxide (laughing gas), other either give their o... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 47-year-old member asked:

Dr. Rita Agarwalanswered
Anesthesiology 37 years experience
Check with pain doc: Leg weakness after epidural injections is alwasy concerning and may indicate some injury to a nerve or surrounding area. You must get this checked out... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 31-year-old member asked:

Dr. Rita Agarwalanswered
Anesthesiology 37 years experience
Swollen ankles: You can have swollen ankles, shortness of breath.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 36-year-old member asked:

Dr. Rita Agarwalanswered
Anesthesiology 37 years experience
Talik to your doctor: Monitor for side effects and pain.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 48-year-old member asked:

Dr. Rita Agarwalanswered
Anesthesiology 37 years experience
Same as other opioid: Fentanyl patches are another way of delivering continuous opioids. Side effects include respiratory depression, sleepiness, nausea, vomiting, itching.... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A male asked:

Dr. Rita Agarwalanswered
Anesthesiology 37 years experience
Talk to your doctor: The procedure for this will vary from place to place, so your best bet is to talk to your doctor or your pharmacist. Often the pharmacy has better luc... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 47-year-old member asked:

Dr. Rita Agarwalanswered
Anesthesiology 37 years experience
Yes: This is usually done with a little local anesthesia +/- a very little sedation.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 40-year-old member asked:

Dr. Rita Agarwalanswered
Anesthesiology 37 years experience
Very rare: The risk of major complications with epidurals is extremely rare about 1:10, 000.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 32-year-old member asked:

Dr. Rita Agarwalanswered
Anesthesiology 37 years experience
See your dentist: But hydrocodone in any one of several formulations might be helpful. The most important thing is to be seen by a dentist and get the tooth evaluated a... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A member asked:

Dr. Rita Agarwalanswered
Anesthesiology 37 years experience
Talk to your doctor : if you have been on chronic methadone it is common to reduce the initial dose of other opioids. Your doctor is probably being cautious, methadone last... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 21-year-old member asked:

Dr. Rita Agarwalanswered
Anesthesiology 37 years experience
Get referral: Narcotics rarely help tension headaches. Muscle relaxants, heat massage, pt are much more useful.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 35-year-old female asked:

Dr. Rita Agarwalanswered
Anesthesiology 37 years experience
Need more eval: You must return to your pain doc for further evaluation. You probably need an mri.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 46-year-old member asked:

Dr. Rita Agarwalanswered
Anesthesiology 37 years experience
Not usually: Laughing gas or nitrous oxide has pain relieving properties. You shouldn't feel much, and if you do, you won't cate.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 50-year-old member asked:

Dr. Rita Agarwalanswered
Anesthesiology 37 years experience
Pain stress genetics: There are lots of reasons why some people get nauseous after surgery and anesthesia. Pain and surgery cause stress; pain medication used to treat the ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 46-year-old member asked:

Dr. Rita Agarwalanswered
Anesthesiology 37 years experience
It can: Every one responds differently to different opioids. Fentanyl usually does cause the same euphoria that other opioids do. dose can have an impact, as ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 31-year-old member asked:

Dr. Rita Agarwalanswered
Anesthesiology 37 years experience
Complicated: but the hippocampus and cortex are both effected. It can cause dissociation and over excitement. It odd a common drug of abuse, but is also used for ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 33-year-old member asked:

Dr. Rita Agarwalanswered
Anesthesiology 37 years experience
PAin and personality: Methadone is a powerful pain relieving medication. It does not have as much of the euphoria you see with other opioids , but still can make people fee... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A female asked:

Dr. Rita Agarwalanswered
Anesthesiology 37 years experience
All opioids can : Cause respiratory depression. I don't know what bystolis is and I am assuming uta is ultram? If so these aren't particularly high doses, but each pati... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 44-year-old member asked:

Dr. Rita Agarwalanswered
Anesthesiology 37 years experience
Not usually: But there are very serious and irreversible side effects with chronic exposure to enteric. These include sever anemia and nerve injury.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 35-year-old female asked:

Dr. Rita Agarwalanswered
Anesthesiology 37 years experience
Similar: There are differences in the areas the different ct s focus on. Ct of the face focuses on orbits, sinuses etc, brain will show more details of differe... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 30-year-old member asked:

Dr. Rita Agarwalanswered
Anesthesiology 37 years experience
Yes: It is very painful and there are a # of types of anesthesia from local nerve blocks, epidural/spinal anesthesia or general anesthesia.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 38-year-old female asked:

Dr. Rita Agarwalanswered
Anesthesiology 37 years experience
No: See a neurologist, duralumin punctures are not related to delayed onset neurological symyoms.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 32-year-old female asked:

Dr. Rita Agarwalanswered
Anesthesiology 37 years experience
Shouldn't: Depends on the drug test that you are getting. Often they just all show up as synthetic opioids on routine urine screens.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 35-year-old female asked:

Dr. Rita Agarwalanswered
Anesthesiology 37 years experience
Unusual: It is not common to develop symptoms like these after a blood patch. It is unlikely that 5 days after the patch they would start. If you have a return... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 35-year-old female asked:

Dr. Rita Agarwalanswered
Anesthesiology 37 years experience
Not any: MRI can occasionally pick up continuing leak. Usually based on symptoms. If you have continuing positional headache that makes the diagnosis of CSF le... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 40-year-old member asked:

Dr. Rita Agarwalanswered
Anesthesiology 37 years experience
Many: Depends on where your pain is and what the underlying cause is. Pt, biofeedback, and relaxation techniques are the mainstay on many conditions. Other ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 32-year-old member asked:

Dr. Rita Agarwalanswered
Anesthesiology 37 years experience
Track blood levels: Make sure the patient is getting enough and not too much to help control their seizures. All medications have side effects so too much is bad, too li... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 32-year-old member asked:

Dr. Rita Agarwalanswered
Anesthesiology 37 years experience
Bleeding: The biggest risk is bleeding, block failure, soreness at the site of the block placement. Very rare risks include nerve injury and infection.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 41-year-old member asked:

Dr. Rita Agarwalanswered
Anesthesiology 37 years experience
Too much water: You can drink too much water for a number of reasons. A specific hormone imbalance can interfere with thirst mechanism-this can be caused from a probl... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 30-year-old member asked:

Dr. Rita Agarwalanswered
Anesthesiology 37 years experience
Respiratory, sedatio: Versed also knownas Midazolam casues a decrease in respiratory rate, sedation and can drop blood pressure. It should be used carefully and in monitore... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A female asked:

Dr. Rita Agarwalanswered
Anesthesiology 37 years experience
Variable: Depends what exactly it is treating. It can last a few days to several months.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 40-year-old member asked:

Dr. Rita Agarwalanswered
Anesthesiology 37 years experience
See a pain doctor: There are medications and nerve blocks that can help. It may take time and patience
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 41-year-old member asked:

Dr. Rita Agarwalanswered
Anesthesiology 37 years experience
No: But you should not drink and take norcos (hydrocodone and acetaminophen) at the same time. Side effects can be significant.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
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.
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Recommendations
348
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
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