Dr. William Harris
Family Medicine
Tumwater, WA
35 years experience male
Locations
Littlerock Family Medicine / Urgent Care South
Tumwater, WA
My office hours
Thursday: 8:00am - 9:00pm
Show morePhone
Practice website
Insurances accepted
Aetna
Cigna
Premera Blue Cross
Assurant Inc
Office
TUMWATER, WA
About
Bio
Dr. Harris completed his MD training at Texas A&M University & his Family Medicine residency at Texas Tech Health Sciences Center. He is Board Certified by the American Board of Family Practice & is a member of the American Medical Association.
Dr. Harris practiced Family Medicine in the Aberdeen, Washington area for 14 years prior to moving to Olympia, Washington in 2004. He has a special interest in the full spectrum of the human condition from urologic concerns to migraine headache; newborn care to urgent care issues; or from allergies to chronic pain.
His philosophy of treating patients includes listening to the complete details to most clearly define a patient's problem(s); & then offering a spectrum of treatment options that most closely fit the patient's comfort level.
SpecialtiesDoctors 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.
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.
Family Medicine
Occupational Medicine
Pain Management
Urgent Care
Doctor Q&A
851 Answers
957 Agrees
The number of answers this doctor has agreed with.
A 21-year-old member asked:
Dr. William Harrisanswered
Family Medicine 35 years experience
Many ways: Metformin stop the liver from releasing excess sugar. Actos overcomes Insulin resistance in the muscles. When food is in the intestines, onglyza, janu... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A female asked:
Dr. William Harrisanswered
Family Medicine 35 years experience
Possibly: If you have a bulging disk that is pressing on a nerve down your left leg, it is possible that this same process could extend around to the other side... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
338 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 28-year-old female asked:
Dr. William Harrisanswered
Family Medicine 35 years experience
No.: The appearance of cervical cells under the microscope is not affected by the presence of semen from the day before. No need to tell the doctor (he wil... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
561 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 16-year-old female asked:
Dr. William Harrisanswered
Family Medicine 35 years experience
Not this decade!: At 16yo, you should not be having unprotected sex. When you are married, you may have sex without condoms because of the risk of infection. That aside... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
568 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A female asked:
Dr. William Harrisanswered
Family Medicine 35 years experience
Opioid paranoia: Tramadol (Ultram) is 1/100th the strength of morphine. The medical world are concerned about any use of controlled substances. Understand that you are... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
558 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 32-year-old female asked:
Dr. William Harrisanswered
Family Medicine 35 years experience
Very odd: Light signals travel into the brain via the optic nerves which pass by the pituitary and pineal glands. I cannot think of a connection that goes as fa... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
349 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 30-year-old male asked:
Dr. William Harrisanswered
Family Medicine 35 years experience
No: Just wearing glasses will not worsen your vision. You may need to investigate the real cause of your blurry vision. For instance, if you have a new-on... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
338 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 48-year-old female asked:
Dr. William Harrisanswered
Family Medicine 35 years experience
Can be bad!: Hopefully, this traumatic nerve damage will heal. Treatment options include Motrin, Neurontin (Lyrica), Cymbalta, and opiates (including Ultram), AND ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
547 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 32-year-old male asked:
As long as i don't have a cut or scratch on my body, i am safe from contracting mrsa. true or false?
Dr. William Harrisanswered
Family Medicine 35 years experience
Not safe.: It is possible to contract MRSA infection even with intact skin. Many, many parts of the body (lungs, sinuses, urine, etc.) could be infected with th... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
531 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 29-year-old female asked:
Dr. William Harrisanswered
Family Medicine 35 years experience
Ringworm: Sounds like tinea corporus, or ringworm. These are usually well-demarcated, slightly raised, rough, itchy lesions. They can be round, oval, or irregul... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 41-year-old male asked:
Dr. William Harrisanswered
Family Medicine 35 years experience
The Net is right: Prostatitis is a difficult problem to treat. The prostate has a relatively poor blood supply and poor antibiotic penetration. Cipro (ciprofloxacin) or... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 47-year-old member asked:
Dr. William Harrisanswered
Family Medicine 35 years experience
Almost neither: Official "brown fat" is only present in newborn babies as a source of immediate energy. As we age, this turns to regular yellow fat as you know it. I... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 34-year-old female asked:
Dr. William Harrisanswered
Family Medicine 35 years experience
Hmmm...: The symptoms of UTI are burning, pain, hesitancy, incontinence, frequency, urgency, nighttime voiding, blood in the urine, and residual sensation afte... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 39-year-old female asked:
Dr. William Harrisanswered
Family Medicine 35 years experience
Yes.: The reason they call it a rescue inhaler is to rescue maintenance asthma medication. In order to do that, you have to be on a maintenance medication: ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 18-year-old male asked:
Dr. William Harrisanswered
Family Medicine 35 years experience
Possible thrush: If there is tongue pain or sore throat, this white layering that doesn't scrape off could be thrush. Your fp could give you Mycelex (clotrimazole) tro... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 38-year-old female asked:
Dr. William Harrisanswered
Family Medicine 35 years experience
Multiple approaches: Increase anxiety med so that you are calmed: if you're on zoloft 50mg, increase to 100mg daily to get adequate mood control. Identify trigger foods an... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 24-year-old female asked:
Dr. William Harrisanswered
Family Medicine 35 years experience
Worth it: Depending on your dr/aesthetician, the cost could be $75-100 per treatment for this small area. Laser hair reduction is just that: reduction. It may t... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 26-year-old female asked:
Dr. William Harrisanswered
Family Medicine 35 years experience
DiY in-vitro: Sure, it's possible. You have to make sure that the sperm/semen is immediately fresh and warm. Many women have used the turkey-baster method to try to... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 58-year-old male asked:
Dr. William Harrisanswered
Family Medicine 35 years experience
Test blood sugars: Absolutely! see your fp for an a1c, bloodwork, and a plan for self-maintenance of checking blood sugars and taking medications to manage diabetes. If ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A female asked:
Dr. William Harrisanswered
Family Medicine 35 years experience
Ulcers: Bright red blood in the stool is from hemorrhoids. Black stool is digested blood from stomach ulcers. These can be treated with Prilosec and supposito... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A member asked:
Dr. William Harrisanswered
Family Medicine 35 years experience
Very detailed read: Q-waves on a particular set of leads tells us you had a heart attack some time in the past (age indeterminate = don't know when). The v-leads tell us ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 38-year-old female asked:
Dr. William Harrisanswered
Family Medicine 35 years experience
No. Bad Idea.: Any graft site is going to be thinner, less resiliant, and be less of a barrier than the original skin that was there. No matter what your race or co... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 26-year-old female asked:
Dr. William Harrisanswered
Family Medicine 35 years experience
Watch for bleeding!: Sore nipples just confirm the pregnancy. I wonder, though if you truly are just 4 days pregnant -- could you be a month and 4 days pregnant? It's pos... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 30-year-old female asked:
Dr. William Harrisanswered
Family Medicine 35 years experience
Keratosis pilaris: These are more of a cosmetic issue than anything serious. Some people hate them and use a loofa to scrape them off of the backs of their arms. They h... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A male asked:
Dr. William Harrisanswered
Family Medicine 35 years experience
It doesn't work: A machine that shakes you will not lose any weight for you. Your shaking yourself (running, jumprope, swimming, etc) will lose weight for you. Decreas... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 47-year-old male asked:
Dr. William Harrisanswered
Family Medicine 35 years experience
Probably: If you're already been examined by a doc and been told everything is ok, then that's alright for now. Unfortunately, there are a lot of things that li... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 41-year-old male asked:
Dr. William Harrisanswered
Family Medicine 35 years experience
Zantac (ranitidine) or Pepcid: If you are just starting to be bothered by gerd, then otc zantac (ranitidine) or Pepcid should work well. Those are "h2 blockers"
a more potent class... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 45-year-old female asked:
Dr. William Harrisanswered
Family Medicine 35 years experience
It's the opposite: The thyroid system is complex. Thyroid stimulating hormone is like the gas pedal for the thyroid gland. When TSH is high, it is your pituitary screami... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A member asked:
Dr. William Harrisanswered
Family Medicine 35 years experience
In Theory, NO!: The cervix has crypts which will keep sperm alive for 48h. This essentially creates a mechanism for a single ejaculation to deliver sperm over the per... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 52-year-old male asked:
Dr. William Harrisanswered
Family Medicine 35 years experience
Out of shape?: If you have had your full cardiopulmonary system checked out and everything is 100%, then this may just be a matter of getting into shape. I would rec... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 18-year-old female asked:
Dr. William Harrisanswered
Family Medicine 35 years experience
Normal development: Full adult maturity is achieved at age 25. Breast growth may start at 12 years old and may continue to evolve over a period of many years. At any ti... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A male asked:
Dr. William Harrisanswered
Family Medicine 35 years experience
Hearing loss: Many people have damage to their hearing mechanism either from trauma or infection. When the tiny sensory hairs in the cochlea are damaged, they will ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 18-year-old female asked:
Dr. William Harrisanswered
Family Medicine 35 years experience
Start alone: All circumstances have to be perfect for good sex: lock the door, light candles, start the music, & set your stage. Your masturbating will help you to... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 18-year-old female asked:
Dr. William Harrisanswered
Family Medicine 35 years experience
Somebody's lying: Open sores are never normal - even after a cold (wrong neighborhood). Herpes hurts! on the other hand, 25% of people have herpes but 90% don't know it... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 22-year-old female asked:
Dr. William Harrisanswered
Family Medicine 35 years experience
UTI: Period time is just a hassle - it may have nothing to do with urinary burning (never normal). Usually a UTI causes burning, pain, sex pain, frequency,... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 22-year-old female asked:
Dr. William Harrisanswered
Family Medicine 35 years experience
Baby-Making 101: Here's what you do: day#1: period starts. Day#14 is ovulation day. Have sex on days 10, 12, 14, 16, 18 scheduled. He must wear boxers and be well hydr... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 43-year-old member asked:
Dr. William Harrisanswered
Family Medicine 35 years experience
Downward: Prepare the skin first by taking a hot shower. The hair has to be softened and moist. Then, seal in the moisture with a pre-shave oil. Use a shaving c... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 20-year-old male asked:
Dr. William Harrisanswered
Family Medicine 35 years experience
Robitussin (guaifenesin): The Robitussin people make a great line of products. They very clearly spell out what is in each cough syrup. There are only a few ingredients to choo... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 21-year-old female asked:
Dr. William Harrisanswered
Family Medicine 35 years experience
Nope, sorry.: There are tons of "natural remedies" available for purchase. If you are using antipersperants from the store, find the kind with the highest aluminum ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 41-year-old female asked:
Dr. William Harrisanswered
Family Medicine 35 years experience
Most likely: Benedryl is pretty innocuous. If you happen to have some itching or allergy reaction from any of your surgery meds or dressings, you may take it. Sam... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 28-year-old male asked:
Dr. William Harrisanswered
Family Medicine 35 years experience
Highly irregular: That is an extraordinary story! it is possible that you could have scarred your urinary tract with a resistant infection that took a long time to clea... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 58-year-old male asked:
Dr. William Harrisanswered
Family Medicine 35 years experience
Other choices: Any medication can cause you to have an allergic reaction -- like red spots all over your body. If you have been on this medicine for a while, and you... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 26-year-old male asked:
Dr. William Harrisanswered
Family Medicine 35 years experience
Pretreat your face: Take a shower first to heat up and soften your whiskers. Use a pre-shave oil and apply shave cream. Only shave with or across the grain of hair growth... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 20-year-old male asked:
Dr. William Harrisanswered
Family Medicine 35 years experience
No disease.: Everybody needs sleep -- usually 6-8 hours a day. Surprizingly, some people need 8-10 hours of sleep to feel rejuvinated! in your case, you should sle... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 24-year-old female asked:
Dr. William Harrisanswered
Family Medicine 35 years experience
Yes: Any form of hormonal birth control could possibly cause breast tenderness: birth control pills, Depo-Provera shots, vaginal ring, etc. Mirena is a lev... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 19-year-old female asked:
Dr. William Harrisanswered
Family Medicine 35 years experience
You're sick: Just being sick with nausea and a fever can throw off your period. If you've been on the pill for years and this is a sudden abnormality, chances are... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 33-year-old female asked:
Dr. William Harrisanswered
Family Medicine 35 years experience
Look for triggers: This could be bladder spasm in response to (over)taking tomato, citrus, alcohol, peppermint, caffeine, tobacco, chocolate, spicy food, carbonated beve... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A member asked:
Dr. William Harrisanswered
Family Medicine 35 years experience
Yes: The body is an amazing thing. We are set up to be baby-making machines. Even sitting on semen that is on a car seat can create a pregnancy. Just assum... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 36-year-old male asked:
Dr. William Harrisanswered
Family Medicine 35 years experience
From: From now on, whenever you are ordering something, like a new mantra, say, "hold the mayo!".
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 40-year-old female asked:
Dr. William Harrisanswered
Family Medicine 35 years experience
It's possible: You could be in an office where a physician and registered nurse practitioner (arnp) are partners. It is possible that the arnp did your female exam.... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsAnswered >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.
13
Recommendations
5.5K
Thank you notes
Jan 8, 2013
Dr. Harris is a welcomed addition to the Avvo community. He provides detailed, compassionate and insightful answers to complicated patient questions. I heartily endorse Dr. Harris.
Jan 8, 2013
I would like to welcome Dr. Harris to AVVO.COM. Although I have just begun reading his responses, they are outstanding. His input is thorough, accurate and shows common sense.
Mar 11, 2013
Dr. Harris is a great family doc who helps people in his practice and online and on mobile through HealthTap! Thanks Kirk for all you do to help others.
HealthTap member
the pharmacists felt like this was an OK dose but it seemed like a lot of medication to me! she does know how to take pills, yet i was not the one to take her to the doctor or get the script filled!
HealthTap member
Thank you so much for taking the time to answer! It is the only medication that has actually worked for me. I just hate the side effects. However, I would rather live with side effects than RLS!
HealthTap member
Thank you, your answer or tip was very helpful! How long does it take for the sun damaged skin to turn back in an african AMERICA . It has been 9 months. Little dots of the change is occur
Education & Training
Medical/Graduate school
Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine
Graduated 1988MD
Residency
Texas Tech University Health System
Awards
25 Year Member Award, American Medical Association
Top Doctor, Second Place, Washington - Winter
2013
Most Influential, Second Place, Olympia, WA - Winter
2013
Affiliations
American Medical Association
American Academy of Family Physicians
American Board of Family Medicine
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