Dr. Tom Harrington

Internal Medicine
chesapeake, VA
44 years experience male

Locations

churchland internal medicine

chesapeake, VA

Address

2994 churchland blvd, chesapeake, VA
Directions

Fax

(757) 686-2805

About

Bio

I am general internist who has practiced in private practice over 30 years. I enjoy taking care of all ages of patients and I have gotten more exposure to geriatrics in the past 10 years. I enjoy especially sports medicine concerns as I remain an active participant running local road races, doing triathalons. I deal with all different type of general internal medicine problems and always welcome a challenge.

Specialties
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.

Internal Medicine

Licenses

United States: Virginia

Doctor Q&A

117 Answers
33 Agrees
The number of answers this doctor has agreed with.
A member asked:
Dr. Tom Harrington
Internal Medicine 44 years experience
Calf cramps: Deep vein thrombosis would be strongly considered if there is unilateral associated swelling. Typically there should be risk factors for blood clots... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A member asked:
Dr. Tom Harrington
Internal Medicine 44 years experience
Tingling palm: Tingling is usually neurotic and not circulatory in origin. Ie pinched medium nerve ie carpal tunnel syndrome or even coming from your neck. See yo... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 20-year-old female asked:
Dr. Tom Harrington
Internal Medicine 44 years experience
Strep carrier: If you are a carrier that means you have strep in a throat culture even when you feel well-- it would be safe to say that you should not be contagiou... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A male asked:
Dr. Tom Harrington
Internal Medicine 44 years experience
Alcohol abuse: You have serious concerns and have obviously developed a significant tolerance to alcohol. You sound concerned and this may be a good time to get hel... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 37-year-old male asked:
Dr. Tom Harrington
Internal Medicine 44 years experience
Ignore: Ice after exercise. consider new running shoe and consult with a good running store.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 16-year-old male asked:
Dr. Tom Harrington
Internal Medicine 44 years experience
Lump on jaw: Hard to say without seeing you. Wonder about a swollen salivary gland vs a lipoma vs a cyst. Please stop smoking and see your doctor if this persis... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 37-year-old male asked:
Dr. Tom Harrington
Internal Medicine 44 years experience
Ignore: Increase fluids. Get plenty of rest. Treat symptoms with OTC meds. Don't rush for antibiotics.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 29-year-old male asked:
Dr. Tom Harrington
Internal Medicine 44 years experience
Bumps on scalp: most likely this is ingrown hair follicles--i would do normal hygiene on scalp--consider topical antibiotic ie neosporin--but may need to see your doc... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 54-year-old female asked:
Dr. Tom Harrington
Internal Medicine 44 years experience
Vaginitis: All discharges are not yeast, and if things persist more you need to think about such things as trichimonas or bacterial vaginosis, both responding to... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 37-year-old male asked:
Dr. Tom Harrington
Internal Medicine 44 years experience
Ignore: Don't smoke; eat well; try to walk every day. Call doctor for increased cough, sputum, or SOB.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 17-year-old female asked:
Dr. Tom Harrington
Internal Medicine 44 years experience
Hand bruise: as you think about things--make sure ice is applied as much as possible over the first 48 hours. if pain and swelling persists--you will need an xray... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 45-year-old member asked:
Dr. Tom Harrington
Internal Medicine 44 years experience
Ultracet (tramdol and acetaminophen): Ultracet is combination of tylenol (acetaminophen) and ultram (or tramadol) this is a commonly given analgesic that works on the opiod centers in the... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 19-year-old female asked:
Dr. Tom Harrington
Internal Medicine 44 years experience
Nausea and dizziness: The most common cause of your symptoms is anner ear problems. Which are self limited most of the time and you could take an otc antihistamine. If s... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 27-year-old female asked:
Dr. Tom Harrington
Internal Medicine 44 years experience
Hyporhyroid: Make sure your TSH is less than 4 and if so consume less calories than you burn off. Weight watchers is a good old stand by.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 32-year-old member asked:
Dr. Tom Harrington
Internal Medicine 44 years experience
Hip pain: Simplistically--anterior ie groin area pain could be arthritic or muscular in origin, lateral pain is often bursitis while pain in back of hip often ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 44-year-old female asked:
Dr. Tom Harrington
Internal Medicine 44 years experience
Occipital node: Hard to tie this in with either antibiotics or diverticulitis. If it is painful esp i would think it was reactive ie from skin irritation in neck vs... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 39-year-old member asked:
Dr. Tom Harrington
Internal Medicine 44 years experience
Arthritis/inflammati: Baker cyst is a fluid filled process located behind the knee. In adults it is often the consequences of arthritis or inflammed meniscal. It is diagn... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 18-year-old female asked:
Dr. Tom Harrington
Internal Medicine 44 years experience
Burn fat: I am not aware of any exercise that will specifically work on a part of the body--wouldn't that be nice. Burn off 500 more calories a day than you t... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 43-year-old member asked:
Dr. Tom Harrington
Internal Medicine 44 years experience
Excessive drinking: Yes i suspect this would not be a worry to you providing your sodium level is not low and you are not diabetic.(both ruled out via labs) i would make... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 38-year-old male asked:
Dr. Tom Harrington
Internal Medicine 44 years experience
Thyroid meds: Thyroid medication is one of the most common medications written for. I use generics unless there continues to be a wide variability in the labs (TSH... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 48-year-old member asked:
Dr. Tom Harrington
Internal Medicine 44 years experience
Effexor (venlafaxine): Sexual dysfunction is common with antidepressants but the majority of people do not have any sexual side effects. Good luck.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 31-year-old female asked:
Dr. Tom Harrington
Internal Medicine 44 years experience
Hemmorhoids: I suspect you are feeling an external hemmorhoidsi if it does not go away with sits baths and otc creams. See your pcp.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 44-year-old member asked:
Dr. Tom Harrington
Internal Medicine 44 years experience
Dysarthria: Time, prayer, and speech therapy will help here.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 63-year-old member asked:
Dr. Tom Harrington
Internal Medicine 44 years experience
Shingles shot: This is somewhat controversial. Your natural immunty is actually much better than the zostavax (actually prevents 70% of outbreaks of shingles at bes... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 46-year-old member asked:
Dr. Tom Harrington
Internal Medicine 44 years experience
Calcium intake: There are plenty of sources of calcium and depending on your age and sex you may need to be on form of calcium supplementation anyway. I am not aware... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 30-year-old member asked:
Dr. Tom Harrington
Internal Medicine 44 years experience
Ganglion cyst: Look up synovial cyst or ganglion cyst that occurs on tendons esp the wrist. It should not be that red though.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 39-year-old male asked:
Dr. Tom Harrington
Internal Medicine 44 years experience
Probablei infection: Worry about urethritis, prostatitis, or bladder infection. All could be picked up simply lay by doing an urinalysis. Make sure in the meantime to... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 52-year-old male asked:
Dr. Tom Harrington
Internal Medicine 44 years experience
Herpes: It is impossible o tell or predict recurrences. Try to keep stress to a minimum. Treatment options are starting meds at first sign of outbreak or if ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 51-year-old female asked:
Dr. Tom Harrington
Internal Medicine 44 years experience
Depression: Sounds like you may suffering from depression ie chemical imbalance in brain and not ovarian deficiecy which your estrogen hormones are treating. See... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 44-year-old female asked:
Dr. Tom Harrington
Internal Medicine 44 years experience
Genital herpes: Of course herpes is very contagious to you as his partner. I do not think your sarcoidosis is of any concern in this issue.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 43-year-old member asked:
Dr. Tom Harrington
Internal Medicine 44 years experience
Chest wall pain: Chest wall pain is very common ie with lifting or straining. Costochondritis defines an area of pain and inflammation on the breast bone area. Some... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 45-year-old male asked:
Dr. Tom Harrington
Internal Medicine 44 years experience
Antidepressants: These two antidepressants are frequently given together. I would not hesitate to take if this is your doctor's plans.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 38-year-old member asked:
Dr. Tom Harrington
Internal Medicine 44 years experience
Exercise: 3500 calories to lose a pound of fat. 500 calories a day is a lot of exercise--- so consuming 500 less calories a day with this should lose 2 pounds ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 41-year-old member asked:
Dr. Tom Harrington
Internal Medicine 44 years experience
Kadian (morphine): Kadian is a morphine like pain med and will clearly show up on a urine drug screen. This is a drug that requires strict supervision.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 30-year-old female asked:
Dr. Tom Harrington
Internal Medicine 44 years experience
Dry skin: Definately--the aging process is not good on the skin. It will always be worse in the winter as well. Apply moisturizers as much as you can esp afte... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 18-year-old female asked:
Dr. Tom Harrington
Internal Medicine 44 years experience
Ringing in ears: Tinnitus is very common and typically a problem especially in a quiet room at night. You need to make sure there is no wax or fluid. I would not inv... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 36-year-old member asked:
Dr. Tom Harrington
Internal Medicine 44 years experience
Both are good: Both ensure and boost have about the same number of calories (250) as well as more in the plus varieties. Both suppy good amounts of protein, and can... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 23-year-old male asked:
Dr. Tom Harrington
Internal Medicine 44 years experience
Hemmorhoid: I think otc cream ie preparation h along with soaking in hot bath tub and taking some metamucil should help to shrink your hemorrhoids.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A member asked:
Dr. Tom Harrington
Internal Medicine 44 years experience
Chronic fatige: This is unlikely. Chronic fatigue has a whole lot of possibilities. Most peolpe do well with only one kidney ie kidney donors. Certailnly if your r... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 63-year-old member asked:
Dr. Tom Harrington
Internal Medicine 44 years experience
Pyriformis syndrome: There are some excellent on line descriptions of the condition and necessary stretching exercises. Sitting on a tennis ball reproducing the pain help... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 20-year-old female asked:
Dr. Tom Harrington
Internal Medicine 44 years experience
IBS: It is hard to relate all of the symptoms to ibs but stress can cause these GI symptoms as well as irregular periods. It is hard to fit in frequent ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 47-year-old member asked:
Dr. Tom Harrington
Internal Medicine 44 years experience
Heel pain: Most of the heel pain i see is due to plantar fasciitis which is inflammation of the fibers attached to the heel. Typically worsened on first weight ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 63-year-old member asked:
Dr. Tom Harrington
Internal Medicine 44 years experience
White stool: Stools can be of different color by one's intake. Alot of antacids or a recent barium test could possible be a cause. However if this persists liver... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 45-year-old member asked:
Dr. Tom Harrington
Internal Medicine 44 years experience
Chest pain with food: Try something to settle your stomach ie Gaviscon chewable tabs vs Pepcid (famotidine) vs prilosec. All over the counter- if no help see your PC for ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 31-year-old member asked:
Dr. Tom Harrington
Internal Medicine 44 years experience
Pet therapy: Pet therapy has been well recieved in hospitals as well as nursing homes. In order to be labelled as a pet dog--the animal has to undergo certain tes... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 23-year-old member asked:
Dr. Tom Harrington
Internal Medicine 44 years experience
Effexor (venlafaxine): Anything could be possible esp if you are new to antidepressants--i would go slow on the titration of the med which really takes 2-4 weeks to really w... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 18-year-old member asked:
Dr. Tom Harrington
Internal Medicine 44 years experience
Vaginal itch: I think it would be fine to try otc vaginal yeast creams and soak in the tub as well as drink alot of fuids. Only your doctor can tell if it is a va... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 37-year-old member asked:
Dr. Tom Harrington
Internal Medicine 44 years experience
TB testing in NH: In virginia everyone entering a nh must show evidence of lack of TB via skin test or chest xray. Further testing should be at the desire of the att... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 39-year-old member asked:
Dr. Tom Harrington
Internal Medicine 44 years experience
RLS: There are a few meds to try to take for this condition-=-basically in the parkinson family that help with the tremor of parkinsons. Your pcp may have... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 32-year-old member asked:
Dr. Tom Harrington
Internal Medicine 44 years experience
Mitral valve disease: There could be many symptoms of this condition. Of concern would be shortness of breath or edema that is different than baseline. Palpitations are v... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.

Testimonials
Recommendations and Thank you notes are endorsements given from patients or other doctors.

2
Recommendations
311
Thank you notes
HealthTap member
Mar 30, 2015
Dr. Harrington is an amazing doctor! #nationaldoctorsday2015 #virtualflower1
HealthTap member
Mar 31, 2015
Dr. Harrington is an amazing doctor! #nationaldoctorsday2015 #virtualflower1
HealthTap member
This was very helpful. Thanks! I would really like to thank you. I can't even ask my Doctor questions so I ask my pharmacist and no one else. Again thanks so much. I have been taking them since 2007.
HealthTap member
Hi thanks I work on an acute stroke unit do u think I should ask his doctor to send him for carotid Doppler check his cholesterol is high an
HealthTap member
Thank you!! Tried cutting calories, but never considered amount consumed versus amount burned! Thanks again!! :)

Education & Training

Medical/Graduate school

University of Vermont College of Medicine, VT
Graduated 1979MD

Residency

letterman army medical center
Completed 1982

Affiliations

Fellow of American College of Physicians
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