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Educated @ Princeton University (NJ) & Jefferson Medical College (Phila); Family Medicine residency @ St Paul/Parkland (Univ of TX Southwestern) Dallas , TX
US Army Medical Corps in Germany, Honduras, & Fort Campbell, KY. Family & Urgent Care in Owensboro, KY
Enjoys languages, tennis, walking, Bible study, playing flute/classical music
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
Licenses
United States: Kentucky
Languages spoken
English
Doctor Q&A
639 Answers
335 Agrees
The number of answers this doctor has agreed with.
A 25-year-old male asked:

Dr. Lauren Bickelanswered
Specializes in Family Medicine
Unlikely : This is really a question for your dentist but usually a crown is well tolerated with no problems. A person might be sensitive to the glue used to kee... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
39 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 18-year-old female asked:

Dr. Lauren Bickelanswered
Specializes in Family Medicine
Lots of factors: don’t overuse straighteners/curling irons/tight braids/chemicals; trim ends periodically; healthy diet with adequate protein & fr... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
Answered May 25, 2021
A 21-year-old male asked:

Dr. Lauren Bickelanswered
Specializes in Family Medicine
Very hard to say without seeing these dots, but if present for 7 years already & nothing obviously bad has occurred it could likely be a type of b... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
Answered May 25, 2021
A 26-year-old female asked:

Dr. Lauren Bickelanswered
Specializes in Family Medicine
Some fibrocystic breasts have actual cysts (which are almost always seen on ultrasound) , but some have diffuse fibrous changes without cysts, & m... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
Answered >2 years ago
A 29-year-old male asked:

Dr. Lauren Bickelanswered
Specializes in Family Medicine
After the acute period of infection risk is past, gentle cleansing with antibacterial soap & warm water can be very effective. Hibiclens & pe... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
Answered Jul 27, 2021
A 30-year-old female asked:

Dr. Lauren Bickelanswered
Specializes in Family Medicine
Warm soak in the tub for maybe 10 mins can be helpful, or warm compresses to the area. Definitely keep the area clean, & cover it gently when out... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
Reviewed Aug 12, 2021
A 47-year-old female asked:

Dr. Lauren Bickelanswered
Specializes in Family Medicine
A painful rash (especially on one side of face only) could possibly be shingles- may need Dr exam- or a bacterial infection. Some people do have a se... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
Answered Aug 12, 2021
A 23-year-old male asked:

Dr. Lauren Bickelanswered
Specializes in Family Medicine
Sperm would not survive for any significant length of time on a toilet seat & would not be able to enter a woman’s vagina from a toilet seat so yo... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
Answered Jul 17, 2021
A 19-year-old female asked:

Dr. Lauren Bickelanswered
Specializes in Family Medicine
Call Dr if persists: Is it possibly time for ovulation? (Usually that is 14 days after your last period began)- that can cause pain in the side where the egg comes out, wh... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
62 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 19-year-old female asked:

Dr. Lauren Bickelanswered
Specializes in Family Medicine
Need Dr eval: Ampiclox is an antibiotic used to treat infections. Your symptoms of pain & fever & frequent urination are of concern for a serious urinary tr... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
58 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 30-year-old female asked:

Dr. Lauren Bickelanswered
Specializes in Family Medicine
It is good you desire to lose weight! Proper diet & regular exercise can help greatly, & medications like adipex can give some short term hel... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
Reviewed Apr 30, 2021
A 21-year-old male asked:

Dr. Lauren Bickelanswered
Specializes in Family Medicine
If you had COVID & recovered recently you likely have antibodies to prevent getting it again at least for several months, & if your only sympt... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
Reviewed Apr 30, 2021
A 24-year-old female asked:

Dr. Lauren Bickelanswered
Specializes in Family Medicine
Any time one has unprotected sex there is always at least a small possibility of pregnancy, however, if your periods are regular, the dates of interco... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
Answered >2 years ago
A 42-year-old female asked:

Dr. Lauren Bickelanswered
Specializes in Family Medicine
Narcissists are self focused & it is easy for them to be threatened when the focus is turned to others. Self focus is often accompanied by pride ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
Reviewed Aug 22, 2021
A 26-year-old female asked:

Dr. Lauren Bickelanswered
Specializes in Family Medicine
This could be a type of migraine headache but if it is a new headache never evaluated by a Dr you should see a Dr for thorough history & physical ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
Reviewed Jul 26, 2021
A 36-year-old female asked:

Dr. Lauren Bickelanswered
Specializes in Family Medicine
That’s a good question & one that your team who helped you get over the binge/purge should also address. You definitely do NOT want to go down a... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
Answered Jul 27, 2021
A 39-year-old male asked:

Dr. Lauren Bickelanswered
Specializes in Family Medicine
This history suggests you may have a herniated disc in your back with compression of the nerve on the left, or at least a lot of inflammation around ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
Reviewed Sep 11, 2021
A 19-year-old female asked:

Dr. Lauren Bickelanswered
Specializes in Family Medicine
Anxiety & stress can cause many different symptoms including types of chest pain like you describe, but it is hard to be sure it is that vs anothe... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
Reviewed Aug 02, 2021
A 22-year-old female asked:

Dr. Lauren Bickelanswered
Specializes in Family Medicine
See Dr ASAP: Most of us carry MRSA (resistant staph bacteria) in the nose & a cut like that could get infected with it (or other bacteria) & spread to surr... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
52 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 26-year-old female asked:

Dr. Lauren Bickelanswered
Specializes in Family Medicine
Most persistent symptoms are telling you something is not right, so I recommend reevaluation by your Dr with a careful & thorough history & ph... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
Reviewed >2 years ago
A 51-year-old female asked:

Dr. Lauren Bickelanswered
Specializes in Family Medicine
Check blood pressure: Have you checked your heart rate multiple times, including when you feel this racing sensation? I recommend that to be sure no episodes of fast heart... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
82 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 36-year-old male asked:

Dr. Lauren Bickelanswered
Specializes in Family Medicine
Physical therapy : The disc herniation can potentially cause a nerve injury if there is pressure on the nerve in that area, which supplies sensation & motor function... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
74 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 24-year-old female asked:

Dr. Lauren Bickelanswered
Specializes in Family Medicine
Hormones: A pregnancy is possible, though it usually takes several months after going off birth control pills for ovulation to return (& thus for pregnancy ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
76 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 16-year-old male asked:

Dr. Lauren Bickelanswered
Specializes in Family Medicine
Possibly: Sudden pain in shoulder blade in a young make like yourself can sometimes be due to a spontaneous pneumothorax - a small area of collapsed lung. Usual... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
45 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 33-year-old female asked:

Dr. Lauren Bickelanswered
Specializes in Family Medicine
Should be ok : Well woman exam usually involves a breast exam, pelvic exam, & often a PAP smear. None of these would likely be affected by masturbation the day ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
29 viewsReviewed Jun 08, 2021
A 24-year-old female asked:

Dr. Lauren Bickelanswered
Specializes in Family Medicine
Other forum: This forum is only for brief consultations & we do not have access to specialist consultants, so you will need to either check in via the paid con... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
38 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 38-year-old female asked:

Dr. Lauren Bickelanswered
Specializes in Family Medicine
Cartilage injury?: Squats are stressful on the knee joints. Pain on the “inner side” could be caused by a tear in the medial meniscus (cartilage) or a strain of the medi... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
76 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 25-year-old female asked:

Dr. Lauren Bickelanswered
Specializes in Family Medicine
Gallbladder: HIDA scan evaluates the function of your gallbladder. If ejection fraction is low, removal of the gallbladder is recommended, but it is not an emerge... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 29-year-old male asked:

Dr. Lauren Bickelanswered
Specializes in Family Medicine
Azithromycin: Of those 2 choices azithromycin is better for prostatitis, but trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole or doxycycline are often the top choices for treatment of... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 18-year-old female asked:

Dr. Lauren Bickelanswered
Specializes in Family Medicine
Always, yes: Any time a fertile female has unprotected sex close to day of ovulation, a pregnancy is possible. The egg that comes out at ovulation is available to ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 30-year-old female asked:

Dr. Lauren Bickelanswered
Specializes in Family Medicine
Probably safe: Zyrtec is supposed to be a non- drowsy antihistamine, but it does sometimes cause slight drowsiness which could be worsened when combined with Ativan ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 20-year-old male asked:

Dr. Lauren Bickelanswered
Specializes in Family Medicine
Rheumatic fever is an infection of the heart valve (which can damage the valve) which can occur in someone with strep throat tonsillitis (or possibly ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
Reviewed Apr 11, 2021
A 26-year-old male asked:

Dr. Lauren Bickelanswered
Specializes in Family Medicine
There are many possible causes of these symptoms : a cardiac problem (abnormal rhythm or valve issue) could cause, or dehydration, stress or excessive... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
Answered Oct 08, 2022
A 48-year-old female asked:

Dr. Lauren Bickelanswered
Specializes in Family Medicine
Possible: Weight gain is not a very common side effect of Qlaira contraceptive pills but can happen yes. Any hormonal contraceptive can affect one’s metabolism ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
24 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 18-year-old female asked:

Dr. Lauren Bickelanswered
Specializes in Family Medicine
Best to test: Pregnancy symptoms don’t always mean pregnancy is present but best to do a pregnancy test, since the implant is primarily a progesterone hormone which... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
26 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 32-year-old female asked:

Dr. Lauren Bickelanswered
Specializes in Family Medicine
Hard to say: If the sensation comes & goes, it may be that the area is being rubbed somewhat when you swing your arms during walking. You might consider trying... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
20 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 40-year-old male asked:

Dr. Lauren Bickelanswered
Specializes in Family Medicine
Several causes: 120 is indeed a high resting heart rate which can have many causes: fever/heart disease/dehydration/anxiety/hyperthyroidism/anemia/medication side eff... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
19 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 33-year-old male asked:

Dr. Lauren Bickelanswered
Specializes in Family Medicine
Consult Dr: This could be normal Covid but some people get secondary pneumonia which would require antibiotics, so best to call Dr or do at least video consult - ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
15 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 33-year-old male asked:

Dr. Lauren Bickelanswered
Specializes in Family Medicine
2nd scan Reasonable : Most ultrasound scans are quite accurate, & an 8 week fetus should definitely have a heartbeat visible on the scan, but it is reasonable to get an... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
87 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 29-year-old male asked:

Dr. Lauren Bickelanswered
Specializes in Family Medicine
Needs evaluation : This sounds of concern for an infection under the skin with bacteria that entered through the bite, & the groin pain/swelling could be lymph nodes... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
90 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A member asked:

Dr. Lauren Bickelanswered
Specializes in Family Medicine
Orthotics : Sometimes if you have relatively flat feet, you can have issues even with new shoes, if the arches are not adequate. You could try over the counter a... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
86 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 34-year-old female asked:

Dr. Lauren Bickelanswered
Specializes in Family Medicine
Acetaminophen best : Mefenamic acid, an anti inflammatory drug, is not recommended in young children , though ibuprofen might help. Acetaminophen is safer. Cool liquids, ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
88 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 54-year-old female asked:

Dr. Lauren Bickelanswered
Specializes in Family Medicine
Call your dentist: The dentist offices should all have a way for existing patients to contact them with problems/emergencies & advise patients like yourself on what ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
86 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 37-year-old female asked:

Dr. Lauren Bickelanswered
Specializes in Family Medicine
Minimal contact: Coronavirus is transmitted by respiratory droplets so no shared dishes/cups/utensils. Use separate bathroom if possible . Stay 6 feet apart . Wash han... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
65 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 52-year-old female asked:

Dr. Lauren Bickelanswered
Specializes in Family Medicine
Not likely CT scan: Some lymphomas & cancers can occur in areas where previous radiation therapy was done on the body, but those radiation doses are much higher than ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
82 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 24-year-old female asked:

Dr. Lauren Bickelanswered
Specializes in Family Medicine
Sensitivity: Your skin may be extra sensitive to the sanitizer, or perhaps you are using it too often? Washing hands often with soap & water can be very effect... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
79 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 20-year-old female asked:

Dr. Lauren Bickelanswered
Specializes in Family Medicine
Cetaphil very good: Every individual responds differently. Many dermatologists recommend Cetaphil for skin hydration, though the others may be adequate also. Cetaphil do... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
72 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 26-year-old female asked:

Dr. Lauren Bickelanswered
Specializes in Family Medicine
Possibly yes: Primalout N is a progesterone agent used for several reasons including endometriosis. Endometriosis itself can make getting pregnant difficult: if you... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
83 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 36-year-old male asked:

Dr. Lauren Bickelanswered
Specializes in Family Medicine
Call surgeon : Best to call surgeon & make him/her aware of the pain- may want to recheck you. Try to avoid heavy lifting, & look for any relationship of pa... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
83 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A male asked:

Dr. Lauren Bickelanswered
Specializes in Family Medicine
Dietary: If you do not have a history of travel to unusual places or illness or medication change or pain or blood with stools, your diet is most likely the ca... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2 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.
3
Recommendations
235
Thank you notes
HealthTap member
Jun 27, 2020
Belated thanks for your reply Dr. Bickel. Very reassuring about the Subdural Hematoma recovery question! Thanks again,
Mike
HealthTap member
Nov 27, 2015
This Thanksgiving, I wanted to share my appreciation for all that you do! Thank you, doctor! :)
HealthTap member
May 17, 2020
Thank you. Very helpful.
HealthTap member
This was very helpful. Thanks! Thank you very much Doctor. You have been very helpful. i am sorry to ask another question, i would also like to know what kind of tests/ Lab work would you recommend to...Read More
HealthTap member
This was very helpful. Thanks! Thank you Dr Bickel for your kind and helpful peofessional answer which is really appreciated too..Best wishes From England UK.
HealthTap member
This was very helpful. Thanks! Dr. Bickel, sorry i did not see your reply sooner. Thanks very much for your time and reply!
Education & Training
Medical/Graduate school
Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University, PA
Graduated 1983MD
Awards
HealthTap Founding Doctor
Affiliations
christian medical dental association
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