About
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.
General Practice
Licenses
United States: Minnesota, New Jersey
Doctor Q&A
34 Answers
2 Agrees
The number of answers this doctor has agreed with.
A 29-year-old female asked:
Dr. Sam Pennellaanswered
Specializes in General Practice
Dicyclomine: Yes. dicyclomine does slow gut motility and may cause weight gain.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
87 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 17-year-old male asked:
Dr. Sam Pennellaanswered
Specializes in General Practice
Chest pain/dyspnea: No, while there are some causes for somatic pains related to anxiety, it's rare. You should get chest X-rays also to make sure there isn't something i... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
87 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 33-year-old female asked:
Dr. Sam Pennellaanswered
Specializes in General Practice
COronavirus: It might help a slight amount being that a virus is a foreign particle and will cause some symptoms that the benelyn will help alleviate, the guaifene... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
87 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 17-year-old member asked:
Dr. Sam Pennellaanswered
Specializes in General Practice
Epiphyseal plates: Your growth plates, aka epiphyseal, I think fuse at the same time throughout the body. A pediatric orthopedist or sports med would know for certain.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
87 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 23-year-old female asked:
Dr. Sam Pennellaanswered
Specializes in General Practice
Hypo/hypertension: It sounds like you are saying you have hyper and hypo tension throughout the day. Medications can cause this, so you should review what you are on, bu... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
86 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 32-year-old female asked:
Dr. Sam Pennellaanswered
Specializes in General Practice
Pulm fibrosis: Yes it can cause pulmonary fibrosis, and high doses can eventually cause heart injury. There are no remedies. Getting a chest X-ray or a CT scan is no... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
85 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 26-year-old male asked:
Dr. Sam Pennellaanswered
Specializes in General Practice
Resolved diarrhea: It is indeed listed as a symptom; however, not a lot is known about this virus and it isn't known how a primarily respiratory virus affects the GI sys... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
87 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 24-year-old female asked:
Dr. Sam Pennellaanswered
Specializes in General Practice
Lysol: No. They are safe, but you should still wear gloves to protect your skin while using them. Your fetus will be fine. These wipes are not known to cause... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
87 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 22-year-old male asked:
Dr. Sam Pennellaanswered
Specializes in General Practice
Tonsillitis: Sometimes tonsillitis can cause referred pain to the ear, and sometimes the ear pain can do vice versa. You could go to your primary to get tested for... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
87 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 18-year-old male asked:
Dr. Sam Pennellaanswered
Specializes in General Practice
Allergies r/o COVID: COVID supposedly causes fever in the majority of patients but it has been said that some don't have a fever. You could visit your doctor or hospital t... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
87 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A member asked:
Dr. Sam Pennellaanswered
Specializes in General Practice
Heart rhythm: If you don't take any supplements or drink too much coffee, an EKG or holter monitor would help determine what the heart rhythm is when you experience... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
87 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 31-year-old female asked:
Dr. Sam Pennellaanswered
Specializes in General Practice
Sinus infection: You may have a sinus infection in what is called your maxillary sinuses. It is best to treat these with antibiotics if they don't resolve on their own... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
87 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 21-year-old female asked:
Dr. Sam Pennellaanswered
Specializes in General Practice
Dark blood: Sometimes blood is dark after the period. It's just because it is very de-oxygenated or has been in there for a while. You're fine
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
87 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 26-year-old female asked:
Dr. Sam Pennellaanswered
Specializes in General Practice
Unclear: This is really unclear. Were the feet feeling cold before the surgery at any time? That is probably from your hypothyroidism if it is hypo. It's unlik... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
87 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 17-year-old male asked:
Dr. Sam Pennellaanswered
Specializes in General Practice
Chest pain/dyspnea: While there are some causes for somatic pains related to anxiety, it's rare. You should get chest X-rays also to make sure there isn't something invol... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
87 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 23-year-old member asked:
Dr. Sam Pennellaanswered
Specializes in General Practice
R/O diabetes: Sometimes insulin resistance and other endocrine disorders can darken your skin. Sometimes this is genetic and there are some topical drugs you can ap... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
85 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 26-year-old member asked:
Dr. Sam Pennellaanswered
Specializes in General Practice
PUD: This could be a peptic ulcer or gastric ulcer. Generally they feel worse when eating. It could also just be from gas buildup in the stomach.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
87 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 26-year-old member asked:
Dr. Sam Pennellaanswered
Specializes in General Practice
Bloodborne pathogens: While there is a chance that you could have contracted a bloodborne disease, I would like to reassure you that it is very unlikely in this context. If... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
87 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 29-year-old female asked:
Dr. Sam Pennellaanswered
Specializes in General Practice
Blood per rectum: Do you have a history of hemorrhoids? has this ever happened before? You need to be properly evaluated in person with a doctor. The bleeding is most l... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
86 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 44-year-old male asked:
Dr. Sam Pennellaanswered
Specializes in General Practice
Chest pain: It could be the muscle. Discuss the context with a doctor. It could also be from your stomach. Ask a doctor to do a resting EKG for you and if that is... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
87 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 24-year-old female asked:
Dr. Sam Pennellaanswered
Specializes in General Practice
BMI: The smart scales are fairly accurate. If you really want to get exact you can do a buoyancy test to get your lean body mass and then subtract the appr... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
87 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 23-year-old male asked:
Dr. Sam Pennellaanswered
Specializes in General Practice
Halitosis/sinusitis: Bad breath, also known as halitosis, can be frustrating and annoying. There are a few causes, inflammation of your gums, known as gingivitis, can caus... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
86 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 39-year-old male asked:
Dr. Sam Pennellaanswered
Specializes in General Practice
R/O TIA: There are a number of things that can cause this. Medication side effects and more concerning would be arrhythmia or TIA. You should be evaluated by a... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
87 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 32-year-old female asked:
Dr. Sam Pennellaanswered
Specializes in General Practice
Breastfeeding abx: Yes. It is okay. It does go into his milk but it shouldn't affect him. Go to the pediatrician or primary doctor if you notice him having any changes.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
87 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 26-year-old male asked:
Dr. Sam Pennellaanswered
Specializes in General Practice
Orthopedic: You're going to need an X-ray if you can get one. A full history would help, but resting, icing it, and taking advil or naproxen should help. Do that ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
87 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 38-year-old male asked:
Dr. Sam Pennellaanswered
Specializes in General Practice
Perianal abscess: It could be an external hemorrhoid, infected hemorrhoid or a perianal abscess. If you can get to your GP have them examine you and they may be able to... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
87 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 30-year-old female asked:
Dr. Sam Pennellaanswered
Specializes in General Practice
Head pressure causes: New medications causing increased intracranial pressure, sinus infection, meningitis or encephalitis, hypertension
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
Reviewed >2 years ago
A 21-year-old female asked:
Dr. Sam Pennellaanswered
Specializes in General Practice
IBS: This is probably just Roemheld Syndrome or irritable bowel syndrome. Try to decrease the size of your meals and if it persists you might want a referr... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
87 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 47-year-old female asked:
Dr. Sam Pennellaanswered
Specializes in General Practice
LTN: Sounds like injury to the long thoracic nerve or cranial nerve 11. Any trauma history? If not, then is there any imaging of the neck and ribs?
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
86 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 56-year-old female asked:
Dr. Sam Pennellaanswered
Specializes in General Practice
R/O DVTs: Really need more information on what could be causing this (orthopedic and radiculopathy causes) but you could have DVTs. You need to get imaging done... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
87 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 20-year-old member asked:
Dr. Sam Pennellaanswered
Specializes in General Practice
Benzodiazepines: Yes they will return to normal after cessation of use. You build a tolerance to both or one or the other if you don't use them simultaneously. You sho... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
87 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 25-year-old male asked:
Dr. Sam Pennellaanswered
Specializes in General Practice
Constipation: You can try a very small amount of enema. Ask a pediatrician first.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
87 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 20-year-old female asked:
Dr. Sam Pennellaanswered
Specializes in General Practice
TMJ: Just try to relax a bit. It sounds like you have temporomandibular joint syndrome. Try to stop cracking it and take naproxen if it is painful. If it p... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
87 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 42-year-old female asked:
Dr. Sam Pennellaanswered
Specializes in General Practice
Body aches: We need a lot more information about what the cause of this could be. Were you exercising, is there a family history of this, etc
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
87 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.
8
Thank you notes
HealthTap member
This was very helpful. Thanks! Thank u! Just so u know, I’m not personally using anything but am researching this for my aunt who is concerned about withdrawal symptoms after stopping medication. Coul...Read More
HealthTap member
Your answer made me feel good, thanks! Thank you so much doctor ? i will stop cracking it
HealthTap member
Thank you for the information it was helpful!
90,000 U.S. doctors in 147 specialties are here to answer your questions, provide medical advice, write prescriptions, and more.
Answer emailed
in 24 hours or less
