Dr. Michael Sanders
Pulmonology
Mount Pleasant, SC
18 years experience male
Locations
Office
Mount Pleasant
My office hours
Friday: Closed
Show moreInsurances accepted
Aetna
Blue Cross Blue Shield of South Carolina
Cigna
Humana Insurance Company
Medicare
Tricare
About
Bio
I have been in practice 7 years and have interests in asthma, COPD, cough, sarcoidosis, lung cancer/nodules and lung infections.
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.
Pulmonology
Internal Medicine
Licenses
United States: Kentucky, South Carolina, Virginia, Wyoming
Doctor Q&A
441 Answers
641 Agrees
The number of answers this doctor has agreed with.
A 48-year-old member asked:

Dr. Michael Sandersanswered
Pulmonology 18 years experience
Hard to say: Bronchoscopies are typically very safe. However, I don't know your circumstances. Some conditions will increase the chances of complications.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
673 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 42-year-old member asked:

Dr. Michael Sandersanswered
Pulmonology 18 years experience
See below: typically, blood thinners such as coumadin are prescribed.
If there embolus is large, there is a therapy called EKOS, where an ultrasound probe is pl... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
686 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 31-year-old member asked:

Dr. Michael Sandersanswered
Pulmonology 18 years experience
See below: Medications that fall into that same class would be: Incruse and Tudorza.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
682 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 51-year-old member asked:

Dr. Michael Sandersanswered
Pulmonology 18 years experience
Ventilation is...: the removal of CO2. If your CO2 level is high on an ABG, then you are not ventilating appropriately. Pulmonary Function tests can be used to help fi... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
664 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 67-year-old female asked:

Dr. Michael Sandersanswered
Pulmonology 18 years experience
See below: Potential for coreg to cause airway constriction. This is what is taught. However, it seems in practice, this is a much different story. I'm sure s... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
658 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A female asked:

Dr. Michael Sandersanswered
Pulmonology 18 years experience
Probably not flu: If no real fever, then probably no the flu. Probably just a bad cold. However, these could be the symptoms of pneumonia as well. It couldn't hurt t... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
705 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 31-year-old member asked:

Dr. Michael Sandersanswered
Pulmonology 18 years experience
Maybe: It all depends on what your problem is.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
676 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 44-year-old member asked:

Dr. Michael Sandersanswered
Pulmonology 18 years experience
See below: In my experience, those that need Xolair seem to see quite a bit of improvement. If you have asthma, you should have an IgE level and an allergy pane... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
696 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 24-year-old female asked:

Dr. Michael Sandersanswered
Pulmonology 18 years experience
Typically a CT...: of the chest with contrast is done to look for blood clots, aneurysms or cancer.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
678 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A male asked:

Dr. Michael Sandersanswered
Pulmonology 18 years experience
Yes: I often will do this, especially for asthma patients that are difficult to control. The reason is that the steroid component of advair is a large par... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
696 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 22-year-old female asked:

Dr. Michael Sandersanswered
Pulmonology 18 years experience
See below: Could be infectious. I would get a CT scan
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
706 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A female asked:

Dr. Michael Sandersanswered
Pulmonology 18 years experience
See below: alternatives are: symbicort, advair, and breo
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
682 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 53-year-old female asked:

Dr. Michael Sandersanswered
Pulmonology 18 years experience
See below: The 3 most common issues are:
hypoxia - dropping your oxygen
pneumothorax - collapsed lung
bleeding
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
669 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 22-year-old female asked:

Dr. Michael Sandersanswered
Pulmonology 18 years experience
Yes: there are many other drugs. nitrofurantoin only works if your GFR is over 60. (That number may have been lowered to 30).
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
703 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 44-year-old member asked:

Dr. Michael Sandersanswered
Pulmonology 18 years experience
No: spiriva will not treat pulmonary fibrosis. It can potentially help open your airways and make it easier to breathe. Most often though, these medicat... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
682 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 41-year-old female asked:

Dr. Michael Sandersanswered
Pulmonology 18 years experience
Doubtful: Guaifenesin is for helping to loosen mucous. People normally take that to help with chest congestion. I have never found that it is very beneficial.... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
680 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 45-year-old member asked:

Dr. Michael Sandersanswered
Pulmonology 18 years experience
NO: a bronchoscopy itself should not be painful. Your throat can be a little sore for a day or two afterwards.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
673 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 34-year-old member asked:

Dr. Michael Sandersanswered
Pulmonology 18 years experience
There are many: Is there something specific you are concerned about? A CT of the chest can tell about problems with the lungs, heart, great vessels, pleural, mediast... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
678 viewsAnswered >2 years agoMerged
A 38-year-old member asked:

Dr. Michael Sandersanswered
Pulmonology 18 years experience
Maybe: Spiriva works well for COPD. If it works for you and controls your symptoms, then it's the best. May not be the best for everyone.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
682 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 21-year-old member asked:

Dr. Michael Sandersanswered
Pulmonology 18 years experience
Depends...: It really depends on the type. If you're talking about idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, there's a new drug called pirfenidone. It slows the progressio... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
708 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 38-year-old member asked:

Dr. Michael Sandersanswered
Pulmonology 18 years experience
Depends: There are 2 ways. the easiest way is to place it over a wire that's inserted through a needle. These work for almost every type of problem that requ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
674 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 44-year-old member asked:

Dr. Michael Sandersanswered
Pulmonology 18 years experience
See below: Smoking isn't related to IPF; however, smoking will make your breathing worse and likely cause an obstructive disease (COPD) to go along with your res... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
658 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 50-year-old member asked:

Dr. Michael Sandersanswered
Pulmonology 18 years experience
Guess it's possible: However, this isn't a complaint I've received from Advair.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
669 viewsAnswered >2 years agoMerged
A 28-year-old member asked:

Dr. Michael Sandersanswered
Pulmonology 18 years experience
Depends: It all depends on the method of biopsy. Please provide more detail and I'll be happy to answer.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
669 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 50-year-old member asked:

Dr. Michael Sandersanswered
Pulmonology 18 years experience
See below: The 3 most common issues are:
hypoxia - dropping your oxygen
pneumothorax - collapsed lung
bleeding
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
669 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 26-year-old male asked:

Dr. Michael Sandersanswered
Pulmonology 18 years experience
Need to see images: Based on the description you gave, I would need to see the images. It certainly could be some minimal scarring in the right upper lobe & nothing ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
708 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A female asked:

Dr. Michael Sandersanswered
Pulmonology 18 years experience
See below....: How long has this been going on? It could possibly be the start of shingles and the rash just hasn't appeared yet.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
694 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 20-year-old male asked:

Dr. Michael Sandersanswered
Pulmonology 18 years experience
See below: I typically get my patients to measure their peak flow a few times a week and write it down. Typically this is done at whatever time you want, as lon... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
683 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 33-year-old male asked:

Dr. Michael Sandersanswered
Pulmonology 18 years experience
See below: Chest wall pain is a type of non-cardiac pain that usually describes pain that is reproducible by palpation. It can be costochondritis, muscle pain o... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
682 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A member asked:

Dr. Michael Sandersanswered
Pulmonology 18 years experience
Plain old asthma: Bronchial asthma is basically just asthma. In asthma, the airways (bronchi and bronchioles) narrow, produce excess mucus and have excessive construct... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
708 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 25-year-old female asked:

Dr. Michael Sandersanswered
Pulmonology 18 years experience
See below: Maybe flu, maybe you're septic from pyelonephritis. I'd go see your physician
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
697 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 19-year-old female asked:

Dr. Michael Sandersanswered
Pulmonology 18 years experience
See below: that would be really difficult to answer on here. You need an evaluation by your cardiologist.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
665 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 16-year-old male asked:

Dr. Michael Sandersanswered
Pulmonology 18 years experience
See below: If you're having cold symptoms, these "bulges" could be swollen lymph nodes from infection. However, if you have that many, I think that warrants a t... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
681 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 55-year-old female asked:

Dr. Michael Sandersanswered
Pulmonology 18 years experience
Absolutely: You're blood pressure can be low, normal or high and still have coronary artery disease. If you have concerns about it, you should talk to your PCP.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
681 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 52-year-old male asked:

Dr. Michael Sandersanswered
Pulmonology 18 years experience
It means: There's something there but it can't be linked to anything specific. It may be of no concern, but without seeing the images/report and knowing your h... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
670 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 35-year-old member asked:

Dr. Michael Sandersanswered
Pulmonology 18 years experience
Lung sounds: can indicate many different problems. Rhonchi are common with COPD, pneumonia, smokers, bronchitis. Crackles - wet crackles - can be heard with pneu... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
671 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 40-year-old member asked:

Dr. Michael Sandersanswered
Pulmonology 18 years experience
Mediastinum: It emerges from the right ventricle.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
708 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 36-year-old member asked:

Dr. Michael Sandersanswered
Pulmonology 18 years experience
?: What kind of procedure? Spontaneous respirations are normal. That's what we do 24/7. Unless you had a procedure where you were given paralytics, y... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
697 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 64-year-old female asked:

Dr. Michael Sandersanswered
Pulmonology 18 years experience
That's what it is: marketed for. There are a number of studies in pubmed which discuss it's various effects. Might be worth looking into.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
667 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 63-year-old female asked:

Dr. Michael Sandersanswered
Pulmonology 18 years experience
Yes: both of those medications are fine with Advair.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
669 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 52-year-old member asked:

Dr. Michael Sandersanswered
Pulmonology 18 years experience
Possibly: Have you been injured? If not, then it could be pleurisy or a pulled muscle.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
665 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 31-year-old male asked:

Dr. Michael Sandersanswered
Pulmonology 18 years experience
Potentially: It can ease the work of breathing as the ILD progresses
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
666 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 42-year-old female asked:

Dr. Michael Sandersanswered
Pulmonology 18 years experience
Yes: Lung ultrasound is becoming more and more common. We often do lung ultrasound in the ICU. An abdominal US, if it detects problems with your lungs, ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
674 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 35-year-old member asked:

Dr. Michael Sandersanswered
Pulmonology 18 years experience
The steroid: The steroids differ. The bronchodilator is the same. In my experience, the steroid in symbicort works much better.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
682 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 35-year-old member asked:

Dr. Michael Sandersanswered
Pulmonology 18 years experience
See below: mild cases can probably be treated with a steroid cream. severe cases usually require oral steroids.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
667 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 43-year-old member asked:

Dr. Michael Sandersanswered
Pulmonology 18 years experience
Depends: If it's a CT guided biopsy, you are awake, but usually given something like a valium. If it is a bronchoscopic biopsy, then you are usually sedated, ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
669 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 35-year-old member asked:

Dr. Michael Sandersanswered
Pulmonology 18 years experience
Why do you need it?: Also, I don't think combivent is sampled anymore...it is an old drug.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
664 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 39-year-old male asked:

Dr. Michael Sandersanswered
Pulmonology 18 years experience
No: They are basically the same thing. The medications are different than Symbicort, but I wouldn't say one is stronger than the other. In my experience... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
669 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 34-year-old female asked:

Dr. Michael Sandersanswered
Pulmonology 18 years experience
Yes: These are done frequently. However, this tissue obtained is often not enough to diagnose interstitial lung disease. this typically requires an open ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
669 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 32-year-old member asked:

Dr. Michael Sandersanswered
Pulmonology 18 years experience
Depends: on why it's done. If it's to clean out a mucous plug, then usually just suctioning. If it's done to look for infection, then maybe a bronchioalveola... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
673 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.
8
Recommendations
93
Thank you notes
Jun 10, 2017
Dr. Sanders gives us all the straight scoop. His responses are clearly understandable, sharing with us the fruits of his clinical experience combined with the best science. He is also supportive of b...Read More
May 28, 2017
Dr Sanders is providing an excellent service to the Public via Health Tap. He provides accurate, concise and understandable information about Pulmonary Medicine and other health issues. I have learne...Read More
May 6, 2017
Dr.Sanders gives insightful and genuine answers.
HealthTap member
This was very helpful. Thanks! It was very helpful. I have contacted a doctor. I went to urgent care last time this happened and it was not the flu or strep... inside of throat not sore - so we shal...Read More
HealthTap member
Not to sound harsh or ungrateful but unfortunately i am unsatisfied because i dont think my question was answered at all. I didnt ask are the drugs affecting my baby because i am already aware of tha...Read More
HealthTap member
This was very helpful. Thanks! Thank you, my doc who is not a pulmonologist, said the tumor had spread to the node, but he said the primary couldn't be seen. This confused me. Thanks for clarifying.
Education & Training
Medical/Graduate school
Pikeville College School of Osteopathic Medicine, KY
Graduated 2005MD
Residency
NORTON COMMUNITY HOSPITAL
Awards
Excellence in humanism and teaching, Arnold P. Gold honor society
Gold Humanism Award, Arnold P. Gold Foundation
Most Influential, First Place, the Charleston Region - Spring
2017
Affiliations
American college chest physician
Society of Critical Care Medicine
AOA
Publications
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