My Doctor Online The Permanente Medical Group
Are you having back pain with any of the following?
- Severe pain, weakness or tingling in your leg(s).
- Difficulty stopping urination or loss of control of bladder or bowels.
- Unexplained fever, nausea or vomiting.
- A history of cancer or unexplained weight loss.
We understand that you are experiencing one or more of the health issues that might be impacting your back pain.
We recommend that you discuss these health issues with your doctor before proceeding with this program.
Once you are cleared by your doctor to do this program, we hope it helps you find relief from your back pain.
Vaginitis
A healthy vagina has a normal balance of bacteria. Vaginitis occurs when something changes the balance of these organisms. This imbalance can cause irritation, inflammation or an infection.
Yeast Infection (Candidiasis) [Read/Print full article]
Overview
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Yeast infections (candidiasis) are very common and are the result of an overgrowth of yeast in the vagina.
If you have had a yeast infection before and you recognize the symptoms, you can treat it yourself with over-the-counter medication. If you are unsure whether or not you have a yeast infection, please call the Appointment and Advice line.
About vaginitis
A healthy vagina has a normal balance of bacteria. Vaginitis occurs when something changes the balance of these organisms. This imbalance creates inflammation or causes an infection. Symptoms include:
- Itching
- Pain
- An unusual vaginal discharge
Most women will have vaginitis at some time during their lives. Many types of vaginitis are easy to treat, and your symptoms will go away quickly.
Vaginitis can sometimes be an early sign of a more serious problem, although this is relatively rare.
Symptoms and Diagnosis
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Yeast infections often cause itching and inflammation in the vagina or on the area just around the vagina. There is usually no odor with a yeast infection. You might also have:
- Pain and burning during urination or sex
- A thick, white, or greenish discharge, or one that looks like cottage cheese
It is relatively easy to diagnose a yeast infection. If you come in for an appointment, we may:
- Review your medical history.
- Do a pelvic exam.
- Evaluate the acidity of the vaginal discharge.
- Look at your vaginal discharge under a microscope for yeast.
- On rare occasions, if the symptoms recur frequently or do not respond well to usual medications, we may do a vaginal culture as well.
Causes and Prevention
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Medicines—such as antibiotics, birth control pills, hormones, and steroids—can increase your risk of getting a yeast infection. You may also be more likely to get a yeast infection if:
- You are pregnant.
- You have diabetes.
- You douche.
- You wear tight clothes.
Treatments
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If your symptoms of yeast infection are mild, you may want to wait a few days to see if the infection goes away on its own.
If you have had yeast infections before and are pretty sure that you are having another one, you can use over-the-counter anti-yeast (anti-fungal) creams or suppositories (like Monistat 7®). We can also write you a prescription for an anti-yeast pill to take by mouth.
Make an appointment to see us:
- If you are unsure whether or not you have a yeast infection.
- If you have had more than 4 yeast infections in a year.
Your Care with Me
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If you think you have a yeast infection and
- Your symptoms are mild, you may wish to wait a few days to see if your symptoms clear up on their own or consider using over-the-counter treatments.
- You’ve had a yeast infection before and recognize your symptoms, you may use over-the-counter medications to treat your infection. These creams are safe to take during pregnancy. If you’ve previously used a prescription medication, you can reorder directly on my home page or call our mail order pharmacy during regular business hours to get a refill.
- Your symptoms are frequent, don’t respond to treatment, or you’ve had more than 4 yeast infections in the past year, please make an appointment to see me.
The nurses at our Appointment and Advice line may be able to treat you as well over the phone. If not, they can send a message to my office or book you an appointment.
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Contacting Me
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You can connect with me in a variety of ways, depending on the situation and what is most convenient for you at the time. I am available online, by telephone, or in person.
- For nonurgent questions or concerns, you can e-mail me using this site. You can also book an appointment online to see me in person.
- If your concerns are immediate, or you simply prefer to use the telephone, please call our Appointment and Advice line, which is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Our advice nurses can give you immediate advice, and our telephone staff can send me a message or book an appointment for you.
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How We Coordinate Your Care
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Having all of our Kaiser Permanente departments located together or nearby, including pharmacy, laboratory, radiology, and health education, makes getting your care easier for you.
Another major benefit is our comprehensive electronic medical record system, which allows all of the doctors and clinicians involved in your care to stay current on your health status and to collaborate with each other as appropriate.
When every member of the health care team is aware of all aspects of your condition, care is safer and more effective.
If you come to an office visit
- At the beginning of your visit, you will receive information about when you are due for your next test, screening, or immunization. We can discuss and schedule any preventive tests that you need.
- At the end of your visit, you may receive a document called the “After Visit Summary” that will summarize the issues we discussed during your visit. You can refer to it if you forget what we discussed, or if you just want to recheck your vital signs and weight. You can also view it online under Past Visits.
- To help you prepare for your visit, please see additional details under Office Visit.
If I prescribe medications
We will work together to monitor and assess how your medications are working and make adjustments as needed. Prescriptions can be filled at any Kaiser Permanente pharmacy. Just let me know which pharmacy works best for you, and I will send the prescription electronically in advance of your arrival at the pharmacy.
If refills are needed in the future, you can:
- Order them online or by phone. Order future refills from my home page or by phone using the pharmacy refill number on your prescription label.
- Have them delivered to you by mail at no extra cost. Or you can pick up your medications at the pharmacy. If no refills remain when you place your order, the pharmacy will contact me regarding your prescription.
If lab testing or imaging is needed
For lab tests, I will use our electronic medical record system to send the requisition to the Kaiser Permanente laboratory of your choice. For imaging procedures, we will schedule an appointment with the radiology department. When the results are ready, I will contact you with your results by letter, secure e-mail message, or phone. In addition, you can view most of your laboratory results online, along with any comments that I have attached to explain them.
If I refer you to a specialist
My specialty colleagues are readily available to assist me if I need additional advice about your condition. In some cases, I may contact them during your visit, so we can discuss your care together. If we decide you need a specialty appointment after that discussion, we can often schedule it the same day or soon thereafter.
If you are due for preventive screenings or tests
As part of our commitment to prevention, additional members of our health care team may contact you to come in for a visit or test. We will contact you if you are overdue for cancer screenings or conditions which may require monitoring.
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Convenient Resources for You
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As your personal physician, I have a goal to provide high-quality care and to offer you choices that make your health care convenient. I recommend that you become familiar with the many resources we offer so that you can choose the services that work best for you.
My Doctor Online is available 24/7 so that you can access and manage your care where and when it is most convenient. From my home page you can:
Manage your care securely
- View and compose secure e-mail messages.
- Manage your prescriptions and schedule appointments.
- View your past visits and test results.
- View your Preventive Services to see whether you are due for a routine screening or updated immunization.
Learn more about your condition
- Read about causes, symptoms, treatments, and procedures.
- Find interactive health tools, videos, and podcasts to help you manage your condition.
- View programs to help you decide on or prepare for a surgery or procedure.
Stay healthy
- Locate health education classes and support groups offered at our medical center.
- Explore interactive programs, videos, and podcasts that focus on helping you stay healthy.
- View your Preventive Services to see whether you are due for a routine screening or updated immunization.
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If you have an emergency medical condition, call 911 or go to the nearest hospital. An emergency medical condition is any of the following: (1) a medical condition that manifests itself by acute symptoms of sufficient severity (including severe pain) such that you could reasonably expect the absence of immediate medical attention to result in serious jeopardy to your health or body functions or organs; (2) active labor when there isn't enough time for safe transfer to a Plan hospital (or designated hospital) before delivery, or if transfer poses a threat to your (or your unborn child's) health and safety, or (3) a mental disorder that manifests itself by acute symptoms of sufficient severity such that either you are an immediate danger to yourself or others, or you are not immediately able to provide for, or use, food, shelter, or clothing, due to the mental disorder.
This information is not intended to diagnose health problems or to take the place of specific medical advice or care you receive from your physician or other health care professional. If you have persistent health problems, or if you have additional questions, please consult with your doctor. If you have questions or need more information about your medication, please speak to your pharmacist. Kaiser Permanente does not endorse the medications or products mentioned. Any trade names listed are for easy identification only.