Family Medicine

Complete Family Medicine in Andrews, TX

Your family is in good hands at Andrews Family Medicine. Dr. Waddingham has been helping families live healthier for over 30 years. He can treat a wide variety of medical conditions that affect children, women and men, including:

• Abdominal pain
  Abdominal pain is a common symptom experienced by children and adults of all ages. It can have any one or more of a great many possible causes, so getting an accurate diagnosis and knowing your medical and family history is critical to finding the right solution for you.

• Allergies
  Millions of men, women and children suffer from allergies. They may be allergic to environmental triggers such as seasonal ragweed and grass pollens, air pollutants, foods, pet dander, chemicals and insect bites or stings.

• Asthma
  Asthma is a frightening condition that makes breathing difficult and often requires treatment with corticosteroid inhalers and medications.

• Bronchitis
  This is an inflammation of the bronchial tubes that allow air in and out of the lungs. It is typically caused by a viral respiratory infection.

• Conjunctivitis (pink-eye)
  Common among children and adults who make contact with children, pink eye can be caused by allergies or bacterial/viral infections. These lead to inflammation or irritation in the outer membrane of the eye and the inner eyelid. Your doctor will recommend one of several treatments for conjunctivitis depending on the cause. The most common causes include viruses, bacteria and allergies.
  Viral conjunctivitis spreads easily and usually resolves within a few days without treatment, though it may also take weeks. This is caused by viruses similar to those that cause colds, sore throats and upper respiratory infections.
  Bacterial conjunctivitis is caused by certain bacteria that infect the conjunctival membrane. This type of infection typically clears up within a few days without treatment. Your doctor can advise you about taking an antibiotic or using eyedrops, if necessary to combat your infection.
  Allergic conjunctivitis can be caused by animal dander, dust, mold, pollen and contact lenses. You can avoid the allergen causing it, take allergy medication, alter your contact lens usage and place cold compresses gently against your eyes for instant relief.

• Atopic dermatitis (eczema)
  Atopic dermatitis is an itchy, red skin irritation or inflammation that can be painful. There are three basic types of dermatitis. These include contact dermatitis (e.g. poison ivy), seborrheic dermatitis (scaly patches) and atopic dermatitis (eczema). Eczema is a chronic skin condition characterized by itching, redness and irritation. Though more common in infants and young children, it can occur at any age. Eczema is also closely associated with allergies (food, environmental) and asthma and is sometimes referred to as skin asthma. More severe symptoms are often caused by one of several types of infections, allergies or even nutritional deficiencies. If not controlled, severe eczema can have a significant negative impact on your quality of life. Severe cases during infancy may indicate a severe primary immunodeficiency. Successful treatment of eczema involves identifying triggers and ways to avoid them, and using medications for controlling your symptoms.

• Diabetes mellitus
  More than 30 million Americans (nearly 10% of the population) have diabetes. In adults aged 65 and older, more than 25% (one person in four) have diabetes. Diabetes mellitus is categorized as either microvascular (kidneys, eyes and nerves) or macrovascular (heart). The goal of treatment is to reduce blood sugar, which affects your kidneys and other risk factors that can affect your heart. Symptoms include frequent urination, dry mouth, feeling hungry or thirsty all the time, extreme fatigue, blurry vision, slow healing wounds and numbness/tingling in the hands and feet. Early treatment can reduce the risk of diabetic complications, such as blindness or foot amputation.
  Diabetes treatment often involves lifestyle modifications such as eating a healthy diet, losing weight and exercising more frequently. The first step is to start thinking of food as medicine. Many people have been able to reduce their symptoms or even reverse diabetes mellitus entirely by eating more natural, whole-food, plant-based diets. Learn to read nutrition labels and question additives, chemicals and ingredients, which are often unfit for human consumption. Talk to a nutritionist about your best food options and meal times. In addition to dietary changes and exercising regularly, we have new medications that reduce blood sugar in pill form and injections. These medications can reduce your risk of microvascular disease. Macrovascular disease is another story. To reduce your risk of heart disease, you will need to control blood pressure and cholesterol, as well. Specific medications can help you reduce your risk of a heart attack.

• Headaches
  Almost everyone has experienced headaches. There are many different types of headaches, including tension or stress headaches, cluster headaches, sinus headaches, rebound headaches (from overuse of painkiller medicines) and migraine headaches.

• Hypertension (high blood pressure)
  Known as the silent killer because most people with high blood pressure experience no symptoms, this life-threatening condition affects one out of three people aged 20 or older (about 85 million Americans). But untreated and poorly managed hypertension can lead to heart attack and stroke. Normal blood pressure is 120/80 or lower.

• Menopause & symptom management
  When a woman reaches older adulthood and stops having monthly periods, she is in that phase of life known as menopause. Women who are premenopausal (called perimenopause) often experience symptoms such as flushing or hot flashes, chills, night sweats, mood changes, sleep problems, weight gain and thinning hair to accompany hormonal changes that usually start between ages 40 and 55, though age and symptoms vary widely between individual women.

• Migraine

• Obesity & overweight

• Pelvic pain
  Pelvic pain, ranging in intensity from mild to debilitating, can have many possible causes. Dr. Waddingham will ask you about your pain, accompanying symptoms and activities that worsen your pain. He’ll ask about your medical and family history and use diagnostic tests to find the cause and plan the right treatment.

• Pharyngitis
  A sore throat is not usually a good reason to run to the doctor. However, if you also have a fever, rash, difficulty breathing or swallowing, you should see Dr. Waddingham immediately. If you have a young child who is drooling excessively, see a doctor. If your neck is swollen or tender, see a doctor. Your doctor will want to take some cells from your throat to help identify the actual cause of your infection. This is an inflammation and infection (viral or bacterial) of the back of the throat (pharynx) that typically causes a sore throat and fever. The condition typically resolves within five to seven days.
  Pharyngitis treatment typically involves home remedies, over-the-counter treatments such as sucking on throat lozenges, gargling with saltwater, drinking plenty of warm liquids and using cool mist vaporizers or humidifiers to make breathing easier. If you have a more serious sore throat caused by bacteria, Dr. Waddingham may recommend antibiotic therapy. If your sore throat is caused by a virus, it will typically heal by itself. If you have repeated sore throats, you should see an allergist for evaluation because allergies may be causing your problem.

• Respiratory infections
  Respiratory tract infections are extremely common and often caused by bacterial or viral infection, though bacterial infections are less common. Upper respiratory infections affect the sinuses and throat, while pneumonia is the most common lower respiratory infection.

• Sinusitis
  Your sinuses are air-filled cavities that surround your nasal passages. When these passages become inflamed, fluid builds up and interferes with the drainage of mucus. The main causes are viral, bacterial and fungal infections. Sinus infections that cause inflammation of the sinus cavity linings are extremely common. These often start with cold-like symptoms. But when they last beyond 10 days and get better briefly then worse, they qualify as sinusitis. Other possible causes include allergies, air pollution, a deviated septum and smoking.
  Acute sinusitis typically lasts more than 10 days.
  Chronic sinusitis can last eight to 12 weeks and may recur several times during a given year. Dr. Waddingham and his team may use X-rays, CT scans and other diagnostic tests to determine whether you have chronic sinusitis and what is causing it. Treatment may include medication, self-care and other options for more serious cases. Chronic sinusitis should not go untreated. It can become more serious and cause complications because the anatomy involved is close to the brain.

• Skin infections
  Most common types include bacterial (e.g. impetigo), fungal (e.g. athletes’ foot, yeast) infections, viral infections (e.g. chicken pox, measles) and parasitic infections (e.g. lice, bedbugs). Most skin infections can be treated with topical and oral medications and, in rare cases, with surgery.

• Urinary tract infections
  Commonly known as UTIs, these infections may occur anywhere in the urinary system, from your kidneys to your bladder and urethra. A bladder infection can cause pelvic pain, painful urination and blood in the urine. Kidney infections can cause back pain, nausea and fever. These are commonly treated with antibiotics.

• Uterine prolapse
  This condition occurs when pelvic floor muscles and ligaments weaken and cease supporting the uterus. The uterus slips downward into the vagina and may protrude outside. In mild cases, no treatment is required. Many women have learned to prevent prolapse or keep it from returning by performing Kegel exercises to strengthen their pelvic muscles.

Caring for the health needs of women

Caring for the ob gyn health needs of women is a big part of family practice at Andrews Family Medicine. Dr. Waddingham and his gynecologist team also offer the following ob gyn services specifically for women of all ages:

• Birth control

• Contraception

• Pregnancy & pregnancy test
  Dr. Waddingham and his team will provide a pregnancy test and help you through your pregnancy to ensure a healthy delivery.

• Essure (permanent birth control)
  During the nonsurgical Essure® procedure, the doctor places a soft, flexible insert into the fallopian tubes. It does not require any cutting and can be performed in the office without anesthesia. Essure does not contain any hormones, takes about 30 minutes and recovery time is typically one or two days. Essure is a sterilization procedure that prevents pregnancy by creating scar tissue and blocking the fallopian tubes from releasing eggs. Essure is permanent and irreversible. You might be a candidate for this procedure only if you have completed your family or decided that you do not want children. It’s another way to achieve permanent contraception besides hysterectomy.

• Hysterectomy
  Hysterectomy is the surgical removal of a woman’s uterus (womb) and sometimes the ovaries and fallopian tubes, as well. A woman might opt for hysterectomy for several reasons, including uterine prolapse, fibroids and endometriosis, but all hysterectomies end the ability to get pregnant.

• Laparoscopy (minimally invasive procedures)
  Instead of major open surgery with large incisions, laparoscopy allows much smaller incisions and shorter recovery times for procedures such as laparoscopic hysterectomy and endometriosis removal.

• Occupational therapy
  Despite the name, this is not about therapy for your occupation. Occupational therapy is designed to help you achieve full function for the necessary activities of daily living, including your work and hobbies.

• Vaccinations
  Dr. Waddingham will be happy to advise and guide you through the types and timing of vaccinations required to protect children and adults from various life-threatening diseases.

• Well-woman exam
  Every woman needs an annual wellness checkup or well-woman exam. This typically includes a PAP test, breast exam, mammogram, bone density scan, cervical cancer screening and pelvic exam for adult females. The well-woman exam checks the reproductive system and sexual health for all females.
  Our caring gynecologist and pediatric doctor is happy to treat your health problems and help you overcome illness and return to the activities of your life. We can even provide occupational therapy to help you get back to proper function. We welcome patients from Andrews TX, Goldsmith, Seminole, Lamesa, Midland, Odessa, Gardendale and surrounding communities.

Learn more about family medicine close to home. Call 432-523-6624 for more information or use our convenient Request an Appointment form.