The causes of irregular bleeding with oral contraceptives can be myriad. I think it would be good for you to come in and have a visit with a provider to help you with this issue.​​

The best way to sometimes share sensitive information is to give people a preface or context to what you are about to share. I would imagine that what may be a successful way to share is to let the person know that you are going to share something that is important to you and that does really bother you. Share with them that people have not gotten that in the past and have made fun of you for it, so please understand that this is a serious issue and really does upset you. Then, share the phobias with them.
Another element to think about is when and how you tell them. As this is a big issue to you, treat it as such. Share it with them in private and more intimate settings, and make sure your non-verbals (face, tone) communicate that this is a big deal to you.
Counseling can also really help you around these phobias as well so I strongly encourage you to give counseling a try.​

Thank you for your comments. We take your concerns very seriously and appreciate you giving us the opportunity to respond.
First, we have a wonderful full-time janitorial staff here on campus that makes scheduled rounds in our facility both during and after business hours to not only provide general clean-up but disinfection services specific to ambulatory healthcare centers.
Second, it is important to understand how illness spreads so that you do not make assumptions that impact not only your own health and health decisions but the health of others’ around you.

Knowing how infectious diseases spread will help protect you from getting sick and decrease the likelihood that you will spread illness. The following information is available on the CDC website and it will empower you to be a more responsible community member — so that you can protect your health and the health of others. Two main types of illnesses that you may be able to spread easily to another person are respiratory illnesses (those that affect your breathing) and foodborne illnesses (those spread by eating, drinking, or putting something in your mouth that has been contaminated).
Illnesses like these spread from person to person when droplets from the cough or sneeze of an infected person move through the air and get into the mouth or nose of people nearby. The germs in these droplets can often also live on surfaces, such as desks or doorknobs, for 2 hours or longer and can spread when people touch these surfaces and then touch their eyes, mouth, and nose. There are measures sick persons can take while dealing with respiratory illness or foodborne illnesses to mitigate spreading germs to others:

• Cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze.
• Throw away used tissues. (Place them in a trash can or the sick bag when on a flight.)
• Wash your hands often with soap and water. Wash after you use the bathroom, sneeze or cough, and before eating or touching anything that you might put in your mouth. (Hand sanitizer with alcohol may be used if no running water is available.)
• Do not share food or drink with others

The Health Center works diligently to provide exceptional care in a clean, safe environment and seeks to educate our community about the basics of personal hygiene and how these choices affect the health of our community at large. Each October we conduct Flu clinics which offer free flu shots to any enrolled student, we give-out free portable hand sanitizer, conduct hand-washing campaigns across campus (in dorms, Greek housing and academic buildings) and participate in any and all Colorado Department of Health advisories that affect our student population. We hope that this clarified some myths about how illness spreads and you will give us another opportunity to care for you should you become ill in the future.

The blank pills do not have active hormones in them. Some of the brands of pills will have iron in the blank pills but you are right in that we recommend that you take them so that you stay in the habit. If you can stay in the routine without doing the blanks there is no problem with not taking them. Just remember to re-start your new pack of pills on time.

It sounds like a traumatic injury to the toenail from when you dropped something on it. Trauma like that can cause the nail to fall off. It is likely to grow back, slowly but we would be happy to check it out.​ You can call for an appointment at the Health Center at 303-871-2205

It definitely could be due to the time change and your diet. I would recommend if it is possible, to get a home pregnancy test. If the test is negative, which I really think it will be, there is no harm in not having a period. I would recommend that you come in when you return to the states and talk to someone. I hope this helps, especially since you are so far away.

The B12 shot would not have any effect on your cycle. Are you at risk for pregnancy? ie unprotected sex with no birth control? If so, I would get a home pregnancy test. It could very well be due to stress and school.​​ If you have further questions, we could see you for a visit at the Health Center.

Occasionally Afrin or Neosynepherine nasal sprays will help this. Remember not to use longer than 3 days​. If your symptoms persist, you can schedule a visit at the Health Center.

It is colder and people tend to want to stay in bed longer in the mornings. This is a simple explanation.
The increased stress can definitely be an issue. Stress uses energy and can make you more tired than usual.
There can be physical causes also, but it would be necessary for us to see you to help sort out what is happening.​

Yes, you are still protected from pregnancy as long as you are taking the medication as prescribed. Please remember unprotected sex can lead to sexually transmitted infections that would not be desirable.

The best way to approach anyone you care about is to remember to use the language of care and concern. Express that you care about her and want to help her get help. Point out the specific areas that cocern you. Also, remember when approaching anyone, it is best to do it in a private space.
For some more information and resources, check out our page on how to help a friend. Also, if this doesn't work, feel free to call and consult with one of our professionals about the next steps. ​

A vasectomy is not covered by the Student Health Insurance Plan. Most urology clinics can perform the procedure as an outpatient surgery. A vasectomy typically costs between $350 to $1,000. Planned Parenthood's website contains a great deal of useful information about the vasectomy procedure, and also a searchable list of providers who perform the surgery. If you are considering a vasectomy you may also want to visit the DU Health and Counseling Center to speak with one of our providers. They can refer you to a clinic in the area that can perform your vasectomy procedure. If you have any questions about what sort of family planning procedures are covered by the Student Health Insurance Plan, then you may call United Healtcare Student Resources customer service line at 1.866.648.8472. ​​

I would recommend a visit with a medical provider, either here or your own. There are a lot of questions that need to be answered.​​

If you have not had a period yet, either get a home pregnancy test, or come into the clinic. Yes you could be pregnant​. If you do not wish to get pregnant, remember you may use a form of contraception.​

The birth control shot takes 14 days until it becomes effective and protects you from pregnancy. Therefore, if you chose to have sex within those 14 days, use another form of contraceptive to make sure you are protected from pregnancy. However, the shot will not protect you from STI’s or STD’s. You and your partner should get tested before having unprotected sex and/or use a condom to protect yourself from STD’s and STI’s. ​

While this likely means you do not have to worry about a more serious skin condition, please call the dermatologist and ask them to explain this to you.​

When a patient sees a medical provider for care, there are stringent documentation protocols​ with which the provider must follow for ethical and legal reasons. These protocols are established by the medical profession in order to ensure a level of care that reduces the likelihood of medical errors and mistakes that could cause harm. The structure of chart notation is very specific and includes both the patient's statement of the problem or issue that initiated the visit and the provider's assessment of the problem along with the plan for treatment (if any) that has resulted from the encounter. When a provider alters the coding of a visit to reflect a diagnosis that is covered by a patients' insurance plan, the provider is committing insurance fraud. This is because the nature of the visit does not substantiate the altered diagnosis. It is difficult for many patient's to understand why the request to alter coding is denied; however, it is a clear ethical and legal violation to alter any diagnosis codes that do not have documented support from the medical chart on the date-of-service.

If missing the pills in the same month you must use a condom the rest of that month. When you are taking the pill correctly ie. within 1 hour of the same time every day and every day, then it technically should be safe regarding getting pregnant, to not use condoms.
Always keep in mind the use of condoms to protect yourself from STDs.
Hope this helps ​​

Unfortunately, it is not possible to see the messages you have sent to the provider through your MyHealth account. We have put in a request with the programmers to make it possible.

Yes we can help you with this prescription.​

The DU HCC does not bill any insurance companies. Fees are due at the time of service where an itemized receipt can be requested by the student. ​The invoice can be submitted to the student's insurance company for reimbursement in accordance with their plans' dedcutible and co-insurance. The HCC has not contracted with any insurance companies to accept reduced rates; as such we are considered out-of-network.

Bed bugs are not a burrowing type of insect and thus do not embed themselves into the skin. ​

This is a question to take up with your dermatologist. There may be a better more effective way of dealing with the acne. We have a dermatologist at the Health and Counselin​g Center every other Monday. Please consider scheduling an appointment. Remember, copays and deductibles would apply and please check your insurance before any medical visits so you understand any costs that might be incurred. ​

You would schedule an appointment with the counseling side of student health and discuss your concerns and options for testing. I would advise calling soon as the slots can fill up quickly.
The number is 303-871-2205​.

Yes we do this testing here at the DU HCC. The cost depends on the students' coverage. For those with both SHIP & HCF it is free. For students with only HCF it is $10 for the visit plus each lab test that is ordered (different tests cost different prices, but range from $25-$89 each). For students without either coverage option or who are enrolled in SHIP only, the entire cost of the visit would be due at the time of service which includes each individual lab test ordered ($25-$89) plus the professional visit with a provider which is typically $135.​ Unfortunately, the DU HCC cannot tell you how other facilities will bill insurance for these services. It is highly dependent on how that providers' billing service codes the diagnosis and procedures associated with the visit. Those codes are determined by the nature and scope of the visit. The insured would need to inquire with their provider as to how the visit will be coded and contact their insurance company for their individual Plan benefits to determine the financial obligation that would be incurred.

The SHIP does not have dental coverage. There is a discount for services with certain area providers. Call United's Customer Service line at 1-866-648-8472 to find an dentist who will apply the discount. The SHIP would cover injuries to natural teeth incurred from an accident, but not routine dental care or care needed as a result of delayed treatment.​

It is important to factor in the cost of health insurance coverage when considering all of the financial implications a college education includes. As few people have access to employer benefits while pursuing educational goals, it is imperative to adequately assess the costs of private health insurance during the information gathering portion of the college search.​ Most States have indigent care services available to those who qualify based on need and funding, but each State individually determines need levels. Many States, if not all, require residency status in order to recieve any benefits. DU and the Health & Counseling Center realize the insurance requirement is a significant expense contributor for many students, but having coverage is not optional. The premium for health insurance can be included in the Free Application for Federal Student Aid as well as any private, public loans or grants that offer assistance with school expenses.

This could be for many reasons, some serious and some fairly benign. If your dentist finds no reason for the cause of your symptoms, feel free to make a visit with a medical provider and they can troubleshoot this interesting symptom for you and get to the root cause.

If your life was threatened, I would strongly recommend getting authorities involved as your safety is the most important concern. I would contact either Campus safety, Pioneers Care or the Denver police. You could also speak with them anonymously and guage your options to keep you safe. ​Campus Safety's emergency number is 303-871-3000.

This could be pink eye which is an infection in the eye. You should be seen by a medical provider and if needed, be placed on medication.

While the overall sense of the report is conveyed in what you have written, you will need to discuss the results of this CT scan with the provider that ordered the test. Interpreting a test such as a CT in the context of a patient's individual situation is always best. Not knowing your clinical symptoms and medical history make it challenging to explain the results of medical testing. Please schedule a visit with your provider.

While it is unlikely that this is cancerous you should follow up with your provider and ask these important questions. They would know best if a biopsy is required.

You have many concerns and symptoms which require more thorough investigation. You will need an appointment at the Health center so each issue can be addressed individually​. Please call 303-871-2205 for an appointment.

If the cut is gaping and the edges are apart, stitches, glue or steri-strips could all be options to bring the wound back together. If unsure let a medical practitioner decide.
Yes we do offer these services.​​​

I would like to know your name and the Safeway. OTC lo is not the same as tri sprintec. There is no generic yet for the OTC lo. The pharmacy really cannot substitute unless it is the same medication. Call me at 303-871-7735 and we can get this straightened out.​​

Masturbation is not bad for your health and does not have any negative side effects to your health if you’re doing it right. There are cases where a person becomes addicted to masturbation and if there is not enough lubrication, skin can become raw. However, other than these two points, there is no evidence that occasional masturbation is mentally or physically bad for a person. Masturbation can actually be a good stress reliever for any gender and can help make you more aware of your sexual likes and dislikes. ​​

If possible it would be good for you to come in and let us take a look. It could be allergy, but there are many disorders that seem like allergy and they are not.
In the meantime if you continue to have itchy, crusty and burning eyes you could try Naphcon A over-the-counter eye drops. They function as an eye anti-histamine. If your symptoms persist, the best plan would be for you to come in and see us​.​

It could spread by your transferring the infection to another part of your body. It is very important that if you get flares of the lesions that you refrain from touching your eyes. Not something you want in the eye.​

This could be a lymph node, but for us to know for sure we would need to feel it and see you.
Your lymph glands respond to infection.​

I appreciate your desire to be a caring friend. I would encourage you to first ask your friend what are the concerns about going to counseling. Based on the response, you could ​get more information to help minimize the concerns. For example, if the concern is privacy, then you can share with them how counseling is confidential and we are located in a health center so no one knows who is going for what. If the fear is around money, then it may be a different answer. You can always call and ask to speak to a counselor as well who can guide you with more information after you hear the initial concerns.
The 2 other options if you are really concerned about your friends safety, would be to:

1. Alert the Pionner Cares team on campus
2. Sometimes it also helps to just offer to go with the person and walk over with them, or even make the appointment with them.

Hope some of these ideas help.

We do offer B12 shots through the Health and Counseling Center. You will need to have a prescription for the B12 from your doctor and provide the medicine for injection or see one of our providers here to get established. Feel free to call us.

Cetaphil face wash and lotion are great. You may want to try this as a facial cleanser. It may take a few different trys on various agents before you find one best for you​ and as always, you can make an appointment to be seen at the Health Center if you have any questions.

If you have the Health and Counseling Fee (HCF) and the insurance (SHIP), the well woman exam is free. You can get the exam at the Health and Counseling Center just call for an appointment 303-871-2205.

Often times an abscess or boil needs to be drained before healing will occur. Also antibiotics may be needed. Come to the Health Center and we will help you​.

We can prescribe a prescription strength anti perspirant. For very severe cases botox injections have been helpful.

​​To login to MyHealth, use your DU ID number and the password you use to log into WebCentral. If you have additional trouble logging in or have forgotten your password, call the UTS help desk at 303.871.4700.​

Very likely it is because you skipped the blank pills last month. If you have not had intercourse in 6 months and you have not noticed a change in your waist size, it is extremely unlikely you are pregnant.​

I consulted with our dermatologist and she states that daily use of sun block containing greater that 3% zinc oxide is highly recommended. She said that CeraVe AM cream which is over the counter may help to prevent future spots and will fade the present spots over time.
Remember Birth control pills can cause the brown spots.
If your spots are severe you can see Dr. Krywonis here or at her office. She will be able to help you with a prescription strength cream if she thinks this will work better.​

Birth control is a tricky thing to understand for most people due to the pure fact that there are so many different kinds of birth control. Focusing specifically on the pill, there are different brands that do, in fact, do different things. There are estrogen and progestin pills as well as just progestin pills. You may try a pill and realize the hormone level is too low, in which you can switch to a different pill. Some pills are meant to have decreased periods and some give you a regular, once a month periods. Every woman’s body reacts differently to birth control and one method that works for one person may not be the right choice for you. Just keep in mind that the pill does not protect against STD’s or STI’s. For more information about different types of birth control pills as well as different methods of birth control you can visit Planned Parenthood’s Website and talk to your doctor about which may be the right choice for you. As far as condoms go, they can be used to prevent pregnancy and STI’s as well as used with another form of birth control to decrease your risk of both. Condoms are fairly inexpensive compared to birth control pills. The Health and Counseling Center here at DU has free latex condoms in the lobby and the residence halls bathrooms provide latex condoms for 25 cents. Talking to your doctor as well as your partner will help you with your decision on which form of birth control to use. Just remember that only condoms protect you from both pregnancy and STI’s.

No it does not, nor does it cover any of the side effects or complications that could develop from an IUD​.

We can remove her IUD here in the clinic. We can also counsel her on another form of birth control.
As for her wisdom teeth, she can look in to the University of Colorado Dental school. They provide low cost dental care.​

There are many causes of fluid retention like this, some benign and some more serious. It can be an indication of kidney or heart problems in some people. The best advice is for you to seek help from a general practitioner or an internist. They can sort out all the reasons for this and help you find an answer.

It is possible he could have a Sexually Transmitted Infection but he may also have a condition called urinary retention, and this could be for many reasons, some serious. He should be seen by a medical provider to help diagnose and properly treat this condition. I hope this helps​.

Try some steaming of your sinuses with a steamer or, if you do not have one, place a pot of water on the stove and let it come to a boil. Put your face carefully over the steam and place a towel on the back of your head to make a tent to contain the steam and get the full benefit. Be careful not to burn your face or nose!. Breathe in the steam and this will help loosen some of the nasal congestion. If you can start the sinuses draining and relieve some of the pressure it will help a lot.
Mucinex may help also as it is a mucous thinner​ and a short course of Afrin nasal spray, 2-3 days, can help lessen the nasal congestion as well.
Hope this helps but if your symptoms continue, feel free to make an appointment at the Health Center.

The bites are usually not dangerous to your health, but you can have an allergic reaction to the bites, and the bites could become secondarily infected from scratching. These should be the only major problems. It sounds like they have moved into your room or were transported on someone to your room. You need to contact your RA so that they can fumigate if need be before it spreads to the rest of the building. They can be hard to get rid of.
Check your mattresses at the edges. Also, if your sheets have rust colored spots that can be from the remnents of the bed bugs. Wash and dry all bedding in hot water and vaccuum the room thoroughly being sure to get into the corners and edges of the floor.

Were you having periods before the pill? The pill could be a lower dose of hormone than your body is used to. It is fine to not have periods on this pill. A visit here may be warranted to maybe change you to a different type of pill if not having a period is disconcerting for you. If you are concerned about pregnancy you can take a home pregnancy test as well, they are very accurate.

You could have a visit with Dr Moon, a neurologist. This may put you more at ease.
He is at Denver Neurological Clinic.
950 East Harvard., Ste. 620
303-715-9024

Nothing. You will be super protected.

You could lose your voice after an asthma attack if there was a lot of harsh coughing. I am not sure if possible after a panic attack unless there was a lot of yelling and throat strain.

This is definitely not the ideal. For a short period of time it should cause no harm. After this crunch time you will want to try and get back in to a more normal routine. Side effects at this time could be never feeling refreshed or rested, increased hunger, possibly some fuzziness in your thinking processes, irritability. These are all POSSIBLE side effects. These will reverse when your schedule returns to normal.

I would recommend a dentist and he may prescribe a night guard. Insurance really balks at anything close to TMJ issues. (tempromandibular joint). Your regular dentist is the cheapest way to go and you may get total relief. In the meantime try advil/ibuprofen to see if this helps with the discomfort.

This is hard to answer as I have no idea what is in the Chinese medicine that you have. I would recommend that you come in for a visit and we can try to help you. Bring the medicine and the container with you when you come.

Yes, it would be beneficial to first make a medical appointment to rule out anything biological that can also look like anxiety. This can include heart issues or other body/hormone issues.
Concurrently, this is first step that we recommend to make sure that we are dealing with an anxiety related issue is to make a medical appoitnment and rule out anything physical.
Some of the physical issues may be more serious, so I would encourage you to not wait and make that appointment.

It depends on your insurance coverage. If student's have the student health insurance (SHIP) as well as the health & counseling fee (HCF), STD testing is FREE! If students have HCF and private insurance, the visit will be $10 in addition to each test. The low end is $25 the high end is about $200. The provider can also order these tests and the student can take them to a lab draw station where the student's private insurance can be billed. Students will discuss with the provider which test(s) would be appropriate.

No the Student Health Insurance Plan does not include vision coverage for exams or glasses/contact lenses. The Plan does offer a discount though a network of participating providers. Please call United Healthcare Student Resources directly to find an area optometrist at 1-866-648-8472.

There are a lot of mental health issues that can cause short term memory problems. This includes anxiety and depression. However, while there can be psychological issues causing memory problems it could also be something biological. Based on the fact that this is so rapid and so acute, I would recommend that you make an appointment with a medical doctor right away.

This is correct information. Make sure when you are in the second pack to use all the active pills before you go to inactive or stop. This way you will stay on schedule. Have fun and be wise. 

Here are a list of low cost referral sources for members of the community located on the DU campus:
University of Denver Professional Psychology Clinic
(303) 871-3626 (sliding scale fee $15-$60)
Counseling and Educational Services Clinic
(303) 871-2528, (303) 871-2526
Department of Psychology Child Study Center
(303) 871-3306
Marital and Family Studies Center
(303) 871-3062

First off since there has been no penetration the likelihood of your being pregnant is slim. If you wish you can always take a pregnancy test over the counter to reassure yourself. What happened with your cycle is that the hormones in the Plan B have upset your normal hormone level. You may still have a period this month,but if you don't you will very likely have one in February. I hope this helps and puts your mind at ease.

It sounds like it could be from too much trauma to the area, due to very brisk sexual activity. Is there a sore where it is bleeding? It would really help if we could see it

I discussed with our dietitian. No juice or claense diets are needed. Your liver cleanses your body. These diets are also so low in calories that after 3-4 days you will down regulate your metabolism and will then burn fewer calories. Called dieting yourself fat. Hope this helps. Save your money.

There are many paths you can take if you are depressed. The first one I would recommend would be to come in and meet with a counselor. That is what we are trained to do is to help figure out why you are depressed and develop a gameplan to help you out of your depression. Also, we will help you develop long term strategies to keep it from reoccurring. If you are not ready for this step, there are some great self-help books out there. I would recommend Feeling Good by David Burns as another good step.
Just to know, one of the signs of depression is having thoughts of hurting yourself. If you are having any of these thoughts, please come in. We really want to help you and know depression is treatable.

If the area is not hot and redenned, I see no reason to come to see the doctor. The nail will grow back. If it becomes painful a visit would be warranted.

1. Yes, the United Health Care Student Resources plan has Counseling benefits.
2. Yes, you are able to see a non-DU counselor.
Please refer to the Student Health Insurance Plan Brochure for more details
- page 7 referral requirements
- page 9 and 15 inpatient counseling (psychotherapy)
- page 10 outpatient counseling (psychotherapy)

We need to know more about the pain, how long it lasts, what makes better or worse. If you are a woman, we also would need to ask other questions. Make an appointment at your earliest convenience. We are closed for the holidays after 12/23/2011. If you are at home may want to see your PCP there.

As 5 to 10% of women in the U. S. have polycystic ovarian syndrome, which is a very common reason for irregular periods and abnormal hair growth, it is certainly a possibility. The changes seen in this condition vary greatly in severity, so you may not have everythiing listed. The only way to know if you have this problem is to see a health care provider, who can run some simple tests if needed. We commonly deal with this issue at the Health and Counseling Center.

It sounds like a plantaris muscle rupture that will, over time, heal on its own with ice and no over exertion such as aerobics or anything that would strain this area. If you can flex and extend the foot your achilles is intact. If the pain persists after ice and rest, you should have evaluation upon return to America.

Yes, you can. The first step is to make an appointment with one of our mental health professionals. After meeting with them, they can set you up to either meet with our psychiatrist or one of our primary care providers who are comfortable prescribing certain types of psychotropic medications. The counselor will help you determine with whom you should make an appointment with. Also, to let you know, the most effective treatment for anxiety related issues is a combination of medication and therapy.

If you have already been found to have HPV, it is unlikely that the vaccine will offer you any benefit, as you have probably been already been exposed to the types in the vaccine. The vaccine is most effective in women and men before the onset of sexual activity. After three years of sexual activity, the vaccine is much less likely to be beneficial. That being said, the vaccine may still be given to women and men who have been found to have HPV.

The Health and Counseling Center does offer testing for ADD/ADHD as well as certain types of Learning Disability testing. Call the front desk and identify that this is what you are looking for and they will connect you with our testing coordinator. At times, there may be a longer wait then students are hoping and we do have an extensive referral service as well for psychological testing.

We welcome your thoughts, feelings and ideas about the Health & Counseling Center (HCC). To collect patient satisfaction we send random electronic surveys to medical patients seen at the HCC. For other comments and suggestions, please use our primary email box, info@hcc.du.edu. We like your idea for creating an anonymous feedback form our website and plan to create one in the next update to our website. Thank you for the suggestion.

Micronor is a progestin only pill. It is very common to have some spotting and eventually to stop having periods. When you had sex did you use a condom? If not, you can test again in 2 weeks and if negative presume that the pill is the cause. Remember that you should be using condoms to protect yourself from STDs. Since I do not know where you are it is hard for us to recommend a follow up there. Let us know what happens.

Your feet could be dry because Denver is so dry. Try a good emoillient lotion such as Lubriderm. Put on daily after showering and at night when you go to bed. This may help. If not come in and we can then be sure it is dry skin. It does not sound like athletes foot.

These could be reactive lymph nodes, but you will need to come in and let us check.

Yes, you should come in so we can look at it.

You could try OTC antihistamines such as Claritin. If you don't get relief we can prescribe some astelin, which is a nasal antihistamine. We would need to see you for this.

You could come in to the HCC and let us do an examination and discuss the findings with you. There are many reasons for breast lumps that are not deadly, but you really should not let this go. When you come in you can tell your provider about your financial situation and see what they can do to keep the costs down.

I cannot send detailed medical information concerning your problem over an unprotected e-mail address and I cannot send a secure message as I do not know who you are. You can either e-mail me at paula.hanson@hcc.du.edu, or you can come in and have a visit with a medical provider to help answer your question.

There are a few places that I might point you to for academic support as a veteran on campus. The first place would be to discuss with your academic advisor some of your concerns. Also, there is a veterans student group on campus that you can connect. You can check it out on Facebook at the DU Pioneer Veterans Facebook page or contact Jim Moran, a faculty member, who is trying to support veterans on campus. Counseling services at the Health and Counseling Center is also a resource for you and can help you figure out some of the acadmemic/transitional issues that may be impacting you in school and help you figure out the next steps. Hope some of these resources help.

Based on what you are sharing, I think individual counseling would be a good start to help you tease out the issues involved including your major choice, anxiety, and depression. When your indivdiual counselor meets you, they will help explore the issues and make sure to point you in the right direction including some of our groups that may help.

The important aspects are answering the questions that they have at the appropriate developmental level. Examples that your kids can relate to around how a person makes sacrifices in one area in the short term to provide in the long term would be a good way to help them understand. For example, if your kids play a sport or dance, maybe using a metaphor around that.

Here is how to obtain an insurance card Please visit United's website at www.uhcsr.com/du. There you can create an account, verify your mailing address and request a plastic ID card.
You will need the following information to create your account:

• First Name
• Last Name
• Date of Birth
• Your official DU email address:
• @law.du.edu for law students
• @du.edu for all other students

Please note that plastic ID cards will not be mailed to you until you create an account, verify your mailing address and request one.
If you are unable to create an account, please call 800.767.0700.

• You can find your ID number on your insurance card.
• You have a $1500 prescription benefit.
• You do have urgent care coverage.
• Click here for insurance details

According to some of the literature green tea is the best choice for someone who has kidney stones. I also would recommend decaffeinated green tea.

Cold sores can take a lot of time to resolve, especially if you are under a lot of stress or you are in the sun a lot. Taking an oral medication may help this to subside quicker. We would need to see you here in the clinic to prescribe.

The dermatologist comes in 2 times a month during the academic year and 1 time a month during the summer. Students do need to see one of our primary providers to get a referral for the dermatologist. Once the referral is in place, the student can schedule with the dermatologist.

Without knowing more about your daily activities it is hard to give a pat answer. If you participate in athletics where your hands are clenched around a stick or ball it could be stiffness from overuse. There are a lot of reasons for this. It would be wise for you to see a health care provider either here or on your own to evaluate.

The best thing to do would be to contact your study abroad officer and talk about options. There are two great self-help resources about self-esteem by the same author David Burns. The names of the books are 10 Days to Self-Esteem and Feeling Good. Best of luck as the abroad experience can be wonderful but it can be such a dramatic change in living that it can impact our mental health in both positive and negative ways.

We can definitely provide you with a list of referrals. We have an extensive referral base that can typically accomodate by area and other issues such as cost as well. The best thing to do would be to call the Health and Counseling Center at 303-871-2205 and the front desk will transfer you to a therapist who can provide the most appropriate referral. Our referral database is just too extensive to post it here.

We are able to see benefited employees for counseling services through the DU Employee Assistance Program. Only enrolled DU students are eligible for medical services. If you have questions about your employment status and benefits, please call the HR department 303-871-7420.

The counseling appointments are $110 for each appointment. Medical appointments vary depending on the issue, approximately $73 to $135 for each visit. Labs and prescription costs are in addition to the visit cost. After payment is received for services, an invoice can be printed. This invoice can be sent to an insurance company for reimbursement. Specialists appointments (dermatologist, nutritionist and psychiatrist) are $85 to $190.

Memory issues can be linked to depression or anxiety. These two issues many times go hand in hand. Speaking with a provider and exploring these issues in more depth would be beneficial. Also, there is psychological testing around memory issues to locate the exact memory issue (comprehension, encoding, recall) and then develop some strategies to help.

During the summer you should not usually have a problem getting an appointment on Fridays. If you go to MyHealth (www.du.edu/myhealth) first thing on Friday morning, you should be able to schedule an appointment. If not, please call the HCC and ask to speak to a nurse. I do recommend that you have a medical provider see you in order to make an assessment and figure out what to do to help you.

Yes. Any time you have abdominal pain that doesn't resolve quickly, you should be seen by a medical provider.

Yes you have good reason for concern. Would you be able to have your friend come over to the clinic for a visit with a medical person? This is a very difficult situation because the person who has these problems needs to be willing to recognize them and to want to deal with them. It may also be helpful for you to come in and speak with a counselor on how you can personally handle this.

It is possible, although not common, for the joint to hurt. It could be from the location of the burn. As for flu symptoms, yes you can have these symptoms, and a fever would not be uncommon. Burns of any kind are very hard on the body. If it is a severe burn, you should come over and let us look at it. We can also examine the joint that is a problem.

Yes we can take a look at it and see if it needs a dermatologist's attention. Call and set up an appointment.

Yes. The way our system works would be that you would schedule a counseling first session appointment called an intake. There, the counselor would insure that your symptoms and experience meet criteria for depression and discuss options with you. This could include medication, talk therapy, or a combination of the two. If you would like to explore medication options, we have a few options including our primary care physicians or our psychiatrist. The counselor can help determine who would make the most sense to see.

Yes, we do it all the time.

I need more information. You would be served best if you came in and saw someone. This is a hard question to answer without more information on your health,meds and history. Tingling is not normally the presenting symptom for a clot.

It would be good for you to come in and let us take a look. It could be an external ear infection and should be addressed. Bring the earphones when you come in. Remember that you can come here as long as you are a student in the University.

We would need to know the purpose of the assignment. Your question is very broad. Please feel free to submit your question again or submit some contact information, giving more specific information about your needs.

This sounds like an ocular migraine and without knowing anything about you medically I would recommend either a visit here with a medical provider so one of them can tease out the history and make an informed decision as to what to do or where to send you.
You may need to see a neurologist, but whatever choice you make you definitely need to address it. Do not let it go.

Thank you for your email response attempting to reach your DU Health and Counseling provider. This 'Ask the Doc!' is intended for general healthcare questions, and not for addressing specific HIPPA sensitive issues related to your own medical or mental health care. Your response indicates that you have additional questions, or clinical concerns, that would best be handled during a follow-up visit with your DU Health and Counseling provider. Please contact the clinic at 303.871.2205 to make an appropriate follow-up visit.

Based on the one symptom you described, vomitting, it is always good to get this symptom checked out by a doctor or at least talk to a counselor to look at the constellation of factors and symptoms.

There are many symptoms of anxiety, and vomiting may be one of them, yet this is can be indicative of a more severe anxiety response.

With that being said, anxiety is a treatable issue and many people report significant improvement from even a few sessions of counseling.

First off, does the lack of breathing wake you up or do you wake up and find that you are not breathing? If you are waking yourself up by not breathing this could be a sign of sleep apnea. We could get you tested to see if in fact you need a sleep study done.

The lack of breathing can be an unconscious action on your part as a reaction to fear or terror, and some of the movies out there today are terrifying. ( Sorry for the editorializing.) I think you should come in and let us get the whole story from you regarding these episodes.

I am sorry you were not made aware of the University of Denver closure on Tuesday, February 1st.

Typically, when DU sends out closure notices via the emergency notification system it applies to the entire campus, but because the Coors Fitness Center is open to the public it is not subject to the same oversight.

When the DU Health & Counseling Center (HCC) is closed, we have an on-call physician and counselor available 24/7. The telephone number to reach them is listed on in the elevator as well as the stairwell and front doors to the Health Center in addition to the outgoing voicemail message when you call the HCC.

Students on the Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) may find a list of in-network providers at www.uhcsr.com/du. When the HCC is closed you can access in-network rates at any facility that accepts United Healthcare. A $250 in-network deductible will apply and your responsibility afterwards would be 20% of covered charges. If the health and counseling center is OPEN and you go to a facility that accepts United Healthcare then you will have an out-of-network deductible of $500 and be responsible for 40% of covered charges afterward. If you have questions about covered services, call us at 303.871.2205. The SHIP brochure is also available at www.du.edu/duhealth. The insurance details listed here only apply to the 2010-11 academic year.

The University in no way requires students to purchase the SHIP; however, DU mandates that all students carry adequate health insurance. We offer the SHIP as a competitive option. There are many resources available to compare individual plans. Please be aware individual plans are usually more expensive when available. The SHIP plan is one of few plans available to students who cannot join a group plan through their employer, partner or parents.

We understand the frustrations students face with health insurance. Our mission is to keep you healthy so you can focus on your studies. Preparing for an unexpected illness by understanding your health insurance coverage, options for care when the HCC is closed, and prescription benefits is important for a quick recovery.

There is no one on staff who specifically provides Christian Counseling, yet all our therapists are trained to understand and explore with you how religious beliefs and upbringing impact the issues that bring you to counseling.

For anyone looking for a specific counseling need, if we do not offer it here, we have an extensive referral database that we can provide you with specialists. We will work with you on establising that referral and helping you find the right fit to meet your needs.

Based on your issues, you may try:
Pastoral Counseling of Denver
9185 E. Kenyon Avenue #120
Denver, CO 80237
303-741-5588 x11
A last option to consider would be your local Church or one of the campus faith based organizations:
du.edu/studentlife/religiouslife/faith_groups.html

1. Try identifying the sources of your stress well prior to going to sleep and develop action plans on how to deal with it for the next day or week
2. Journaling take time to journal and get some of your thoughts and feelings out prior to sleeping
3. Make sure your caffeine intake is at a minimum
4. You can talk yourself through panic and anxiety attacks with positive self-talk such as I know what this is, I have been through it before, and I will get through it again. This too shall pass.
5. You cant be anxious and relaxed at the same time. When feeling panic, focus on your breath. Check out our video that walks you through controlling your breathing.