The cramping started after dinner on Tuesday, and by Wednesday morning you’ve skipped breakfast and canceled a 10 o’clock meeting. You don’t think it’s an emergency room problem, but you’re not sure your doctor’s office can see you today, either. So, you’re looking at same-day primary care appointments in Fairfax, VA before you guess wrong. Here’s what our abdominal pain page and Healthline say a primary care office can handle at Annandale Primary Care.
What Can Your Primary Care Provider Check Today?
When you arrive, your provider will ask where the pain sits and how it has changed since last night. Our abdominal pain page notes that “the location and pain pattern gives a doctor important clues.” Then, Dr. Julie Whitehouse, who practiced as a board-certified emergency physician for more than 30 years, or Dr. Connie Le will examine your abdomen. Next, the two of you will decide whether you need labs, a prescription or a scan. In the event you need imaging somewhere else, ask where your provider is sending you and whether the results will come back to them.
When Should I Go to the ER Instead of Booking a Same-Day Visit?
Our chest pain page lists pressure or tightness in your chest, shortness of breath, cold sweats and pain that spreads to your jaw or arms among the signs of a heart attack. In the event you notice any of these, call 911 rather than the office. Keep in mind that Healthline calls primary care a better alternative than the ER for basic, sudden illnesses, since it usually costs less and takes less time.
Our front desk opens at 8 a.m. Monday through Wednesday and at 7:30 a.m. on Thursday and Friday, at our Fairfax office on Old Lee Highway and our Annandale office on Evergreen Lane.
Schedule Your Visit at Annandale Primary Care
By the time you leave, you’ll know what’s likely behind the cramping, what to take for it, and which signs mean you should call us back. Call Annandale Primary Care at (703) 642-6633 to book your same-day appointment.