I'm confused. How can there only be 13 inches above the medicine cabinet if the ceiling is 10 feet high?

There's a good chance I'm wrong about the ceiling height. I cannot find the tape measure right now but the exact ceiling height does not really have any bearing on my problem. There is already a specific space which has been cut into the tilework above the vanity/sink for the medicine cabinet so I cannot place the cabinet any lower than the cut out. The medicine cabinet is 30" high which still only leaves a space of 13 inches between the top of the medicine cabinet and the ceiling for the light fixture. I hope I'm being clear enough in my horrible description. lol Thanks.

It sounds as though there is not enough room.

Is it possible to flip the light over so it points down instead of up? I have been able to do that, whether or not it was intended to, I prefer downward pointing lights over the mirror.
My ceilings are not tall either and when I chose lights they had to point down anyway.

I have 15-1/2" above my medicine cabinet. Right now I have an 8-1/2" high fixture still in the box waiting to be installed - I'm a little concerned it's too big. I do plan to have my lights facing up (I like the bounce off the ceiling).

I would think that a 9" fixture in 13" of space is definitely too tight.

pepperidge farm - Thanks for the suggestion. I didn't think this fixture could be installed with the lights facing down but after reading your post, I checked and thankfully it can be. I really wanted the lights facing up but at this point I just don't care, as long as the fixture I have can be used.

charlikin - Good luck with your light fixture.

Since this fixture will need to be installed about 10" above where the current one (an old light strip) is, will this create a problem for the contractor who will be installing it?