DEAR DR. ROACH: You recently discussed Pap smears. What is the root meaning of the term? Is it a medical test invented by a Dr. Pap, or an acronym for some long and complex medical term, or a smear taken from a woman’s “pap”? — D.W.B. ANSWER: “Pap” is for Dr. George Papanicolaou, a Greek-born […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I’m a 75-year-old male with a prostate the size of a Buick. I have to get up four to five times a night to urinate. After about the third time, I cannot get back to sleep. I can get about five hours before the problem occurs. My doctor prescribed 10 mg Ambien, […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I have an adult son with serious medical issues. Because of a persistent cough, he saw his internist four times, as well as a pulmonologist. Blood tests and X-rays were negative. His diagnoses over time included: a bad cold, allergies and sleep apnea. During those months, he was prescribed several antibiotics and […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a rather healthy 35-year-old female. I drink a lot of water daily — approximately 5-6 liters, just because I feel the need to. My doctor does not seem concerned, as she says it may be normal for my body. I’ve been drinking these amounts for five to six years (I […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I’m a 94-year-old male. Three and a half years ago, I was able to walk with a cane, until I had a pacemaker implanted. After the procedure, I was able to walk only with a walker, and not very well. Prior to the procedure, I had a CT scan that did not […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: What cures heartburn and indigestion? — R.G. ANSWER: It’s easier to answer what causes heartburn and indigestion, because treatment depends on the underlying problem. The most common cause of heartburn is gastroesophageal reflux disease. The contents of the stomach, which normally are strongly acidic, go backward into the esophagus, the long, muscular […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: Could you please address the subject of the need for Pap tests after a hysterectomy? I had a total hysterectomy (uterus, cervix, fallopian tubes and ovaries) several years ago, in my late 50s, due to cancer, and I go for internal examinations regularly to both my general physician and the oncologist, but […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am 40 years old and have been diagnosed with angioectasia of the gastrointestinal tract. From my readings, it seems this is a problem in the elderly. What can I expect with this disease, and what is my prognosis? — E.C. ANSWER: The word “angioectasia” is from Greek roots, meaning “dilated blood […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am 75 years old and in good health. At age 20, I had an exploratory operation resulting in an appendectomy. Eight years ago, I underwent a gallbladder removal. In the past two years, I’ve had four small-bowel obstructions. The pain is excruciating (about a 9 on a scale of 1 to […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I’m a very active 79-year-old woman who had a colonoscopy three months ago and is still suffering with pain on my right side. I have had a CT scan and an ultrasound, and they say there is nothing wrong. Do you have an answer? — N.F. ANSWER: There are a few complications […]