DEAR DR. ROACH: After several years of acting as a caretaker for my ailing parents and helping them pass, I found myself filled with anxiety, which led to insomnia and troubled sleep. It felt like cortisol was racing through my body way too often. My doctor prescribed Lexapro — 10 milligrams of which I have […]
Dr. Roach
Posted inDr. Roach
Sedation during colonoscopy is a personal decision
DEAR DR. ROACH: I have seen two of your columns in which I thought I read an implication that the decision to be sedated or not during colonoscopy was a fairly straightforward choice. I need to point out that for many of us, an unsedated colonoscopy would be agony. It does not feel like much […]
advertisement
Posted inDr. Roach
Cardiac calcium score is a screening test for artery disease
DEAR DR. ROACH: A friend suggested I get a cardiac calcium score test to measure the amount of plaque in my heart. What is your opinion of this test? He said since plaque is 20% calcium, the test just measures the amount of calcium in coronary arteries. Can you have coronary artery plaque without calcium? […]
Posted inDr. Roach
Is son’s slow withdrawal from opioid treatment too slow?
DEAR DR. ROACH: Can you tell me the best way for a person to withdraw from Suboxone and how long it usually takes? My son was an opioid addict and has been on Suboxone films for four years for his recovery. He is now very gradually weaning off of it by reducing the amount he […]
Posted inDr. Roach
Intramuscular injection usually easy and safe
DEAR DR. ROACH: I give my wife an octreotide intramuscular injection monthly into the gluteal muscle. I was taught to pull back on the needle to be sure you aren’t in a blood vessel. Sometimes, I am unable to inject the medication (just can’t plunge the syringe) despite being sure the needle was working before […]
Posted inDr. Roach
Chest port cleaning on hold due to coronavirus
DEAR DR. ROACH: I’ve enjoyed reading your column for years and hope you can provide an answer or guidance. My 83-year-old mom had a port installed in her chest over five years ago for chemotherapy to treat non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. After beating the lymphoma, she battled Mycobacterium avium complex for a year and a half, and […]
Posted inDr. Roach
Are all puzzles created equally?
DEAR DR. ROACH: Are all puzzles created equal in terms of their value in keeping the mind sharp? I enjoy Sudoku and word-finding puzzles, with an occasional crossword puzzle thrown in. I also play games requiring puzzle solving on my computer or handheld device. My partner primarily enjoys crossword puzzles. This has been something I’ve […]
Posted inDr. Roach
Blood antigens can cause trouble for transfusion patients
DEAR DR. ROACH: I had two blood transfusions in 2012 during an almost yearlong bout with an out of control infection that ended up in a fused knee. In a recent antibody screen, I was identified as having anti-jkb. The information on this that I was able to find on the internet was incomprehensible to […]
Posted inDr. Roach
Specialty epilepsy drug requires continued eye monitoring
DEAR DR. ROACH: I have been taking Sabril for five years. I have drug-resistant epilepsy, and this is the first drug that has worked. It is a high-risk medication, as it can affect eyesight. I have my eyes checked every three months. You don’t hear much about this drug. Is this safe to keep taking, […]
Posted inDr. Roach
Consistently lower than ‘normal’ temperature may be just fine
DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a healthy 79-year-old male. My doctor tells me that my blood pressure and pulse are better than most men half my age. I feel good. I have been taking my temperature about three times a day, using both digital and mercury thermometers, careful to wait at least an hour after […]