DEAR DR. ROACH: I am an 81-year-old male. I have CMML (chronic myelomonocrytic leukemia), but Vidaza has stabilized my condition. I am otherwise in good health. Some years ago, I had an operation on my thumb that became infected, and I was given Duricef. This caused me to have colitis, which was treated by killing […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I was diagnosed with severe sleep apnea in the early 1990s and have been using a CPAP machine ever since. I have just recently begun seeing advertisements on television for a product that cleans the inside of your CPAP machine. It is common knowledge that we must clean the facial mask, hoses […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: In a recent column on the measles vaccine, you wrote: “Older people may lose immunity, and some people born between 1963 and 1967 may have received an inactive vaccine.” Wait, what?! How do we know if we were not properly vaccinated, and what should we do about it? — L.T. ANSWER: There […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am an extremely healthy 76-year-old woman. Almost every night, I am startled awake by visions of people standing over my bed. It’s usually once, but can happen up to three times in a night. It’s often after being asleep for an hour and a half. They’re not dreams. Something wakes me […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: My wife’s doctor wants her to start Prolia shots for bone density, but the reviews I have been reading are extremely negative. She cancelled her appointment to start the shots (every six months) until we get some positive feedback. She had breast cancer five years ago (lump removed) and seems to be […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am 77 and developed shingles in December 2016. Although my blisters are long gone, I still have pain and topical discomfort, which I know are from the nerve endings. My doctor says I will probably live with this the rest of my life. I have seen doctors, including pain management. I […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am turning 68 years old tomorrow. For the past couple of months, my ear canals have been very itchy. Also, my wife was constantly cleaning earwax out of my ears. Now for some reason I no longer produce earwax, but my ears itch a lot. Do you have any idea what […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I used a local orthopedic surgeon to replace my knee. He said my hip was bone on bone, and treated it with cortisone shots, which did not help. I finally had an appointment to talk about a hip replacement, and the first available surgery date was seven months away. I signed up […]

DEAR DR ROACH: I am a 66-year-old male, 6 feet, 3 inches tall and weighing 220 pounds. I am active and fit. My cholesterol recently has been between 208 and 214 in the past two physicals. My HDL is 54. My doc said it is time for 20 mg Lipitor, as better eating did not […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: My question is about medical bracelets and necklaces. I’ve never seen any recommendations as to what conditions would warrant wearing one nor what the inscription should say. When are they either necessary or beneficial? — D.A.M. ANSWER: Medical ID tags can be useful. They serve to alert medical personnel of potentially important […]