DEAR DR. ROACH: Following placement of two stents in my arteries (not my heart), my cardiac physician has me on an 81-mg aspirin and 75 mg of clopidogrel daily. I am much weaker during my exercise class, fall asleep in the late morning and am utterly unable to have sex. My primary physician is adamant […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: In a recent column, a person wrote that it took weeks to schedule an appointment with her primary care physician. I have found that it takes months, not weeks, to schedule an appointment with primary care physicians in my area (a large city with two medical schools). I am on Medicare, as […]

DEAR DR ROACH: I started taking betaine hydrochloride for my digestive health. I have had some ongoing issues, and my sister, the wellness guru, has been sharing some things she has learned and suggested this to me. In the first week I have noticed a difference. My wonderful partner, who is always skeptical, is wondering […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I took Fosamax for years but stopped five years ago. My bone density score is now -2.5. Should I restart Fosamax? If it creates more mass of brittle bone, then it does not seem advisable. — K.B. ANSWER: Fosamax (alendronate) works by preventing absorption of bone by osteoclasts (bone-absorbing cells). When used […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: After treatment for prostate cancer (with brachytherapy) at age 69 my husband started self-medicating for pain with alcohol. His drug of choice is straight vodka in what I feel to be staggering quantities. Although we’ve had many conversations about the effects from long-term use and with numerous attempts to stop drinking, he […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: My 45-year-old daughter was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis about a year ago following alarming bladder problems and numbness. She received steroids that effectively treated the bladder problem. She subsequently had a relapse with more widespread numbness and a feeling of being off balance. Within a short time, she started on Ocrevus. She […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am reading about an illness called acute flaccid myelitis that is baffling scientists. Isn’t this just polio renamed? — V.A. ANSWER: Acute flaccid myelitis is indeed a medical mystery. The current outbreak absolutely is not caused by polio, however. Many people are referring to it as “polio-like” because it causes sudden […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: Recently I was diagnosed with FCS (familial chylomicronemia syndrome) by my primary physician. I have extremely high triglycerides and Type 2 diabetes. I have brought my A1C from 10 percent to 6 percent, as well as lost 40 pounds and completely changed my way of eating. I also walk. Despite this, I […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: It is my understanding that there is no early-screening test for pancreatic cancer, and it is typically not diagnosed until it is very advanced, hence the high mortality rate. My late loved one’s case was confirmed only after having a CT scan; not even an MRI revealed the tumors. A prominent person’s […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: My son is a kidney transplant recipient. Is it safe for transplant recipients to get the new Shingrix vaccine? — J.O. ANSWER: Because the Shingrix vaccine is not a live vaccine, it is thought to be safe. It is licensed for immunocompromised people, like your son, but transplant recipients were not included […]