DEAR DR. ROACH: Thirty years ago, when I was in my 40s, I was diagnosed with bronchiolitis, which was considered a disease of young children. When lying down in bed at night, I coughed to clear my rattly chest and suddenly could not breathe at all. It was terrifying, and just before passing out, my […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: In September 2016, I was diagnosed with IgM MGUS. Repeat bloodwork in November 2017 revealed both IgA and IgM MGUS. I have no measurable M protein. I have had no fatigue, bone pain or other symptoms. I am a 65-year-old female in good health; I eat carefully, do not drink or smoke […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I hope you can advise me on a current hearing issue. I’m a 63-year-old man, and I woke up one morning to total deafness in my left ear (my right ear was OK). I got in to see an ENT doctor immediately. He ran a hearing test, which verified my deafness, and […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a 69-year-old woman who has been recently diagnosed with polymyalgia rheumatica after three months of severe pain and no diagnosis. I am now on prednisone, with some pain relief. It is worse in the evening, and I take the prednisone before bed. There is a great deal of pain and […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am 44 years old and female. Nine months ago, I suddenly experienced severe low backache without any associated physical activities. I was bedridden for five days, though during that time I experienced severe spasmodic lower backache just in my back. My bowel and bladder function were normal. I had pain on […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: In a recent column, you recommended “a diet based mostly on plants and legumes, with nuts, some fruits, whole grains and almost no refined sugars and starches.” By “some fruits,” are you suggesting not eating certain fruits, or just a limited amount of fruit overall? I ask because my cardiologist has recommended […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I was diagnosed with a minor to moderate tricuspid valve leak, as well as a minor to moderate aortic valve leak and a trace mitral valve leak. My doctor says that there is no need to worry; he says we will just watch it. He also says that I can live a […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I’m a 65-year-old woman in relatively good health. I’ve been diagnosed with a nontuberculous mycobacterial lung infection (mycobacterium avium-intracellulare, or MAI) leading to bronchiectasis. I’m taking three antibiotics (rifampin, azithromycin and ethambutol). I’ve been referred to specialists in both infectious diseases and pulmonary medicine. After several CT scans, the doctors have determined […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: My husband had surgery two weeks ago to fuse his three lowest vertebrae due to degenerative disc disease. He had no issues with his legs or feet prior to surgery. Since the surgery, his back pain is gone, but his legs are extremely weak — he can walk only with a walker, […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I have had two angioplasty procedures completed, one in 1999 and the second in 2014. Stents were inserted during each procedure. As a preventive measure, my dentist wants me to take four antibiotic pills (amoxicillin) before I see the hygienist. What is the reason for this? Do you feel it is necessary […]