DEAR DR. ROACH: I had a Cologuard test and was told that there is blood in my stool. My doctor tried to do a colonoscopy, but told me he was unable to complete it due to my colon being very twisted. He sent me to the hospital for a “virtual colonoscopy.” He assured me that […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: Two months after having neck surgery under general anesthesia, I find that I have a partially collapsed lung. A CT scan showed “subsegmental atelectasis.” It also showed that I have a hiatal hernia, and that my stomach is in my chest. What can I do about it? — Anon. ANSWER: “Atelectasis” (Greek […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: Are the drug companies asking you doctors to push their new stuff? I hear all the time from various people that they wonder if doctors get kickbacks for prescribing certain medicines. I think the general public wonders if that is the case. — C.M. ANSWER: It is illegal for physicians to accept […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: For several months now, I have been experiencing intermittent headaches, with an extra “shot” of intense pain in the top, front of my head and forehead whenever I sneeze, cough, clear my throat or bend over. I thought it might be my sinuses, but when my ENT ordered a CT scan, it […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I have multiple sclerosis. I have been told NOT to get the shingles vaccine by one doctor, and I have been told TO get the shot by another. I had the shingles twice a long time ago. Does the fact that it is a live culture have an effect on the recommendation? […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: In a recent column, you said that there is not yet an antidote for the rare case of a serious bleeding episode in people on some new oral anticoagulants, and if an antidote for apixaban (Eliquis) gets approved, it might end up being the safest choice. Has it been approved yet? My […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: My friend had a biopsy on his prostate three weeks ago. During the biopsy, he was crying and in excruciating pain. They took four samples, and the doctor said: “I need a total of eight samples. Do you want me to continue?” He replied “no,” and the doctor stormed out. Is it […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: My 78-year-old mother has taken compounded estrogen since menopause. She swears that it has kept her from getting Alzheimer’s disease and other brain diseases. I am 54 and have been in menopause for about a year. I’ve tried hormone replacement therapy, but I’ve had weight gain and other side effects. Eventually I […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I had a kidney removed eight months ago due to a kidney tumor, and since then have had bloodwork done numerous times. My GFR fluctuates from 38-44, and my creatinine and BUN levels are high (creatinine level is about 1.7 and BUN around 27; before surgery, my creatinine was 1.2). As of […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am having a “push endoscope,” or forced endoscope, tomorrow. They said they found a lesion in a CT scan and want to look into it further. Is “lesion” a fancy name for cancer? — B.E. ANSWER: The word “lesion” is a Latin word for “injury.” In medical parlance, it means pretty […]