DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a 62-year-old male who gets weekly testosterone injections. My semiannual blood work comes back fine. I have no side effects except that I lose my temper with people easier now. I have a little more energy and sex drive. My doctor believes that since he has me on Arimidex to […]
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Confusing pneumonia vaccine guidelines clarified
DEAR DR. ROACH: I have a question regarding the new pneumonia vaccine Prevnar for my grandmother. She had the Pneumovax 23 in 2012 (she is in her 80s). Should she get Prevnar 13? She is relatively healthy, except for very mild asthma and seasonal allergies. I’m totally confused! — A.P. ANSWER: The two pneumonia vaccines […]
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Ferritin level concerns one doctor, not another
DEAR DR. ROACH: What’s the best advice when one doctor seems more concerned about something than another? I am a 49-year-old woman who doesn’t smoke, is relatively healthy and who weighs about 150 pounds. I have had celiac disease since 2009 and hypothyroidism. I tend to run on the low end of normal with my […]
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With many opinions, whose do you trust?
DEAR DR. ROACH: I was diagnosed with endometrial cancer about seven weeks ago. I had a complete hysterectomy four weeks ago. The pathology report came back as “Stage 1, Grade 3, size 4.5 cm undifferentiated carcinoma with myoinvasion of under 50 percent, clear lymph nodes and margins.” My case was discussed at a tumor board, […]
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Sudden vision disturbance may be more than migraine
DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a healthy 58-year-old female. One year ago, I was sitting on a friend’s porch when suddenly it was as if someone had poured thick oil over my left eye. After consulting with my eye doctor and my family physician, the occurrence was diagnosed as an ocular migraine. Bloodwork and a […]
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Strange ‘pimples’ may be rare disease
DEAR DR. ROACH: After having several strange-looking “pimples” on my thighs and one on my face, I was told it is lymphomatoid papulosis. One or two people in a million are diagnosed with this. I know that it is not contagious, but what is it? What causes it, how is it treated, and what can […]
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LIVdrroach092115
DEAR DR. ROACH: Articles on strokes or TIAs rarely mention that they can be caused by a congenital heart defect. I had a family member with a patent foramen ovale, found at age 54, after he’d had several strokes. He had surgery to repair it and has been well ever since. I would like to […]
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High LDL needs treatment, even with low calcium score
DEAR DR. ROACH: I’m writing to request a second opinion regarding my cholesterol situation. After 20-plus years (I’m 66) on statins, I have become concerned about perceived muscle fatigue. I went off Vytorin for two months and had a blood test. Before going off, my numbers were HDL 56, triglycerides 60 and LDL 111. After […]
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One-click medical records can contain errors
DEAR DR. ROACH: I was a registered nurse for more than 45 years, and I admit that I am old-school. I specialized in emergency-room and cardiac care. I always ask for copies of my office notes and test results for my records, and I see a frightening trend among physicians. In the past five years, […]
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The double-edged sword of radiation exposure
DEAR DR. ROACH: Radiation can be used to treat cancer, but I’ve heard that radiation from too many CT scans and X-rays can cause cancer. What is the difference? I’m 72 and have had close to 25 CT scans over the years, mostly of my sinuses. Do I have an increased risk of getting cancer? […]