DEAR DR. ROACH: My sister broke out in a full-body rash of red, itchy blotches, and her doctor told her it was erythema multiforme. It is rare, and he sees only a few cases per year. Could you elaborate more on it — causes, treatment, etc.? — A.M. ANSWER: Erythema multiforme is a skin condition […]
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Help for prolonged vertigo
DEAR DR. ROACH: My husband had open heart surgery and has a pacemaker. He fell while getting out of the car, and his cardiologist recommended that he see an ENT doctor, who said he has the worst case of vertigo there is. He had a CT scan, but nothing showed up. Ever since then, he […]
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Research funding doesn’t match level of disability
DEAR DR. ROACH: I read a lot about research for cancer and HIV, and nothing about money spent for help with arthritis. That one strikes almost everybody, with age. Is some research in progress for inventing a substance that can be sprayed on joints afflicted with a loss of cartilage to make them slippery? How […]
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Are lymphoma patients at higher risk of clotting?
DEAR DR. ROACH: Have you heard that lymphoma patients are more likely than others to develop blood clots after surgery? I nearly died of a pulmonary embolus six days after hernia surgery. I have indolent non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and never have had chemotherapy or radiation treatment. — P.R. ANSWER: People with many different types of cancers […]
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Heart finds a way around bundle branch block
DEAR DR. ROACH: I’m a female, age 70, who is 5 feet, 4 inches tall and weighs 125 pounds. I have no problems with cholesterol, diabetes or blood pressure. I do not take any medications, just vitamins. I take dance exercise classes and walk often. I recently went for my checkup and found that I […]
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Adrenal nodules can produce hormones
DEAR DR. ROACH: My husband’s recent CT scan of his stomach and digestive system with and without contrast revealed that he has nodules on both adrenal glands. It was suggested that he undergo a blood test to determine if the nodules are producing hormones. For the past 21 months, he has been experiencing high blood […]
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Calcium sources differ, needs remain the same
DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a 64-year-old woman with a thin frame who was recently diagnosed with osteoporosis. In the past 10 years, my bone density has declined despite regular exercise, a diet high in dairy products and taking calcium carbonate supplements. My doctor prescribed Forteo injections for one year to hopefully improve my bone […]
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Post-intensive-care syndrome now recognized
DEAR DR. ROACH: Two years ago, my wife (age 62, nonsmoker, nondrinker) was hospitalized for a case of septicemia. Her doctor at the time described her blood as “basically toxic sludge.” He said that she had gone into septic shock and her prognosis was poor. However, after a period in intensive care and being flooded […]
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Heart attack still possible after triple bypass
DEAR DR. ROACH: My friend had a triple bypass last August. He still has problems. At a recent visit to the cardiologist, he was told that one of the grafts has fallen away. What does this mean? Where is that blood going? The doctor says he still has coronary heart disease, and they are trying […]
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Sore jaw sufferer seeks sleep solution
DEAR DR. ROACH: I have been living with TMJ pain on my right side. I believe my situation is unique in that I experience the pain only at night, initially when lying on my right side. While the level of pain is not excruciating, it’s more than sufficient to ruin any effort to sleep. Over […]