DEAR DR. ROACH: My husband is a disabled Vietnam veteran. He was heavily exposed to Agent Orange, has PTSD, is an insulin-dependent diabetic, has had heart bypass surgery and has rheumatoid arthritis. He spends most days on the couch, sleeping. He has a lot of pain, even though he does take pain medicine and prednisone. […]
Dr. Roach
Posted inDr. Roach
You can have your greens and your coumadin, too
DEAR DR. ROACH: I am looking forward to having my 90-year-old father-in-law come to live with us later this year, but we have a difference of opinion about his diet. He maintains that because he is taking warfarin, he can have only occasional salads and limited green vegetables. It is my understanding that as long […]
advertisement
Posted inDr. Roach
Discuss possible drug interactions with doctor
DEAR DR. ROACH: My doctor has had me on gemfibrozil, simvastatin and metoprolol for more than five years. My pharmacist called the other day saying that new studies are out and that gemfibrozil and simvastatin should not be taken together. My doctor has never mentioned it. Should I be concerned? — S.F.W. ANSWER: Yes, there […]
Posted inDr. Roach, sj-web
Making sense of confusing medical lingo
DEAR DR. ROACH: What is the difference between NSVT and AVNRT? I am a 69-year-old female taking metoprolol once a day.—T.A. ANSWER: Medical abbreviations are confusing. Even when I spell them out — nonsustained ventricular tachycardia, and atrioventricular nodal re-entrant tachycardia — the names hardly make sense unless you know the vocabulary. A medical-school anatomy […]
Posted inDr. Roach
Who can help with scarring alopecia?
DEAR DR. ROACH: I used to have lots of hair on my head, but I have lost most of it. My doctor diagnosed me with scarring alopecia. I don’t know anything about what causes this. It bothers me very much that I am losing my hair. Is there a specialist who could help me? — […]
Posted inDr. Roach
Consider sexual function when choosing BPH treatment
DEAR DR. ROACH: The literature on Avodart use for benign prostatic hyperplasia mentions that only 1 percent of men taking it experience sexual difficulties. Are there ongoing or recent studies on Avodart use that would explain diminished climax response in an otherwise healthy senior adult male? As an alternative, what is the percent of TURP […]
Posted inDr. Roach
No spleen? Get your vaccinations
DEAR DR. ROACH: I had a splenectomy in 2012 because an oncologist thought I had NK lymphoma. After pathology, I was informed that I had an unusual immune system with a lot of NK cells, but no cancer. I was very happy, but I’m wondering how to take care of myself now that I don’t […]
Posted inDr. Roach
Gluten is not always a bad guy
DEAR DR. ROACH: I don’t have celiac disease, but I keep reading that gluten-free is a healthier way to eat. Is that true? Is there any risk? — H.C. ANSWER: For people with celiac disease, strict avoidance of gluten (a protein component of grains, such as wheat, rye and barley) is essential. Gluten damages the […]
Posted inDr. Roach
Exercising after blood clot may be helpful
DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a 62-year-old male in generally good health. I have a clot in the popliteal vein in my right knee, and have been taking warfarin and getting periodic blood tests. Typically, the numbers are where my primary care physician wants them. It seems to be taking a long time (eight months) […]
Posted inDr. Roach
A diet based mostly on plants is right for many
DEAR DR. ROACH: I had a heart attack a year ago. My wife and other people have told me that I can eat anything I want, as long as I eat in moderation. What do you say? — C.F. ANSWER: It depends on what you mean by “moderation.” I would recommend a diet based mostly […]