DEAR DR. ROACH: I am writing about a lifelong problem I’ve had with food. An article in my local newspaper spelled out exactly what I’ve lived through for 55 years. The article was about an 8-year-old boy who is autistic and caused problems by bringing his own food into a sports grill. It described him […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: When I lost the vision in my eye in an accident, I had Charles Bonnet syndrome hallucinations. I am 80 years old, and I went completely blind in one eye the day of the accident. There were patterns that I saw whenever my eye was unfocused, which pretty much obscured everything. I […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: My 15-year-old son was just admitted to the hospital for depression and ADD. His thyroid tests came back abnormal. There is thyroid disease in the family. Is that the cause of his illness? — Anon. ANSWER: Thyroid conditions, including both hyper- (too much) and hypo- (too little) thyroid hormone are common in […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a 72-year-old male in good general health. I have been monitored for my prostate enlargement for a few months. Last week, my PCP did regular labs. Yesterday I went to my urologist. He took my PSA, since he had not received the results from my PCP. Here is the problem: […]

DEAR DR ROACH: I have hereditary hemochromatosis. I know that means that I received the HH gene from both parents; however, neither of my parents had HH. As I learn more about this very common genetic condition, I am wondering if my maternal grandfather, who died from colon cancer at a young age, and my […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: My daughter is 53 and has suffered terribly with migraines since she was 16. She experiences these episodes anywhere from once per week to as many as three times per week. She is presently on Zomig. If she takes the medication just at the onset, it reduces the pain and duration quite […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: My mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2009, and she is taking Namenda and Aricept to help slow the advancement of the disease. I am writing because she complains of being cold all the time. She and my father keep the temperature in their house at 80 degrees, and my mother […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: What do you know about Himalayan salt? Is it harmful to take every day? I am told that it can help lower blood pressure, because it has minerals and trace elements. — M.S. ANSWER: Himalayan salt, though it has a pretty pink color and trace minerals, is still almost all table salt […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I just wanted to touch base with you about my diabetes. While my weight has stayed stable around 320 pounds, my sugar numbers have been increasingly hard to keep in line. I’ve maxed out on the oral medications we use. My latest A1c was 6.6. The doctor says it should be under […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a 78-year-old woman who would be embarrassed to go to a doctor with my complaint. I have been having a brown vaginal discharge for a couple of months. I did have a complete hysterectomy about 14 years ago, including some of the cervix because of pre-cancerous cells. I followed up […]