DEAR DR. DONOHUE: My 15-year-old son went for surgical correction of a torn knee ligament and meniscus. The surgery was canceled due to suspicion of malignant hyperthermia. He was rushed to a children’s hospital for 24-hour monitoring. His symptoms were muscle twitching, a rise in body temperature and something to do with CK levels. All […]

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: In 2008, my husband was diagnosed with hepatitis C. In 2009, he underwent a 48-week treatment for it. Treatment took a toll on him. He got all of its side effects. Six months after treatment was completed, the doctor told him that the treatment didn’t work. She said that some things in […]

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I would like some information on celiac disease. I am healthy for my age. — L.P. ANSWER: Not so long ago, celiac disease was considered an unusual illness; it’s anything but. Doctors now realize that it can appears without what were considered its classic signs — diarrhea and weight loss. Fatigue, easy […]

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: Recently I found out through lab reports that I am almost completely out of the hormone testosterone. Nobody ever talks about this problem. Will you write something about it? What causes it? I am 54. Now I am taking a testosterone drug. —M.P. ANSWER: The testes make the male hormone testosterone. It’s […]

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: This is the second year I have tried out for football but got turned down. The coach says I’m too skinny. He said he would give me a chance if I put on some weight. How do I do this? I’ve been this way all my life. — J.R. ANSWER: To be […]

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I am a 59-year-old female who had a severe case of chickenpox as a child. It has been recommended that I get a shingles vaccination after my 60th birthday. However, my husband never had chickenpox, and I have a 1-month-old granddaughter. Are my husband and granddaughter at risk for becoming infected when […]

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I have a question about body temperature. Normally, mine is under 97 F. I understand from my doctor that this is fine, because the normal of 98.6 is an average, with some people having a lower and some a higher temperature. My question is: At what temperature do I have a fever? […]

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: We often hear that drinking tea is good for you for many reasons. Is a glass of iced tea as good as a cup of hot tea? Does heating activate ingredients in the tea leaves so that iced tea isn’t as good for you? I drink many glasses of green tea most […]

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I want your opinion on lupus. I was diagnosed with it four years ago, but I’m starting to think I might not have it. Last year I went nine months without any medication, and I was working out and eating healthy. I doubt I have lupus. I’m supposed to have the rheumatoid […]

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: Will you please address the disease of MRSA? I was diagnosed with it two months ago and was given special drugs to cure it. — M.M. ANSWER: MRSA, pronounced “murr-sah,” isn’t a disease. It’s a supergerm, a bacterium that’s resistant to many common antibiotics. The acronym stands for Methicillin-Resistant Staph Aureus. In […]