DEAR DR. DONOHUE: In his last football game, my son was hit hard. He didn’t lose consciousness, so I guess he didn’t have a concussion. He seemed a bit off it, and his coach wouldn’t let him play any more that day. What is the safe length of time to keep him from playing? The […]

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: Would you write something about prednisone? What exactly is it? My 78-year-old husband suffers from arthritis. He had both hips replaced, but one is not right, and he’s unable to walk more than 500 feet without debilitating pain. He was recently put on a combination of antibiotics and prednisone for a bronchial […]

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: My question concerns PANDAS, pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infection. Nineteen years ago, when my son was 12, he had a mild case of scarlet fever. Shortly after, he exhibited signs of obsessive-compulsive disorder. I read about the relationship of OCD with strep infection. I took him to doctors, neurologists […]

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: My wife has primary biliary cirrhosis. It was diagnosed 24 years ago, but it never bothered her until this past January. Now she has many of the disease’s symptoms. Please discuss the prognosis and life expectancy. — C.S. ANSWER: Your letter caught my attention for two reasons. One is to provide you […]

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: My husband has had a cough that seems to have lasted forever. He saw several doctors. Each gave him a different diagnosis and different treatment. None worked. The last doctor believed he had whooping cough and tested him for it. He did have it. The doctor said the cough would go away. […]

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: My problem at 80 years of age is Bell’s palsy on the left side of my face. I cannot blink. My cheek and the corner of my mouth on the left side droop. What caused this? Will I get control of my face back? — D.S. ANSWER: Most people who develop Bell’s […]

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I read the letter from the 65-year-old who complained his muscles had become mush. It is true that many older people shrink and lose muscle mass. However, that doesn’t apply to all of us. I am 70, and I work out only by dynamic tension principles and have done so for 56 […]

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: What brings on severe constipation? My movements are six to eight days apart. The doctor says milk of magnesia is no good. I am 85. Any help? — C.Y. ANSWER: A diet too low in fiber, not drinking enough fluids and lack of physical activity are the main ingredients for constipation. Sometimes, […]

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: We have four children, three boys and one girl. In 1981, our youngest son lost his kidneys to glomerulonephritis and was on dialysis for two years. Finally, he had to have a kidney transplant, and his oldest brother was the best candidate for donating a kidney. Four years ago, this oldest son […]

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: When he was 20, my son came down with hepatitis C. He’s never said how he got it, but he was running around with a very wild bunch then. He still has the virus at age 27. Should he be treated? He never was. I wonder what’s in store for him and […]