DEAR DR. DONOHUE: A couple of months ago, while eating breakfast, I came down with terrible stomach pain. Then I started to throw up. My wife took me to the hospital. They told me I was having a gallbladder attack, and they admitted me for surgery. I am completely better now, but I have some […]

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: About a year ago, I was told I had high blood pressure, and ever since, I have taken medicine for it. At first it was one drug; then two; now I am on three. These medicines are making me groggy. Still my blood pressure is high. I am only 32. No one […]

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: My husband and I have been married for six months. He’s the outdoor type; I’m not. He’s planning a camping vacation for us in a couple of weeks. I’ve tried to explain to him that I am a mosquito magnet and I will be miserable. I don’t want to be a bad […]

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I have dry eyes. It’s very disturbing, because they have induced an increased tear production, and the tears interfere with my vision. I do use artificial tears, but they help only for a short while. Can you provide any advice? — F.Z. ANSWER: It sounds contradictory to say that dry eyes cause […]

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I have read many fantastic claims for the wonders of human growth hormone. It doesn’t seem possible that all these claims are true; however, if only a tenth of them are, it might be worth a try. Please give your opinion of this wonder drug. — L.V. ANSWER: The small pituitary gland […]

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I have had a persistent cough for several years. I never smoked. The doctor has examined my throat and says it’s due to acid reflux. I have been inhaling albuterol, which doesn’t help. Any suggestions? — R.M. ANSWER: A cough lasting longer than eight weeks is called chronic. Yours qualifies for that […]

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I need information about chronic venous insufficiency. I understand that the blood goes down my legs but my veins don’t carry it back to my heart. This leaves very unsightly legs. I was given compression hose to wear. I tried two different kinds. They both made my legs worse. Can anything be […]

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I was treated for a sinus infection, and after 10 days, I felt much better. Then I suddenly got worse. I had severe shortness of breath, rapid heartbeat and debilitating fatigue. My doctor ordered pulmonary function tests, EKG, chest X-ray, exercise stress test with thallium and an echocardiogram. All were normal. I […]

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I am a 55-year-old male who knows the benefit of lifting weights. I’ve been a gym rat since I was 40. I also realize the value of controlling cholesterol. I was diagnosed with an ascending aortic aneurysm, and, upon the advice of my doctor, I left my very physical job and the […]

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: What is interstitial cystitis? Is it due to damaged nerves or bacteria in the bladder? How come doctors can’t treat it? It is very painful. — A.B. ANSWER: Frequent bathroom trips to empty the bladder (sometimes as many as 50 times or more in one day), pain on urinating, urgency to get […]