DEAR DR. DONOHUE: Recently I was told by a family member that the total amount of Tylenol taken in a person’s lifetime can be hazardous to one’s health. I have been taking two eight-hour pain-relief Tylenol before bedtime, as I have spinal stenosis, arthritis and degenerative back disease. This allows me to wake up in […]

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: At age 35 and in the wintertime, I decided to get into shape. I joined two others in daily jogging. Things went well until the end of December, when I started to cough while jogging. Sometimes the coughing was so bad that I had to stop. The coughing cleared enough to allow […]

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I recently was tentatively diagnosed with CMT disease. Having never heard of it, I did some research myself but can you give me advice as to what I can expect? I am 53 years old and am awaiting more bloodwork results to make sure it is CMT. — C.S. ANSWER: CMT — […]

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I am a 43-year-old female. Ever since I was 5 years old, I have eaten a lot of salt. I never had a sweet tooth. I had my pituitary gland checked. I thought I might have an iodine deficiency. The gland was OK. I am an avid exerciser, lifting weights five times […]

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I have suffered with interstitial cystitis for the past four years. A urologist treated me for two years by instilling heparin into my bladder. He dismissed me by saying, “I don’t want to see you again.” Unbelievable, but true. I am at my wits’ end with having to urinate so frequently. Is […]

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I was diagnosed a year ago with Barrett’s esophagus with no dysplasia. I tried taking a generic version of Nexium, but it did not help at all. A second doctor advised me not to take drugs, since they didn’t help. I tried more than one. I do plan to get regular endoscopies. […]

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I recently had a bone density test, which showed that I needed to be on medication for osteoporosis. My doctor gave me a prescription for Actonel. This medicine is taken once a month. I would like to know how a medicine can stay in your system for one month and how it […]

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: Every year for the past five years, I go to Colorado with a group of friends to ski. This year, my skiing lasted only three days. I developed pain on the thumb side of my right wrist. It was so bad I couldn’t hold on to a ski pole. I found a […]

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I have not seen you address SVT, supraventricular tachycardia. I have had it since 2003. In September of 2007, I had the procedure, in which a tube was inserted into my heart to ablate tissue there. However, I continue to have attacks, and they are increasing in duration and frequency. I have […]

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: Will you please write about Parkinson’s disease? And will you make this upbeat in some manner? — R.M. ANSWER: It’s not hard to be upbeat about Parkinson’s disease. Yes, it’s a major problem, but there are many medicines that can control it. Lots of people lead active lives in spite of their […]