DEAR DR. ROACH: I am responding to a recent letter from a reader anxious about undergoing a colonoscopy. One of her concerns was a possible perforation requiring additional surgery and a temporary colostomy. You reassured her that the probability of such an occurrence was very low. I have seen this fear often. No doubt, it […]
Advice
Posted inDear Abby
Beau’s female friends send a ‘hands-off’ signal to his paramour
DEAR ABBY: I have been seeing a wonderful man for seven months and spend every weekend with him. We live 45 miles apart, but it works for us. He has a group of friends, five ladies, that he spends a lot of time with. He dated one of them for a year before he broke […]
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Posted inDr. Roach
What’s the difference between probiotics and prebiotics?
DEAR DR. ROACH: Please explain the difference between probiotics and prebiotics? I know they are both helpful for the digestive system, but I’m not sure why. — A.B. ANSWER: Prebiotics are nondigestible food ingredients, such as fiber, that promote the growth of beneficial microorganisms in the intestines. Probiotics are the healthy organisms themselves, such as […]
Posted inDear Abby
Wife must seek support for husband’s silent abuse
DEAR ABBY: I have known my husband for eight years. We’ve been married for four. Abby, my husband rapes me while I’m asleep. I have told him how it makes me feel, because I was molested when I was younger. When my second child was conceived, I don’t even remember doing anything. He never did […]
Posted inHoroscope
Sagittarius: Refuse to let anyone put you down or make you feel less equipped to make decisions for yourself
CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Madelaine Petsch, 27; Anna Akana, 32; Andy Samberg, 43; Robert Redford, 85. Happy Birthday: Stick to your plan and finish what you start. Do whatever it takes to accommodate trends. Align yourself with people who have something to offer. Look at your strengths, and find a way to use them […]
Posted inDr. Roach
Husband’s facial nerve pain comes in waves, lasts months
DEAR DR. ROACH: My husband suffers from trigeminal neuralgia. This is often very painful for months at a time, then the pain will stop for a few months before it begins again. He does not want to begin taking an antiseizure medication. Are there any natural remedies? — B.K. ANSWER: Trigeminal neuralgia is a pain […]
Posted inDear Abby
Guilt after friend’s death calls for self-forgiveness
DEAR ABBY: My dearest friend passed away five years ago. He was a severe alcoholic, and his death resulted from it. I was aware of how bad things had gotten and I was trying to talk him into getting help. I live across the country but visited and spoke with him often. I was considering […]
Posted inHoroscope
Scorpio: Be careful what you share with co-workers
CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Austin Butler, 30; Tammy Townsend, 51; Donnie Wahlberg, 52; Robert De Niro, 78. Happy Birthday: Look for opportunities that help you expand your interests and circle of friends. Take a close look at your spending habits, and curb any unnecessary habits costing you too much. Show more discipline when it […]
Posted inDr. Roach
It can be difficult to identify source of slow weight gain
DEAR DR. ROACH: My daughter is approximately 5 feet, 4 inches tall and weighs 230 pounds. She has been slowly putting on weight over the past several years. She is disabled, but she has been watching what she eats and working with a personal trainer to build strength. She takes several medications, including Abilify and […]
Posted inDear Abby
Bakery’s food-safety issues have former worker worried
DEAR ABBY: A year ago I was working at a small wholesale bakery with maybe 15 employees. While I was there, the place was overrun with food-safety issues, including mice, allergen cross-contact issues and poor employee hygiene practices. At the time, the owner was working on fixing some of the problems, but not fast enough […]