DEAR DR. ROACH: My husband had pacemaker surgery in December following a diagnosis of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Three weeks later, he developed edema in his lower legs. He was treated by his doctor with a diuretic. At his six-week pacemaker checkup, we brought it up to the cardiac physician assistant that the swelling was still there […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a 71-year-old Type 2 diabetic woman, but I find the glucose monitoring systems requiring blood samples so painful to use that I don’t test. At present, I get along by taking a 500-mg metformin tablet three times a day and having bloodwork done about twice a year. My last fasting […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am an 84-year-old female. Luckily for me, I have never been ill with chickenpox, measles or mumps. My family doctor thought that I should still get the shingles vaccine, even though a blood test proved that, indeed, I’d never had chickenpox. So I did. I read in the paper that there […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: Do Trimix injections work for erectile dysfunction, and are they safe? — M.B. ANSWER: Erectile dysfunction is a common problem in men, especially as they get older. It may be a clue to serious disease of blood vessels, but also can represent low testosterone or other abnormal hormone levels, neurological issues or […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: A year ago, I had surgery for bladder cancer, and had a small stroke and pulmonary clot. During this past year, I’ve had five CT scans, three chest X-rays and a couple of other scans to diagnose the stroke and clot. I also had some kind of scan in radiology to put […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: Fifteen years ago, I had a successful brachytherapy treatment for prostate cancer. Subsequent annual PSA results indicate minimal levels. I am 82 years old and in otherwise excellent condition, and generally very active. However, in the past few years I have had periods of considerable fatigue. My blood counts are within the […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I have always heard that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. I never eat breakfast. Most times I eat just once a day, at dinnertime — and no, I don’t pig out then, either. I have boneless, skinless chicken breast or pork chops baked or on the grill, with […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I write to you to try to understand the effects of commingling large amounts of wine — normally a bottle or more — then taking a capful of over-the-counter sleep medicine. He is 78 years old, in EXCELLENT health. The wine revs up his mind, so he takes the sleep aid. It […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am an 82-year-old female. In 2002, I had a triple bypass. Something went wrong, and I have been in almost constant pain ever since. The pain is in my chest wall. I also have other health issues, including atrial fibrillation. My cardiologist recommended pain medicine doctors, who have prescribed many different […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am writing to inquire about the effects of statins on the body. My husband is a 66-year-old diabetic taking metformin and atorvastatin. A highly respected chemist friend told us that the statin drugs completely deplete the body of CoQ10, and recommended blood testing of the lipid particle size before beginning any […]