DEAR DR. ROACH: We have a 40-year-old daughter who is married with two children and who works as a schoolteacher. For the past three years, she has been diagnosed with persistent intracellular chlamydia infection, diagnosed by antibody titer and confirmed by a lab in Germany. It is resistant to treatment with azithromycin, flagyl, doxycycline and […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I developed pudendal neuralgia several years ago (confirmed by rectal EMG), and am unable to sit for any length of time. The majority of my pain is in the peri-anal area and into the testicles. This happened after I was misdiagnosed following an ankle injury and was very sedentary for three months […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: My husband recently was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis. He was prescribed Lialda, and also was told that he would have to take it for the rest of his life. He is scheduled for another colonoscopy in a few weeks. This is a very expensive medication. We are senior citizens with a limited […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: A year ago, I broke out with pimples on my back, arms and thighs. They itched so badly I thought I would go mad. A dermatologist took a biopsy and told me it was an autoimmune disease called bullous pemphigoid. I was started on prednisone and doxycycline. When it cleared up, I […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I have heard that an apple a day keeps the dentist away and that an apple is nature’s toothbrush. Can we really skip brushing our teeth if we eat an apple instead? — R.T. ANSWER: I read many opinions about this subject, and tend to agree with the ones that show that […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am plagued with canker sores. I get four to five outbreaks a year. The products that are sold to heal them do not help much. Do you know of a mouthwash that could be used to prevent or maybe reduce the severity of canker sores, and what would you recommend for […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am generally healthy, but my one problem is my tongue. I have a condition called geographic tongue, and it is white, patchy and with gashes. Some days it is fine and normal. Why is this happening? — A.P. ANSWER: While geographic tongue, also called benign migratory glossitis, is not as uncommon […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: After a few months of stress eating, I have gained a lot of weight. People swear that the Paleo diet would help me lose weight and feel better. Do you recommend it? — H.C. ANSWER: Most diets have good points and bad points, and work better or worse for different people. The […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: On a Monday, I took my 91-year-old mother out for a belated birthday lunch. She has had a long and, until now, fairly healthful life. She still had her driver’s license and thought nothing of driving the 70 miles between her house and mine. She mentioned that she was having a little […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: My husband has been diagnosed with angiodysplasia of the stomach and duodenum for the past six months. He has required blood transfusions, about two units every four weeks. Last week he developed chest pain, and after four EKGs in the emergency room, we were told his heart was in distress. After several […]