DEAR DR. ROACH: About three years ago, my doctor did not like the feel of my prostate, so he prescribed tamsulosin. After taking it for about four to five months, I was not able to obtain a full erection. I talked to the doctor about this, and he said that at my age, 67, our […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am in my 60s. About 40 years ago, I had a case of shingles. Can shingles reoccur, or having once had it am I protected from having it again? I’ve been given conflicting information about whether I need to be vaccinated. — M.F. DEAR DR. ROACH: I heard a report from […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a 70-year-old man with high blood pressure. I take a calcium-channel blocker and a diuretic to control it. I am concerned about systolic readings that can vary 10-12 points when I take my blood pressure five-10 minutes apart. A recent example: readings of 132, 143, 140 and 133, taken five […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: In December 2013 I had a blood clot in my left eye. It blocked my vision and then passed after about 25 minutes. My doctor had many tests done, and one indicated that I have plaque in my right carotid artery. The left artery is clean. My cholesterol is perfect. My health […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a 66-year-old white male. About 15 years ago, I was diagnosed with adult-onset indolent systemic mastocytosis. I probably contracted it at least 10 years before that. Few doctors even know what mastocytosis is. I was told at the time that few people have it and that there is no known […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am eight weeks pregnant, and I had migraines before I was pregnant. (I was on prescriptions until I started family planning last year.) I always took medicine at the onset of these occurrences, and halfway through the day, my migraine would subside. Usually I’d take between four and six Excedrin Migraine […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I’ve recently been seen by my primary care physician and would like your take on some issues. I’ve been experiencing a throbbing sensation in my neck, which relates to my pulse. Sometimes it feels like I am wearing something snug on my neck, like a turtleneck or necktie. I can almost always […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I’m 87 and have an enlarged prostate. When I get the urge to urinate, which is often, I have to go at once. Do you think that taking a bladder-control medicine would interfere with the Cardura (doxazosin) I’m taking to keep my urine duct (urethra) open? It’s getting to be a big […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am 82 and recently have been diagnosed with inclusion body myositis. I have been on Zocor for more than 15 years. Do you think the statin could be a cause of this disease? I don’t know whether to continue taking it. My doctor is vague about this. — D.A. ANSWER: Inclusion […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am an 86-year-old male in good health. I take a 40-mg simvastatin and a 150-mcg levothyroxine. I exercise three times a week — one hour with weights and one hour of aerobics (elliptical and treadmill). On the treadmill, I go from a speed of 3.5 for 25 seconds to 6.0 for […]