DEAR DR. ROACH: I have gone to the veterans hospital for my medical needs for the past 25 years. I have had four major back operations and a total knee replacement; I also have peripheral neuropathy. They put me on hydrocodone/acetaminophen and gabapentin for the pain and neuropathy. These two combined have helped me tremendously […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I have had rheumatoid arthritis since 2010. I take two naproxen a day sometimes, but only one if the pain is not bad. I am allergic to several medications. My doctor wants me to use methotrexate or start using injection drugs. I am afraid of the side effects. Also, these are for […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a 65-year-old male in fairly good health. I do a bit of running. I’ve checked my blood pressure and pulse lately and have started monitoring it. My pulse is always in the 40s or low 50s. I went to the hospital to get some blood work done and have an […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I have Type 2 diabetes, which is under control, but my creatinine level fluctuates between 2.2 and 3, staying mostly at 2.6. I am asymptomatic and feel fine. I have no swelling in my ankles, and my blood pressure is within normal range. I am 75 years old. I weigh 242 pounds, […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: Among my problems is restless leg syndrome. I take generic Requip (ropinirole) in order to sleep at night. Recently, I find I must take it earlier and earlier before bedtime (i.e., now an hour to an hour and 30 minutes before I expect to go to bed). Without this medication, I would […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: How effective is premedication for dental work? Because of mitral valve surgery I had 11 years ago, I always take antibiotics before dental procedures. This past March, I did the normal protocol. Within a few weeks, I developed a low-grade temperature. I did not pay attention to it, thinking it would go […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: This year, I had a partial knee replacement on my right knee. Everything went fine; I have full mobility and I am almost pain-free. However, my right knee is warm to the touch, so I went to the doctor who did the surgery, and he said I have cellulitis and prescribed 10 […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: Would you be able to write something about sepsis? I recently spent almost a week in the hospital being treated aggressively with IV antibiotics for this. Did it used to be called blood poisoning? How does one get it? Is it contagious? What are the chances of it recurring? I am told […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I had a pulmonary embolism after surgery on my knee. I have been taking Coumadin for one year, and now I am off the medication. In your opinion, should I now take a test of some sort to make sure I am rid of the blood clot in my lung? — E.A.P. […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I went to the emergency ward this weekend with severe chest pains and bloating. I was sure I was having a heart attack. After tests, a CT scan revealed I had pancreatitis (they mentioned a number 222 for some enzyme or something); also, my potassium was low and sodium was critically low, […]