DEAR DR. ROACH: My wife is plagued by terrible nightmares. She is 69 years old. Each night, she has horrible dreams that make her moan out loud. I wake her, but she goes back to the same type of dreams. She has done this for years. It really affects the quality of her sleep, and […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am writing because my son had a pilonidal cyst removed in March of 2010, almost three years ago. For the first six months, I kept the area clean and free of hair. After six months passed, the surgeon referred him to the wound clinic. He has had many different treatments for […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: How is pheochromocytoma diagnosed? What is its effect on blood pressure? — M.K. ANSWER: A pheochromocytoma is a rare, noncancerous tumor of the adrenal gland. It secretes adrenalin (epinephrine) or a closely related substance that can dramatically increase blood pressure. Classically, the blood pressure in a person with a pheochromocytoma (often called […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: Last February, I had a massive DVT from my ankle to mid-thigh. I had no pain at all and walked three miles shortly before my regularly scheduled physical. I missed that my leg was very swollen. My doctor stated that that was one of the traditional reasons for getting a DVT. I […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis three years ago, and I seem to have the worst, most aggressive type of the disease. I receive IV steroid treatment and prednisone that relieves my leg pain, but the relief lasts only a month. I have to limit my activities, which has significantly changed my […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I had vertigo a couple of months ago and underwent the Epley maneuver, which cured me. However, I am now experiencing tinnitus, especially in bed. What causes it, and is there a cure? — G.M. ANSWER: Tinnitus (tin-ITE-us or TIN-a-tus) is a ringing sensation in one or both ears. It is very […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: My 93-year-old mother had a heart attack a couple of months ago, and she’s been having a terrible time tolerating the various cardiac meds that were prescribed for her. Lipitor caused her to ache from head to toe, and she toughed it out for two weeks before she stopped it. Altace caused […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I’ve had pain on the soles of my feet since 1999 due to injury to my sciatic nerve and to diabetes. My regular doctor and physical therapist have offered no solutions. It has kept me awake at night and limping during the day. A year ago, a nurse friend recommended vitamins B-6 […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am writing concerning being a MRSA carrier. A friend and her kids were tested and are carriers. She got it from working at a nursing home. They attend our church and local school. Could you please give advice for us and our kids on how to stay healthy when you know […]