DEAR DR. DONOHUE: My wife’s father is 91 and was in excellent health until a month ago. He began to experience pain. He barely could rise from the sitting position. Many blood tests were run, and he was referred to an orthopedic clinic. He underwent a physical exam from an internal medicine specialist. He was […]

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: Is it true that those of us who have to take Prilosec every day are in danger of getting a bone fracture? Should we consider stopping it? — Anon. ANSWER: We need to give readers a clue to what we’re talking about. The subject is GERD, gastroesophageal reflux disease, something most call […]

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I have just been diagnosed with polycythemia. I had a bone marrow test that showed my red blood cells are overproducing. Information on this condition would be appreciated. — L.S. DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I have never seen polycythemia discussed in your column. I have it. My hematologist wants me to take a […]

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I run with a group of 30- to 40-year-olds, and have been doing so on most days of the week. I’ve done this for two years and feel like I am in better condition than I have ever been. However, I have developed pain on the side of my right knee. One […]

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: While reading the paper, I noticed my husband staring at me. He doesn’t do that often. I asked him what he was looking at, and he said my neck — it was getting bigger. I dropped the paper and went to a mirror. He was right. I made an appointment with my […]

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: Every summer, we rent a cottage for two weeks. This summer is the first time I have seen three black spots on my 17-year-old son’s back — moles, I think. My imagination took off. Could these be melanomas? You hear so much about them these days. Should I take him to a […]

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: My mother was discharged from the hospital this past week. She was admitted for a urinary tract infection. She has had many urinary tract infections in the past, and they were all treated as an outpatient. Why was hospitalization needed this time? — J.J. ANSWER: The term “urinary tract” covers a considerable […]

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: Since January, when I made a New Year’s resolution to be more active, I have been walking daily, seven days a week. In the past month, I have pushed to walk farther and faster. I began to have pain in my right calf, so I had to slow it down again. Does […]

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: This past spring I was on our high school’s women’s track team. I never did anything athletic before. My mom encouraged me. She said I wasn’t getting enough exercise. I liked it and was good at it. I developed leg pains. My coach said it was shin splints. I had to stop […]

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I am competent, have a good memory and am active physically and mentally. I am 87 years old. My problem is drooling. It’s embarrassing to the point that I won’t eat out with others. I take no medicines, and I have no serious medical problems. Is there a way to stop this? […]