DEAR DR. ROACH: In the past, I have been treated for osteoporosis, but still had a spinal fracture last year that required surgery. My endocrinologist suggested Tymlos because it encourages bone growth more than a bisphoshonate drug, which only stops further bone loss according to him. It requires a daily injection for two years. I […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I’m a 67-year-old man who developed typical atrial flutter two years ago, but I haven’t had any symptoms that I am aware of. I don’t have a history of heart problems. My heart rate was 117 bpm while experiencing atrial flutter. My cardiologist recommended an ablation, as that can be curative. He […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a 79-year-old female who was scheduled for a carotid endarterectomy. The artery was occluded, and the procedure was unsuccessful. The surgeon did not recommend further carotid surgery. I take warfarin and diltiazem for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AFib); losartan and hydrochlorothiazide for controlled high blood pressure; and atorvastatin for high cholesterol. […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: My husband is 89 and taking amiodarone. He had a heart attack and is taking iron infusions for anemia. He was diagnosed with prostate cancer. His PSA level is over 300 ng/mL, but his bone enzyme level was normal. What do you think about him getting the Lupron shot? His kidneys were […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I recently read an article about the over-the-counter erectile dysfunction cream called Eroxon. Do you have any thoughts on it? — J.T. ANSWER: The company that makes MED3000 (Eroxon) also made a different compound called MED2005, a nitroglycerine-containing cream. Two trials have been completed, but only one was published. In the published […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I had a small stroke in September. What probably brought it on was a fall backward downstairs in the dark. I hit the back of my head on the basement floor, which was carpeted, as were the stairs. I was stunned for a few minutes, but did not lose consciousness. Four weeks […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: My daughter was exposed to infectious mononucleosis (“mono”) at college, and she is coming to spend a week at home. What precautions do we need to take to make sure that the rest of the family remains safe? How long does the virus stay active on surfaces? Also, can she get her […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: Can living in a “semiarid” climate have an effect on a person’s throat? For almost every day for about 15 years, I have been dealing with mucus and throat-clearing. Some days I can spend a whole hour clearing my throat! Then it gets a little sore and red. I’m fed up with […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a 63-year-old man taking 20 mg of rosuvastatin a day, and my blood showed that my total cholesterol level was 136 mg/dL; my HDL was 47 mg/dL; and my LDL was 70 mg/dL. I was then given 10 mg of ezetimibe, and my LDL reduced to 43 mg/dL. I read […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am 90 and in reasonably good health. I recently had blood tests that showed a spike in my liver levels. An evaluation showed that I had hepatitis C. I have had a very hard time trying to get an appointment with an infectious disease specialist. The ER doctor said that I […]