DEAR DR. ROACH: I am 54 years old, and I was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation that comes and goes. I was prescribed Xarelto, but since I am scheduled to have a colonoscopy done soon, I asked my cardiologist if I can start the medication after the procedure. She agreed, but I am still a little […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: Have you ever heard of “fibromuscular dysplasia”? My mom was diagnosed with this blood disorder and understands that there is no known medical procedure to treat it. She claims this is a blood disease that is affecting her kidneys, and she had a stent placed near the opening of her kidney to […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I had a hernia in my belly button for 20 years that didn’t bother me until two weeks ago. Then, the pain hit, and the belly button could not be pushed in. I waited until Monday to call the doctor. This wait resulted in an emergency surgery due to strangulation of the […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I read your recent column on PSA testing and have a simple question. You mentioned that a PSA test could do more harm than benefit in men over 75, but since it is a simple blood test, I don’t understand what the harm would be. (I’m 75 years old and certainly plan […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I have had an unsightly rash on my legs for many years. I finally went to the dermatologist today, and he said I have skin-picking syndrome and that all of the findings on my leg are due to my picking at the skin. He suggested I talk to my doctor about starting […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: My husband experienced seizure-like episodes, without tonic/clonic body movements, in high altitude while traveling and being physically active in Colorado and skiing in France. Both episodes happened at least 12 hours after physical activity. Our general physician back home felt that these were not true seizures, but a reaction to possibly being […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: Last November, the outside of my left leg above my ankle started hurting badly. At its worst, it felt like someone had hit me with a bat. Other times, it was just a bad ache. The pain is exacerbated by standing, walking, and exercising on a treadmill, elliptical or recumbent bike, but […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I have had gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) for several years, but never paid much attention to it until the heartburn became annoying and almost permanent. My dentist had already said that the pockets in my tooth enamel were caused by acid reflux. So, in May, I went to see a gastroenterologist, and […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I had breast cancer in my right breast when I was 45. I had a lumpectomy, underwent radiation treatments and had seven lymph nodes removed. My breast doctor told me not to use my right arm for any injections, IVs or blood pressure checks. He also advised me to use an elastic […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: My husband has been totally disabled by sciatic pain for three months. His doctor prescribed 4 mg of methylprednisolone, but it hasn’t done anything to eliminate the pain. He uses a cane. Are there any other things he can do to stop this debilitating pain? — H.B. ANSWER: The sciatic nerve is […]