DEAR ABBY: I read that there is a suicide somewhere in the world every 40 seconds. Numbers rise at holiday time. Feeling like a child whose nose is pressed against a window, seeing others from the outside as they enjoy the warmth of the moment, can lead to thoughts of abandonment and despair. That’s why […]
Advice
Active 74-year-old seeks cause of easy bruising
DEAR DR. ROACH: I’m a 74-year-old male. I take Zocor, flecainide and a baby aspirin each day. For the past year, whenever I bump either arm, I get a large blood bruise that lasts for about a week or two. I don’t even remember some of the bumps. Is there something lacking, such as vitamins, […]
Gemini: Someone will meddle in your affairs
CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Jack Osbourne, 33; Parker Posey, 50; Courtney Thorne-Smith, 51; Bonnie Raitt, 69. Happy Birthday: Take everything in and consider your options before you decide to make a move this year. Don’t let anyone upset you or pressure you to do something that you aren’t ready to pursue. Timing is crucial […]
Taurus: Sharing will help you get ahead
CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Lorde, 22; Adam DeVine, 35; David Guetta, 51; Joni Mitchell, 75. Happy Birthday: Learn as you go and rely on what you know and have experienced to help pull things together. Bring about positive change by drawing on your ability to see the possibilities. Changes at home will help ease […]
Notebook stepson left behind reveals love for another man
DEAR ABBY: My stepson “Arnold” recently moved out, and I found a notebook he left behind that I thought I’d use. Inside was a journal entry he had made last year about someone he loved. The problem is, it’s directed to another man. I want to believe that’s not true, but the writing and everything […]
Turmeric is helpful, but not cancer preventative
DEAR DR. ROACH: Is there any evidence that taking turmeric prevents cancer? I have a friend who is convinced that it does. — M.S. ANSWER: There are hundreds of cancers, some of which we can treat and a few of which we can prevent. Turmeric cannot, unfortunately, prevent all cancers. There are reasons to think […]
Aries: Take control of your own fate
CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Emma Stone, 30; Ethan Hawke, 48; Maria Shriver, 63; Sally Field, 72. Happy Birthday: Share information and work alongside others in order to get ahead. Having a positive and helpful attitude will make a difference to the outcome of whatever you are working toward. Change should be welcomed, and the […]
Polite chit chat can cross the privacy violation line
DEAR DR. ROACH: I share some of the same providers as other family members, and occasionally I will get from a support staff person: “We just saw your family member last week” or “How is your family member doing”? But sometimes there is a slip from the provider themselves: “Well, you know this runs in […]
Eating leftovers becomes bone of contention at family dinners
DEAR ABBY: My wife and I have three teenagers — 18, 16 and 14. My wife cooks for them every day or buys them fast food. I always eat leftovers, which the fridge is full of. Our children refuse to eat leftovers or cook for themselves, and they insist on having a freshly cooked meal […]
Thrombocythemia is too many clotting cells in the blood
DEAR DR. ROACH: I’m an 88-year-old woman whose platelets went into the 500,000 range. I was sent to a hematologist/oncologist, who said it was a bone marrow disease. I was put on hydroxyurea 500 mg. A couple of months later, a blood test showed enlarged red blood cells, which I understand is from the hydroxyurea, […]