DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a 71-year-old woman who still works full-time as a teacher. I have osteoporosis and have had two bone scans. My latest scan showed a slight deterioration from the first two years ago. My T-score in my spine went from -2.2 to -2.6. It was recommended by my endocrinologist that I […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I have been taking Plavix (clopidogrel) for 15 years because of a mild heart attack that resulted in three stents. Next month, I am having a prostate MRI and biopsy. The urologist told me to stop taking clopidogrel seven days prior and substitute 81 mg of aspirin in its place. I am […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am at my wit’s end and hope that you can answer this for me. I am a 76-year-old male. Next week, I’m going to have surgery in my genital area. My urologist told me to wash with Hibiclens starting one week prior to surgery. He then went on vacation, returning several […]

DEAR DR ROACH: I am a 60-year-old female. I was diagnosed with primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) in 2020. At the time, I had a bone density scan that showed osteopenia of the left femoral neck with a T-score of -1.3. My 10-year risk of any fracture was 6.9%, with 0.5 % for hip fractures. My […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I have achalasia, which I understand is quite rare. Can you tell me the cause, and is it in any way related to the COVID vaccination? I heard from one professional doctor that it might be. I had excessive coughing before, during and long after recovery from COVID. Could it have damaged […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: My pulmonary specialist has recently suggested that I go on oxygen due to my low oxygen levels. He says that in order to diagnose a pulmonary blood pressure problem, I need to have this highly specialized test done called a cardiac catheterization. After reading about it online, I am wondering if there […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: Are there any nonsurgical ways to repair an inguinal hernia, like exercise, diet or walking? I believe I caught mine early on. The mesh does not seem promising. — R.K. ANSWER: An inguinal hernia is a defect in the abdominal wall. In men, the hernias usually start in the internal inguinal ring, […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a 74-year-old male. I have exercised at the gym for over 35 years. I take 10 mg of a simvastatin once a day for high cholesterol. I also take metoprolol (50 mg in the morning and 25 mg at night) for high blood pressure and my irregular heartbeat. Recently, I […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: My husband was diagnosed with ampullary cancer. He has a tumor the size of a marble. We are told this is an aggressive cancer. My concern is that they are giving him chemotherapy before the Whipple surgery. Is this standard practice? — P.T. ANSWER: The ampulla of Vater is an opening in […]