DEAR DR. ROACH: About 45 years ago, I came down with a rash on my chest and stomach from taking ampicillin. I was told never to take penicillin again. I’m allergic to many antibiotics, which makes treating me (an elderly person) very challenging. Now my doctor feels that I should be able to take ampicillin. […]

DEAR DR ROACH: My husband will be 80 in a couple of months. He is experiencing what I fear is primary progressive aphasia (PPA). He will not agree to get tested. Five years ago, a neuropsychiatrist diagnosed him with slight cognitive deficiencies. He struggles to find words, uses incorrect words, and has a poor concept […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a 71-year-old male in good health. I read your recent column on the use of proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs). About eight years ago, I was hospitalized for 10 days due to a severe case of pancreatitis. The pain was beyond horrible. A scan indicated that I had a severe infection. It […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am an 88-year-old male who has been taking tamsulosin twice daily for several years because of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). In October 2023, my urologist added finasteride once daily. One year later, in October 2024, I developed extreme tenderness on my left breast that wrapped around my left side. I had […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I was offered a low price to get abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) screening. Is it worthwhile? Who should get screened? — K.D. ANSWER: The aorta is the largest blood vessel in the body that comes directly off of the heart, goes down through the chest and diaphragm via the aortic hiatus, and […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: In 2022, I took a trip to France to visit friends and sightsee. My hip/leg pain started after I spent my days walking and climbing stairs in Paris. (I walked 16 miles one day!) I rested during the evening and took ibuprofen before going to bed. I did not stop my activities […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I have suffered from chronic low back pain that affects my knees. I have seen at least six physical therapists, and nothing helps. At times, I have been prescribed 4 mg of methylprednisolone for six days. It helps calm inflammation down and helps me move without severe pain. (I still have pain, […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a 70-year old woman with a prior history of asymptomatic atrial fibrillation (AFib). I’ve been in normal sinus rhythm since having two catheter ablations in 2018. I take Eliquis since my CHA2DS2-VASc score is 2, but I would like to get off of it due to the bleeding risk. (I […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: My husband, who is 71, has been having some short-term memory problems over the past two years. We recently saw his primary doctor, who asked him some questions and had him do a few tasks. He did fail a few of them. She agreed that there was something going on, and now […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a 67-year-old male with generally good vision. I have had a few floaters in my eyes over the years, but they have generally been small and have not significantly affected my vision. However, about six months ago, I suddenly had a large floater appear in one of my eyes that […]