DEAR DR. ROACH: I was diagnosed a few years ago with gastroparesis, and I took domperidone for a while. The medicine didn’t change anything, so I discontinued it. I’ve had stomach-emptying tests, colonoscopies and endoscopies looking for answers. I have pain in my upper-right abdomen and also occasionally get a cramp in the muscle in […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: Four years ago, my wife had hip surgery caused by a fall. About eight months after the surgery, she noticed her left leg was 3 inches shorter that her right one. Her doctor agreed it was shorter and said that does happen frequently. She must use a cane to walk and is […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am concerned that my 33-year-old daughter will have breast cancer. I have no history in my family of breast cancer, but my husband’s grandmother, mother and sister all have had breast cancer with double mastectomies. I have heard that the DNA follows the mother’s side and not the father’s. Is this […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: How do you diagnose bipolar disorder? Do you need a blood test, or can it be diagnosed by a person’s actions? — A.Y. ANSWER: Bipolar affective disorder, formerly called manic-depressive illness, is a psychiatric condition that is frequently misdiagnosed. Over a third of people diagnosed with bipolar disorder waited at least 10 […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am an 88-year-old male suffering from a fatty tumor located on my gluteus maximus. Two different local gastroenterologists have refused to remove this 2.5-inch-diameter tumor, probably due to my daily blood-thinning medication apixaban. The tumor continues to grow and is becoming an impediment to good health. I am writing to you […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am taking Fosamax for osteoporosis. One of the side effects is osteonecrosis of the jaw. Does this only happen if you have major dental work, such as pulling teeth or root canals, or can it happen with routine cleanings, fillings? — G.D. ANSWER: The word osteonecrosis literally means “bone death,” so […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am an organ transplant recipient who has received both COVID vaccinations and both boosters. I did this because numerous medical professionals recommended them for immunosuppressed patients, but I am wondering if I did the right thing. I take immunosuppressants to keep my body from producing antibodies that would attack my donor […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a 57-year-old woman in excellent health. I practice holistic wellness, which includes eating nutritiously, exercising daily, sleeping seven to eight hours a night and taking minimum alcohol and no drugs. In May 2019 after a strenuous workout, I developed exercise-induced rhabdomyolysis; my main symptom was swelling of my upper arms. […]

Dear Dr. Roach: Does losing weight fast when you are first trying mean you will always gain it back? — L.R.S. Answer: We used to think that fast weight loss universally led to regaining it, but more careful studies have shown that weight loss of at least 5 pounds in the first four weeks of […]

Dear Dr. Roach: I am a 78-year-old man who suffered a ruptured aorta six months ago. It was successfully repaired, and I am in generally good health, physically active, back to the gym (less weight than before) and I feel about as I did before the rupture. I want to get back to playing touch […]