DEAR DR. ROACH: I had right upper abdominal pain, and my doctor suspected gallbladder problems. The abdominal ultrasound showed that my gallbladder was normal, and the HIDA scan showed normal gallbladder function. But the ultrasound reported “hepatic steatosis,” aka fatty liver disease.
DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a 79-year-old woman who weighs 123 pounds and exercises with Zumba, yoga and cardio drumming.
DEAR DR. ROACH: My mother-in-law died at age 73 from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). There was no family history of the disease.
DEAR DR. ROACH: I am an ex-medical/surgical nurse. I have a daughter-in-law who was treated for depression with magnetic therapy. Can you explain how the new magnetic therapy works for depression, compared with other treatments?
DEAR DR. ROACH: I have a question regarding the transmission rate of herpes simplex virus (HSV-1).
DEAR DR. ROACH: My husband and I both came down with COVID.
DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a 75-year-old retired mail carrier. I have a growth on my palm that continues to grow. It's not hurting me, but it is annoying and puts pressure on my hand.
DEAR DR. ROACH: My 94-year-old father has been having trouble swallowing lately. He tries to expel any food by inducing himself to vomit, but it is very difficult.
DEAR DR. ROACH:The results for my last bone density test show not only a T-score but also a Z-score.
DEAR DR. ROACH: I recently contracted a rather severe case of bacterial pneumonia, requiring 10 days of amoxicillin. It has left me with a problem...
My husband, age 70, had been diagnosed with osteoarthritis in his neck, for which he would take Aleve to relieve his discomfort when needed. ...
After many years of dealing with reflux, I have now developed Barrett's esophagus. The biopsy said "Barrett's/intestinal metaplasia."
DEAR DR. ROACH: My friends do not believe in the COVID vaccines and take ivermectin instead. They seem to have frequent colds. Shouldn’t ivermectin help prevent these colds? — Anon.
DEAR DR. ROACH: I have a question about a resting heart rate, specifically when it is considered too slow for one's health.
DEAR DR. ROACH: My husband tried two drugs for his enlarged prostate -- finasteride and tamsulosin -- prior to having prostate surgery in 2016. Since then, his libido has dropped, and his urologist suggested Viagra or a similar medication.
DEAR DR. ROACH: What do you recommend to reduce healing time for cold sores on the lip? These flare-ups are so frustrating because they can take so long to heal.
DEAR DR. ROACH: I was recently diagnosed with alpha-gal syndrome (AGS).
DEAR DR. ROACH: My mother is 86 years old. She is in relatively good health.
DEAR DR. ROACH: What’s the best medication for Type 2 diabetes? -- P.H.
DEAR DR. ROACH: My spouse is still suffering from chest congestion, coughing and some laryngitis.
DEAR DR. ROACH: I had a knee replacement about six years ago. At the time, I was in considerable pain, and it dissipated slowly after the operation. After about six months, I still had some pain, but the surgical doctor I used had retired.
DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a retired male over 65 and a former occasional cigar smoker (I quit 15 years ago) as well as a former drinker (I quit seven years ago).
DEAR DR. ROACH: I have an immunoglobulion A (IgA) deficiency and have had to take many antibiotics over the years. But I have never contracted Clostridioides difficile (C. diff) until I took clindamycin recently. It was horrible!
DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a 70-year-old man in overall good health. I am also a dialysis patient and have neuropathy in my feet. About three or four years ago, I began experiencing very strong nasal dripping during meals, like a running faucet!
DEAR DR. ROACH: I am an 82-year-old woman in good health, and I don't take any medications.
DEAR DR. ROACH: My wife's best friend (age 58) has always been a fitness and nutrition buff, but she suddenly lost the ability to move her right leg. She was admitted to the hospital and, after extensive tests, was diagnosed with a spinal cord stroke.
DEAR DR. ROACH: My husband had a stress test done several years ago, and at the time, it was discovered that he had a bundle branch block in his heart.
DEAR DR. ROACH: How serious are palpitations? I'm a diabetic woman, age 77. I get these sensations various times throughout the day. Will I have a heart attack or stroke?
DEAR DR. ROACH: I am looking for your opinion regarding the new COVID booster.
DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a 73-year-old female. A recent blood test returned an eGFR (estimated glomerular filtration rate) of 59.
DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a male in my late 50s and have recently been diagnosed with coronary artery disease, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and high blood pressure.
DEAR DR. ROACH: I watched a show that described how a virus invades a cell and found it fascinating. What is the difference between a virus and a bacterial infection? -- G.D.
DEAR DR. ROACH: My daughter and her friend went to a concert and had to climb stairs, walking about 2.5 miles in total. After returning home, my daughter had severe pain in both of her feet and was unable to stand or walk on them.
DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a 90-year-old male on glipizide for Type 2 diabetes and finasteride for an enlarged prostate.
DEAR DR. ROACH: In the past, I have been treated for osteoporosis, but still had a spinal fracture last year that required surgery. My endocrinologist suggested Tymlos because it encourages bone growth more than a bisphoshonate drug.
DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a 79-year-old female who was scheduled for a carotid endarterectomy.
DEAR DR. ROACH: My husband is 89 and taking amiodarone. He had a heart attack and is taking iron infusions for anemia.
DEAR DR. ROACH: I had a small stroke in September. What probably brought it on was a fall backward downstairs in the dark. I was stunned for a few minutes, but did not lose consciousness.
DEAR DR. ROACH: My daughter was exposed to infectious mononucleosis ("mono") at college, and she is coming to spend a week at home.
DEAR DR. ROACH: Can living in a "semiarid" climate have an effect on a person's throat? For almost every day for about 15 years, I have been dealing with mucus and throat-clearing.
DEAR DR. ROACH: I am 90 and in reasonably good health. I recently had blood tests that showed a spike in my liver levels.
DEAR DR. ROACH: I am an 80-year-old male. I have had benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) for more than 20 years, and it is getting progressively worse.
DEAR DR. ROACH: Please explain Hashimoto's disease. I have heard it is rare, but two colleagues have recently been diagnosed. We all work in a very high-stress field.
DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a 76-year-old male who is in good health and doesn’t take any medications. I ride my bike 40 miles a week, play golf four days a week and go to the gym every other day.
DEAR DR. ROACH: I have had weight-loss surgery, specifically an adjustable lap band that was revised to a gastric sleeve in 2018. I have been given and read conflicting recommendations regarding the use of NSAIDs following these procedures.
DEAR DR. ROACH: I have been using "lite salt," which has 50% less sodium than regular table salt. Do you agree that this is OK?
DEAR DR. ROACH: I am 68 and in good shape; I work out daily.
DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a 71-year-old male in good health with an enlarged prostate. I can’t stand going to the bathroom six times a night anymore. I tried prescription medications and didn’t like the side effects; they don’t work for me.
DEAR DR. ROACH: We just learned that a 30-year-old woman who was six weeks pregnant with twins had a heart attack during a spin class and is now lying in a coma in the hospital. The woman was then diagnosed with a congenital heart defect.
DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a 70-year-old woman who was diagnosed with fibromyalgia decades ago. I suffered before my diagnosis and have suffered since with every single symptom that defines this disease.