DEAR DR. ROACH: I took 70 milligrams of alendronate once a week due to the results of my bone mineral density scan performed in April this year. At that time, I was diagnosed with osteopenia. I recently researched the side effects of this drug and decided to discontinue its use. My first symptom of this […]
Dr. Donohue
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CT scan and stress test are complementary tests
DEAR DR. ROACH: Have you heard of the 64-slice test for your heart? Would you recommend it instead of a stress test? — D.F. ANSWER: You’re asking about a CT scan of the heart. The use of multiple detectors allows the CT scan to get a very high-resolution picture of the heart very quickly. Modern […]
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Shingles vaccine can prevent complications
DEAR DR. ROACH: My boyfriend, who is in his 60s, got the recommended shingles shot a couple of years ago. Three weeks ago, he got a very bad case of shingles. It went from the front of his stomach, along the left side, to the middle of his spine. He has huge blisters, a red […]
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Active reader’s genetic high cholesterol may not need statin drug
DEAR DR. ROACH: I need a second opinion. I was diagnosed with familial hypercholesterolemia about 30 years ago and have gone through about six doctors (ranging from internist to surgeon to general practitioner) during that time. My new doctor, having never treated this condition, is now asking me, “How aggressive do you want to be?” […]
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Doctors differ on chemo delivery method
DEAR DR. ROACH: My 70-year-old husband’s mantle cell lymphoma is being treated with chemotherapy, including doxorubicin, and he received his first cycle at MD Anderson, where they took 48 hours to infuse the doxorubicin chemo. When this cycle was repeated at our local hospital, they administered it as a push in just a few minutes. […]
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Hemorrhoid treatment hinges on classification
DEAR DR. ROACH: Do you know anything about injection sclerotherapy for hemorrhoids? Are there any other new treatments? — H.F. ANSWER: Hemorrhoids are a normal part of our anatomy, but they cause problems such as bleeding and itching, and they can develop blood clots. Hemorrhoids may be internal or external. External hemorrhoids rarely need more […]
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Careful decision on anticoagulant use needed with patient’s history of bleeding
DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a healthy 79-year-old with a question about the blood thinner Xarelto. I take it for occasional atrial fibrillation. I hear that it can be dangerous. My doctors don’t seem worried, but I am. I have had rectal bleeding in the past, which wasn’t serious but was scary. I can’t take […]
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More frequent, higher doses of NSAIDs carry greater risk of side effects
DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a 44-year-old man with chronic headaches and migraines. Should I worry about the long-term effects of taking an NSAID (such as diclofenac) at least once a week? — G.W. ANSWER: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are among the most commonly taken classes of drugs in the world, with 17 million Americans alone […]
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Baking soda another remedy for underarm odor
DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a 77-year-old female. I had a left-breast lumpectomy (with some lymph nodes removed) about 15 years ago, leaving me with a much heavier right breast. I don’t know whether this plays an important role with my problem. Since the surgery, I have had a problem controlling underarm odor. I do […]
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Platelet donations are perfectly safe
DEAR DR. ROACH: I am writing about platelet donations. As a way of giving back, I donate platelets. I was wondering if there is a time that a person should stop donating, based on age or difficulty. I am 61 years old, and the past three times I’ve donated, I felt uncomfortable in some way. […]