ArcaMax

DEAR DR. ROACH: I have noticed that I gain weight after eating salted foods. Last night, I had a pasta dish that was salty. Upon awakening, all my fingers were swollen to a point of not bending. Besides drinking a lot of water to flush it out, I'm concerned that there could be potential for an undetected cause.

I'm an 82-year-old woman, and ...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: I recently turned 65 and changed primary doctors because my previous doctor did not accept Medicare patients. I very much liked my new doctor. He ordered a vitamin D test. However, when I got to the lab, they gave me something to sign because Medicare might not cover the test. (It was about a $250 cost.) I declined the test.

...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am an 83-year-old lady, and I have done many adventurous things in my life (skydiving, race car driving, zip-lining, etc.) -- all fearlessly. But I have always been terrified of going to the dentist. My blood pressure skyrockets, and after even a simple cleaning, I have to sit in my car a while to calm down enough to drive ...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: I'm an 83-year-old man in good health who exercises regularly. I came down with a common cold and was prescribed a five-day course of prednisone (50 mg). I've taken two so far. I've had tinnitus for as long as I can remember, but at around 3 a.m. this morning, I had the loudest tinnitus by far that I've ever had. It has quieted...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: Nine days ago, I had a medical procedure under general anesthesia. One of the lines was put in the artery in my left wrist. Aside from deep bruising that went halfway up my forearm, it seems that there is some nerve damage. I have constant pain from my thumb, through my wrist, and up to about 3 inches on my arm. Overnight, the ...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am on Medicare, and my primary care physician just retired. Not many places are taking new patients these days, especially on Medicare. Given the choice, should I look for an M.D. (medical doctor) or a D.O. (doctor of osteopathy)? -- T.C.

ANSWER: In my opinion, the training of D.O.s and M.D.s is so nearly equivalent that ...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: My daughter was recently visiting and tested positive for COVID. Since my last COVID vaccine was eight months ago, I searched for how much protection I still had and understood the response to be little to none. So, why is the recommendation for vaccination only once per year and not more frequent so that we always have some ...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: I'm a generally healthy 73-year-old man. I recently had blood work done and was incidentally noted to have high liver tests (ALT and AST). My doctor ordered a sonogram, which said that my liver was "diffusely echogenic, consistent with fatty infiltration." I used to have an occasional drink, but I haven't had any alcohol for ...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: I had a pituitary tumor that was discovered over 25 years ago. For years, I had an MRI with and without dye every six months. Then it changed to once a year. Can you get damage from too many brain MRIs? -- D.J.

ANSWER: An MRI uses powerful magnetic fields to take pictures of the body, and the resulting detail of soft tissue (...Read more

DEAR DR ROACH: In a recent column, you wrote about reducing cholesterol with the help of statins along with a PCSK9i, such as Repatha or Praluent. My question is: Are these PCSK9is at all beneficial if one cannot take statins? -- D.C.S.

ANSWER: Yes, PCSK9 inhibitors are very effective at lowering cholesterol and reducing the risk of heart ...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: I read that there is updated advice on who should get the COVID vaccine based on age and risk factors. How many Americans were hospitalized for COVID who did not have these latest qualifying risk factors? -- N.R.

ANSWER: Although the most recent update on the licensing of the COVID vaccines from the Food and Drug Adminstration ...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a 78-year-old male who is in pretty good health. I keep my blood pressure under control and exercise five days a week at a gym, doing 30 minutes of cardio and lifting light weights. However, I have osteoporosis. As I have declined to take medications such as Fosamax due to their potential side effects, my doctor has ...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am an active male in my 70s and in good health. I exercise, eat healthy, and keep my weight down, and my blood work comes back perfect. I have a unique situation that I haven't read about before and can't find any information about.

I have a mass growing in my scrotum that has been there for many years, and upon examination,...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a soon-to-be 85-year-old healthy woman. I take a statin and baby aspirin (I assume because of my age) and have my gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) under control. I have scheduled gallbladder surgery for late next month, and I am having doubts about this so-called simple surgery.

My recent symptoms have been ...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: I was diagnosed with stage 4 high-grade ovarian cancer in September 2024. I underwent a major surgery after the tumor shrank in March. I see a top doctor at a renowned hospital, and I trust him. I went through seven rounds of chemo with three different meds. I handled it well as I am very fit and 64 years old.

I am now on ...Read more