ArcaMax

DEAR DR. ROACH: I'm an 85-year-old woman. I took the Cologuard test a month ago, and it came back positive. My gastrointestinal doctor said that at my age, he wouldn't perform a colonoscopy. I asked for other alternatives, and he said that there's a virtual colonoscopy CT scan. I had soft tissue sarcoma a year ago and have been getting CT ...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: I have a sensitive issue I'd like to ask you about. I'm a 79-year-old woman who's dealing with a lot of stress and anxiety due to the recent suicide of my husband, the trauma of finding him, and all the trauma that followed. I'm in therapy, and I'm healthy and active. I don't take any prescribed medications.

I recently had my ...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: My 22-year-old daughter gets sick often. She's a nursing student and in the hospitals often for her clinicals, but she always tries to wash her hands often and takes a multivitamin. Are there any supplements she can take or anything she can do to boost her immunity?

She also has about 10 gray hairs. I didn't start going gray ...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: I'm a 71-year-old female who's in fairly good health. I only take a statin for high cholesterol and have been diagnosed with spinal stenosis. In April, I began experiencing a burning pain that circles my upper left leg. The pain is constant and never wavers. I had blood tests and a hip X-ray done, which didn't show a reason for...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: Please explain why there are standard tests that we all know we should do as we age, such as a colonoscopy, a mammogram, a skin check, eye exams, etc. But nobody ever says that you should do at least one CT scan or MRI for the deadliest of them all -- pancreatic cancer! It's rarely diagnosed until stage 4!

My husband had ...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: I recently read an article about a woman who had polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and died from nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. The article seemed to infer a connection between the two conditions. I have PCOS. Should I be concerned that my doctor isn't keeping an eye on my liver via a liver scan? How do I know if I'm at risk?...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: Over the past 20 years, my now 65-year-old son-in-law has been tentatively diagnosed with Lyme disease, Parkinson's disease, and multiple sclerosis (MS) without a definitive diagnosis. He has cognitive impairment and some physical limitations. Now, after a spinal tap, they've made the diagnosis of myelin oligodendrocyte ...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am 68 years old and have an enlarged prostate and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). I've been taking tamsulosin for about seven years. My PSA level has slowly creeped up and was recently measured at 4.5 ng/mL. My doctor did a 4Kscore test, and it was rather high at 49%, indicating a higher potential for aggressive prostate ...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a 68-year-old female who's in great health, except for cholesterol levels that are a tad high. In January, I was diagnosed with a prolapsed bladder. My gynecologist said it was stage 1, and therapy will be able to help. I've been through physical therapy and done pelvic floor exercises, but they don't seem to be helping.

...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: I read your recent column on people with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) needing to urinate more than others. What about those who have central sleep apnea (CSA)? I'm a 74-year-old male who's taking medications for an enlarged prostate, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure, which are all under control. I urinate maybe twice ...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am 74 and have sleep apnea. I've used a CPAP device for over 20 years. Over the past four to five years, I've been awakened several times each night with a seriously dry mouth. I will get a drink, use the bathroom, and get right back to sleep, only to have the same thing happen over and over again.

I've used several ...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: I'm a healthy, active 69-year-old female. I've had problems with constipation for several years,and it's recently worsened. When I had my first colonoscopy, the doctor at the time, who'd been doing colonoscopies for 50 years, told me that I had the longest colon he'd ever seen.

When I had my second (and most recent) ...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: Can you give me information about laryngopharyngeal reflux? I develop a croaky voice at times and have lots of mucus in the morning (which doesn't get coughed up), among other things. Is diet alone enough to remedy the problem? I'm going in for a vocal cord vibration test. -- M.M.

ANSWER: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)...Read more

DEAR DR ROACH: I have uncomfortable bladder stones, and I'm on a low-oxalate diet to help prevent more stones. I also have osteoporosis, and my blood work shows high calcium. My doctor suggests Prolia, which I question since I am a 95-year-old female and exercise daily. I have switched my calcium citrate to calcium with magnesium and stopped ...Read more