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Daily Column

October 31, 2008 By

DEAR DR. GOTT:
I am a 50-year-old male. I recently had my gallbladder removed.

Could you explain what the symptoms of this condition are? Could the problem have been taken care of without surgery and what are the two types of surgery used?

I don’t know why I had my gallbladder removed, how it was removed and what symptoms I had that indicated it was my gallbladder that was the problem. Is gallbladder removal surgery serious?

DEAR READER:
When I got your letter, I sat rather dumbfounded at my desk for several minutes and had to reread it four or five times to make sure that what I was reading was really what you wrote.

I am thoroughly shocked that you do not even know what your symptoms were! [Read more...]

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Daily Column

October 30, 2008 By

DEAR DR. GOTT:
My husband is 82 years old and swims five to six times a week. At 15, he was a Marine and fought in World War II.

For the past two or three years he has had an itch primarily on his back and shoulders but sometimes is all over. The dermatologist has tried many salves, creams, cortisone and other things. He also ordered a biopsy which turned out normal. What do you advise?

DEAR READER:
Itchy skin can be difficult to treat. It is often caused by irritants and is accompanied by a rash. Your husband appears to have run the gamut of dermatologic causes and now needs to move on.

First, I recommend that he stop swimming for two or three weeks. Many people experience skin dryness, itchyness and/or rash because of some of the chemicals in the pool. [Read more...]

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Daily Column

October 30, 2008 By

DEAR DR. GOTT:
I would like to give your readers a simple and effective remedy for constipation.

About 20 years ago I had gallbladder removal surgery. It caused my bowel movements to be very irregular. While reading an old folk medicine book written by Dr. Jarvis one day, I came across a simple remedy. The doctor told to simply drink a mug of hot water one half hour before breakfast every day.

Figuring it harmless and at worst would fill my bladder a little faster, I decided to try it. I could immediately feel the water emptying my stomach of the contents from the night before. Within just a few days I was completely regulated. It was amazing.

I told my doctor of this simple remedy and he said it was one of the best. When I asked why no one ever mentions it, he responded that most patients, and doctors, feel that it is too easy. [Read more...]

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Daily Column

October 29, 2008 By

DEAR DR. GOTT:
I was happy with your answer to the person who wrote to you about chelation.

My father had it done because the doctor convinced him his body was full of lead and that his heart was like concrete inside. My mother also got hooked by this guy. Both were also told they had to buy special vitamins because the chelation would leach iron and other nutrients from their bodies.

My father was 80 when all this was going on and refused to let me take him to a cardiologist. I even went so far as to get various pamphlets from the American Heart Association about how dangerous chelation can be.

My father never experienced improvement from the procedure and, after several treatments, passed away. Following this, I immediately took my mother off them and got her to the doctor. By the time I got her there, she had already done irreversible damage to her body. [Read more...]

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Daily Column

October 28, 2008 By

DEAR DR. GOTT:
I’m writing to thank you for your suggestion to use cherries or cherry extract to relieve gout and also to tell you about cherries and kidney stones.

My husband had seven kidney stones caused by gout crystals. He was given allopurinol to help control them but it only caused him severe pain across the bottom of his chest and top of his stomach. I was afraid his pancreas was being harmed. (We have a friend who lost his gallbladder, most likely because of his use of allopurinol.)

After seeing your article, I put my husband on two cherry extract pills a day. I figured if it helped gout, it would help kidney stones caused by gout crystals. I guess I was right because my husband has not had another kidney stone and it’s been five years!

DEAR READER:
It does appear that you were correct in suggesting your husband use cherry extract pills to treat his kidney stones. [Read more...]

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Daily Column

October 27, 2008 By

DEAR DR. GOTT:
I am an avid reader, but I have not seen anything about my problem.

When I am standing in line, taking my ½ mile daily walk or just about anything that involves standing for more than a few minutes, I get a tingling sensation at the bottom of my spinal cord (in the buttocks area). As soon as I feel this I know I need to find someplace immediately to sit down. If I don’t, the sensation goes all the way down to my toes. If I try to walk it feels as thought I am on marbles and I never know if my next step will hold me or if I will fall. This has been happening for several years.

I never know when it will happen because it doesn’t happen all the time. The only thing that stops the tingling and numbness is to sit down for a few minutes. I have had an X-ray of my spine and was told I have arthritis but that it should not cause the symptoms I am experiencing. [Read more...]

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Sunday Column

October 26, 2008 By

DEAR DR. GOTT:
I read your column faithfully and find it very helpful and interesting is so many ways for both my family and me. I am an 84-year-old female in very good health. I had stage II breast cancer followed by breast removal 16 years ago. I was on tamoxifen for five years but never had chemotherapy or radiation. I continue to have yearly mammograms and so far, everything has been good.

I used to be a competitive racewalker, competing locally and nationally with the Senior Olympics. I received numerous medals in both levels but had to give it up to take care of my husband about 10 years ago. I continue to racewalk on my own. I was treated for leg and back pain while doing this competitively.

I am writing for you opinion on two issues. The first is treatment of meralgia paresthetica. [Read more...]

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Daily Column

October 25, 2008 By

DEAR DR. GOTT:
Two and a half years ago my parents informed my four siblings and me that we were all to use deodorant without aluminum in order to avoid the buildup of aluminum found in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients. My family has tried nearly every type of non-aluminum deodorant without success. I once replaced my parents’ liquid deodorant with water for a few days and they didn’t notice any difference!

Now, after several embarrassing summers, we are trying to go back to a normal deodorant that actually works as we have been informed that the Alzheimer’s/aluminum theory is invalid. What are your thoughts on this?

DEAR READER:
Years ago, aluminum as an anti-perspirant was considered to be harmful. Although the relation to dementia has been invalidated, [Read more...]

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Daily Column

October 25, 2008 By

DEAR DR. GOTT:
Shortly after my doctor prescribed a statin drug for me, I saw an item in my local newspaper written by a pharmacist warning that Coenzyme Q10 was depleted by the use of statins.

I discussed this with my doctor who had no objection to my taking the supplement so I started taking 100 mg twice a day (morning and night). For whatever reason I have had absolutely no side effects from the statin medication which has brought my cholesterol back to normal limits.

I am a retired registered nurse and an avid reader of your column, especially of what may concern me!

DEAR READER:
Unless you were experiencing side effects that were relieved by the Co-Q10 there is no evidence that this supplement was beneficial to you. You may simply be one of the vast majority of individuals who don’t experience side effects from statin therapy. [Read more...]

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Daily Column

October 24, 2008 By

DEAR DR. GOTT:
I’m a 56-year-old woman. My problem is with muscle tightening. I can’t get rid of the flabbiness that is hanging around my upper arms. I’ve tried push ups, swinging my arms when walking and using 5 pound dumbbells at several different angles. The only thing I get is a little toning. What shall I do to lose the flabbiness?

DEAR READER:
The condition to which you refer is frequently seen in middle-to-upper aged women and in individuals who are carrying excess weight or who are obese.

An exercise you might consider is to sit in a chair with your feet flat on the floor in front of you. Pick up a one-to-five-pound weight in your left hand. Raise your arm straight over your head. Slowly and carefully bend your elbow so the weight is lowered behind you, over your left shoulder. [Read more...]

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