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Sunday Column

November 30, 2008 By

DEAR DR. GOTT:
For the past two years I have experience a skipped heart beat. Sometimes it gets so bad that I will get a headache. I underwent an ultrasound after an EKG showed the defect, but the results were negative for any substantial blockage of arteries and valves.

The doctor said it could be some damaged tissue. A nurse told me it could be stress.

Right now I am 6’5” tall, weigh 400 pounds, 40 years old and haven‘t had a cigarette in three years. My vision is blurred during the time my heart skips. I’m on Clonidine, Verapamil and Simvastatin to control my blood pressure and my (sometimes) escalated heart rate.

DEAR READER:
I can only interpret you are referring to palpitations, irregular beats of the heart. [Read more...]

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Daily Column

November 29, 2008 By

DEAR DR. GOTT:
I am 97-year-old lady and have a pacemaker. I had two or three seizures but have not had anymore since the pacemaker was put in. I am now doing fine except that I have an irritated vagina and inner thighs.

While in the hospital, a nurse spilled urine all down my back and I was not given a bath for two days before leaving. I now have to urinate every two hours during the night and have a very odd dark red, half circle on my both of my inner thighs. It does not itch and fades during the night. What should I do?

DEAR READER:
First, I don’t believe that your symptoms have anything to do with the nurse who spilt the urine or the fact that you were not allowed to bathe afterward. I can say that I am truly appalled by the situation and disappointed in the staff for not immediately helping you wash up. [Read more...]

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Daily Column

November 28, 2008 By

DEAR DR. GOTT:
All levels of the medical profession have asked or told all of us to cut back on the salt we consume daily. I try to buy lower or no-salt whenever I can. I’m not on any salt-free diet for a health problem but I’m finding a lot of salt in the deli products I purchase.

I’m widowed, live alone and elderly. Many days I don’t have the energy to prepare meals for myself from scratch or the ingredients are not in the house. So, I buy something already made.

Is this becoming a universal problem that people preparing deli food are ignoring? With salt in everything, are we raising a generation of young children doomed for high blood pressure in the future? Most all adults already have it and are on daily medication to control it. Salt can always be added but can’t be taken away if already cooked in food. [Read more...]

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Daily Column

November 27, 2008 By

DEAR DR. GOTT:
I must inform you that twice recently you recognized that a dental consultation was needed, except you said orthodontist when the problem had nothing to do with moving teeth. These patients needed a good general dentist, not an orthodontist.

DEAR READER:
I stubbed my toe. Twice!

The dental field is an extremely specialized one. For example, an endodontist specializes in matters concerning the pulp or inside of the tooth and would be consulted when that portion is infected or inflamed, or if a root canal is required.

A periodontist is trained in diagnosing, preventing and treating gum disease. One might be consulted for dental implants, or to perform cosmetic periodontal treatment.

A prosthodontist is trained to deal with missing teeth, restoration of natural teeth, and restoration of the whole mouth. [Read more...]

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Daily Column

November 27, 2008 By

DEAR DR. GOTT:
I am having yet another bout of iritis, with accompanying pain and sensitivity to light. This always seems to happen when I am away from home and cannot see my own doctor. I have been treated with steroid eye drops in the past but wonder if there is anything you can recommend instead.

DEAR READER:
Uveitis is inflammation and swelling of the uvea, the layer of the eye between the retina and sclera. One of the most common forms is anterior uveitis that involves the front portion of the eye and is limited to the iris. Thus, the name iritis.
Most attacks are mild, symptoms last from a few days to several weeks with treatment and the bouts are prone to recurrence.

Common symptoms are pain, swelling, tearing, and photophobia (light sensitivity). Severe cases can also include blurred vision. [Read more...]

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November 26, 2008 By

DEAR DR. GOTT:
Last spring I had another colonoscopy (polyps had been found on a previous one). I was fine when I went it but have been ill every since. With other scopes I had no problems but this time I could barely get home. At the two week check up I told the doctor I had pain in my side, gas pressure and woke up many times at night to urinate. I was told it had nothing to do with the colonoscopy and that I probably just had a bladder infection. I then went to my regular doctor who gave me antibiotics. I continue to have all the same problems. I have since timed my nighttime urination to every one hour and twenty minutes. By the time I get back to sleep, I wake up because I have to go again.

It has now been three months since my symptoms started. Do you have any suggestions? [Read more...]

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Daily Column

November 26, 2008 By

DEAR DR. GOTT:
Your recent column about the Nintendo Wii was great.

I was born in 1927 and now live in a nursing home. When I was younger I used to bowl quite frequently. Because it is not as easy as it used to be, I now Wii-Bowl. It is really fun and can be enjoyed by people of all ages and fitness levels. My nursing home friends and I play together on a regular basis.

As James Brown would say, “I feel good” and plan on staying that way for a long time.

DEAR READER:
When I wrote that letter, I assumed it would only strike a cord with the under 35 set. When I received your letter, I knew I had to print it. It shows that the older and younger generations may have something in common after all. Thanks for writing and sharing your experience with this gaming system. I hope other seniors will consider this an option for keeping active physically, mentally and socially.

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November 25, 2008 By

DEAR DR. GOTT:
I am a physician in California. I thought you would like to know a little about statin therapy and co-enzyme Q10. According to a publication in the Archives of Neurology, atorvastatin (Lipitor) has been shown to significantly decrease CO-Q10 by about 50% in one month. This depletion may lead to exercise intolerance and muscle pain and inflammation.

I, personally, have had many patients better tolerate statins when given co-enzyme Q10 as well. Please pass this on to your readers and other physicians.

DEAR DOCTOR: Thank you for writing and informing me of this finding. I have received a few sporadic letters regarding administration of CO-Q10 with statins as well as stating some studies have seen depletion during statin therapy. Yours was one of the only that included a reference. [Read more...]

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Daily Column

November 25, 2008 By

DEAR DR. GOTT:
In response to the person that woke up deaf after a hysterectomy, I feel you are totally WRONG. This individual has obviously had ear problems before and knows what will correct the hearing loss. Why should any patient go through three office visits which cost about $100 a visit just to train a physician? Did the physician review her chart before forcing her to come back repeatedly for three visits? The physician whom we pay for medical advice should not be using his patients as testing grounds or beta testing at our expense. If he didn’t know what the problem was he should have said so and recommended an ENT physician immediately instead of milking patients or their insurance companies for unnecessary visits. I feel this physician should be reported and practice should be reviewed. I am so frustrated with incompetent doctors. [Read more...]

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November 25, 2008 By

DEAR DR. GOTT:
I am a registered nurse and was taking my coffee break with a friend who is an X-ray technician. She was looking at the abdominal X-rays of a female patient. I noticed several little white spots on the lower intestine and asked her what they were. She told me they were calcium tablets that were being passed without being broken down and that it was quite common.

Since then, I have taken my calcium supplement in liquid form. Perhaps the reader who complained about the Allegra-D tablets passing undigested could benefit from a liquid allergy medication such as Zyrtec instead.

I hope this helps your others readers as well.

DEAR READER:
I have received a few letters with similar claims of several types of pills passed relatively undigested. Yours is the first from the medical community, claiming it is common with pills that are not time-released. [Read more...]

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