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by Dr. Peter Gott, M.D. and staff.
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Archive for November, 2008


Daily Column

Monday, November 24th, 2008

DEAR DR. GOTT:
I have heard different things about the ability of honey to cure hemorrhoids. What experience have you had with this? What amount of honey is used and how often?

DEAR READER:
I, too, have heard about the wonders of honey relieving symptoms or even curing hemorrhoids. A while back, I even asked my readers to write me about their experiences but I have not received anything as of yet.

As far as amount and frequency, I am unsure but would guess that the amount would be fairly minimal since it can be quite messy. Because it is safe, it can be used as often as necessary. Being used topically, it will not affect blood sugar levels.

I will request again that any of my readers with experience using honey for hemorrhoids write me their experiences.

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Daily Column

Monday, November 24th, 2008

DEAR DR. GOTT:
I am a 57-year-old male 170 pounds, 5’ 11” tall. I drink very little and don’t smoke. I have also been married for 35 years.

About a year ago I noticed a downward spiral in my energy level and ability to exercise. I also began having erection problems.

I had a complete physical done. My cholesterol was 144, blood pressure was 116/60, heart rate was 60 beats per minute and my fasting blood sugar was 90. My doctor also ordered a testosterone level which was low at 249. I was then put on Androgel 7.5 mg daily. I have been using it for six months and my testosterone level is now 246. I have not had any change in my symptoms at all.

Is there anywhere to go from here? Would testosterone injections be better?

DEAR READER:
So-called normal testosterone levels range from 300-1000. Your level of 246 is just below normal. (more…)

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Daily Column

Sunday, November 23rd, 2008

DEAR DR. GOTT:
My husband is 73-years-old and had a biopsy of his prostate because his lab value was 6.2. We were told he had cancer, but were told not to worry. A few days later he came down with a severe urinary infection that put him in the hospital for four days. A few months later his PSA was 1.2 and now it is 1.7. The doctor wanted to do surgery but we said no. Now he wants to do another biopsy. I don’t want to put my husband through this again. Options are seeds, radiation and more that did not interest us at all. We chose to wait.

DEAR READER:
Normal prostatic specific antigen (PSA) readings are from 0-4. Your husband’s reading was high. Having said that, prostate cancer affects about one in six men in the United States and the incidence increases with age. (more…)

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Sunday Column

Sunday, November 23rd, 2008

DEAR DR. GOTT:
In a recent column in our local newspaper, a writer told of a friend with the shakes, as in the early stages of Parkinson’s. In the article, the reference was to B-5Q in a couple of places and again in your answer.

The last sentence of your response, however, referred to B-50. Could you clear this up for us, please? My brother is in the early stages of Parkinson’s or something like it and has the shakes. We attempted to locate B-5Q with no success, but B-50 is available.

Thank you. We appreciate your help.

DEAR READER:
As I am sure you are aware, Parkinson’s is a progressive neurological disorder that is both chronic and progressive. It is not contagious, nor is it generally inherited. (more…)

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Daily Column

Saturday, November 22nd, 2008

DEAR DR. GOTT:
My sister has a skin condition called Morphea. It started under her breast and she now has a patch on one of her buttocks.

The condition is quite annoying and she was hoping you would have a home remedy or some idea of how to combat the condition.

DEAR READER:
Morphea is a type of scleroderma, a rare skin condition that can cause a variety of problems such as skin discoloration or internal organ damage. There is no known cause but it is believed it may be an autoimmune response.

Morphea is a less serious form which usually affects only the outermost layers of skin only, leaving the internal organs alone. It generally causes hardening, thickening and discoloration of the skin in patches. It can also limit the flexibility of the skin in the affected area. (more…)

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Daily Column

Saturday, November 22nd, 2008

DEAR DR. GOTT:
I have a friend in his late 80’s. He has spent several thousand dollars going from doctor to doctor trying to find the cause of his dizziness. One day while talking to one of his friends, the topic of dizziness came up. She, too, had a problem with it and discovered that if she used a square Halls cough drop, the dizziness went away.

He now carries these with him where ever he goes and takes one as soon as he starts to feel dizzy. I told him he should write to you about it and he asked me to do it for him.

I also recently bought Castiva for another friend in his late 80’s who has gout in his big toe. It has worked well for him.

I would like to thank you for all the good advice you provide in your column. It has helped many people I know. (more…)

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Daily Column

Friday, November 21st, 2008

DEAR DR. GOTT:
I am responding with our personal experience that ties in with the enclosed article you wrote.

My husband was diagnosed with a 50% heart blockage. Since he was not looking forward to surgery, he tried chelation. We interviewed the doctor in our town who also had a chelation center. We were assured it would handle the blockage.

After 30 treatments, I begged my husband to have another echocardiogram to compare to the previous one that indicated the blockage. Thank goodness he agreed because the blockage had worsened to 70%!

My husband had successful aortic valve replacement and bypass surgery at the Ross Heart Institute at Ohio State University. His recovery was wonderful. I am very thankful to the doctors there. I believe they not only saved his life but improved the quality of it as well. (more…)

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Daily Column

Friday, November 21st, 2008

DEAR DR. GOTT:
Over the past 18 months, my 28-year-old granddaughter has been on your no flour, no sugar diet. She has lost 170 pounds and uses a treadmill for one hour every day. Her only problem now is getting rid of the extra skin on her arms and belly. Do you know what sort of exercises she can do that will make this skin shrink?

DEAR READER:
First, I would like to congratulate your granddaughter on her astonishing weight loss.

Skin is very stretchy and often reshapes as weight is lost. This, however, doesn’t always happen. The longer the skin remains stretched out, the less likely it will return to normal. Your granddaughter has discovered this the hard way.

To the best of my knowledge there is no way to tighten the skin other than surgical removal of the excess. (more…)

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Daily Column

Thursday, November 20th, 2008

DEAR DR. GOTT:
You recently suggested a reader raise the head of his bed three to four inches to help reduce nighttime acid indigestion. However, adding a second pillow can be uncomfortable for some and wedge pillows can be expensive. I suggest he put the extra pillows under the mattress to raise his head. It is much more comfortable.

DEAR READER:
Simply using a second pillow is not an option in this case. This merely raises the head, leaving the neck at an angle. By placing wooden blocks under the feet of the headboard, the entire bed is angled slightly, putting the stomach lower than the head and neck. In this way gravity keeps the acid in the stomach.

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Daily Column

Thursday, November 20th, 2008

DEAR DR. GOTT:
I recently had an endoscopy and was diagnosed with Barrett’s esophagus. What is the best treatment? Is surgery an option?

I read your articles every day and save many of them. Keep up the good work.

DEAR READER:
Barrett’s esophagus is a condition in which the lining of the esophagus is replaced by tissue similar to that of the intestine.

The cause of Barrett’s is unknown. It is three to five times more likely to occur in people with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The condition itself, however, has no signs or symptoms. Men are affected nearly twice as often as women and Caucasian men are at the top of the list.

Some individuals (less than one percent) with the condition can develop a rare but deadly type of esophageal cancer. (more…)

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All information contained herein was the opinion and view of the writer at the time the original column appeared, with content provided for informational purposes only.
Consult a physician before beginning any course of treatment, since ongoing research on a wide variety of topics may render some suggestions obsolete. Website © 2009 Gott & Storm LLC. Content is © 1995-2009 Newspaper Enterprise Association

Disclaimer: All information contained herein is the opinion and view of the writer. It is intended to provide helpful and informative material on the subjects addressed and is not meant to malign any pharmaceutical company, organization, religion, ethnic group, or individual. Readers should consult their personal physicians or specialists before adopting any of the recommendations or drawing inference from information contained herein. The writer specifically disclaims all responsibility for any liability, loss, risk -- personal or otherwise -- incurred as a consequence, directly or indirectly, from the use and application of any material provided.