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Daily Column

January 31, 2009 By

DEAR DR. GOTT:
In 2007, at the age of 90 my husband was diagnosed with an abdominal aortic aneurysm. His vascular surgeon said it was so large that no stent would be available in our town at the local hospital. He made arrangements for the surgery at a nearby teaching hospital where two surgeons performed the miraculous repair with two customized stents.

My husband is now 91 years old and a productive senior citizen who attends luncheon clubs, lodge meetings and is able to enjoy his family. We have been married 68 years and hope to have many more wonderful years ahead.

We know miracles happen and perhaps the disgruntled “professional consumer advocate” will admit he was wrong. Our family has proof.

DEAR READER:
I thought this issue had been put behind me but then I received your letter. I felt it was important to print it because it shows what competent and caring physicians can do.

Age doesn’t always have to be a limiting factor in deciding appropriate courses of medical treatment as your husband’s case clearly shows. I hope you both continue to lead productive, fulfilling lives together for many years to come. Thanks for writing.

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Daily Column

January 31, 2009 By

DEAR DR. GOTT:
I read your column everyday and enjoy it very much. A while ago you had a letter from a woman who was concerned about the fact that her husband could hear a blood flow noise in his right ear but not the left.

Several years ago I had a bad cold and blew my nose quite hard and often. Following this I developed a blood flow noise in my left ear.

Concerned it was something serious, I made an appointment with my ear-nose-and-throat specialist. After a thorough examination, he told me that my Eustachian tube had been forced open, likely due to my frequent and hard nose blowing. I was told that it may never close back up but I could try deep sea diving which would put pressure on the tube and might close it or I could just learn to live with it. (I used to be a deep sea diver, so this suggestion wasn’t completely outlandish.)
[Read more...]

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Daily Column

January 30, 2009 By

DEAR DR. GOTT:
A few years ago I had a bout of ill health and was prescribed potassium pills. I took a few and found I couldn’t swallow them. I then requested potassium in liquid form. I was advised by the pharmacist the taste would be terrible and he was right. The first dose was the worst. I tried a few methods and came up with taking bad tasting medication followed with an ice cube. I let it melt in my mouth and the bad taste disappears instantly.

Pass this remedy along to your readers and patients.

DEAR READER:
Done. While I admit your remedy is a bit unusual, you’ve hit on something that works for you. Have you tried diluting your potassium with 4 ounces of water, tea or juice? This approach might be easier than waiting for the ice cube to melt. For those who have difficulties swallowing pills, try placing applesauce on a teaspoon and burying the tablet or capsule within the sauce for ease of ingestion.

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Daily Column

January 30, 2009 By

DEAR DR. GOTT:
For the past several months I have been experiencing burning sensations in different areas of my body. They may occur on the top of my foot, near my shoulder, the back of my hand, chest, or other areas.

I went to my nurse practitioner who wasn’t sure what was causing this. She called in the physician whose office she works in, explained what I was complaining about and he just shook his head.

I’ve had osteoarthritis for years for which I take Celebrex twice a day. I also take Celexa for depression, Nexium for reflux, multi-vitamins, vitamin C, calcium and omega 3. Would you have any idea what is causing the burning sensations? They’re very uncomfortable, even though they only last a few minutes at a time. [Read more...]

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Daily Column

January 29, 2009 By

DEAR DR. GOTT:
I am an active 71-year-old woman with a cholesterol reading of 258, which I know is high. I do not want to go on medication and my doctor seems to feel that since I am not heavy, exercise regularly and my HDL is excellent, I shouldn’t be concerned.

I don’t eat meat or fats and watch what I do eat. I also read that taking flaxseed is good for lowering cholesterol levels, so I take a tablespoon of flaxseed meal each morning.

Is my doctor correct in advising me that I shouldn’t be concerned? Is there anything else I should be doing to lower the numbers since I really do not want to take statins?

I would appreciate hearing your opinion on this. [Read more...]

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Daily Column

January 28, 2009 By

DEAR DR. GOTT:
I have another success story about the use of Vick’s VapoRub. For years I had a seborrheic keratosis on the right side of my face. I had it burned off three times; twice by the same dermatologist who was sure he’d removed it.

In all cases, it promptly grew back larger than before. When it was the size of a half dollar, a different dermatologist told me he could remove it by cutting it off and grafting a piece of skin taken from my inner thigh. I could imagine two places hurting plus there is always the risk of possible infection so I said “No thank you”.

When I began reading your articles about the effect of Vicks on fungus, I began wondering if it would work on my itchy, scaly patch. I’d noticed when we were in Hawaii that it softened when I faithfully applied sun screen twice a day. So I began my experiment. [Read more...]

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Daily Column

January 27, 2009 By

DEAR DR. GOTT:
I read your article about the elderly woman who had possible gallstones. I misplaced it and just recently found it again, so decided it was time to write to you about my experience.

The symptoms described in the article were very similar to what I experienced shortly after the birth of my daughter. I delivered via C-section and returned home after four days in hospital. I didn’t feel very good but attributed it to my first experience with a C-section and all that goes with it; however, the pain worsened. I called the hospital and the nurses there assured me it was just constipation caused by the surgery, and that I should take a laxative to get things moving. After doing that, I still felt awful — even worse than before — with sharp pains under my right ribs that made me double over in pain. My husband decided I needed to go to the hospital emergency room. [Read more...]

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Daily Column

January 26, 2009 By

DEAR DR. GOTT:
I am writing in the hope that you can help me and my daughter. She was told she has pituitary thyroidism but no one seems to understand what it is. She is 67 years old and has been a registered nurse for 23 years. At one time, hospital staff asked her to volunteer for research but she refused, saying she didn’t want to be a guinea pig.

She is repeatedly sent to mental institutions. From what I have read, I understand that doing bizarre things to one self is caused by the disorder. I know she is not insane and hope you can help us.

She is only on one medication, Tegretol for grand mal seizures.

DEAR READER:
You don’t say whether your daughter has too much or too little thyroid hormone, therefore I must generalize. [Read more...]

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Sunday Column

January 25, 2009 By

DEAR DR. GOTT:
I have rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and my greatest wish is for you to write one column on this subject. I am sure you will please millions of people with RA by informing people of the difference between arthritis and RA.

Everyday I run into people that notice when I limp or move slowly in pain and ask what’s wrong. I inform them I have rheumatoid arthritis and before I can finish my sentence they are telling me how they have the same thing and start telling me how bad it is in their knee, etc.

When I question them, I realize they have normal aging and osteoarthritis. People do not understand RA patients and the difference because both have arthritis in the name.

Please dedicate one column to this subject. Your column will help educate the public as it has helped educate me on so many disorders. [Read more...]

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Daily Column

January 24, 2009 By

DEAR DR. GOTT:
I would appreciate information on helping people like me who have lost their sense of smell and taste. My ear-nose-and-throat doctor said it was nerve damage, but offered no cures.

DEAR READER:
There are numerous reasons for losing a sense of smell and taste. Prolonged exposure to toxic chemicals, head injury, sinusitis, and nasal polyps might be the cause. Antibiotics for infection and medications for high blood pressure can compromise the senses. Diseases such as Parkinson’s and diabetes have also been linked to the loss, as has the aging process.

If your otolaryngologist isn’t completely aware of all medications and supplements you are on, diseases you might have, or exposure to chemicals in your home or place of employment, I recommend you fill him or her in. This seemingly unimportant information might be all that is required to fit the puzzle pieces together.

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