DEAR DR. GOTT:
My 63-year-old male friend has pericardial effusion.
He had increasing shortness of breath and general weakness for about two weeks before having a procedure to remove the fluid. During it a liter of blood fluid was extracted but the biopsy was negative. He has never had any other heart problems but is being treated for emphysema.
He will have follow-up echocardiograms because the fluid is apparently reappearing. [Read more...]
Follow Physician Advice For Heart Condition
April 14, 2009 By
Another Rare Cancer On The Rise
April 13, 2009 By
DEAR DR. GOTT:
Would you please write a column about Merkel cell carcinoma? I was diagnosed with this and understand the enormity of it. There is a lack of knowledge about it in medical circles as well as the general population. I feel people need to be made aware of Merkel cell, its symptoms, treatment and survival rates.
I find myself in the fight for my life all because no one recognized a small pencil lead sized imperfection on my face as a Merkel cell carcinoma. Please write a column and make everyone aware of this horrible condition. [Read more...]
Sunday Column
April 12, 2009 By
DEAR DR. GOTT:
Your recent article about the difference between osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis was great. It was simply written so that the general public can understand.
I am writing to you now because I hope that you can explain psoriatic arthritis. This is a very painful, sometimes disabling, type of arthritis. Little is known about it, despite the fact that it affects a great number of people.
Patients with psoriatic arthritis also have psoriasis so they are doubly affected. They have to put up with the constant skin lesions on top of the painful arthritis. It is treated with the same biological medications as RA. I am a sufferer and am tired of trying to explain the difference so I hope you will be able to help get the word out in your column.
[Read more...]
Dementia Patient Given Inappropriate Medication
April 11, 2009 By
DEAR DR. GOTT:
I am writing to thank you from the bottom of my heart for writing the article about Seroquel being risky for elderly patients.
My wife is 82 years old and has had dementia for many years. She was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and given many different medications to try but nothing worked. When she started getting worse her physician prescribed Seroquel.
About four or five weeks into taking the medication, she became really confused. She would wake up at night and want to go home without realizing that she already was home. It scared me so much that I was afraid to go to sleep in case I didn’t hear her get up.
After reading your column, I took my wife off the Seroquel and noticed a dramatic change within a week. [Read more...]
Chiggers Spoil Outdoor Activity
April 10, 2009 By
DEAR DR. GOTT:
I live in Missouri. Warmer weather is my family’s favorite time of the year and with spring approaching we wonder if there is anything that can be done about chiggers. Every spring, summer and fall, we itch and find ourselves covered with unsightly rashes following outdoor activities. Is there anything you can recommend so we can continue to hike and do the things we enjoy so much?
DEAR READER:
Chiggers are not bugs, but juvenile forms of a particular family of mites (which are arachnids similar to spiders and scorpions) and are closely related to ticks.
They are very tiny and are almost impossible to see with the naked eye. When a number gather for a feed at the same location of skin, they become visible only because of their bright red color. [Read more...]
Rare Cancer Misdiagnosed As Harmless Bowel Condition
April 9, 2009 By
DEAR DR. GOTT:
I would like to see you devote some space to a rare cancer called carcinoid cancer which is formed by neuroendocrine tumors. My husband was diagnosed with metastasizing carcinoid cancer in 2006.
The mascot for these patients is the zebra because the disease is often misdiagnosed as irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn’s disease, and other bowel ailments. Because of the difficulty in getting a proper diagnosis, the motto is “If you think it’s a horse, think again”.
My husband’s case is unusual because his primary tumor was located around the descending aorta, not the liver, as is typical. The cancer has since spread to his lungs and bones. He is a valiant warrior and tries to live a normal life in spite of the devastating side effects. As far as we know there is no cure. Treatment is usually surgery to reduce the tumors or a drug called Sandostatin. [Read more...]
Daily Column
April 8, 2009 By
DEAR DR. GOTT:
Three years ago I had a heart attack. Since then I have lost 25 pounds, watch what I eat and walk fives miles three days a week. I am taking a low-dose aspirin, Plavix, Vytorin, Diovan, and Synthroid. I have been taking the Synthroid for more than 30 years after having my thyroid removed due to Hashimoto’s. I drink occasionally and smoke a little which I know is bad for me.
My problem is that I can’t seem to lower my cholesterol beyond 155. I was told that Synthroid can cause higher levels of cholesterol but that switching to a generic can cause problems. Please help.
DEAR READER:
Synthroid does not cause increased levels of cholesterol, hypothyroidism does. As long as you are receiving adequate levels of thyroid hormone, your cholesterol should be fine.
[Read more...]
Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Needs Monitoring
April 7, 2009 By
DEAR DR. GOTT:
I am a 79-year-old female. I had a CT scan and ultrasound screening in September 2008. At that time they found an abdominal aortic aneurysm. One doctor said it was 4.8 centimeters but another said it was 4.2. Both told me that that nothing would be done until it reached 5 or 6 and at that point surgery would be recommended.
My question to you is, what do I do now?
DEAR READER:
Abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) are potentially fatal areas of bulging or ballooning of the large blood vessel that supplies the abdomen, pelvis and legs. They can occur in anyone but are most common in males over 60 with one or more risk factors.
Those factors include emphysema, smoking, high blood pressure, obesity, high cholesterol, being male, and certain genetic factors. There is no known cause. [Read more...]
Daily Column
April 6, 2009 By
DEAR DR. GOTT:
After reading your article about thyroid malfunction and its influence on mental health, I had to write.
In 1991, my husband started complaining about being foggy-brained and lethargic. His doctor ordered tests and found that he had extraordinarily high levels of calcium in his blood. He told us that this was a sign of cancer or a malfunctioning parathyroid gland.
After further tests, they found that my husband had tumors on his parathyroid gland which were immediately removed at the Cleveland Clinic. After the surgery he was back to normal. His specialists told us that untold numbers of people with this condition end up in mental hospitals because the high calcium level causes them to seem insane. [Read more...]
Supplement Proven Effective For Macular Degeneration
April 6, 2009 By
DEAR DR. GOTT:
I am a 73-year-old man. I was diagnosed with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) about a year ago by my optometrist. A year ago he used a special camera to photograph my retina to establish a base image. He repeated the process this year and noticed differences (which he showed me). I then had a second opinion from an ophthalmologist who confirmed the diagnosis.
Both doctors recommended a product called Ocuvite PreserVision which I have been using for the past year. I take the AREDS formulations and so far my condition has not worsened. I attribute that to the supplement.
It is marketed by Bausch and Lomb and available in several formulations. [Read more...]