DEAR DR. GOTT: I am a 76-year-old female. My meds are Benicar, hydroclorothiazide, atenolol for hypertension, Zantac for GERD, potassium chloride, simvastatin for high cholesterol, Levemir for diabetes, an 81 mg aspirin most days, and a nitroglycerin patch for angina. I still have a lot of chest pain, even with the patch.
I am allergic to molds, most fragrances, smoke, many medications – (especially narcotics for pain). Twenty-five years ago I had a distal pancreatectomy and now have developed a small tumor in the remaining head of the pancreas. My father died at 83 from pancreatic cancer, my mother at 96 from multiple myeloma. My father had CAD which I now have. My doctor prescribed Plavix that causes extreme itching but no rash, so I discontinued its use. I tried Effient. Same itching. [Read more...]