Dear Doctors: I have been having some problems with voiding my bowels, and my doctor has started talking about GI motility. Can you explain what that is? She also wants me to have something called ano... more
Dear Doctors: I have been having anxiety, and now my blood pressure is getting high, too. Are they related? I understand that medications might become necessary, but I would prefer to try nonmedical t... more
Dear Doctors: Our grandfather is 84 and has prostate cancer. He has been declining and has asked to stop treatment. He and his doctors decided that he will begin hospice care. What happens in hospice ... more
Dear Doctors: I had severe pain in my neck and couldn't turn my head. I saw an orthopedist, and she diagnosed me with bone spurs on my vertebrae. Apparently, my choices are doing physical therapy, see... more
Dear Doctors: I am baffled that what used to be a thorough and comprehensive physical exam is now just a few questions, taking some vital signs and a few blood tests. No checking your eyes, throat, gl... more
Dear Doctors: A recent blood test showed my creatinine levels are a bit high. My doctor said it's something we need to watch because that can be a symptom of chronic kidney disease. Is high creatinine... more
Dear Doctors: My wife has been diagnosed with something called Eagle syndrome. Not a lot of medical providers in our area treat this type of illness. Any information you can give about it, including w... more
Dear Doctors: My husband and I were clearing weeds when I felt a sharp jab on my leg. I thought the weed whacker had kicked up a rock, but it was a bite from a fire ant. The pain was severe, as was th... more
Dear Doctors: If a flight I'm on has turbulence or if it descends too fast and the pressure drops, I get very nauseated. Why does that happen? I've tried motion sickness medication, but it makes me fe... more
Dear Doctors: I am a 29-year-old man at a normal weight, and I eat a balanced and healthy diet. I've been having night sweats and sometimes also mild or moderate kidney pain. There is a history of can... more
Dear Doctors: I read that when you take statins, it raises blood glucose levels to a prediabetes or diabetes level. Does it happen even if your blood glucose is normal? How do statins work? My blood g... more
Dear Doctors: I am a woman in my 80s and have been in pretty good health. However, I now have ringing in my ears that drives me crazy. I've tried drugstore pills and drops and a sound machine as well,... more
Dear Doctors: I’ve recently been diagnosed with benign essential blepharospasm. Would you please explain what this is? How serious is it? Does it spread? I know it’s not deadly, but I’ve read that it ... more
Dear Doctors: I have been diagnosed with inverse psoriasis in the area of my groin. My dermatologist has prescribed clobetasol propionate ointment to be used twice a day. The skin in that area bleeds ... more
Hello, dear readers, and welcome back to our monthly letters column. After a winter of wild weather, spring is fully here. That means many of us are heading outdoors. Please play it safe and remember ... more