Columns

Treatments Beyond CPAP For Obstructive Sleep Apnea

DEAR DR. ROACH: Can you share as much information as you know about a procedure called Inspire that supposedly helps reduce the serious issues of sleep apnea? What are the benefits, and how does it work? What are the risks, since the procedure does involve surgically installing a tiny motor and wiring in the chest with the wiring connected to the throat and the device operated by a remote? Inspire has been recommended for me at age 77 because I have tried CPAP machines twice without success. A home test and sleep lab test revealed that my brain awoke 56 times in an hour. That’s ...

New Retiree Encourages Others To Fund Hobbies And Save Money

DEAR ABBY: I retired a year ago from a stressful job because I couldn’t take what it was doing to my health. Despite a divorce after a 35-year marriage 10 years ago, I had recovered financially. I was lucky to have landed a job in my early 30s that had an employer-sponsored 401(k) plan, and I contributed to it for 34 years, putting in as much as I could. I am able to collect enough Social Security and withdraw a small amount from the 401(k) to live as I did when I worked. I always had hobbies, interests and things I wanted to do but never had time for. I have been very happy and ...

Helping Kids Plan Their Futures

FOCUS ON THE FAMILY With Jim Daly Q: How can I help my adolescent son settle on a vocation and make wise plans for the future? He seems to be thinking more seriously about career choices and wondering what to do with his life. Jim: First, I'd suggest exposing him to as many different occupations as possible. Give him a taste of the wide variety of career choices available today. Help him discover his God-given talents, interests, abilities and strengths. If he's fascinated with medicine, set up a time for him to talk with your physician about the demands and rewards of this ...

Most Patients Are Happy to Have Surgical Hardware Removed

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am anxious to know your opinion regarding removal of surgical hardware. Fourteen months ago, I broke and dislocated my wrist. It was a serious injury and required surgery. They put in a cadaver bone, a plate and eight screws. My recovery has gone quite well, and I have pretty good mobility and strength considering how bad the injury was. However, at times I have sudden jabbing pain about where the hardware is. If I do any heavy lifting or strenuous work, that spot in particular hurts for days after. I’ve had an MRI and X-ray that show the hardware is good and ...

Woman Wonders Why Son Didn’t Reveal Partner’s Miscarriage

DEAR ABBY: I thought my son and I were close. Recently, I learned that his girlfriend had a miscarriage. I learned about it from an email his girlfriend sent me, and I have also learned he told another relative he’s close to about the miscarriage. I called his girlfriend after receiving her email and expressed my sympathy, inquired about her health and told her that I would keep her and my son in my prayers. My feelings are hurt because I didn’t hear about the pregnancy/miscarriage from my son, and he disclosed it to another relative instead. I thought we could discuss anything -- ...

2020 Holiday Celebrations and The Virus

The year 2020 started out with such promise: A new year, a new decade, and as Hope Springs Eternal maybe your favorite football team will play in the Super Bowl. Then a pesky haloed single strand RNA virus stopped the world! Suddenly, our vocabulary expanded with words like: Outbreak, Epidemic, Pandemic, Coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19, Community Spread, Index Case, Super Spreader, Isolation, Quarantine, Containment, Mitigation, Contact Tracing, Shelter-In-Place, Flattening the Curve, Herd Immunity, Antigens, Antibodies, PCR-testing, Hand hygiene, Hybrid Schooling, Risk Benefit ...