Columns

No More Overbooking!

Today’s Sound Off is about overbooking: Dear Heloise: What is it with doctor’s offices overbooking people? I had a doctor’s appointment at 9 o’clock this morning. While sitting in the waiting room a woman came in and she also had a 9 o’clock appointment with my doctor. Three minutes later a third woman came in and said she also had a 9 o’clock appointment. While I was waiting the office began to fill up with patients until it looked more like a convention center than a doctor’s office. When I finally got to see my doctor, he spent all of seven minutes with me and left. ...

What Pitfalls Occur When Upgrading a Bipolar Drug?

DEAR DR. ROACH: I read your recent response to a man having withdrawal issues from short-term Paxil use. Could you take a shot at a bigger, yet related problem I have? I have been on 9 mg bromazepam daily for over 40 years. I am now 75. My diagnosis was manic depressive, which is now, I believe, bipolar, as well as an anxiety disorder. About 10 years ago, my doctor was considering if I could change to a more “modern” medication, as mine was by then known to speed mental decline. His concern was that the mental deterioration normally expected with aging was going to be accelerated ...

Son-In-Law Refuses to Stop Driving After Having Seizures

DEAR ABBY: My son-in-law was diagnosed with epilepsy 25 years ago. He typically has two or three seizures a year. He has seen a neurologist on and off over the years, but he has not been to the doctor for his medications in several years. He works in the medical field and gets his meds from the doctors he works with. He recently had a seizure after dropping one of his children off at an appointment. Fortunately, the child wasn’t in the car when he wrecked it. My question is, how involved should I be? Should I confront him? Unfortunately, my grandchild reached out to her dad’s ...

New Feature in ‘My Social Security’ Puts You in Control

The future can be uncertain. However, Social Security’s new Advance Designation program can help put you in control of your benefits if a time comes when you need a representative payee to help manage your money. Advance Designation enables you to identify up to three people, in priority order, whom you would like to serve as your potential representative payee. The following people may choose an Advance Designation: * Adults applying for benefits who do not have a representative payee. * Adult beneficiaries or recipients who do not have a representative payee. * Emancipated ...

Symptoms of Alcoholism Interrupt Spouse’s Sleep

DEAR DR. ROACH: My husband has been an alcoholic for 30 years. I have recently started to sleep in our living room due to his smell. He is furious! I have not slept well for so long — I know it’s affected my health. He doesn’t want me sick, but he is making me sick. Please stress in your column how important sleep is — for everybody! — S.D. ANSWER: There’s a lot more wrong here than just sleep. Excess alcohol use has a dramatic negative effect on relationships, especially between the person with an alcohol problem and their spouse. It often affects children and friends as ...

Man’s Indecision Puts His Marriage On Shaky Ground

DEAR ABBY: I have been with my husband for 29 years, 25 of them married. We have had good times and bad, like most couples, but over the last four years, things have changed. We came to a place where we both needed to decide whether we wanted to continue in our marriage. We went to counseling, and I pursued my own personal growth, trying new things I was interested in and finding gratitude and happiness in my interests and career. My husband did the same thing. Now I have moved past it, forgiven, told my husband I love him and hope he feels the same. You know what he said? He said he ...