komaroff
New beginnings, old memories
Editors Note: After 27 years of deftly explaining everything from dandruff to toe fungus, Dr. Peter Gott is retiring. Replacing him Monday will be Dr. Anthony Komaroff, known as Dr. K, a practicing physician at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston and a member of …
Dorm room mold is likely to blame
Dear Dr. Gott: My son lives in a dorm that has obvious signs of mold. He has been sick the entire school year with sinus and throat issues. When he comes home, he is not necessarily better. The “illness” seems to be cyclical. He gets …
Natural remedies for arthritic hands
Dear Dr. Gott: My 67-year-old husband has recently become affected by arthritis pain in his hands. They swell and his knuckles seem to “stick.” What are some ways of dealing with this problem? He is currently taking aspirin for the pain, but we’d like to …
Cause for jaw swelling remains elusive
Dear Dr. Gott: I am an active 90-year-old man with a large garden, yard, and a couple of fruit trees. Yes, I was raised on a farm. In April 2009, I woke up one morning with a swelling in my left jaw and cheek. I …
Sunscreen eliminates tinea versicolor
Dear Dr. Gott: I have been plagued with an extensive tinea versicolor skin infection on my back and abdomen since I was a teenager. I was treated by at least five doctors over the years. One suggested using Selsun Blue shampoo as a lotion overnight …
Lab abnormalities frighten patient
Dear Dr. Gott: My most recent lab work, from October of last year, indicated a sudden increase in my platelet count to 446 as compared to 369 in December of 2009. My monocytes increased from 7 to 10 during that same 10-month period. The doctor …
Prostate issues make for unhappy spouse
Dear Dr. Gott: My husband has been having a problem for at least a year with having to get up several times at night. Then he had a burning sensation when he went to the bathroom. He started taking a product called Super Beta Prostate. …
Torticollis really is a pain in the neck
Dear Dr. Gott: I have been diagnosed with torticollis. I am 60 years old but was diagnosed with the condition about 25 years ago. The doctor said it was a mild case and didn’t feel it would get any worse. Well, it seems to be …
Versatile, remarkable garlic
Dear Dr. Gott: I have written to you before about alternative uses for garlic but have never seen them published in your column. Garlic gel capsules will prevent or cure a cold or sinus infection, as well as alleviate tooth abscesses if taken every two …
Itching: The eyelids have it
Dear Dr. Gott: I have itchy, dry eyelids that burn. My doctor prescribed 10 milligrams of prednisone, a steroid. It seemed to help, at least while I was taking it, but I can feel the burning sensation coming back. He asked me if I had …
Chronic pericarditis responds to prednisone
Dear Dr. Gott: Several years ago, I had single-bypass heart surgery. About two weeks later, I developed pericarditis. At first, it manifested itself as a fluid buildup in the pericardial sac and later just as inflammation. Several drugs were prescribed to eliminate the inflammation. The …
Here are a few tips for dealing with gout
Dear Dr. Gott: I just found out that the terrible pain I have been having is gout. Through many hours of research on the Internet, I have found out that I should not eat high-purine foods but should eat low-purine foods. However, I cannot find …
Are antibiotics always good?
Dear Dr. Gott: I get frequent UTIs, especially after intercourse. How do I convince my doctor that a low-dosage refillable antibiotic instead of a seven-day treatment is the way to go for my situation? I have taken to saving a pill or two from my …
Cinnamon bark may lower cholesterol
Dear Dr. Gott: Back in 2006, you ran a column in which a gentleman said he had good results taking two 1,200-mg capsules of cinnamon bark every morning. You said you were going to experiment on yourself and report back to your readers. Well, I …
Gamma knife treats trigeminal neuralgia
Dear Dr. Gott: My mother-in-law has been diagnosed with trigeminal neuralgia. There are many treatment options, but she would have to travel to another state for some of them. She is in her 90s, so travel is difficult for her. The headaches are severe and …
