I have been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis and experience symptoms such as pain, joint swelling, fatigue, and unusual sweating episodes with flushing of the face and arms. I have tried three DMARDs, which caused severe side effects like weakness and vomiting, leading to increased redness, flushing, and sweating. My doctor dismissed these symptoms as unrelated to the disease or medication. Now, they are considering a biologic infusion, and I am concerned about potential side effects. What is your experience with DMARDs versus biologics, and how is the best biologic determined for RA treatment?

February 1st, 2024

I'm a 77-year-old retired male with a history of ear, nose, and eye drainage. I was prescribed Ciprofloxacin and Ciprodex ear drops for 10 days, but the drainage persists. What should I do next?

December 11th, 2024

I have small bumps on my stomach area that are not permanent, a bit itchy, and have been present for 2 days. What could these bumps be and what should I do about them?

January 17th, 2024

I last had sex with my estranged husband on 10/14/2019. He had an outbreak on 10/17/2019 and was later diagnosed with HSV-1 and HSV-2. I tested positive for HSV-1 and negative for HSV-2 at 5.5 weeks and 8 weeks post-exposure. The lab says these results are reliable, but my doctor says it's not definitive until 6 months. Who's right? Why would it take so long to seroconvert?

October 10th, 2023

My 12-year-old son was told today that someone on his cricket team has chickenpox. They noticed the rash yesterday, and he trained with the infected person two days prior. He is immunized and has a representative cricket game in about 10 days. Can he play if he develops the rash by then, and is there any antibiotic he can take to ward it off?

November 20th, 2024