I’m having hip replacement surgery on June 4th and plan to fly to Kenya on July 6th, with a 16-hour flight leg. My daughter, a nurse, advises against such a long flight so soon after surgery. What are your thoughts?

November 6th, 2024

For the past few weeks, I've been experiencing a series of fevers, migraines, heartburn, restlessness, and loss of appetite. What could be causing these symptoms and what should I do?

September 6th, 2023

I have a persistent dry cough that was initially accompanied by head and chest mucus. I have been taking Tessalon 100mg (generic for Benzonatate) 2 capsules 3 times a day, which helped initially but has now run out. Last night, I experienced a non-stop dry hacking cough that was not alleviated by taking Robitussin with codeine. The cough is now sporadic, lasting for 3-4 minutes at a time, and is preventing me from sleeping, causing sore ribs, and waking my family. What can you recommend?

July 7th, 2023

I am concerned about potential exposure to cold sores (herpes) after being kissed on the cheeks by friends who have cold sores. I have experienced flu symptoms and am worried about the risk, the timing of possible sores, and the incubation period. What is the real risk, how long until I might see sores, and how long until the incubation period is over?

March 15th, 2024

I had an 'incident' on 10/23 that drastically changed my life. I experienced severe symptoms including body tremors, eye strain, ringing ears, heart palpitations, memory loss, fatigue, dryness, and internal chaos. My kidneys hardened and softened, and I had difficulty urinating. I also experienced racing heart, narcolepsy, joint and muscle pain, and a sensation of pressure between my stomach and heart. Since then, I've lost 25 pounds, had milder episodes, and my thyroid showed a small growth. My TSH levels have fluctuated, and I've been diagnosed with Graves' Disease and possibly Lupus. I'm on beta blockers and other medications, but I've stopped taking them due to lack of clear explanations. I'm experiencing severe sensitivity to light, dry mouth, enamel loss on teeth, and insomnia. My doctor suggested it might be in my head, but my blood work shows abnormalities. I'm in Plano, Texas, and I'm looking for ways to regain some quality of life. Can you suggest something to try?

March 29th, 2024