My 94-year-old husband has not had a bowel movement in 3 days. He has taken stool softeners, 2 doses of Miralax, and eaten bran cereal, prunes, bran muffins, cabbage, etc. He also takes a diuretic for CHF and has a history of CHF, two bypass surgeries, two heart attacks, a pacemaker, and a small pressure tear on his tailbone. What should I do to help him with his constipation?

July 10th, 2024

My husband has a severe and widespread burn from a heating pad. It is hot to the touch, and blisters that formed have now broken. How can I treat this? It is on his side and hip. He is 55 years old and has high blood pressure, but no other known medical conditions.

March 22nd, 2024

I have L5 S1 disc herniation since Jan 2021. My herniation reduced from 4-5 mm in April 2021 to 2-3 mm in May 2022 (from MRI test). There is no nerve compression, no reduction in the disc space (the L5S1 disc average height is 9 mm), but I have symptoms, especially bad when sitting for a long time. I would like to exclude vertebra instability (or spondylolisthesis). Which test can I do to exclude this condition? I was thinking of asking for an X-ray image of the lumbar spine in standing and sitting/flexion position. I have done MRI in supine, but one of the doctors abroad recommended me to do an X-ray as well, since MRI in supine unloaded position may not show it... Could you advise?

April 10th, 2024

I have a question about a blood test result. I took a blood test last week and PTT was 43. I took it again today and it is still 43. I added vitamin K earlier this week but it didn't seem to help. I take vitamin C, magnesium, vitamin D3, sea moss, blood builders (iron), vitamin B complex, B12, and milk thistle. The test was done for surgery clearance. What could be causing the high PTT and what can I do to lower it?

May 3rd, 2023

I've been having severe acid reflux and am taking over 20 Tums along with 80mg of Pepcid a day. I'm 28 years old, female, and have had the symptoms for a couple of months, worsening in the last month. I've taken over-the-counter Nexium 20mg for 2 weeks, saw a GI who prescribed Nexium 40mg, then switched to Pepcid Famotidine 40mg twice a day (80mg total), and now my GI has prescribed Pantoprazole along with the Pepcid. I still need to take 20 Tums throughout the day to feel better. I tested for H. pylori and did an ultrasound, both negative. I'm waiting for an endoscopy. Is it too much to take 40mg Pantoprazole + 80mg Famotidine and 20 Tums a day, or can I take 80mg Pantoprazole and 80mg Famotidine a day?

January 23rd, 2024