Dear Dr. Gott: I am a 73-year-old female on no regular medications. I recently noticed a burning sensation on my face near my right eye. Within a day or so, my eyelid started swelling and became red and painful. I immediately called my physician and was seen that same day. I was diagnosed with shingles of the eye. The doctor gave me eye drops and pills to take every day. She said because I had come in before the infection had taken a real hold, I should expect to get better within a few weeks. Thankfully, I did, but it was painful.
Dear Dr. Gott: Will you please describe what happens to a person when he or she suffers from hypothermia? Then describe what happens to people when they eat hot peppers. I wonder why they don’t use hot peppers to rewarm a hypothermic person quickly.
Dear Dr. Gott: What do you know about carnitine deficiency? I have lived with he diagnosis of cerebral palsy all my life and now am told my symptoms were likely misdiagnosed. Instead, I have GA-1 subtype of carnitine deficiency. Now, my doctor wants me to take two levocarnitine pills, 330 milligram, a day for the rest of my life.
Dear Dr. Gott: I read your column about the 72-year-old man with ALS. My husband, also 72, was diagnosed with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD). The physicians were not positive but indicated he had the earmarks for it. His death certificate lists CJD as the cause. The family anticipated an autopsy after his death, but it was not allowed because the coroners refused to do it due to the seriousness of CJD. Without the autopsy we are not sure of the actual cause of death. The disease progressed rapidly, leaving no time to arrange things. He was not allowed to die with any degree of dignity. After his death it was even worse due to the seriousness of CJD.
Dear Dr. Gott: I have been diagnosed with a high potassium level. I was told to add salt to more foods. I was also given a list of foods not to eat, including dried figs, molasses, seaweed, dates, prunes, nuts, avocados, lima beans, spinach, tomatoes, broccoli, winter squash, beets, carrots, cauliflower, potatoes, bananas, cantaloupe, kiwis, oranges, mangoes, beef, pork, veal, lamb, bran cereals, wheat germ and much, much more. Can you tell me what I can eat?
Dear Dr. Gott: Could you please address the causes and cures for Morton’s neuroma of the foot? Is surgery the ultimate answer? If so, how effective and safe is it?
Dear Dr. Gott: I am an 87-year-old male in good health for my age. My main problem is sleep, or rather, a lack of it. I get the most sleep in a La-Z-Boy chair because when I get into bed, I can’t stay more than a few minutes most times. I get up to go to my chair, get two or three hours sleep, wake up, go to bed, and ultimately get a couple of hours sleep. My doctor can’t say what is wrong.
Dear Dr. Gott: My 72-year-old husband has been seeing his urologist for several years for an enlarged prostate. He had burning during elimination, ran slight temperatures due to infections, and problems urinating due to the swelling.
Dear Dr. Gott: My 57-year-old husband was assaulted in May and suffered a concussion. The back of his head hit the pavement hard, and he was punched a number of times in the forehead. He is still experiencing dizziness (like the room is spinning) and blurry vision. The doctor told him that he has post-concussion syndrome and says it may go away in a few months or it make take a year or more. He said there is a small chance that it will never go away.
