DEAR DR. GOTT: I'm a 67-year-old female. My husband is 68. For all our married life, we have gone to a small-town doctor for our checkups. If he sees anything he isn't familiar with, he sends us to a specialist. My friends now say we need to find a primary care physician who specializes in internal medicine, since such a doctor would be able to spot trouble faster. We did make an appointment with an internal medicine specialist, but now when we need to see him for trivial things, we can't get in a lot of the time. This often creates its own set of problems. Can you advise us what to do?
DEAR READER: Family physicians are a wonderful resource. They are as well-trained as doctors in internal medicine, and they are available and skillful. Primary care physicians can refer difficult cases to internists or other specialists as needed.
Seek out a family doctor who is professional, caring and available. Your "major" doctor was a blessing. What happened to him? Did he retire? If not, make an appointment to have a frank discussion with him and explain your concerns. It's my hope he will gladly take you back when you need to see him for what you consider to be trivial issues, and will feel comfortable, as he did in the past, in having you visit an internist when the condition dictates.
To give you related information, I am sending you a copy of my Health Report "Medical Specialists."
DEAR DR. GOTT: Thanks for the practical and down-to-earth medical advice you give us in the paper. My husband and I have found many useful ideas.
My husband wondered if the Vicks/duct-tape cure for warts would work just as well for moles. I think not. Please help us settle this problem. I'm afraid he will decide to try it and harm himself.
Also, this same man seems to believe he needs every health drink, cleansing solution and sure cure he reads about. The latest is a drink that will cleanse the liver. Does his liver need to be cleansed? Please give some of your practical advice on the use of liquid supplements and cures.
DEAR READER: I don't know whether Vicks would be a suitable treatment for moles, but it is a safe option and worth trying.
There is no effective drink that will cleanse the liver. In fact, the liver doesn't require cleansing. The body takes care of that chore. The real danger to the liver is from chemicals, such as alcohol and drugs that affect it adversely, and from blockages of the bile duct caused by gallstones. Your husband should stop wasting his money on health scams.
DEAR READER: Family physicians are a wonderful resource. They are as well-trained as doctors in internal medicine, and they are available and skillful. Primary care physicians can refer difficult cases to internists or other specialists as needed.
Seek out a family doctor who is professional, caring and available. Your "major" doctor was a blessing. What happened to him? Did he retire? If not, make an appointment to have a frank discussion with him and explain your concerns. It's my hope he will gladly take you back when you need to see him for what you consider to be trivial issues, and will feel comfortable, as he did in the past, in having you visit an internist when the condition dictates.
To give you related information, I am sending you a copy of my Health Report "Medical Specialists."
DEAR DR. GOTT: Thanks for the practical and down-to-earth medical advice you give us in the paper. My husband and I have found many useful ideas.
My husband wondered if the Vicks/duct-tape cure for warts would work just as well for moles. I think not. Please help us settle this problem. I'm afraid he will decide to try it and harm himself.
Also, this same man seems to believe he needs every health drink, cleansing solution and sure cure he reads about. The latest is a drink that will cleanse the liver. Does his liver need to be cleansed? Please give some of your practical advice on the use of liquid supplements and cures.
DEAR READER: I don't know whether Vicks would be a suitable treatment for moles, but it is a safe option and worth trying.
There is no effective drink that will cleanse the liver. In fact, the liver doesn't require cleansing. The body takes care of that chore. The real danger to the liver is from chemicals, such as alcohol and drugs that affect it adversely, and from blockages of the bile duct caused by gallstones. Your husband should stop wasting his money on health scams.