DEAR DR. GOTT: I read your column about ginger root for sea sickness. It worked great for me several years ago, when I went on a windjammer cruise in the Caribbean. I started taking two capsules three times a day the day before I flew to St. Thomas and continued for seven days until the cruise was over. I've always had a big problem with motion sickness, especially on boats. While other people were either very sick or sleepy from taking Dramamine, I didn't have any problems with motion sickness. The ginger root worked great.
DEAR READER: Yours is typical of the many letters I have received endorsing the remarkable effects of ginger root in preventing motion sickness without side effects or health issues. Thanks for sharing. As always, I look forward to other readers' experiences, both pro and con.
DEAR DR. GOTT: Your newspaper column and the information you sent me do not line up. When you stated you would send information about your no-flour, no-sugar diet, I (and perhaps other readers) expected actual meal-specific information, not just "avoid flour and sugar." I feel as though I've been had.
DEAR READER: You have not been "had." One of the strengths of this diet is that it is simple. However, many readers have requested further definition with respect to choosing acceptable food substitutes. So last year I published a book ("Dr. Gott's No Flour, No Sugar Diet") to clarify this issue. The book contains some 64 recipes in categories from breakfast to dinner, and it is available at your local bookstore, as well as on the Internet at www.amazon.com and www.barnesandnoble.com.
DEAR DR. GOTT: You wrote about Lyme disease in your column. I've had Lyme disease. About five years ago, my left underarm area was red and itched. I went to the doctor, who quickly made the Lyme disease diagnosis, put me on tetracycline for three weeks, and that was it. The area was still red after three weeks, so I returned to the doctor. Not to worry, things were taking their course. Since then, I don't think I've had a problem.
From what I've read and heard, one can get Lyme disease again, even though a person has had it before. I've made a number of inquiries about this, but no one has really been able to answer specific questions. When given a blood test, I would probably test positive to having Lyme disease, since I still have some antibodies. On the other hand, I apparently would not have enough of them to prevent me from getting Lyme disease again. Why? How does that work?
DEAR READER: The most common blood test for Lyme disease measures two types of antibody proteins, IgM and IgG. The IgM usually reflects acute infection, the IgG is a marker for previous infection.
If you are having no symptoms of Lyme disease (such as rash, fever, malaise and sore joints), you can relax. Yes, you can get Lyme again. Experts do not know why previous infection will not protect a person from repeat acute infections. If I were you, I'd have a blood test for interest only. It could help you know your antibody levels in case you're exposed again.
DEAR READER: Yours is typical of the many letters I have received endorsing the remarkable effects of ginger root in preventing motion sickness without side effects or health issues. Thanks for sharing. As always, I look forward to other readers' experiences, both pro and con.
DEAR DR. GOTT: Your newspaper column and the information you sent me do not line up. When you stated you would send information about your no-flour, no-sugar diet, I (and perhaps other readers) expected actual meal-specific information, not just "avoid flour and sugar." I feel as though I've been had.
DEAR READER: You have not been "had." One of the strengths of this diet is that it is simple. However, many readers have requested further definition with respect to choosing acceptable food substitutes. So last year I published a book ("Dr. Gott's No Flour, No Sugar Diet") to clarify this issue. The book contains some 64 recipes in categories from breakfast to dinner, and it is available at your local bookstore, as well as on the Internet at www.amazon.com and www.barnesandnoble.com.
DEAR DR. GOTT: You wrote about Lyme disease in your column. I've had Lyme disease. About five years ago, my left underarm area was red and itched. I went to the doctor, who quickly made the Lyme disease diagnosis, put me on tetracycline for three weeks, and that was it. The area was still red after three weeks, so I returned to the doctor. Not to worry, things were taking their course. Since then, I don't think I've had a problem.
From what I've read and heard, one can get Lyme disease again, even though a person has had it before. I've made a number of inquiries about this, but no one has really been able to answer specific questions. When given a blood test, I would probably test positive to having Lyme disease, since I still have some antibodies. On the other hand, I apparently would not have enough of them to prevent me from getting Lyme disease again. Why? How does that work?
DEAR READER: The most common blood test for Lyme disease measures two types of antibody proteins, IgM and IgG. The IgM usually reflects acute infection, the IgG is a marker for previous infection.
If you are having no symptoms of Lyme disease (such as rash, fever, malaise and sore joints), you can relax. Yes, you can get Lyme again. Experts do not know why previous infection will not protect a person from repeat acute infections. If I were you, I'd have a blood test for interest only. It could help you know your antibody levels in case you're exposed again.