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Prognosis for patient with ‘wet brain’ doesn’t look promising

DEAR DR. ROACH: How is "wet brain" (or Wernicke encephalopathy, WE) diagnosed? My son has been in the hospital, a rehab facility, and now an assisted living facility. Is there hope that he may walk again? He does not have any motivation and stays in bed most days playing on his phone. He hates being at a retirement home because he is 45, but he can't take care of himself. He has lost his family and career because of alcohol. The physical therapist told me that he has wet brain. The doctor said it is a neuropathy and that his brain is shrinking. Please advise; we are seeking help for him ...

Mass in kidney turns out to be an oncocytoma

DEAR DR. ROACH: I had a routine ultrasound to check my kidneys because my father (who is 80) has kidney disease, and his urologist said that it is genetic and that my sister and I should get a baseline screening. I am 50. My doctor called me the following morning saying that there was an ...

Healthy-sounding food could be hiding sugar

Many consumers feel pride in avoiding the glazed pastries in the supermarket and instead opting for "all natural" granola that comes packed with extra protein. Same goes for low-fat yogurts "made with real fruit," organic plant-based milks and bottled "superfood" smoothies. Buyer beware: ...

Discovering ITP after low blood platelet count

DEAR DR. ROACH: What can you tell me about the cause and treatment of immune thrombocytopenia purpura (ITP)? I am a 71-year-old male, and after lab results showed a low blood platelet count, I underwent a spleen and liver scan as well as a bone marrow biopsy. They all showed normal function, ...

Is laparoscopic surgery right for hernias?

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a 70-year-old male with a large inguinal hernia on the right side. I have consulted two different surgeons, and both surgeons recommend taking care of the condition at the earliest convenience. The surgeon who specializes in robotic surgery recommends laparoscopic surgery ...

Investigating whether vaccine side effects are underreported

DEAR DR. ROACH: You recently posted a couple of articles about the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine and the benefits versus the risks. I know the risks are based on data. But I wonder how many people have severe reactions to the vaccine, and it doesn’t get reported because they ...