ask-the-expert
I just read about a girl who had six organs in her belly surgically removed during a cancer operation. Could she have survived if doctors were unable to put her organs back in, or to transplant another person’s organs into her body?
Is the HPV virus always transmitted sexually? I was informed by a health professional that the virus may be spread in other ways, but all the information I have found does not back up that statement. I was recently told I was positive for the virus. I have only been sexually active with my current partner. Does this mean that he must have had other sexual partners, who he caught HPV from?
I have a recurrent problem with the skin at the corners of my mouth. The skin gets irritated with small cracks. It gets better, then for no apparent reason returns. What could be causing this condition? Can I prevent it from recurring?
I’m a 42-year-old man and have been suffering from prostatitis for the past two years, which seems to come and go. My doctor says this is not uncommon for men my age. I’m worried, though, that this increases my risk of eventually developing prostate cancer. Is there a link? And what can I do to prevent the prostatitis from coming back?
Is it necessary to get an annual pap and gynecologic exam if I’ve had a partial hysterectomy?
I have woken up a few times in the past couple months gasping for breath. It feels like my airway is blocked. I gasp really hard and it wakes me up. The gasp is so loud that it makes my husband nervous. I have allergies and quite frequently my sinuses are clogged. So I can't breathe out of my nose, and have to sleep with my mouth open. I also have asthma but haven't had an attack in months. (I don't think these were asthma attacks.) Is my throat blocked because of post-nasal drip or could it be something more serious like sleep apnea?
My husband has started sweating profusely when he is asleep. His sweat has a strong cheesy smell and I can no longer tolerate it. I’m afraid this could be a sign of something serious. What can it be?
I was diagnosed with trigeminal neuralgia after complaining about sharp pains in my face. I am working with a neurologist to find an effective pain reliever. I?m wondering, though, what causes the pain? How does a person know which medications are most likely to help? What else can I do besides take drugs to help decrease the bouts of pain, both the number and severity?
At least once a week I experience a bout of extreme dizziness. It is accompanied by a physical feeling of being turned upside down, and everything looks upside down and blurred to me. It is very sudden and random. My body feels very heavy when this happens, like I'm on the kind of amusement park ride that pushes you backwards in your seat. My mother suggested it could be linked to the supplement melatonin. I take 5 mg of sublingual melatonin a night to help me sleep. Have you ever heard of melatonin causing this type of dizziness?
I have been suffering from a skin rash for about 10 years. A large patch of my skin constantly itches, and the skin is thick and feels like leather. I have gone through almost every ointment on the market, and none works. I went to a new doctor and he said that my rash was neurodermatitis, and the best treatment would be an antidepressant to stop the scratching. I am a little skeptical. Have you ever heard of using a mood-altering medication to treat a skin rash?