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TO YOUR GOOD HEALTH: Complex problems require teamwork

Lifestyles

DEAR DR. ROACH: I have a friend who had gallstones and ultimately had her gallbladder removed. When they went in, they saw lots of infections, cleaned her out and put drains in her liver. She’s been feeling awful and weak, and she wants to get a second opinion. Which type of specialist should she see? — D.L.G. ANSWER: Treatment for a complex problem like hers often takes a team of specialists — in this case, certainly a surgeon and very likely a gastroenterologist and an infectious disease specialist. The ideal person to see now might be any of these a, especially one who ...

The true heartbeat of America

Lisa Resnick Column

There is nothing more ironic than a writer sitting in front of a blinking cursor with absolutely nothing to say. Or maybe not nothing to say, but too much. Too many thoughts trying to organize themselves into something meaningful. Too much pressure to make it timely, impactful, thoughtful, relevant. And believe it or not, that’s exactly what happened to me with this article. This one. Right here. For a very long time, I couldn’t write it. I kept thinking maybe it was because I wanted it to somehow connect to the Fourth of July weekend and the celebration of 250 years of ...

TO YOUR GOOD HEALTH: Causes sought for heaviness in the legs

Lifestyles

DEAR DR. ROACH: I’m an 83-year-old female who’s in good health. I don’t take any prescriptions, and I’m not overweight. I donate blood regularly, work out at a gym and hike. I started taking 50 mg of trazodone in January 2019 for its side effect of helping with sleep. It helped somewhat, so my doctor increased the dose. One evening, I rose from my chair to take my first dose of two 50-mg tablets. I sat down for about 15 minutes, then got up to go to bed. On standing, I immediately had a sensation of heaviness in my lower legs, as if there were bricks in my calves. I felt ...

DEAR ANNIE: ‘Soon’ for engagement stretches way too long

Lifestyles

DEAR ANNIE: I am a 31-year-old woman, and I’ve been with my boyfriend for five years. We’ve been talking about marriage for the past two — talking about it and talking about it. Every time it comes up, it’s positive. He tells me he can’t wait to marry me. But Annie, the proposal still has not come. I even asked him directly when he would be ready to take that step. His response? “Soon.” No timeline, no actual commitment. I don’t want to keep waiting around, especially because I want to start having children soon, but I’m not sure what else to do. — Tired of ...

Pope issues plea to group to back off bishop consecrations

Lifestyles

ROME — Pope Leo XIV on Tuesday issued a plea to a breakaway group of traditionalist Catholics to call off its plan to consecrate new bishops without his consent, describing the move as a schismatic act and a “sin of extreme gravity.” “I plead with you and ask you with all my heart: please turn back!” Leo wrote in a letter to the Rev. Davide Pagliarani, the superior of the Society of St. Pius X. Leo issued the last-ditch appeal a day before the society plans to consecrate four new bishops at its seminary in Econe, Switzerland. Under church law, the consecrations constitute a ...