Dr. Peter Gott healthy living Long-term use of cannabis questioned
Q: If what I read in the paper is correct regarding drug consumption in America, a lot of people must smoke pot. Since I am one of them and am now past 60, I would like your comments on what potential health problems might be in the future for those of us who have indulged throughout our lives.

Dr. Peter Gott healthy living Shingles of the eye
Q: I am a 73-year-old female on no regular medications. I eat a healthful, balanced diet but sometimes indulge in pastries and candies, especially around the holidays, when I bake for my friends and family. I participate in senior water aerobics at my local community center and try to walk every day.

Dr. Peter Gott healthy living Peppers' heat no remedy
Q: Will you please describe what happens to a person when he or she suffers from hypothermia? Then describe what happens to people when they eat hot peppers. I wonder why they don't use hot peppers to rewarm a hypothermic person quickly.

Dr. Peter Gott healthy living Should patient follow advice?
Q: What do you know about carnitine deficiency? I have lived with the diagnosis of cerebral palsy all my life and now am told my symptoms were likely misdiagnosed. Instead, I have GA-1 subtype of carnitine deficiency.

Dr. Peter Gott healthy living Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease is rare, fatal
Q: In reading your column about the 72-year-old man with ALS, I have some questions. My (deceased) husband, also 72, was diagnosed with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. The physicians were not positive, but indicated he had the earmarks for it. His death certificate lists CJD as the cause. The family anticipated an autopsy after his death, but it was not allowed because the coroners refused to do it due to the seriousness of CJD. Without the autopsy, we are not sure of the actual cause of death.

Dr. Peter Gott healthy living High potassium level puts many foods on do-not-eat list
Q: I have been diagnosed with a high potassium level. I was told to add salt to more foods. I was also given a list of foods not to eat, including dried figs, molasses, seaweed, dates, prunes, nuts, avocados, lima beans, spinach, tomatoes, broccoli, winter squash, beets, carrots, cauliflower, potatoes, bananas, cantaloupe, kiwis, oranges, mangoes, beef, pork, veal, lamb, bran cereals, wheat germ and much, much more. Can you tell me what I can eat?

Dr. Peter Gott healthy living Acupuncture relieves reader's persistent plantar fasciitis pain
Q: I had plantar fasciitis for more than a year, and nothing the doctors gave me helped. After just three acupuncture treatments with some massage and mustard baths, the pain was gone. Two of my friends also suffered with this for years but don't believe that acupuncture really works. Do you?

Dr. Peter Gott healthy living Surgery not first approach to foot pain
Q: Could you please address the causes and cures for Morton's neuroma of the foot? Is surgery the ultimate answer? If so, how effective and safe is it?

Dr. Peter Gott healthy living No rest for the weary
Q: I am an 87-year-old male in good health for my age. My main problem is sleep, or rather a lack of it. I get the most sleep in a La-Z-Boy chair because when I get into bed, I can't stay more than a few minutes most times. I get up to go to my chair, get two or three hours' sleep, wake up, go to bed, and ultimately get a couple of hours' sleep. My doctor can't say what is wrong.

Dr. Peter Gott healthy living Pumpkins are for more than pie
Q: My 72-year-old husband has been seeing his urologist for several years for an enlarged prostate. He had burning during elimination, ran slight temperatures due to infections, and problems urinating due to the swelling.

Dr. Peter Gott healthy living Post-concussion syndrome must heal on its own
Q: My 57-year-old husband was assaulted in May and suffered a concussion. The back of his head hit the pavement hard, and he was punched a number of times in the forehead. He is still experiencing dizziness (like the room is spinning) and blurry vision. The doctor told him that he has post-concussion syndrome and says it may go away in a few months or it make take a year or more. He said there is a small chance that it will never go away.

Dr. Peter Gott healthy living Possible fibromyalgia treatment needs more research
Q: I read your column every day and am writing to you because of your willingness to share information on remedies that have been reported successful by your readers.

Dr. Peter Gott healthy living Nighttime urination keeps reader awake
Q: I am a 74-year-old male. I am in a different city almost every week and read your column whenever I can. While in Fresno, Calif., I came across one of your columns about the prostate.

Dr. Peter Gott healthy living Palindromic rheumatism is a difficult condition to treat
Q: I have been diagnosed with palindromic rheumatism. I had my first bout when I was 41 years old. I am now 56. It took two rheumatoid specialists to diagnose my condition over a five-year span. I am a white female with no history of rheumatoid arthritis in my family.

Dr. Peter Gott healthy living Dip in the lake relieves pain
Q: I was bothered by a large Baker's cyst after an injury to my left knee. I needed surgery to repair my knee, and my doctor said the cyst would disappear on its own after my knee got better. Well, my knee improved, but the cyst got worse. My doctor tried to drain it, but nothing came out. I was still advised against surgery unless it was absolutely necessary owing to the area and length of recovery time. Some days, the pain was so bad I could hardly walk. I didn't want the surgery, so I just dealt with the pain and hoped it would go away as the doctor said.

Dr. Peter Gott healthy living Alternative controls patient's RLS
Q: Your recent article on hawthorn berries and restless legs syndrome has changed my life. I use only alternative remedies and vitamin supplements, but I was so tortured that I was about to give in to a conventional option. The hawthorn berries worked immediately and have continued to be successful for more than two weeks now.

Dr. Peter Gott healthy living Large, rare aneurysm likely needs surgery
Q: My husband has a splenic-artery aneurysm. It is large, measuring 5.7 centimeters. It is on the bottom left side of his rib cage near the spleen and pancreas. In six months, it grew from 5.2 centimeters to its current size. I know little about this condition but have recently learned that it is rare, and not many doctors are familiar with this type of aneurysm. He has seen a heart and vascular physician, but didn't feel the doctor knew enough about the situation to do the surgery.

Dr. Peter Gott healthy living In 80s, husband and wife seek answers
Q: I read your column every day and have found it informative. For example, several years ago, my wife was having stomach problems, and you told a woman with similar problems that she might be lactose- intolerant. My wife showed her doctor the article, and he said he thought he had checked her for that. It turned out that he hadn't and agreed to test her. The results were positive. Now, we both have problems that we hope you can help us with.

Dr. Peter Gott healthy living Vegetarian diet works for Hodgkin's patient
Q: In the past, a reader of your column extolled the virtues of eating meat. Here is my humble opinion on the subject.

Vegetarian diet works for patient with Hodgkin's
In the past, a reader of your column extolled the virtues of eating meat. Here is my humble opinion on the subject. I am a 56-year-old male who is 99 percent vegetarian. If I were responsible for all my own meals, I could easily make that 100 percent.

Dr. Peter Gott healthy living Drug interactions could cause allergic reaction
Q: I am a 78-year-old female. Eight months ago, I was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation and congestive heart failure. I was put on Coumadin, but take generic warfarin. Since the regimen began, I have itched all over, especially in body crevices. I have a number of lesions and, even as I write this, I have bandages on three areas of my torso trying to protect spots where the skin is raw from scratching because of the itch.

Dr. Peter Gott healthy living Drug interaction could be cause of allergic reaction
Q: I am a 78-year-old female. Eight months ago, I was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation and congestive heart failure. I was put on Coumadin, but take generic warfarin. Since the regimen began, I have itched all over, especially in body crevices. I have a number of lesions and, even as I write this, I have bandages on three areas of my torso trying to protect spots where the skin is raw from scratching because of the itch.

Dr. Peter Gott healthy living Health concerns stymie elderly patient
Q: I am 80 years old. My doctor doesn't seem too concerned that I've been diagnosed with diverticulosis involving the entire colon. How concerned should I be? Can this become worse? At present, I have little pain and no bleeding. When I told my doctor that I usually have pain in the morning, she said it was probably my spine giving me problems. A CT scan revealed stenosis and disc herniation, but my back condition hasn't worsened since 2002. What should I worry about most? Should I see a spine doctor in case I eventually get worse? Or should I concentrate on my diverticulosis? I'm afraid to exercise and have been very careful.

Dr. Peter Gott healthy living Clip causes a financial clipping
Q: I have a disputed claim with my local hospital and am becoming agitated about it. In 2005, I had a needle biopsy, and a clip was inserted in one breast. Then, in 2007, I was sent by my doctor for a routine mammogram. His requisition specifically called for a "routine screening." The hospital billed the service as diagnostic because of the clip. My insurance company will pay for one free preventative screening mammogram each year. However, diagnostic services aren't covered, and I have a $36.42 charge that insurance won't pay.

Fabric causes skin rash
Q: You recently published a letter from someone who wrote about a skin rash. The person had tried various creams, lotions and had been to several dermatologists for treatment and medication, with little or no help.

Dr. Peter Gott healthy living Fabric cause of skin rash?
Q: You recently published a letter from someone who wrote about a skin rash. The person had tried various creams, lotions and had been to several dermatologists for treatment and medication, with little or no help.

Dr. Peter Gott healthy living What is porphyria?
Q: I am a concerned grandmother writing about my 11-year-old granddaughter. She was diagnosed with porphyria at the age of 2. Her hands and feet start hurting so badly that she has to put them in cold bath water for about an hour. She says it feels like needles running though her. She usually has a fan on her. Her hands also get very hard and cracked. Her nose is starting to scar from all the scratching because it itches. Lotion seems to evaporate. Any information you can provide would be greatly appreciated.

Porphyria treated by hematologist
Q: I am a concerned grandmother writing about my 11-year-old granddaughter. She was diagnosed with porphyria at the age of 2. Her hands and feet start hurting so badly that she has to put them in cold bath water for about an hour. She says it feels like needles running though her. She usually has a fan on her. Her hands also get very hard and cracked. Her nose is starting to scar from all the scratching because it itches. Lotion seems to evaporate. Any information you can provide would be greatly appreciated.

Dr. Peter Gott healthy living Can bilberry improve vision?
Q: I'm sending you information on bilberry, which helped the World War II airmen flying their planes at night. I've been taking these pills since I read about them in an article in Woman's World magazine. (I don't remember the date.) It was about how the berry can help eyesight and night vision. I can now drive at night with no problem. The oncoming car headlights are no longer bothersome. I use bilberry with lutein. It is inexpensive, and I purchase mine at Walmart. I know this will help a lot of people, so please let your readers know about this wonderful product.

Dr. Peter Gott healthy living Incontinence difficult to accept
Q: I'm going to be 90 next February. I'm quite an active woman and eat mostly health foods. I feel great, except for having trouble with "holding my water." I've tried many pills, but none seem to work. Is there anything on the market that can help me? I have absolutely no control. I wear Depends, pads, rubber pants and am desperate. I would appreciate any advice.