Dear Abby: I am in my 60s, single and childless. I was raised by parents who had issues, and I did not have a nurturing childhood. As a result, for decades I had a chaotic life and turned to alcohol and drugs to soothe my emotional pain.
Dear Dr. Roach: I am a 78-year-old male in fairly good health. I recently was prescribed Bactrim (a sulfa drug) for an ear infection but didn’t know I am allergic to sulfa. I had a severe reaction to the drug: a raging, very itchy rash on most of my body. It made my life miserable. I was given prednisone, which did not help a great deal. I was also given hydroxyzine and triamcinolone ointment, which helped somewhat. I had this condition for three months before the rash and itch subsided. Since this episode I have talked to many people who have either had a reaction to sulfa or know someone who has.
What causes you to lose heart? Are there things that happen that leave you feeling like you want to give up, as if what you’re doing is useless? Jesus speaks with the disciples and others about not losing heart while he’s on his way to Jerusalem, where he anticipates being arrested, put to death, and then rising to new life. He understands that these followers will see some discouraging things ahead, and he knows they may be discouraged or lose heart.
I am in a private social media group for self-care after a certain age. The upcoming holidays are fast approaching, and Christmas is already a hot topic of conversation within the group. One of the most recent questions posed by an anonymous member was, “What self-care items would you like to find in your Christmas stocking?”
Dear Abby: We recently found out my 19-year-old daughter is pregnant. This is her first boyfriend, and she is absolutely smitten with him. He has asked her to marry him, and we are excited and happy for her, but there is one thing we are having a hard time with: I am almost certain he is cheating on her.
Dear Dr. Roach: I am a 71-year-old woman in generally good health. The only prescription drugs I take are carbamazepine for seizures and ibandronate for osteoporosis. I’ve taken carbamazepine since 1996, after I suffered a second seizure. (I’ve had only two seizures in my life, the first in 1992.)
Dear Abby: My husband’s best friend groped my privates several years ago at a party. It was traumatizing. I have never forgotten how abused and dirty it made me feel. I told my husband about it when we got home, but he’d had a lot to drink and told me I must have been imagining things.
The Sherman Public Library has several free activities planned this month for children and families. • Creative Minds Crafternoon – Halloween Pool Noodle Candle Decorations: Kids and teens ages 6-17 are invited to make spooky Halloween “candle” decorations out of pool noodles at the library on Sat.
Dear Dr. Roach: I disagree with your recent column about the glucosamine/chondroitin supplements. I have arthritis in my lower back. I am taking this supplement each day, and my lower back pain is completely gone. I can now bend down from the waist. I was very skeptical about this or any other supplement and was surprised when it worked. Give it another look.
VENICE, Italy (AP) — A glowing sea of bright orange and red cocktails has become a common sight in bars and restaurants across Europe and beyond as the Italian-born spritz continues to find new fans.