Lifestyle

Dear Dr. Roach: Recently, I got into a conversation with a group of friends about toxic shock syndrome. One of them claimed it is caused by synthetic menstrual products containing toxic chemicals like bleach, rayon and dioxins. I said that I’d never heard that theory before and that I thought it was because women weren’t changing their tampons often enough. No one was able to answer my next question, which was why toxic shock syndrome seems to have disappeared. I did read that the composition of tampons has since been changed and that the problem was really with a superabsorbent tampon that was taken off the market. Can you clarify this issue?

Dear Abby: My father considers himself a deeply religious man. He believes that anyone who doesn’t conform to his beliefs is going to hell. He told my gay sister she is going to hell. At my brother’s wake and celebration of life, he announced to everyone that my brother was going to hell because he was an atheist. He also criticized the arrangements, even though they were exactly what my brother requested. I pulled him aside and asked him to quit saying these things. He refused and declared, “This conversation is over!”

Dear Dr. Roach I am a 73-year-old male with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). I pretty much have it under control with medication, but I am still not able to do a whole lot, as I feel shortness of breath easily. But, that is not my main problem! I have a dry mouth from the medication I am taking for it. I am taking Stiolto Respimat inhalation spray.

Dear Abby: With the holidays approaching, I am starting to become anxious. I have a family member who ruins every holiday she doesn’t have control over. (She excludes some family members.) My children and grandchildren don’t like to associate with her, but attend holiday events at her home to keep the peace.

The home at 1701 Crescent Drive has been beautifully updated to accommodate all manner of living. And with four separate living areas, there is plenty of space to do that.

Dear Neil: Based on your recommendation I purchased two Teddy Bear magnolias three years ago. They bloomed the first year, but they have not flowered the past two years. They have formed buds, but the buds never opened. Is it a soil pH issue?

Dear Abby: My partner and I have just suffered a miscarriage. It was our first pregnancy, and even though it wasn’t planned, it was very much wanted.

Dear Dr. Roach: I am a 78-year-old woman who, in my early years, was exposed to many sunny days at the beach. Sunscreen was still a relatively new product in 1954 and not formulated to the standards required to prevent skin cancers the way today’s strong sunscreens are. In those early years, sunblock was not widely used by the public, or me.