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Take precautions before traveling long distances

Dear Heloise: I don’t want to sound morbid, but you never know what will happen on a trip. Whenever my husband and I go on a trip, I take a picture of our tickets, passports, and any other important documents on my phone, then send them to my son before we leave. I let him have a copy of our plans in foreign countries and our hotel information, and I stay in contact by sending postcards to friends and family. Why all the precaution? A dear friend of ours was in an accident years ago and could not communicate important information to anyone. He was in a coma for two weeks and missed ...

Benign prostatic hyperplasia causes urinary issues

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am 71 and began having urinary issues due to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) many years ago. I took alpha blockers (Flomax, double Flomax and tadalifil), which didn’t provide any improvement. I was never offered finasteride or dutasteride. I managed my urinary issues well by double-voiding before leaving the house and not drinking fluids after 8 p.m. (Too well, I guess.) I recently changed urologists, and he performed a post-void residual (PVR) ultrasound and cystoscope, and he determined that my bladder was very enlarged. He also stated that my PVR urine ...

Cause for a loved one’s withdrawal

Dear Annie: Your column is a regular part of our home, and I truly appreciate the compassion and insight you bring to readers’ questions. I would like to gently offer another perspective, one that may sometimes be overlooked when people write in about the emotional withdrawal of a spouse, parent or longtime friend. In some cases, what appears to be a change in personality, affection or connection may actually be an early sign of dementia. Especially in longstanding relationships, whether marriage, family or close friendships, people may begin to act in ways that seem confusing, ...

Bridging the gap with daughters-in-law

Dear Annie: My husband and I are the proud grandparents of two beautiful granddaughters. “Lila” is 20 months old and the daughter of our son “Michael” and his wife, “Emily.” “Sophie” is 10 months old and the daughter of our other son “Daniel” and his wife, “Grace.” We love both girls dearly and feel so fortunate to have them in our lives. But I am having a difficult time with how our daughters-in-law are managing visits and time with us as grandparents. It feels as though we are constantly walking on eggshells, trying to be respectful and supportive, yet we ...

Woman should avoid niacin for heart attack risk

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a woman in my late 60s with a family history that includes an older brother who had a heart attack at a young age. My total cholesterol has hovered around 200 mg/dL for many years, but my HDL and LDL numbers are good. A few years ago, I had a highly elevated level of lipoprotein(a), about 164 nmol/L. My doctor prescribed 1,500 mg of niacin daily, which was split into three 500-mg doses at meals. This treatment did dramatically lower my Lp(a) into the optimal range but caused nausea, so she said to lower the dose to what I could tolerate, which has only been 500 mg ...

What not to do with either old or new pipes

Dear Heloise: There is no time to put grease or oils down a sink with old or new pipes! You pour off what you can as noted in a previous column, then wipe the pan with gently used paper napkins or towels that have been set aside. Throw the napkins away afterward. The little residue left on the pan is handled by detergent and hot water. You won’t have any more pipe worries this way. Two asides: Do not throw floss in the toilet. If your pipes are old, the floss gets caught, builds up, and eventually causes a blockage. In the trash it goes! The second is to please ask your plumbing ...