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Examining available treatments for gallstones

DEAR DR. ROACH: What advice do you have for the treatment of gallstones? –– N.W. ANSWER: Gallstones are common (6% of men and 9% of women will get one over a lifetime) and are mostly composed of bile salts and cholesterol. The goal of treatment is to reduce symptoms and the risk of complications. Depending on the size and composition of a person’s gallstones, there are different therapies available. The most common treatment for symptomatic gallstones is surgery. Surgery is highly effective, although there are complications of surgery such as bleeding, infection and leaks. ...

Deciding to trade sanity over silence

Dear Annie: I’ve been in a long marriage. In the early years, we had happy times, but things have changed. For a while now, I’ve been enduring emotional, psychological and verbal abuse from my husband. He often makes humiliating comments about me in front of others. When I try to call him out, he says I’m too sensitive or claims he was just joking. But it doesn’t feel like a joke; it feels degrading. The moment that shook me happened recently while my 3-year-old granddaughter was sitting beside me, coloring. Out of nowhere, my husband said to her, “Rosie, Nanny isn’t ...

D. Richard ‘Dick’ Hackenberger

D. Richard “Dick” Hackenberger, 83, of Mifflintown, passed away Friday, June 13, 2025 at Brookline Manor. Born Jan. 2, 1942, in Centre, he was a son of the late David H. and Flo (Boyer) Hackenberger. He is survived by his wife, Deborah (Haubert) Tabb Hackenberger, whom he married Feb. 7, ...

Furniture, family and boundaries

Dear Annie: My husband and I recently agreed to sell our old lounge furniture, since we’re in the process of buying a new set. We made the decision together, so I assumed we’d also agree on who it would be sold to. He later called to say he found a buyer, which I was happy to hear –– until he added a twist. The buyer would be paying in monthly installments. When I asked if the person was reliable, he dropped the bomb: “It’s my daughter.” He went on to explain that he noticed the lounge set at his ex-wife’s house (where his daughter lives) needed upgrading, so he ...

Getting COVID booster before cruise is prudent

DEAR DR. ROACH: My husband and I will be traveling to the United Kingdom in July and will be on a ship with about 700 passengers. We are wondering whether it would be smart (or unnecessary) to get a COVID booster before the trip. We are both in our late 60s and have had all of the available COVID shots. (The last one we received was on Oct. 10, 2024.) I have mild asthma, and we both have BMIs of about 30 with no other health issues. There is so much information and misinformation on these vaccinations, so I would appreciate your educated opinion. –– O.W.I. ANSWER: In my opinion, ...

Keeping lampshades dust-free with a paintbrush

Dear Heloise: Not too long ago, you suggested using a small paintbrush to dust lampshades. The best thing to use to dust a smooth lampshade is not a lint roller but rather a hand vacuum. A paintbrush will make the dust fly into the air, and it will eventually land on the floor. A lint roller does an OK job, but hand vacuums suck up the dirt and can be taken to a trash bin and emptied out. I occasionally like to take the attachment on my rug shampooer to (very lightly) give my smooth lampshades a once-over, and it’s made such a difference in keeping my shades clean! –– Tammy, in ...