Health

Q. Years ago, when my younger sister was 2, she stepped on a fire ant mound. My mother rushed her to the hospital. The doctor there told my mother to get meat tenderizer and make a paste and cover her stings. It was among the best advice I have ever heard a doctor give.

Q. My poor daughter has been suffering ever since menopause. Her muscles are weak, and she feels tired, but she can’t sleep, and she has brain fog. I’m glad her doctor will be testing her hormone levels. If her testosterone is low, he is likely to prescribe this hormone.

Q. I am an 81-year-old woman in excellent health. The only thing that might be worrisome is my LDL cholesterol of 181. I understand that is way over the acceptable level. I have no other risk factors for heart disease.

As they gain popularity, weight loss medications will be the focus of a Spokane talk by obesity expert Dr. Ellen Schur.

Q. I read in your column about nicotine patches helping with memory. I have been trying them, and I do feel sharper. I’m not sure if this effect is real or placebo. That said, my question is how long should I use the patches to get the maximum benefit? Will my brain fog return if I stop? Is this a lifetime commitment?

Q. Lots of people suffer with hemorrhoids, and I’d like to offer advice from personal experience. Ditch the wet wipes and toilet tissue for cleaning your butt after a bowel movement. Purchase a simple bidet toilet seat. After it rinses you off, just pat dry gently with toilet tissue. This drastically reduces the risk of getting hemorrhoids. If you do get them, soaking in a hot bathtub or sitz bath at least once a day works very well.