Living in filth could lead to chronic illness

Dear Dr. Gott: I am very concerned about my sister. She has lived in a very old house for more than 30 years along with several cats. She always has at least four cats and usually more. Over the years, many of the males have “sprayed” pretty much all over the house, permeating her hardwood floors. She cleans up but not properly.

The problem is that due to years of medications, she no longer can taste most food, and her sense of smell is also gone. Her home reeks of ammonia/urine odors everywhere. It takes your breath away when you walk in. I hadn’t been there in years, and I found I simply couldn’t stay there. Family visits are short and rare. Her kids lived in that and have never told her about the overwhelming odor.

She has heart problems and diabetes and has made hospital visits to have iron infused into her body. She has many ailments and sinus infections and looks very pale and just sick.

She does go to doctors and takes medications, including Coumadin. She always has a sinus infection, and she’s not breathing through her nose. She looks like death warmed over as they say. She’s 61, I’m 63, and strangers assume she’s my mother! Not a good thing.

She’s very hard-headed, and the family says leave her alone, but not many visit due to the stench. Is this toxic?

Dear Reader: Your family problem is not unique, but it can be very difficult to resolve. Although your sister is living in filth, she does not appear to be demented. Should she stay at home? Be transferred to an assisted-living facility? I don’t know.

However, it is very likely that her unhealthful lifestyle is causing negative consequences.

I recommend a family meeting (with a doctor present) as a sort of emergency intervention, during which family members can share their concerns openly, resolve issues (such as diet and cleanliness) and arrive at a position that will be acceptable to your sister.

Short of a forced evacuation, I believe this approach is appropriate.

Dear Dr. Gott: My wife, age 65 years young, had a hip replacement.

Her leg, with the new hip, is 1/2-inch longer than her other leg. This makes her walking not so steady. Is it common to have the new-hip leg longer after hip replacement? Would there be a reason that the doctor would deliberately make the new-hip leg longer?

Dear Reader: I am not aware of any surgeon who routinely permits the operated-on leg to be 1/2-inch longer than the other. In my experience, both legs should be of equal length.

Meet with your wife’s orthopedic specialist to resolve this issue, or seek a second opinion from another surgeon.

To give you related information, I am sending you a copy of my health report “An Informed Approach to Surgery.” Other readers who would like a copy should send a long, self-addressed, stamped envelope and $2 to Newsletter, P.O. Box 167, Wickliffe, OH 44092. Be sure to mention the title.