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Dear Dr. Roach: I鈥檓 an 87-year-old female who still works part time and still drives and gets around without any help. I鈥檓 in fairly good health, except that my creatinine is high. I believe that normal creatinine is about .07-1.00.

Dear Dr. Roach: I am an 80-year-old woman with controlled high blood pressure. I am mildly active and, though I tire easily, I have no complaints. My blood pressure in the past was difficult to control.

Dear Dr. Roach: I am wondering how safe 鈥渆nergy drinks鈥� really are. My daughter is a recovering alcoholic, sober for three-plus years, but she has at least five of these drinks a day. Can they be good for her, or are they another addiction? N.N.

Dear Dr. Roach: Three months ago, I slammed the tip of my left index finger in a drawer. It is still swollen and painful. My doctor sent me for an X-ray and there is no fracture. I can bend it at the joint, but cannot put pressure on the fingertip.

Dear Dr. Roach: Three months ago, my daughter, age 50 and a healthy person, was diagnosed with Guillain-Barre syndrome. The onset was gradual, beginning with numbness in her hands and feet, and severe pain in her back.

I鈥檓 often asked, 鈥淲hat have you learned as a medical journalist?鈥� In one word 鈥� plenty. After writing a column for 38 years you would have to be an imbecile not to learn something about medicine, human personality and hypocrisy.

Dear Dr. Roach: I am 79 and in good health considering the medical problems that have left their signature on my body.

Dear Dr Roach: I would like to comment on your column regarding blood-pressure differences between the arms. A difference of greater than 10 mmHg between the two arms in systolic pressure is considered abnormal.

How can we help to improve the health-care system in this country? Politicians and others continue to debate this issue. They always conclude that more money is the answer. But this approach is doomed to failure.

Dear Dr Roach: My 15-year-old son was just admitted to the hospital for depression and attention deficit disorder. His thyroid tests came back abnormal. There is thyroid disease in the family. Is that the cause of his illness? Anon.