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About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 21, 2017)
6 B SIUSLAW NEWS | SATURDAY, JANUARY 21, 2017 TO YOUR GOOD HEALTH Clean-Freak Dad Turns Into Hoarder DEAR DR. ROACH: I know you’re not a psychiatrist, but I hope you can help. My dad was a single par- ent raising us kids, and he was always clean when it came to housework. Every room in our house was almost spotless. But lately, we have noticed him becoming a hoarder and being more disorganized. By that, I mean keeping weeks-old newspapers on the fl oor, the kitchen table, everywhere, and he gets upset if we try to help him clean. He’s 79. Could it be a sign of senility or Alzheimer’s disease? -- R.S. ANSWER: Hoarding behavior can have several psychiatric causes, and, indeed, a psychiatrist may be neces- sary to make the diagnosis. However, odds are that your dad always had some form of obsessive-compulsive SALOME’S STARS ARIES (March 21 to April 19) Th e changes you’ve waited to see in your work situation might not be happen- ing quite as quickly as you’d hoped. Although the pace is slow, it’s ongoing. Expect to hear news soon. TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) You should be feeling very proud of the fi ne eff ort you’ve made to get that important project done. Now take some time out to celebrate with family and friends. You’ve earned it. GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) You’re close to reaching your objectives. Th at’s the good news. But be careful: Your aspects show lots of potential distrac- tions looming. Stay focused and keep your eyes fi xed on your goals. CANCER (June 21 to July 22) Be careful not to let that suspicious disorder, and with age has become worse. There are other possibilities. Fronto- temporal dementia, a type of dementia that is distinct from Alzheimer’s dis- ease, has a variant in which personal- ity and behavior changes are promi- nent, but given the history of what sounds like unusual cleanliness habits, I would suspect that OCD is the most likely diagnosis. There usually is a long delay from the time symptoms begin until the time the diagnosis is made. A diagnosis needs to be made before treatment -- be it medications, psychotherapy or some combination -- can begin. Treatment can improve not only the hoarding behavior, but also the distress your dad is feeling. A psychiatrist or psychologist is the expert in making the diagnosis and for treatment. The new booklet on Alzheimer’s disease gives a detailed presentation of this common illness. Readers can obtain a copy by writing: Dr. Roach -- No. 903W, 628 Virginia Drive, Orlando, FL 32803. Enclose a check or money order (no cash) for $4.75 U.S./$6 Canada with the recipient’s printed name and address. Please allow four weeks for delivery. DEAR DR. ROACH: In discussing treatment of nail fungus, you did not mention newer laser treatments that I see advertised by podiatrists in my area. Are they effective? -- J.F. ANSWER: We don’t really know if they are effective, since well-done studies haven’t yet proven it; how- ever, preliminary evidence is sugges- tive. This would be a great addition to treatment, since the only currently accepted highly effective treatments are oral medications, which have risk of liver damage. Even more exciting is the idea of combining a topical anti- fungal agent, amorolfi ne, with laser. This medication is not available in the U.S., but a study in Korea showed a 50 percent effectiveness rate (which is pretty good for this diffi cult-to-treat condition). Since I last wrote about this condi- tion, I heard from a lot of readers. Some mentioned cures from Vicks Vapo-Rub, but the only study I found on that showed a 22 percent cure rate. One person asked about surgery, but since the fungus gets into the nail bed, the infection often recurs after removing the nail. Listerine and white vinegar mixed half and half cured one couple, and several people had success with Dr. Paul’s Piggy Paste, which also is vinegar-based. None of these has good data to support its use, but all likely are safe. Cancerian mind create a problem where none exists. What you might believe is an act of betrayal could be nothing more than a misunderstanding. LEO (July 23 to August 22) Your Lion’s heart overfl ows with self-confi - dence. All you need to do is tap into it, and you’ll be able to handle any change that must be made regarding that recent surprise development. VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) Th e need to watch what you say becomes increasingly crucial this week. Be as temperate as you can with your comments and avoid arguments for the sake of controversy. LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) A longtime family problem presents new demands. But this time, you won’t have to go it alone: Someone else is ask- ing to help share your responsibilities. Let it happen. SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) A period of feeling vulnerable is about to give way to a stronger, more self-confi dent aspect. Use this new strength to reaffi rm promises you’ve made to others and yourself. SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) A creative dilemma stalls your progress. Instead of letting it raise your ire, use the time to re-examine your aims and, perhaps, come up with a new target. CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) Your nimble will fi nds a way for you to work out those newly emerged problems plaguing your new project. Stay with it. Th e results will be well worth your eff orts. AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18) You might feel overwhelmed at hav- ing to decide which new opportunity you should follow. Best advice: Check them all out and see which off ers what you really want. PISCES (February 19 to March 20) Continue to tread water before you even consider plunging into something that never seemed quite right. Some facts will soon emerge that can help you make a decision. Siuslaw N ews ! AD IT DAY E R TO www. the siuslawnews.com E -E DITION • S PORTS • T OP S TORIES • O BITUARIES • W EATHER • F ORUMS • B LOGS
