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Hiatal Hernia Surgery Called for If Meds Fail to Help

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a 72-year-old female with MGUS. I was just diagnosed with an ulcer, Barrett’s esophagus, GERD and a hiatal hernia of 8 cm. My surgeon has put me on high-dose Prilosec and Carafate before bed. My oncologist has given the OK for surgery for the hernia, but friends have told me that the surgery is really dangerous. My surgeon is concerned about the hernia being so large. What do you think about this surgery, and is it a good idea at my age? I am having really bad issues with digestion. — F.H. ANSWER: A hiatal hernia is a larger-than-normal hiatus (hole) in the ...

Son With New Girlfriend Grows More Distant From His Mother

DEAR ABBY: I’m a mom of three young adults, a daughter and two sons. The oldest recently married. My youngest is finishing his last two years of college out of state. Three months ago, he met a young lady. I have tried constantly to be close with all my children, but the youngest has always kept me at bay. He expresses how different we are. Now that he has met this young lady, I think he’s trying to push me further away and continue on with her and her mom. It makes me sad because no matter how hard I try to be a good mother and be present, it doesn’t work. What do you suggest? ...

Savvy Senior: Is Social Security Income Taxable?

Dear Savvy Senior, I understand that a portion of my Social Security benefits may be taxable when I retire. Can you tell me how to calculate this? Ready to Retire Dear Ready, Whether or not you’ll be required to pay federal income tax on your Social Security benefits will depend on your income and filing status. About 35 percent of Social Security recipients have total incomes high enough to trigger federal income tax on their benefits. To figure out if your benefits will be taxable, you’ll need to add up all of your “provisional ...

Organic Potatoes

Dear Heloise: I like to buy organic potatoes that come in a bag but always heard not to store potatoes in the refrigerator. How can I keep them from growing sprouts if they can’t be refrigerated? — Vivien W., Sherman Oaks, Calif. Vivien, organic potatoes will start to sprout anywhere from 30 to 140 days after being harvested. They need to be stored in a cool area with a temperature of 40 to 45 degrees Fahrenheit and about 85% humidity. Examine them once a month to remove any sprouts. Be sure to discard any soft or mushy potatoes or those with black or green spots. Have you ...

Busy Mom Fights to Prevent Frustrations From Exploding

DEAR ABBY: I’m a 24-year-old woman who has been married for four years. My husband, “Jerry,” and I have two young boys. Jerry is military. I stay at home with the kids and work part time online on an associate degree. We struggle financially, but our basic needs are met and, overall, I’m happy with my life. My problem is I’m finding myself struggling to control a very strong temper. The kids or my husband may be getting on my nerves, or I’m late turning in an assignment, or I’m unable to get housework done — these frustrations build up inside and make me want to throw ...

Online Bullying

Dear Heloise: Back in the day, bullying and intimidation by kids and classmates used to STOP the minute a child stepped off the school bus. Today though, with social media, it can perpetuate. Kids can post demeaning, humiliating and, most importantly, UNTRUE things about classmates online, 24/7, for everyone to see. This is why I take my kids’ phones from them when they get home, and all of their activity is reviewed. I trust my kids, but I want to make sure they understand how much words matter. — Cindy W. in Illinois Cindy, such an important lesson to learn. Thanks for your ...