Dear Dr. Garner, Last week, I had the worst pain of my life. While I am a man and have never been pregnant, the feeling I had is what I imagine my wife felt during the delivery of our daughter. It turned out to be kidney stones. Foremost on my mind, is whether I should expect a recurrence anytime soon. Kidney stones and moans in... read more

Dear Dr. Garner, I am very scared. When I got up to go to the bathroom today, my urine looked bloody. I never had anything like this before. It really doesn’t hurt. It is more the sight of it that bothers me. I am 58 years old, and aside from smoking, I am fine with no problems. Do you think I have cancer? I am afraid to even call my... read more

Dear Dr. Garner, I had been having trouble with my vision so I went to see my ophthalmologist. She said I have cataracts that need to be removed. I am a little nervous about the surgery. Could you tell me more about this condition and why I got it? I am in good condition otherwise. Clouded Eyes in Clinton Hill Dear Clouded, You might... read more

Dear Dr. Garner, My job is literally a headache. There is not a day that goes by that I don’t go home and have to take Tylenol. I feel tired all the time, and cannot get much done at night. My husband wants me to quit, but unfortunately, we don’t have much of a choice. In this economy, we need the money. My mother says she is afraid that... read more

Dear Dr. Garner, My family is planning to go on vacation while my children are on Easter break. Unfortunately, it seems that every time I fly I get a cold. I want to make sure that I am healthy enough to fly. Have many of your patients complained of similar problems? I could swear that there is something on the plane that makes people... read more

Dear Dr. Garner, I am having an argument with my daughter and I’m hoping you can help. She says that I don’t exercise enough. I do not look obese, and probably am of normal weight. What do you think? She reads The Tablet every week and will listen to your opinion. Exercise Averse in Elmhurst Dear Exercise Averse, I hate to tell you... read more

Dear Dr. Garner, I have colon cancer, which has spread to other parts of my body, and I am undergoing painful chemotherapy. The worst part is that this all could have been much easier to treat had it been found much earlier. I am now 65 and while my husband went for a colonoscopy when he turned 50, I kept putting it off. The first sign I had... read more

Dear Dr. Garner, I was recently reading about children who got the wrong pills from the pharmacy. Apparently they got cancer medication instead of the fluoride pills for their teeth. Between my husband and myself, we take about 12 pills a day. How can we make sure we get the right pills? This is really scary. Bitter Pill to Swallow In... read more

Dear Dr. Garner, I heard you talking about tattoos on TV last week. I believe you said that tattoos could be good if they carried medical information, like allergies to pills. The discussion awakened old wounds as my son got a tattoo on his arm two years ago against my wishes. I think that it not only looks bad, especially when he interviews... read more

Dear Dr. Garner, My grandchild is two years old and seems different from my other grandchildren. He is not talking, and frequently makes different movements of his body, which I don’t understand. He doesn’t look at me when I hold him. He seems to want to be by himself. We are all very worried about autism. Could you please explain how to... read more