November 22, 1999
Date: Mon, Nov 22nd 1999 15:58:35 Filter sender
From: "drDrew.com"
To: "drDrew.com Newsletter"
Subject: drDrew.com Newsletter -- November 22, 1999
THE OFFICIAL DRDREW.COM NEWSLETTER
November 22, 1999
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IN THIS WEEK'S NEWSLETTER:
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*The drDrew.com Show
* What's New on drDrew.com
* Bonus Q&A with Drew
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THIS WEEK WITH DR. DREW:
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* TONIGHT (MONDAY, NOVEMBER 22) at 7:30 p.m. P.S.T. watch the drDrew.com
Show live at
http://www.drdrew.com/show/index.html. You can also call in
toll-free
during this half-hour show to ask Drew your questions at 1-888-4DR-DREW.
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QUESTION OF THE DAY (http://www.drdrew.com/office/qotd.html)
ASK DR. DREW YOUR QUESTION at http://www.drdrew.com/office/askqotd.html
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* Today Dr. Drew answers the question: Can you use Coke as a douche after
sex to kill sperm?
* Tuesday: How do I deal with being homesick?
* Wednesday: How do I satisfy my sexually-aggressive girlfriend?
* Thursday: Is it normal for this to happen when I masturbate?
* Friday: How can I lose 100 pounds?
Scroll down for more Q & A!
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PERSONALITIES: STRAIGHT TALK FROM THE STARS
http://www.drdrew.com/profiles/index.html
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* Today "Friends" star Matthew Perry on his friends.
* Wednesday: Fiona Apple sounds off on staying true to herself.
* Friday: Allesandro Nivola, star of the new film, "Mansfield Park."
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HEALTHWISE: HEALTH AND LIFESTYLE ISSUES THAT MATTER
http://www.drdrew.com/office/index.html
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* Tuesday: Are you a health risk? Find out how to assess whether your
weight is increasing your risk of chronic diseases.
* Thursday: Read about why the high protein/low carbohydrate diet craze
falls short when it comes to long-term weight loss and lifelong health.
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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
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QUESTION:
When I try to touch my boyfriend's testicles, he nonchalantly pushes me
away. I have noticed that he has about four or five small, firm cyst-like
things under his sack. What are these and are they common? The curiosity
is getting to me.
DR. DREW:
I don't know if you're describing hydroceles (fluid filled), cystoceles (a
type of hernia), spermatoceles (sperm filled), or varicoceles (blood
filled), which are all types of cysts in and around the testes. You also
may be describing something in the skin, as there are various soft growths
in the scrotal skin. All of these things are normal. Occasionally, the
cysts need to be removed, as some believe that they may slightly impact on
fertility. My recommendation would be for him to talk with his primary
health care provider.
QUESTION:
Since the age of 12, I have had bad acne. It started out on my face, but
it has now gone to my neck, back, and even chest. I have been seeing a
dermatologist for about four years, and have taken both mild and strong
medications. Although I have been on a relatively stronger medication for
about twoto three years, it hasn't seemed to help all that much. Do you
know of any other treatments I should try? Also, I have some deep, almost
colored craters on my chest. The doctor said the craters will eventually
leave scars. Is there any way to have these removed, or at least have the
color turned back to normal skin color? The acne has really had an effect
on my self-esteem, and I often become depressed. Any advice you could give
me would be greatly appreciated.
DR. DREW:
The presence of acne can substantially affect a young person's esteem and
ability to socialize with any degree of confidence. You need to know that
this is a condition that is thoroughly treatable today. I am rather
confused as to why your dermatologist is having difficulty getting your
acne under control. As to whether there are any other treatments
available, I certainly would first need to know what treatments you
previously received. As far as the scars, they are really quite difficult
to treat and are often associated with pigment. Specifically, dark-skinned
individuals tend to pigment even more in the region of a scar, whereas
lighter-skinned people will sometimes de-pigment in that region. I hope
you are seeing a dermatologist that has a board certification in
dermatology.
QUESTION:
My mom is 43 and I know she is depressed. Although, I'm not sure how
serious it is; she is rarely happy, cries a lot, and has no friends. The
problem is that she doesn't see herself as having a problem. How can I get
her to see a doctor and get help? She had an unhappy childhood and, as far
as I know, she has been this way since she was a kid. She thinks she can
fix things herself. My dad wants her to get help, but isn't willing to
help me figure out how to get her to recognize her problem. Any
suggestions you have would be helpful.
DR. DREW:
First of all, you need to understand that your mom's well-being is not
your responsibility. It sounds like there has been some reversal of roles
in your family. You have the right to be the kid and to let your mother
take care of herself. Ultimately, your father is probably the person you
need to enlist to get this to happen. Things simply cannot go on as they
are, nor is there any reason for them to. Sometimes something as simple as
antidepressant medication will significantly improve situations like this.
If you are able to get through to your father on how much this is actually
affecting you, it should motivate him to do what he needs to do to get
your mother to appropriate care. The chronic nature of your mother's
condition also suggests that there may be other issues that need to be
worked on. This means that she would likely greatly benefit from talking
to a therapist. Also, it may well be the case that your mother will need
medication, potentially indefinitely. If you can't get any help from your
father, you might try your family doctor, clergy, or some other adult who
can help get your mother to the appropriate care. Once this is done, you
will need to begin to focus on yourself. This will require that you step
out of the role of parent and begin focusing on your own needs.
QUESTION:
I am 14 years old and have been in love with a girl for the past four
years. Although we have dated and broken up several times, I really miss
her and still want her back. We most recently broke up because she doesn't
have time for a relationship between school, S.A.T. classes, sports, and
Drivers Ed. One day I rode in a car for 40 minutes, spent 50 minutes on
the subway, and 20 minutes on a bus just to leave a rose at her doorstep.
Is there any chance of us getting back together? Do you have any advice?
DR. DREW:
It's extremely important that you accept your partners feelings. If a
relationship is truly not meant to be, you should not force it to
continue, especially at your age. As people grow, their needs and feelings
also frequently change. This is a normal part of relationships. What I
wonder is why you need to cling so strongly to her. I suspect that you
idealize her and don't want to allow her to be a separate person.
Similarly, you seem unable to deal with real intimacy for fear that the
other person may leave you. At your age, these sorts of experiences are
usually a sign that somewhere in your development as a separate and
independent person, you were less than adequately supported. Maybe your
parents were overly intrusive and unable to acknowledge your individual
emotional needs, or perhaps there was some form of abuse. The loss of a
loved one can also cause someone to behave in this manner. These areas
will all need to be explored to see if they are continuing to impair your
ability to feel worthwhile.
QUESTION:
I recently met someone who means the world to me. I plan on being with her
for a long time and want to know how best to deal with the fact that her
old boyfriend gave her herpes. I dont know much about herpes and would
like to know how to make this manageable. Are there online resources?
DR. DREW:
Herpes is a chronic viral condition that causes an individual to get
recurrent rashes or outbreaks, typically on the penis or inside the
vagina. They usually are burning or itching regions of small clusters of
tiny vesicles or blisters. It is highly contagious just before and during
one of these outbreaks. However, an individual could be contagious with
the virus at any time, whether or not they have symptoms. Wearing a condom
can reduce the risk of transmission, and people can take antiviral
medications to reduce their risk of viral shedding. This is particularly
helpful for people that have frequent uncomfortable outbreaks. For the
woman, this disorder is significant in that it increases the risk of
cervical cancer. However, this risk can be effectively screened out by
regular pelvic examinations and Pap smears. In your case, if indeed you
really were to be with this woman for the rest of your life, you have a
high probability of contracting herpes. Fortunately, herpes is not known
to have any significant consequences for the male. Again, the alternative
is to practice meticulous safe sex using latex barriers. The animal skin
barriers are probably not as effective as they seem to have tiny pores
through which viruses can penetrate. For more information on herpes, check
out the NIH Resources section of Dr. Drews office.
http://www.drdrew.com/office/nihresources.html
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IMPORTANT NOTE
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The content presented in this newsletter is not intended to take the place
of professional medical treatment. For specific medical concerns, you
should seek the advice of a qualified health provider.
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MORE DRDREW.COM QUESTIONS COMING YOUR WAY NEXT WEEK
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