Dear Doctors: Is there anything new on long COVID? I have it, and it hijacked my life. I get tired really easily, can’t exercise like I used to and my heart often beats too fast. The worst part is the brain fog, which affects my work. Is there any progress on a treatment or on determining what causes it?
Joe Biden is supposed to know something about legislating. After all, he spent 36 years in the U.S. Senate. He must have learned something in those decades. And yet Biden is the driving force behind one of the biggest Capitol Hill fiascos in years: the rapidly imploding “deal” on the U.S.-Mexico border, plus aid to Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan. It was Biden who insisted that those disparate subjects be linked — he threatened to veto any part that was passed alone — which turned out to be a fatal mistake given the impossibility of a majority in Congress agreeing on any immigration-related topic. Failing to agree on immigration guaranteed failure on the other policies.
One interesting aspect of writing a newspaper column is reader letters and emails. Lately, mine have been more supportive and friendly than not. I usually try to respond, although I've fallen down on the job of late. So, if you've sent me a fan letter and haven't heard back, my apologies. I do read them all. Especially the ones from people who are fond of cows.
DEAR HARRIETTE: I am a 23-year-old woman facing a dilemma within my friend group of four. Our group consists of two girls, including myself, and two guys. The other girl in our group enjoys wearing a significant amount of makeup. I don't mind this, as I believe everyone has the right to express themselves in a way that makes them feel confident and beautiful. However, our male friends consistently give her a hard time about her makeup choices. They go as far as telling her to take it off, claiming that she looks ugly with it on. This situation makes me uncomfortable, and I'm unsure about how to address it. I believe everyone has the right to make their own choices regarding their appearance without facing judgment from others. How can I approach my male friends to express my concerns about their comments without causing unnecessary conflict within our friend group? — Friend Drama DEAR FRIEND DRAMA: Speak directly to your male friends and ask them to back off. It's fine for them to have an opinion about your friend, but it's inappropriate to badger her about it. Insist that they let her be. Tone is everything. Since she loves makeup, they might want to give her some makeup lessons from a pro, but they should stop the name-calling now. That's not how friends treat each other.
Dear Doctors: I am a 76-year-old woman not prone to nosebleeds. However, I recently started having heavy ones.
Maybe now is the moment to buck every indicator in American politics. Maybe, as the presidential campaign moves into South Carolina, which four years ago upended every assumption of every political professional, it is time to reconsider the conventional wisdom.
DEAR HARRIETTE: I am a mother of two daughters, and I've developed a close friendship with another mom in my neighborhood who also has two daughters the same ages as mine. We've been meeting for coffee every Tuesday for the past year. However, over the past month, my friend has unexpectedly canceled our coffee dates with what seem like unusual excuses. While I understand that life can get busy, the consistency of these cancellations has left me feeling confused and a bit hurt. Our friendship has become an important part of my life, and the sudden change has me questioning whether I might have unintentionally done something to upset her. Our kids have also formed a bond, making the situation even more confusing. Part of me wants to reach out and ask if everything is OK or if there's something I may have said or done to cause any discomfort. On the other hand, I don't want to come across as confrontational or add unnecessary strain to what has been a positive connection. How should I approach this situation? — Estranged DEAR ESTRANGED: Stop taking this personally until you have gathered more information. Call your friend and ask her if she is OK. It could be that something is happening in her world that has disrupted her schedule. Tell her you are concerned about her since she has recently canceled your coffee dates. Tell her that you miss her, and your children miss her children. Listen to see what she says.
My husband, Peter, and I landed in Mexico again, and we did what we have done in the past. We bought an enormous cake.
Nikki Haley keeps arguing that the country cannot afford the chaos and foolishness that surround Donald Trump. And Trump keeps proving her right.
Performed a medical assist in the 400 block of S. 12th St.