Evening star., 1961-08-23

this question-and most
likely receive an evasive an
Swer similar to the one I
am going to give now. It's
the old story again: What
works for one may fail for
the other" A doctor can't
say to a patient: 81 guar
antee that you will be 100
per cent cured after the op-
Grafton" Whenever a doctor
talks like that I Immediately
suspect his motives.
IF YOU HAVE an ulcer it
is important that you do not
rush into operation unless
you have tried medical treat
ment for a few months or
years. (Unless, of course,
there is an emergency like
hemorrhage or perforation
of the ulcer). Success in
treatment depends not only
upon the type of ulcer, but
on the patient himself. If
you don't cooperate fully,
chances are you will have to
come to operation.
But suppose you have been
a good patient and still suffer
ulcer pain and other diScom-
forts? Should you be pes
Simistic about what an op-
Grafton can do for you? Not
necessarily. Although every
operation doesn't promise to
bring complete relief, you
should hope for the best.
After all, if medical treat
ment hasn't helped, you must
rely on surgery.
Here is a letter which in
dicates how successful surg
cry can be:
Dear DR.. Steincrohn: For
several years I suffered with
duodenal ulcer. I was under
strict doctors care for ap-
proximately three years.
However, I still landed in
the hospital every year
around the Christmas holi-
days for ten days of rest
and treatment.
Finally, the doctor advised
surgery. He claimed it was
a posterior ulcer, and there
was a danger of it perforat-
ing into the pancreas. I un-
derWent surgery a year-and-
a half ago. 1t was a pyloro-
plasty and a vagotomy. After
a few months I started liv-
ing a very normal and &C
tive life. (Which I hadn't
done in years. I now feel
wonderful, eat almost every
thing, and have a new lease
on life. I thought that some
of your readers who are wor-
ried about operation would
like to knoW.-Mr. M, Cali
fornia.
Dear DR.. Steinrohn: For
years I have been troubled
on and off with a rapid
heart beat which comes on
suddenly at night or early
morning. I have been awak-
ened out of a sound sleep
with a beat that goes up to
100 a minute. This some
times lasts for hours. 1t drops
back to normal as suddenly
as it started and I feel o. K,
Doctors have told me that
my heart is all right. Can
this be possible?-Sincerely,
Mr.. G., Michigan.
MOST DOCTORS would
say that you have attacks
of paroxysmal tachycardia
T. (the scientific name for rapid
heart action. It often oc-
ours in hearts that are per-
fectly normal-aS your doc
tors have said yours is. It
is due to some unknown ir-
ritability that arises often
in a normal heart muscle.
Medicines sometimes help
prevent or stop the attack
Occasionally, pressure on a
nerve in one side of the neck
helps, or pressure over the
eyeballs. Admittedly, it is a
scary experience but you
should continue to find as
Surance in knowing that you
have a strong heart that
simply goes on a spree every
once in a while. Someday
it will settle down.
+ 4
Doctors and their wives
who read this column will.
be heartened by the follow
ing note. It's nice to receive
a bouquet once in a while
Dear DR.. Steincrohn: MY
own wonderful doctor paSsec
away 2 years ago at the age
of rs. I have a new doctor
and he is wonderful, too.
bless him for his help. He ha
undergone surgery twice anc
I prayed both times for hi
recovery. I continue to pra!
and thank God for him
Signed: From a respector o
all good doctors. Mrs. R., Pa
DR.. Steincrohn'S leGtlet
MAYBE Your Heart Trouble
Imaginary" 1Diu be mailed o.
receipt of a stamped, self