The Doc Replies

I’m in my 70s and have gallstones. Am I too old to have surgery?

The recent news coverage of the Duke Of Edinburgh’s operation in his 90s would suggest that, if you are in your 70s, you would not be too old for surgery. However, the decision to undertake surgery is not just based on your age. It also depends on other aspects of your health as well as the nature of the surgery and the risks associated with it.

Do I share the same blood group as my sister?

Your blood group is determined by the genes you inherit from your parents. There are four main blood groups, A, B, AB and O, and then people are usually either positive or negative for something called the RhD antigen. It is thought that about half the population has blood group O and about 85% of the UK population is RhD positive. You will not necessarily have the same blood group as your siblings.

I went for a blood test recently. The next day my arm felt very painful and heavy.

Sometimes after a blood test is taken you can get bruising of the arm or sometimes the small vein the blood is taken from can develop some inflammation which can make the arm painful. This is usually nothing to worry about.

What causes a fungal infection of the tongue?

Fungal infections of the tongue can happen for a variety of reasons. Sometimes there is no reason identified but risk factors include smoking, use of antibiotics and use of either inhaler or tablet steroids. It is normally quite easy to treat but if you are having recurrent problems talk to your GP.