Dear Annie: I'm writing because I can't tell if I'm being too sensitive or if I'm finally seeing something I've been ignoring for years. I'm 46, married, and we have three kids (two teens and one in college). On paper, our life is good. We're busy, we're stable, we show up for school events ...

DEAR DR. ROACH: My friend has cryptogenic cirrhosis. She says that the doctors don't know what causes it. Where could this have come from, and what does this mean for her? — A.T.G. ANSWER: "Cryptogenic" is from the Greek roots "krytpo-" (meaning hidden) and -genic (for "origin"), so ...

DEAR DR. ROACH: After a month of testing from my gastrointestinal doctor, I have been diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). I have been sick for several months and have lost 12 pounds. (I'm now down to 100 pounds.) I have been prescribed Xifaxan. The cost from my pharmacy is $811. ...

Dear Annie: I am embarrassed to admit this at my age, but I feel like the kid left out at recess. I am in my late 40s, married with kids, a steady job and a calendar that looks full from the outside. But inside I feel lonely. I have plenty of "friendly" people in my life. We chat at school ...

Dear Annie: I've read plenty about empty-nest depression and how to cope with it, and I managed that stage just fine. I enjoyed my grandchildren and watched them grow into teenagers. But now I'm struggling with something different: how to handle the emptiness of the holidays. I have two sons. ...

Dear Annie: Now that my husband and I are in our 70s, it feels as if our social world has shrunk to the size of a postage stamp. Friends have moved away to be near their children, others are dealing with health issues, and a few have simply drifted off. We used to host dinners, take short trips ...