DEAR DR. GOTT: I am 85 and have had recurring bladder infections for years. My internist recommended going to a urologist, which I did. I have run the gamut on tests. The urine-sensitivity test proved that the infection is sensitive to Cipro. This is a very difficult medication for me to take because it wipes me out completely. What can I possibly take to prevent these recurring bladder infections?

DEAR READER: I suggest that you try cranberry juice (two 8-ounce glasses a day). This simple and inexpensive preventive has antibacterial properties and could work wonders. My concern, though, is why you are having these recurrent bladder infections. Are the antibiotics not being taken long enough to kill all the bacteria? Do you have a urethral defect? Do you have bladder polyps or lesions? What about your kidneys? Are they the source of the infection rather than the bladder? These are all questions you should ask your urologist.

To give you related information, I am sending you a copy of my Health Report “Bladder Infections and Disorders.” Other readers who would like a copy should send a long, self-addressed, stamped envelope and $2 to Newsletter, PO Box 167, Wickliffe, OH 44092. Be sure to mention the title.>DEAR DR. GOT$> I am 81 years old and have been taking Fosamax for two years. My recent trip to the periodontist revealed bone damage. A loose molar was removed, and I received bone grafting. This is an expensive procedure. Fortunately, the graft was successful, and I look forward to having an implant to replace the lost tooth, which is also expensive. My doctor has now prescribed Miacalcin nasal spray along with the Fosamax. Is this appropriate?DEAR READ<$> No, it isn’t. One of the most dangerous <\m> but rare <\m> side effects of Fosamax (and related medications) is damage to the jaw bone. Called osteonecrosis, this condition leads to breakdown of the bone. Stop taking the Fosamax and meet with your physician to discuss a strategy for the future. I do not believe that Miacalcin spray is the proper choice for your problem. To give you related information, I am sending you a copy of my Health Report “Understanding Osteoporosis.” Other readers who would like a copy should send a long, self-addressed, stamped, envelope and $2 to Newsletter, PO Box 167, Wickliffe, OH 44092. Be sure to mention the title. DEAR DR. G:<$> A girl that I work with insists that rubbing your hands together until they are warm is better than washing them with antibacterial soap. She says it’s proven that the friction kills any germs. I’ve accepted some unexplained things, but this?

DEAR RER:<$> Don’t accept it. Hand-washing is a vital act that will rid the skin of bacteria, regardless of the heat of the skin. Nothing beats a good soap-and-water cleansing. Doctor Gott is a practising physician and the author of the new book “Dr. Gott’s No Flour, No Sugar Diet,” available at most chain and independent bookses.<$>If readers would like to contact Dr. Gott, they may write him through your newspaper or send their mail directly to Dr. Gott c/o United Media, 200 Madison Ave., 4th fl., New York, NY 10016. However, if readers want to request a newsletter, they should write to the Ohio address.