Archive for August, 2008

Ask Dr Deb…Painful Ovarian Cyst

Thursday, August 28th, 2008

I have a question. I am 16 years old and three years ago I suffered from a large ovarian cyst that was large enough to land me in the emergency room, then on bedrest for about two weeks. It was difficult to walk during that time, and I was treated by taking the Pill. I gradually came off of the pill, but I have concerns about my future health. The cyst was large enough that it bled and it’s still a little sensitive in that area around ovulation. Will this affect my ability to concieve in the future? Is there a chance the cyst will return? Are there any other medical problems that I might be more at risk of because of such a large cyst?

Hannah

 

Dear Hannah,

First I want to reassure you that cysts are super common and in fact every month your ovary creates a small cyst when you ovulate or release an egg. Sometimes fluid or blood collects and they can be REALLY PAINFUL, (as you found out!) Some women get a pain like you describe every month when they ovulate which we call MIttelschmertz. (more…)

What’s the Buzz?

Wednesday, August 27th, 2008

What’s the Buzz?

Any given morning, I see Moms holding onto their cup of coffee as if it was their last connection to humanity.  They savor the warm indulgence, their caffeinated lifeline to daily survival.  A steaming cup of brewed coffee has now joined Mom and apple pie as American traditions.

However, in our seemingly innocuous morning habit, we as parents may be modeling such consumption among our children and may be fueling an alarming trend among our teenagers:  the ingestion of extraordinarily high levels of caffeine in sports drinks, soda pop, and other beverages.  Like their parents, teens have come in ever increasing frequency to depend upon caffeinated drinks to help them navigate their frenetic, jam-packed schedules.  The consequences may include irritability, physical addiction, tolerance, and disruption of sleep patterns.  And we all know how teenagers need their sleep!! (more…)

HPV Vaccine. What’s the DEAL?

Wednesday, August 13th, 2008

So many scary reports out there about vaccines. As a Mom, it can be terrifying hearing about vaccines not being safe. As a physician I know that data supports the safety of vaccines and the incredible prevention of life threatening diseases. I still have some unanswered questions about the scheduling and number of vaccines given at one time since we have so many more vaccines today.

One of the latest questions is about Gardasil. It is a vaccine introduced in May of 2006 to help prevent cervical cancer and genital warts. It helps the body produce an antibody to 4 types of Human Papilloma Virus or HPV. (more…)