Informed Magazine- Fall 2009.pdf - Parma Community General ...

ask the doctor series
Ask the
Gynecologist
Paul Hudock, MD
How do I know if my periods are normal?
For the average woman, her menstrual period lasts five to
seven days. Some women suffer from much heavier periods,
characterized by menstrual flow that causes anxiety, restricts
normal activity or causes severe pain or cramping. If you are
soaking through one or more sanitary pads or tampons each
hour for several consecutive hours, or your periods last longer
than seven days and/or contain large blood clots, you should
talk to your doctor. This would not be normal, and you don’t
have to suffer.
What causes heavy periods?
Many conditions may cause heavy menstrual bleeding, ranging
from a hormonal imbalance to certain disease processes
that involve the uterus, like fibroids, polyps or endometriosis.
Another possibility is neoplasia, a new tissue growth that can
be a thickening of uterine tissue, or rarely a cancerous or precancerous
condition.
What treatments are available for heavy periods?
The appropriate treatment depends on the cause of the problem.
The best treatment option for you if you are experiencing
disruptive bleeding is dependent on your overall health and how
this problem is impacting your life. Your plans for the future,
including whether you plan to have children, is an important
consideration that will affect the course of treatment.
If heavy periods are due to benign causes, such as a hormone
imbalance, one solution is endometrial ablation. This is a minimally
invasive outpatient procedure, and most women return
to their normal routine in just one day. Studies show that following
treatment, most women can expect lighter periods, or
possibly no period at all. Three out of four women who undergo
ablation experience a reduction in pain and cramping. Five
years after treatment, more than 95 percent of women still
experience reduced flow.
Gynecologists on staff at Parma Hospital include:
Ayman Dahman, MD
6900 Pearl Road, Middleburg Heights, OH 44130
440-884-9000
Stephany George, MD
6115 Powers Boulevard, Parma, OH 44129
440-743-4780
William Hahn, Jr., MD
6681 Ridge Road, Parma, OH 44129
440-886-4477
Paul Hudock, MD
6681 Ridge Road, Parma, OH 44129
440-887-9140
Jeffrey Mangel, MD
2500 Metrohealth Drive, Cleveland, OH 44109
216-778-5890
Kristine Pelagalli, MD
1000 Wallings Road, Broadview Heights, OH 44147
440-717-2000
A winding walkway of remembrance
Ralph Wagner will forever be
remembered at Seasons of Life
Hospice.
The name of the former
hospice patient is inscribed the
walkway created by the Parma
Hospital Health Care Foundation
for memorials at Hospice’s
residential facility. Ralph is the
father of Foundation vice chairman
Brian C. Wagner and the husband
of Rosemary Wagner, who began
volunteering with hospice 23 years
ago, two years after her husband’s
passing.
“Hospice has
meant so much to
our family,” says
Rosemary Wagner,
who makes followup
bereavement
calls to families who
have experienced
a loss. Her parents, who died six
months apart five years ago, also
are remembered with a memorial
on the walkway. “When I go over
there and see those names, it gives
me such a warm feeling because
I have such fond memories of
hospice.”
The winding paved walkway
allows patients and their visitors
with wheelchairs or walkers to
more safely navigate the sloping
terrain. It also gives family
members a way to honor their
loved ones after their death with
a lasting memorial in a serene
setting that will be enjoyed by
future patients.
Marcia Ferguson, executive
director of the Parma Hospital
Health Care Foundation, saw how
visibly moved many donors were
at the first dedication ceremony.
Bricks purchased from November
2008-June 2009 will be dedicated
on October 8.
Bricks are bought not just
for those who have passed away,
but also to honor the living, such
as the volunteers of hospice who
continue to touch lives every day.
“This is a way to celebrate
a person’s life, the
caregivers who
are remembering
them, as well as to
celebrate the mission
of hospice,” said
Ferguson. “And it
certainly adds to the
beauty of the place.
“The walkway is a good
example of how the Parma
Hospital Health Care Foundation
works with hospital departments
to build and enhance services for
people in our community.”
Memorial bricks come in two
sizes [both pictured above]:
• Premium brick – 8 x 8 inches
- $250 including engraving and
additional graphic
• Standard brick – 4 x 8 inches
- $125 including engraving
For more information on
ordering a brick for the Memorial
Walkway, call 440-743-4280.
Jennifer Schneidler, MD
6900 Pearl Road, Middleburg Heights, OH 44130
440-884-9000
6 Informed www.parmahospital.org