Diane, Author at Cherokee Women's Health

Teen Mom Shares Her Story

Hannah with her sons and Aunt Cindy Hannah is a young mother we’re spotlighting this month to help educate teens about the challenges of teen pregnancy. We had a little Q&A session with Hannah in which she shared her experiences as a teen mom. Can you tell us what it was like becoming pregnant as a teen? I was in high school when I became pregnant so that in itself was difficult. I basically skipped my childhood so that was hard, especially when my friends were enjoying a regular teenage life. But everything had changed and nothing was more important than my baby so I knew I had to take it seriously and behave responsibly. How did you handle school? I stayed in school for the first four months of my pregnancy. After that, I took online classes. When I returned to high school about a year later, I was dual enrolled and took classes at Gainesville State as well, where I graduated with honors. From there, I went to college at North Georgia and then transferred to Brenau University, where I entered their nursing program. I also graduated with honors from there and now have my bachelor’s degree in nursing. What motivated you? My son was my biggest motivation. I wanted to give him a better life. I also wanted to prove to myself that I wasn’t going to be a statistic. Getting pregnant in high school meant facing a lot of judgment and criticism. I was told I wouldn’t amount to anything and that I wouldn’t even graduate high school. For me, regardless of my circumstances, my dreams were more important and I didn’t want to give up on them. How did you handle child care? I had an excellent support system. My parents were especially wonderful. They helped watch my son while I was in school or had to study. Without them, I don’t know where I would be. My grandparents and family friends also helped care for my son. Having a strong support system definitely played a huge role in my success. How has your life changed since then? There have been so many changes. I got married last May and gave birth to my second child in March of this year. In regards to my career, I’ll be working as a nurse at the Ronnie Green Heart Center of Northeast Georgia. I worked there as a nurse extern in the cardiac Intensive Care Unit during my last year in college and upon completion, they offered me a position. What would you like pregnant teens to know? I want them to know that their life is not over. That there’s still hope for a bright future. And even though they’ll probably be told they can’t make it, it’s simply not true. Even when the judgment seems unbearable at times, they just have to push through. It’s not easy but they can do it. After all, if I can become a success story, anyone can.

Cervical Cancer: Planning, Preparation and Prevention

Diane /

Cervical cancer is completely different from many other cancers, as it’s preventable. First, the cervix can be seen directly by your OB/GYN or primary care physician without invasive testing by performing a Pap smear. Pap smears are very effective at evaluating abnormal cells that may develop into cancer. This is why it’s so important to schedule a regular exam with your OB/GYN. (Over 60% of patients with cervical cancer have never had a Pap smear.) Known risk factors for cervical cancer include persistent infection by HPV. In fact, HPV is the most common sexually transmitted disease in the United States. Once a diagnosis is made, a medication, lifestyle change, or surgery will usually fix the problem. If the diagnosis is cancer, especially when diagnosed in the later stages, treatment plans are not so simple. There is no quick easy fix, no simple cure, and no easy way out. Some cancers like ovarian cancer are typically diagnosed in the later stages because there are few early symptoms. Treatment with chemotherapy and surgery can prolong life, but rarely result in a complete cure. Breakthroughs in Medicine Provide Prevention for Cervical Cancer In the past several years, a breakthrough in medicine has provided a way to fight back and prevent cervical cancer. High-risk HPV strains including 16 and 18 have been associated with the majority of cervical cancers. Other HPV strains including 6 and 11 are associated with genital warts or growths on the vulva, cervix or penis. The Guardisil vaccine provides patients a way to actively protect themselves from these four strains of viruses. Additionally, the Cervarix vaccine will protect against the two strains that cause cervical cancer. It is recommended for male and female individuals between the ages of 9 and 26. These vaccinations protect young men and women before there are exposed during sexual activity. Most insurance companies, including Medicaid, will pay for the vaccine. If you don’t have medical insurance, there are still ways to pay for the vaccine. Talk to your healthcare provider about your options. Get Help Today The HPV vaccine offers promise and protection from a known direct cause of cervical cancer. With it, we can fight and prevent a cancer that has taken the lives of too many women. Please don’t hesitate to contact your OB/GYN, pediatrician, primary care physician, or local health department with questions or concerns about these vaccines. There are also plenty of online resources available for parents and caregivers. We have included some helpful resources below: National Cervical Cancer CoalitionWorld Health Organization – HPV and Cervical Cancer FactsThe HPV Connection – The Oral Cancer Foundation To schedule an appointment with one of our board-certified OB/GYNs at either our Canton or Woodstock office, call us today at 770.720.7733 or schedule an appointment online.

Dr. Litrel's Blog

Wonderful Testimonial

Diane /

I received this wonderful handwritten card from my patient Steffanie. She also gives thanks to our great staff. It is humbling when our patients take time out of their busy days to let us know that we made a difference.

Endometriosis Education, GYN Problems, Laparoscopic Surgery Education

Endometriosis – Know the Facts

Diane /

Endometriosis affects about 5 million American women. It’s an often painful disorder in which tissue that normally lines the inside your uterus — the endometrium — grows outside your uterus (endometrial implant). Endometriosis most commonly involves your ovaries, bowel or the tissue lining your pelvis. Rarely, endometrial tissue may spread beyond your pelvic region. In endometriosis, displaced endometrial tissue continues to act as it normally would — it thickens, breaks down and bleeds with each menstrual cycle. Because this displaced tissue has no way to exit your body, it becomes trapped. When endometriosis involves the ovaries, cysts called endometriomas may form. Surrounding tissue can become irritated, eventually developing scar tissue and adhesions — abnormal tissue that binds organs together. Endometriosis can cause pain — sometimes severe — especially during your period. Fertility problems also may develop. Fortunately, effective treatments are available. Causes of EndometriosisThe exact cause of endometriosis is not known. However, possible causes include the following: Your immune system may not be getting rid of endometrial cells outside of the uterus like it should. Heavy bleeding or an abnormal structure of the uterus, cervix, or vagina causes too many endometrial cells to go up through the fallopian tubes and then into the belly. (This is called retrograde menstruation). Blood or lymph fluid may carry endometrial cells to other parts of the body. Or the cells may be moved during a surgery, such as an episiotomy or a cesarean delivery. Cells in the belly and pelvis may change into endometrial cells. Endometrial cells may have formed outside the uterus when you were a fetus. It may be passed down through families. When to Call Your DoctorIf you develop sudden, severe pelvic pain, call your doctor immediately. Call a doctor to schedule an appointment if: Your periods have changed from relatively pain-free to painful. Pain interferes with your daily activities. You begin to have pain during intercourse. You have painful urination, blood in your urine, or an inability to control the flow of urine. You have blood in your stool, you develop pain, or you have a significant, unexplained change in your bowel movements. You are not able to become pregnant after trying for 12 months. Treatment OptionsThere is no cure for endometriosis, but treatment can help with pain and infertility. Treatment depends on how severe your symptoms are and whether you want to get pregnant. If you have pain only, hormone therapy to lower your body’s estrogen levels will shrink the implants and may reduce pain. If you want to become pregnant, having surgery, infertility treatment, or both may help. Not all women with endometriosis have pain. And endometriosis doesn’t always get worse over time. During pregnancy, it usually improves, as it does after menopause. If you have mild pain, have no plans for a future pregnancy, or are near menopause (around age 50), you may not feel a need for treatment. The decision is up to you. MedicinesIf you have pain or bleeding but aren’t planning to get pregnant soon, birth control hormones (patch, pills, or ring) or anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) may be all that you need to control pain. Birth control hormones are likely to keep endometriosis from getting worse. If you have severe symptoms or if birth control hormones and NSAIDs don’t work, you might try a stronger hormone therapy. Besides medicine, you can try other things at home to help with the pain. For example, you can apply heat to your belly, or you can exercise regularly. SurgeryIf hormone therapy doesn’t work or if growths are affecting other organs, surgery is the next step. It removes endometrial growths and scar tissue. This can usually be done through one or more small incisions, using laparoscopy. Laparoscopy can improve pain and your chance for pregnancy. In severe cases, removing the uterus and ovaries (hysterectomy and oophorectomy) is an option. This surgery causes early menopause. It is only used when you have no pregnancy plans and have had little relief from other treatments. As OB/GYNs, we specialize in protecting your fertility and providing treatment to relieve physical suffering. Call today for an appointment at 770.720.7733 or schedule an appointment online.

Endometriosis Education, GYN Problems Videos

What is Endometriosis?

Diane /

Dr. Litrel addresses endometriosis in this Q&A session. Learn its symptoms, how it’s diagnosed and available treatment options.

Nutrition and Weight Loss Videos

How Can Medically-Directed Weight Loss Help Women?

Diane /

Dr. Litrel discusses how our tailored medical weight loss program can help women lose weight and get healthy. Watch more Nutrition and Weight Loss videos below

General

Winter Baby Photo Contest

Diane /

Our Facebook Winter Baby Contest is ON! Enter your baby photos (ages 0-24 months) for a chance to win some great prizes and perhaps more importantly, bragging rights! To enter from your computer, simply go to our Facebook page. To enter from a mobile device such as your phone or tablet, click here! Contest runs from January 15th through January 29th! Prizes include: Grand Prize (TWO WINNERS): 16″x20″ Print on Canvas (to display those beautiful photos!) 2nd place: $25 Johnny’s Pizza gift certificate 3rd place: $25 Johnny’s Pizza gift certificate 4th place: Bojangle’s Picnic Pack 5th place: Chick-Fil-A basket with gift cards Can’t wait to see your most adorable winter baby photos! 🙂

Infertility Education, OB

The Pressures of Infertility

Diane /

Dealing with infertility can be one of the most stressful situations you’ll ever have to deal with. Not only are you struggling with your feelings, but you often have to field never-ending questions from family and friends. How to Handle ‘The Question’ So how do you handle baby questions when you’ve been struggling with infertility? Have an Answer Ready Talk with your husband or partner beforehand about how you’re going to handle these sensitive questions. Having a plan will make you feel much more at ease when it happens. Skip the Details There’s no reason you have to tell anyone you’re struggling to have a baby. Keep it vague so when you’re asked when you’re going to have kids, just reply, “Well, we hope to someday.” Then quickly ask them a follow up question that has nothing to do with babies. Use Humor There’s a reason some of the most tragic people in history have been so funny. They learned to use humor to deflect their real feelings so doing this when you’re asked uncomfortable questions can work wonders. So when they ask you when you’re going to have a baby, you can respond with, “Baby? Baby what? Baby dog? Baby cat?” Then just laugh it off. They’ll likely get the hint and change the subject. Believe in Good Intentions Most people have good intentions and are genuinely interested in your life and they’re really not trying to make you uncomfortable. The thing is, most people who haven’t struggled with infertility have no idea what a sensitive subject it can be. Try to keep that in perspective. Conversations about when you’re going to have a baby can either make or break your mood. But by taking some of these steps, hopefully you’ll feel more comfortable and be better able to enjoy those baby questions.

5 Tips for Surviving Your OB Visit

Diane /

You’re having a baby! Yipee!! Oh but wait, that means doctor’s appointments. But after that initial joy, reality sets in and you realize you’re in store for a lot of appointments. And exams. And blood being drawn. Ugh. But fear not, we’re here to help you with real issues expectant moms face when visiting the OB. The Wait! Oh, the Wait! You booked your appointment and what happens? You sit in the waiting room for what seems like days. No one likes waiting but thank goodness, most of us now have smart phones to help distract us. So to help pass time, whip it out and play a game of Words with Friends, check your friends’ status updates or get caught up on your work emails. Whatever it is, these distractions can be a huge help in passing the time. Book Your First OB Appointment Early Sure, an extra hour of sleep is awesome but if you book your appointment early in the day, you’re more apt to be seen quicker than if you booked a later appointment. Why? Because an early appointment means the office is less likely to be running behind. But what happens if an early appointment isn’t available? Call ahead to see if things are running on time. The receptionist may just tell you it’s okay to show up a little later. Just be sure to triple check how late you can show up as you’d hate to lose your spot altogether! Go to Your Happy Place The dreaded exam. Nobody likes it. After all, you’re showing your most intimate parts to a near stranger and you can’t help but wonder if you’re “normal” or if you groomed well enough, etc., etc. Oh, the things that run through our minds when we’re on that exam table! Some of us joke to the point of embarrassing ourselves (yours truly), while others think of anything other than the task at hand. But just remember this, while it’s the first time in months that your legs have been in stirrups, it’s the umpeteenth time your doctor has seen the same parts just that week. And as any OB will tell you, they’ve seen every size, shape and form and they certainly aren’t passing judgment. They’re simply there to help you with your health concerns. Blood Work Being probed and having your blood drawn isn’t exactly on anyone’s bucket list. But there are a few things you can do to help alleviate the discomfort. Start by talking to your doctor before the exam. Ask them what you can expect to feel before they start. Just knowing what to expect can take a lot of the fear and surprise out of it. And the less tense you are, the less discomfort you will feel. Another great tip is listening to music on your iPod, taking deep breaths or visualizing a favorite vacation. When you’re having your blood drawn, look away and don’t be afraid to turn into a Chatty Cathy. These tricks will definitely help take your mind off of things. Ask Those Questions If you ever feel like your doc breezes in and out before you even have a chance to ask one question much less the list of questions you had in mind, you will definitely leave your appointment frustrated and worse than that, without the information you need. To help ensure you get what you need out of your appointment, have a list of your questions in hand when the doctor enters the room and just start asking! And please know, it’s highly likely that your doctor isn’t even aware that you’re feeling rushed. She just knows that she has a lot more patients to see and is doing her best to keep on schedule. To get more time next time, ask if you can schedule a longer appointment. Just be sure to ask if you’ll be billed extra and if insurance will cover it. Birth Plans: More Like a Wish List You’ve put a ton of time into creating the perfect birth plan and you’re so excited to show your doctor how invested you are and what happens? She barely glances at it. What?! Before you get upset, try looking at it from the doc’s point of view. If everyone handed her a novel of a birth plan, she’d never get around to seeing her patients. So what to do? Make a list of bullet point items and discuss them with her. And make sure you prioritize and touch on the deal breakers without focusing so much on your “wish list”. This will help ensure that you’ll be heard and your doc is more apt to take your preferences seriously. Hopefully these tips will make your next OB visit a little more pleasant. To schedule your appointment, please call us at 770.720.7733 or simply schedule an appointment online.

O-Shot Education, Vaginal Rejuvenation Videos

O-Shot Patient Testimonials with Dr. Haley

Diane /

Dr. James Haley shares patient testimonials on how the O-Shot helps incontinence. Read Dr. Haley’s accompanying article. Download our FREE O-Shot eBook. Or, request more O-Shot information.