October 13th, 2008 by Dr. Val Jones in Expert Interviews
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My friend Dr. Joe Scherger and I enjoyed a sunny Sunday brunch at a garden eatery in DC. Unfortunately for the neighboring restaurant-goers, we engaged in a very loud and animated conversation about vasectomies. Joe is a family physician and men’s health expert who has recently become aware of “post vasectomy pain syndrome” through an online group that he leads. I noticed two men nearby crossing their legs reflexively and pretending not to be eavesdropping.
Apparently, as many as 10-15% of men may experience a prolonged period of testicular pain after undergoing a vasectomy. As common a complication as this is, Joe believes that very few men are sufficiently warned about it during the informed consent process. The pain may be caused by swelling (once the vas deferens is cut there is no exit point for newly generated sperm) or inflammation. In some cases, the body forms “anti-sperm” antibodies and attacks the sperm generating tissues in the testes. In other cases, small nerves in the area are damaged and heal poorly (causing neuromas).
So if you or your loved one is considering a vasectomy, it’s important to learn all the facts first. You may want to stop by Joe’s online group to ask a question as well.
October 12th, 2008 by Dr. Val Jones in Opinion
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I wrote a “reader take” for KevinMD a few weeks ago – basically arguing that disparities in mental health coverage are driving patients to seek help from unqualified (or inappropriate) providers, thus increasing healthcare costs without improving outcomes. Little did I know (at the time of writing my article) that mental health advocates would be successful in introducing a new law to address exactly this issue. The New York Times reported that some were hailing this legislation as:
A milestone in the quest for civil rights, an effort to end insurance discrimination and to reduce the stigma of mental illness.
And guess how this legislation was passed? It was the “pork” in the Wall Street bailout bill.
Now that’s some of the best pork I’ve heard of in recent memory.
To read my explanation of why improved mental health benefits are desperately needed, please check out my reader take at KevinMD. It’s called: How Not To Revolutionize Healthcare.
P.S. The delay in publication of my reader take was not Kevin’s fault. It was due to circumstances beyond our control. 🙂
October 12th, 2008 by Dr. Val Jones in Celebrity Interviews
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Davis Phinny
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Davis Phinney has won more cycling races than any other American. He is charming, articulate, handsome, and requires a deep brain stimulator to keep him from experiencing incapacitating tremors. Davis was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease at age 40.
I attended the Parkinson’s Action Network 15th Annual Morris K. Udall Awards Dinner in Washington DC last week. Davis was interviewed by Diane Rehm and I recorded the conversation for my blog readers. It was an exceptional interview.
Davis explained how he was initially diagnosed – he felt tired, slow, experienced foot cramps and began tripping more frequently. As a young, seemingly invincible athlete who worked long hours, he assumed that he was just tired and in need of a massage. Eventually his symptoms became so persistent that he went to see a physician. After many tests and many different doctors examined him, a retired neurologist made the diagnosis. Davis says that it was a tough blow to his family. He felt as if he were Superman, now saddled with a permanent kryptonite necklace. Read more »
October 11th, 2008 by Dr. Val Jones in Expert Interviews
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Photo Credit: FUS Foundation
Did you know that one in three women will have a hysterectomy (surgical removal of the uterus) by age 60? It is the second most common surgical procedure among women in the United States. But the question is: are they all necessary? I had a fascinating interview with Dr. Elizabeth Stewart from the Mayo Clinic about some of the reasons behind the potential excess of this type of surgery. You may be surprised to learn that insurance reimbursement guidelines may have something to do with it.
Dr. Val: Women often undergo hysterectomies to treat painful fibroids (benign growths in the uterus). What do women need to know about their fibroid treatment options?
Dr. Stewart: They need to know that they have many different treatment options for uterine fibroids. A hysterectomy is not their only choice. Women should ask their doctor to explain all their options and also make sure that they have the correct diagnosis – menstrual cramping and heavy bleeding doesn’t necessarily mean you have fibroids.
Nowadays we can treat fibroids with hysterectomy, uterine artery ablation, or MRI-guided focused ultrasound surgery (MRgFUS). MRgFUS is a nearly painless procedure where we use focused ultrasound waves to destroy fibroid tissue via heat transfer. I know one woman who went back to work 2 hours after the procedure. Recovery from a hysterectomy or uterine artery ablation can take weeks to months.
Dr. Val: What are some of the advantages and disadvantages of treating fibroids with focused ultrasound? Read more »
October 9th, 2008 by Dr. Val Jones in Announcements
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Dr Val
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Thanks for visiting my new website, everyone! I’m really glad you’re here… Please take the time to vote in my polls so I can learn a little bit more about who you are. To be honest, I’ve never really known WHO my audience was at my former blog at Revolution Health. I just kept chirping away, with the occasional comment/feedback. Now that I have my own site I’ll be interested in getting to know you better, just as some of you have gotten to know me over the past few years.
So what is this website about, anyway? Well, it’s my hope that the site will provide you with a few things:
1. Straight talk about a wide variety of health topics
2. Entertaining and educational interviews with experts, celebrities, and patients
3. Laughter therapy via cartoons and humorous writing
4. A trusted source of health information for yourself and your family
5. Access to the very best health bloggers via a weekly digest called Grand Rounds
I am committed to integrity, transparency, and scientific accuracy. I will give 10% of any advertising revenues directly to charity, and I will always let you know exactly how the site is monetized and disclose any potential personal conflicts of interest or biases.
My ultimate goal is to help people “get better health.” Whether that means modifying our behaviors, taking better care of our chronic illnesses, or living life to the fullest despite a limitation or disability. This is a website for men and women, for healthcare professionals and patients, for moms and dads, for baby boomers and generation X-ers. Everyone is welcome, and I hope you’ll come back regularly for a dose of positive reinforcement as we all work together on getting better health.
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Many thanks to those of you who hosted me while I was “homeless.”
