2021 Healthy Woman Magazine

Woman

2021

Complimentary

HEALTHY TM

Black Women and Preeclampsia

Mammograms Do Save Lives Keys to Becoming a Healthier You at Any Age

Postpartum Depression Two Local Mothers’ Journey From Struggle to Recovery

An Annual Women’s Health Publication Presented By:

Woman & West Georgia TM

Magazine

1

O

nce upon a time there was a beautiful queen who was afraid to leave her castle for fear of an embarrassing accident.

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After a Frightening Preeclampsia Diagnosis, Amesha Dobbs Beats the Odds and Celebrates Her Baby's First Birthday.

Page 8

What’s Inside...

8

4

Black Women and Preeclampsia

22

Postpartum Depression

16

Chronic Pelvic Pain

30

Women and Diabetes

20

How Yearly Breast Screenings Can Save Lives

34

Four Keys to a Healthier You at Any Age

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A Healthier You I think most of us want to live our best lives and to be as healthy as possible so we can enjoy life to the fullest. I also know that's much easier said than done when it comes down to our busy schedules and lack of motivation (I'm speaking for myself here, but perhaps you can relate?). What I've learned from this issue is that even small changes can make a big difference in your health.

One of the articles in this issue that really hit home for me was the postpartum depression (PPD) article on page 22. Although my daughter, Sydney, is 21 years old now, I remember struggling with my own PPD after her birth. That was, hands down, one of the most challenging experiences of my life.

Just like the two brave women who share their PPD stories in this issue, I sought help from my doctor and began taking Zoloft. Within just a few days, I actually felt "normal" again and, thanks to the medication, I recovered completely within a few months. I urge anyone struggling with PPD to seek help from your doctor so you can experience all the joys that motherhood brings. You do not have to suffer alone.

Did you know that we offer a free digital Photo by Zachary Dailey subscription to West Georgia Woman Magazine and all of our special issues, including Healthy Woman?

Become a West Georgia Woman insider and sign up for your free digital subscription today at www.westgeorgiawoman.com.

In This Special Issue We are so excited to provide you with our first Healthy Woman magazine! I hope you enjoy this beautiful issue as much as we enjoyed creating it for you. This issue would not have been possible without the partnership of our friends at Tanner Health System.

Very special thanks to Amanda Thomas with Tanner for writing the wonderful articles about the local women in our community. She is an extremely talented writer, and we are thankful for her valued contribution. More thanks go out to the amazing marketing department at Tanner, specifically those who had a hand in helping us coordinate and create this special issue – Kelly Meigs, Meri Whitlock-Wade, Tony Montcalm and Warren Tingen. It is always such a pleasure to work with all of our friends in the Tanner marketing department.

This issue is full of articles about local women sharing their struggles after being diagnosed with preeclampsia, chronic pelvic pain, diabetes and postpartum depression. Learn how yearly breast screenings can save lives, and Dr. Jennifer Marshalek with Tanner Healthcare for Women shares the four keys to becoming a healthier you at any age.

Please support our advertising partners included in this issue. They help us provide West Georgia Woman magazine and our special issues at no cost to you. They are all experts in their fields, so be sure to take advantage of their knowledge, skills and services as you strive to become a healthier you.

To good health!

Publisher

6

Finding our voice. Knowing our value. Making a difference.

TM

West Georgia Woman is a voice for and about the women who live and work in West Georgia.

Our mission is to engage, inspire, and cultivate a cohesive community for all women in West Georgia by sharing our hopes, our dreams and our lives.

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Volume 1 2021 Healthy Woman Magazine An annual partnership with Tanner Health System

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7

Black Women

and Preeclampsia

8

Bremen Mom Beats the Odds and Celebrates Baby's First Birthday

I

n a garage decorated with birthday banners and balloons, Kassidi-Mae celebrated her first birthday surrounded by her parents, grandparents and 7-year-old sister.

The significance of Nov. 11 isn't lost on her mother, Amesha Dobbs. The 36-year-old Bremen mom is not only thankful that her daughter was able to celebrate her first birthday, but that she lived through one of the most traumatizing experiences in her life to witness it.

She was diagnosed with preeclampsia and gestational diabetes about six and a half months into her pregnancy – conditions that Black women, like Dobbs, are at high risk for developing.

Preeclampsia is a potentially fatal pregnancy condition characterized by high blood pressure.

According to a Healthcare Cost Utilization Project (HCUP) study, Black women are 60 percent more likely to have high blood pressure than white women and are three to four times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications.

The study says that Black women are more likely to develop preeclampsia and experience poorer outcomes, including death, in rare cases.

"Preeclampsia symptoms include new-onset high blood pressure and protein in the urine after the 20th week of pregnancy," said Shannon Couvreur, DO, a board-certified obstetrics and gynecology specialist at Tanner Healthcare for Women. "It's important to monitor the signs and symptoms of preeclampsia closely to prevent poor pregnancy outcomes related to bleeding disorders, fetal growth restriction, stillbirth and other potential problems."

The HCUP study characterizes preeclampsia as one of the most preventable causes of maternal death.

"Early detection and prenatal care can help women who develop the condition stay healthy and deliver healthy babies," Dr. Couvreur said.

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Before her diagnosis, Dobbs didn't know she was at higher risk for preeclampsia.

She was more concerned that the back injury she sustained in a freak accident she had in January 2015 would make it difficult to carry another baby full term.

"I lost feeling in both of my legs," Dobbs said. "I learned to walk all over again."

The injury caused her to have foot drop, which is the inability to lift the front part of the foot.

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throughout her pregnancy, Dr. Couvreur remained team during her stay – Donna Ford, RN, Baheejah positive that she'd carry her baby to full term.

Rasheed, RN, and Lisa Parmer, RN. "She assured me that if I wanted this baby, she They reassured her everything would be OK and was going to help me carry it until the end, and she told her not to worry about anything outside the did," Dobbs hospital. said.

They needed She had her to stay a healthy calm. pregnancy up "They kept until she began telling me I developing was putting some of stress on my the warning baby," Dobbs signs of said. "They preeclampsia. did as much as Dobbs was they could to about five make me feel months into comfortable." her pregnancy Thankfully, when she had she was able a small rise in to coordinate blood pressure. getting her Her ankles and daughter home legs also began from school to swell. safely. But it "Fluid started soon became building in clear that she my ankles, could be in the and it was not hospital for a draining off," while because Dobbs said. her due date It got so bad wasn't until Jan. that her foot 15. wouldn't fit in But her due her ankle-foot date came orthosis (AFO), sooner than a support expected on device used Nov. 11. to control the "The doctor Amesha Dobbs, back left, with her husband, Terrance Griffin, and her daughters, ankle's motion came in and Reagan Dobbs, front right, and Kassidi-Mae Griffin, front left. Little Kassidi-Mae was and position. talked to me delivered two months early due to Dobbs' preeclampsia, and she spent five weeks in When she and said that Tanner Health System's NICU. went in for a we might have checkup on Oct. 26, 2019, Dr. Couvreur diagnosed to take the baby," Dobbs said. her with preeclampsia and told her to check herself Dobbs put her faith – and her baby's life – in their into Tanner Medical Center/Carrollton immediately. hands.

"I was so worried about my daughter, Reagan, "I wanted to save my baby," Dobbs said. who I had to pick up from school," Dobbs said.

An hour later, she was rushed into the operating room for an emergency cesarean section – her placenta had ruptured.

A Special Delivery "Everything just happened so fast," Dobbs said.

When she arrived at the hospital, she was "They numbed me up and delivered the baby. I saw greeted by three nurses who became her support her for one second, and they took her to the other

11

Preeclampsia: What to Watch For If you are pregnant or have delivered within the past year – or if you have a friend or family member who has – here are some symptoms that could signal a problem requiring medical attention right away:

• A headache that won’t go away or gets worse over time • Fever of 100.4 degrees or higher • Trouble breathing • Chest pain or a rapid heart rate • Severe swelling, redness or pain of the leg or arm • Changes in vision • Dizziness or fainting Seek medical attention immediately at your closest emergency department.

Source: www.tanner.org

room where the incubator was.

While her baby was in the hospital's NICU, her condition took a turn for the worse about six hours later.

"I had to be rushed back into emergency surgery again because I had a blood vessel burst in my belly, and it was causing my organs to shut down," Dobbs said.

Jennifer Marshalek, DO, a board-certified obstetrics and gynecology specialist at Tanner Healthcare for Women, performed the surgery.

"Dr. Marshalek came to the rescue," Dobbs said.

"They rushed me down there to surgery, and she took care of everything."

It was days later when she finally got to meet her baby for the first time. While she was happy to see her baby, she was overcome with guilt.

"I cried because I felt like if I just wasn't stressing so much, we probably wouldn't be here," Dobbs said. "I worry, and I stress about everything, and I apologized to my baby for putting her in that position even though everybody is telling me it's not my fault."

And it wasn't Dobbs' fault. Experts are still trying to determine the cause of preeclampsia – with current research suggesting that it begins with blood flow issues in the placenta. While there are

12

certain risk factors for preeclampsia, many of them – including age, race or a history of chronic high blood pressure – are beyond a mother's control.

Early diagnosis and effective management – not prevention – are paramount with preeclampsia.

Dobbs was able to go home on Dec. 9, 2019, but Kassidi-Mae remained in the NICU. "I thought it was going to be easy when I left the hospital that night, but it was not," Dobbs said. "I cried all the way home, and when we pulled into the driveway, my husband said, 'All right, no more crying from this point on. We know what we have to do to get Kassidi-Mae well, and I don't need you crying.'

But of course, that didn't work."

"I was at the hospital the very next morning," Dobbs said. "I went to the NICU to sit with my baby and hold my baby."

She went every day and stayed from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. until it was time to pick up her oldest daughter from school.

With Christmas fast approaching, all she wanted for Christmas was to bring her baby home. She got her wish when they were able to bring Kassidi-Mae home on Dec. 19, 2019.

"I cried all the way home, and when we pulled into the driveway, my husband said, 'All right, no more crying from this point on.

We know what we have to do to get Kassidi-Mae well, and I don't need you crying.' But of course, that didn't work."

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Coming Full Circle It's been more than a year, and Dobbs is still recovering.

She had a hysterectomy in December 2020.

Dr. Couvreur recommended a full hysterectomy after the cysts she developed on her ovaries started to rupture and she had continued abnormal periods.

Through all the pain she's experienced over the last two years, she's thankful for the support she received from her family and healthcare team.

"My family has been great – my mom, Sara Dobbs, my sister, Tomeka Smith, my aunt Patricia Gates and my husband, Terrance Griffin. They have all been amazing," Dobbs said.

She remembers the night Tanner's healthcare team saved her life.

"Their nurses were so on it that night," Dobbs said. "Ms. Baheejah was right on top of Kassidi-Mae is a healthy and happy 19-month-old in spite of the traumatic things, and I even told her, 'Thank you because circumstances of her birth on Nov. 11, 2019. Dobbs is grateful for the Tanner healthcare team that saved her and her baby's life that night.

I feel like you saved my life – mine and my "It is a very serious situation. Continue to pray about baby's life that night – and I appreciate you so it and stay off your feet. Stressing ain't going to much. I'll forever be grateful for you.'"

She wants to remind other women diagnosed with change it."

And, said Dobbs, “trust in your doctors.” preeclampsia to try not to stress – and not to blame "They're trying to look out for you and your themselves.

"Just take the situation for what it is," Dobbs said. baby," she said. WGW

Dobbs' family has been extremely supportive through all the pain she's endured over the last two years. L to r: Her mom, Sara Dobbs, Dobbs, KassidiMae, Reagan, Terrance and Dobbs' aunt, Patricia Gates.

15

Chronic

Pelvic Pain

16

A Woman's Search for Answers Reveals a Painful Truth

I

magine this: You have felt constant pain in your lower abdomen or pelvis for the past six months.

You try to ignore the pain, but it gets worse.

When you do see a doctor, they can't figure out what's wrong.

You get a pelvic exam and take a series of tests, but in the end, you leave with more questions than answers.

If this sounds familiar, you are among the 15 percent of women of childbearing age in the United States who report having pelvic pain that lasted at least six months. The pelvic area includes anywhere below your belly button and above your legs.

Female pelvic health conditions are some of the most challenging conditions to diagnose. Not only is there not much research on these conditions, but many women may be too embarrassed to talk about it.

But talking to your doctor is the first line of defense.

"There are a lot of women plagued by pelvic pain who go to physicians, and they don't get an answer," said James Cullison, MD, a board-certified urologist and female pelvic medicine specialist with West Georgia Urology and a member of the medical staff at Tanner Health System.

Dr. Cullison found that a patient may have had surgery and be suffering from post-surgical pain.

"There are so many muscles in your pelvis that attach to so many different things, and you don't have a standard way of stretching them," he said.

"You can't self-help yourself because it's too complicated. Your daily activities aren't moving these structures, and you may not know how to stretch them."

Even if a doctor can't determine what's causing the pain, there are treatments available to relieve it.

Treatments include Botox or lidocaine injections to relax some of the tendons and muscles in the area.

Living with Pelvic Pain For Nicole Stiles, the pelvic pain started in 2012.

At times, the pain was so bad it would bring her to her knees – and then the tears would follow. The pain was so crippling that it would interfere with her ability to do the simplest of tasks.

Going to the store could quickly turn into a nightmare when the pain hit. She remembers walking across the Walmart parking lot and suddenly falling to her knees and crying because the pain was so bad.

"After that, I decided I needed to go see a doctor

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Of course, that wasn't the last time she experienced excruciating pain. She also remembers feeling faint, her head spinning.

"My nephew actually had to drive me home one day," Stiles said. "I just knew I was going to pass out – all my muscles would go limp."

She doesn't remember how long it took her to schedule an appointment to see a doctor, but she does remember how difficult it was to find a doctor who could help.

Some doctors she saw prescribed her antidepressants as if the pain was only in her head.

"I'm like, 'No, I've done that, and it didn't work,'" Stiles said. "It made me have more issues mentally and emotionally."

She also had exploratory surgery to find out what was causing her so much pain.

In 2014, she was diagnosed with endometriosis and had a hysterectomy to relieve the pain. After multiple doctor's visits and two surgeries, Stiles was still suffering from pelvic pain, so she kept searching.

She jokingly said she was at the point where she wanted to put a billboard up, saying, "Hey, can you help?"

She didn't give up, and her persistence paid

17

"

off. She eventually saw medicine.

Dr. Cullison is my hero right three different doctors She described him as now. When he said, 'I want who said it was her sling being patient and a good listener. causing the pain, and she to find and fix the problem needed surgery.

"He makes you feel instead of treating the But at this point, she like you've known him forever," Stiles said. had anxiety about seeing problem,' I was like, 'Oh my, doctors.

After a sonogram Stiles feared they God.' I'm so thankful that God and exam, Dr. Cullison wouldn't believe her or recommended surgery to pointed me in that direction. would simply tell her to remove the sling. take antidepressants.

Stiles' surgery, which was scheduled for Sept. 25, went well.

Despite her anxiety, she got up the nerve to call Dr. "I just feel like there was a weight lifted," she said.

Cullison and scheduled an appointment to see him "It's unbelievable – the difference. I am still hurting a on Sept. 9, 2020. tiny bit, but I think that's just my body healing."

"I am kicking myself for not calling him sooner," Stiles now participates in pelvic therapy at Stiles said. "I knew the first day that I liked him. Dr. West Georgia Urology, where she’s managed to Cullison is my hero right now. When he said, 'I want strengthen her pelvic muscles. So far, she says, the to find and fix the problem instead of treating the results have been great. WGW problem,' I was like, 'Oh my, God.' I'm so thankful For more information about women's pelvic health that God pointed me in that direction." services at Tanner, visit www.TannerUrologyCare.org.

She admits she might have never found Dr. West Georgia Urology services patients at Higgins Cullison because she wasn't looking for a urologist General Hospital in Bremen and has locations in to treat her pelvic pain. While searching for gynecologists online, the search results kept coming Carrollton and Villa Rica. For more information, visit back to Dr. Cullison, who specializes in female pelvic www.WGUrology.com or call 770.834.6988.

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19

How Yearly

T

Breast

Screenings

urning 40 is a milestone in a woman’s life.

There are many things to look forward to, like being more confident and comfortable in your own skin. Studies show that 40-year-old women tend to know better what they like and need than in their earlier years.

But there are also things you may not look forward to – like the health issues that may arise as you get older.

One of those issues is the increased risk of getting breast cancer.

If you’re 30 years old, the probability of developing invasive breast cancer in the next 10 years is 1 in 228, according to Breastcancer.org.

That risk increases to 1 in 69 if you’re 40 years old.

“If you’re of average risk, you should get a baseline screening mammogram between the ages of 40 to 50,” said Emily Rooks, MD, a boardcertified family practice physician at Tanner Primary Care of Carrollton. “If you are at higher risk, you should start at 40 or younger, depending on your circumstances.

20

Can Save Lives

“It’s important to get a baseline screening because future screenings will be compared to the results from this test. This will make it easier to look for changes in your breast tissue,” she said.

What to Expect During Your Yearly Mammogram Yearly screenings are an effective tool for early detection, which can save lives. It's important to talk with your healthcare provider about which type of screening is best for you.

So how does a mammogram work?

A mammogram uses low doses of X-rays to detect and diagnose diseases in the breast.

Screening mammograms allow doctors to look for signs of breast cancer before lumps can be felt or symptoms appear.

Before getting your mammogram, you will be asked to not use deodorant, lotions or powder the day of your appointment because foreign particles may show up on the X-ray.

The X-ray machine has two plates that compress each breast for a few seconds to take pictures.

The compression spreads out the breast tissue and improves image quality. You may feel some mild pain when your breast is compressed. A breast health nurse or radiology technologist often takes the X-rays, and the films are read by a radiologist who gives the results to your healthcare provider.

If the results of the screening mammogram are abnormal, your doctor will order a diagnostic mammogram. Tanner Breast Health offers digital 3D mammograms – the latest mammography technology – in Carrollton, Villa Rica and Bremen.

“More detailed images of your breast tissue are taken during a diagnostic mammogram,” Dr. Rooks said. “More testing may be recommended to determine whether the tissue in question is cancerous.”

If the results confirm that it’s cancer, the next step is developing a treatment plan. The good news is that treating cancer when it’s small and hasn’t spread increases the chance of survival.

Mammograms Do Save Lives A new European study shows that getting regular mammograms can cut the odds of advanced and

sometimes fatal breast cancers.

The study, published in May in the journal Cancer, tracked data from nearly 550,000 women in Sweden who were eligible for mammography screening.

It found that those who had regular mammograms had a 25 percent lower rate of advanced breast cancer and a 41 percent lower rate of fatal breast cancer within 10 years.

"This study shows that participation in breast cancer screening substantially reduces the risk of having a fatal breast cancer," study co-author Stephen Duffy, of Queen Mary University of London, said in a news release.

Dr. Rooks agreed that the study makes it clear that yearly screenings help catch cancers early, which leads to better outcomes for women.

“This is why it’s critical that women 40 and over continue going to their annual screenings,” Dr. Rooks said.

“The earlier doctors can detect any abnormalities, the earlier treatment and recovery process can begin.” WGW Learn more about Tanner’s breast diagnostic testing at www.TannerBreastHealth.org or call 770-812-9721 to schedule a screening mammogram.

She is why you get your mammogram.

You do so much for everyone in your life. But taking care of yourself is often on the back burner.

Don’t let breast cancer sneak up on you. Found early, it’s easily treatable.

At Tanner Breast Health, we offer 3D digital mammography for fast, accurate results, at convenient locations near you.

To schedule your mammogram, call 770-812-9721.

Carrollton | Villa Rica | Bremen | Wedowee TannerBreastHealth.org | 770-812-9721

21

Depression Postpartum

22

Two Mothers’ Journey From Struggle to Recovery

F

or many new constantly worrying mothers, bringing about whether she their newborns would be a good home for the first time mother to her son, is one of the happiest Judah, who was born milestones in their lives. on June 18, 2020 after But for some mothers, 56 hours of labor. She it can be the complete also worried about how opposite of that. what she was doing now They feel hopeless, would affect her child sad or worthless. when he got older.

They cry often.

“I was worrying about They’re not able to his teenage years,” bond with their baby.

Parker said.

They can’t eat or But probably the sleep. most significant sign that something was Some may even have anxiety or panic attacks. Autumn Parker sought help for her postpartum depression after wrong was what she her son, Judah, was born. PPD is more serious and lasts longer noticed while spending These are all than ‘baby blues,' according to Dr. Tiffany Stanfill, a board-certified time with her son. symptoms of postpartum OB/GYN with Tanner Healthcare for Women. Changes in brain “I enjoyed being depression. chemistry and hormones – two things you can’t control – are linked to PPD, but counseling and medication are effective treatments. around him and being “Postpartum depression is more with him, and I loved him, but I was exhausted and didn’t have any energy serious and lasts longer than ‘baby blues,’” said Tiffany Stanfill, MD, FACOG, a board-certified OB/ or motivation,” Parker said. “Sometimes, while I was with him, I would find myself not saying anything GYN with Tanner Healthcare for Women. “If you experience any of these symptoms, get treatment early. There are several treatment options available that will help ease symptoms so you can experience all the joys of motherhood.”

1 in 8 women report symptoms of depression after giving birth, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Postpartum depression (PPD) risk factors include anxiety or depression during pregnancy, experiencing a traumatic birth and having breastfeeding problems.

Changes in brain chemistry and hormones – two things you can’t control – are linked to PPD. But counseling and medication are effective treatments.

Mothers living with PPD should know they are not alone. Two Carrollton women share their stories.

Autumn’s Story The first week of being home with her newborn, Autumn Parker didn’t know anything was wrong.

“I was just kind of on autopilot and sleepdeprived,” the 32-year-old Carrollton mom said.

“It probably wasn’t until about four weeks in that I realized that I was struggling, and it took me another good week to admit it to anybody.”

She remembers having a lot of anxiety and

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“Sometimes, while I was with him, I would find myself not saying anything to him for long periods of time. I was like, ‘Why do I not talk to my baby?’ I would feel guilty for not talking to him, but I was just overwhelmed.” to him for long periods of time. I was like, ‘Why do I not talk to my baby?’ I would feel guilty for not talking to him, but I was just overwhelmed.”

Anxiety and depression weren’t new to Parker. In the years before her pregnancy, she struggled with depression, which led to several suicide attempts.

She also noted a strong link between PPD and childhood trauma, something she experienced in her late childhood and early adolescence.

“Sometimes your symptoms of postpartum anxiety and depression can get worse when you visit family,” Parker said.

Her faith got her through it then – and it’s helping

her now. Thankfully, she isn’t having any suicidal thoughts this time around.

“I didn’t have one thought of taking my life or not being here anymore,” Parker said. “I think that stemmed from the blessings of a baby and God just instilling a purpose in me that was beyond me.

It motivated me – in a way that I can’t describe – to fight through it. I was going to fight through it because I have a baby who needs me now.”

While in the thick of postpartum anxiety and depression, she leaned on Jesus and her husband, Alex, for support.

“They both are my anchors,” Parker said. “It took me no time to talk to Jesus about it when I realized that something might be wrong. It took about a week of me knowing that something was wrong and trying to power through it before I told my husband.”

Her husband recommended she bring it up during her follow-up appointment with Dr. Stanfill.

“I had my follow up between week five and six, and I asked her for help,” Parker said.

This was a huge step because she was terrified about telling her doctor about her mental health struggles.

“For about nine years, I worked in behavioral health, so I was terrified to admit to anybody that I

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Shala Hainer, Realtor Cell: 770.842.8500 Office: 770.240.2004 shalahainer@gmail.com struggled with depression several years ago,” Parker said that were medications that could help if I were said. “Fast forward to now when with my postpartum open to them,” Parker said. depression, I was even more terrified to tell my She had never been open to medication before doctor because it wasn’t just me anymore, I had this as she used prayer to win her pre-pregnancy depression battle. She used to think needing baby that I didn’t want to leave.”

Her fear had nothing to do with medication showed a lack of what people would think about her. faithfulness.

“I laid that down a couple of “It was like, ‘you don’t have faith, so you depend on this pill,’” years ago, and I’ve been telling my story on depression to women Parker said. and young girls for the last couple But she realized this was a of years,” Parker said. “Then different battle. She felt God postpartum happened, and it was telling her to accept the additional a whole other level of fear because help that was being offered by her I didn’t care anymore about what doctor. people thought about me. It wasn’t She was prescribed Zoloft and from that perspective, but it was, felt her depression subside after ‘I don’t want to tell anybody now three weeks. But she found that that I struggle with postpartum her anxiety increased, which is a because I don’t want to be sent to common side effect in the first few a behavioral facility away from my weeks. baby.'”

Another thing she did for In the end, Dr. Stanfill didn’t her mental health is stop send her away but gave her a breastfeeding – a decision that prescription to help manage her was very difficult. On top of the symptoms. emotions she was experiencing Parker's husband, Alex, has been an important source of support for her.

“I was breastfeeding, and she from the hormones she took for

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birth control and the antidepressant, she felt anxious and depressed, needing to take a break from breastfeeding.

“My baby quit taking a bottle at seven weeks, and he wouldn’t take a pacifier or anything, so I was literally a human pacifier and bottle,” Parker said. “It was my plan to breastfeed until he was 18 months. I had all these ideal plans, but what I realized with my anxiety and my depression, the breastfeeding aspect

"You can suffer and be dying inside in a room full of people if you don’t ask for help. But if you ask for help, then those around you can help walk you through it."

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was – I hate to say it – too much for me.”

But this was hard for her to accept.

“I was always like, 'If the Lord gave you breast milk, then you better use it,'" Parker said. “But what I was learning is that I am not able to do that. For whatever reason, depression is part of my story, and with this being my story, it doesn’t flow well with breastfeeding.”

After she stopped breastfeeding, she felt relieved.

“I felt like a little piece of me was coming back,” Parker said.

Not only did her son transition to the bottle and pacifier, but he also went from sleeping in a bassinet near her to the crib in his room – all in the space of 24 hours.

“I was like, 'Something’s got to change,'” Parker said.

Now she’s feeling better.

“I’m so blessed to be alive and so thankful to be a mom,” Parker said.

She wants other mothers to know it’s always OK to ask for help.

“In fact, you can suffer and be dying inside in a room full of

Courtney’s people if you don’t ask for help,” Parker Story said. “But if you ask for help, then those When Courtney around you can help Brown and her walk you through it.” husband welcomed While it is crucial their baby girl, Anna, to have a support into the world on system, there are Dec. 11, 2019, it was some things you can a long time coming. do to help relieve Brown has postpartum anxiety polycystic ovary and depression. syndrome (PCOS), Parker recommends one of the most avoiding TV shows common causes of and news media that infertility in women. may exacerbate your The condition makes symptoms. it more difficult to Also, be wary of get pregnant but is online forums filled treatable.

Courtney Brown sought help for her postpartum depression after her with well-meaning After undergoing daughter, Anna, was born. After three weeks of dealing with anxiety and moms giving advice. sadness, her support system suggested she see a doctor, so she called Dr. nine months of Stanfill. She decided to take Zoloft, which is safe for breastfeeding moms. fertility treatments “When they tell The medication helped Brown feel normal again. you exactly what with Dr. Stanfill, worked for them – Brown finally got the what to do, what not to do – they don’t know you, result she’d been waiting for – a positive pregnancy they don’t know your baby, and they don’t know test. your situation,” Parker said.

“I was pretty excited,” the 31-year-old Carrollton She feels the comparison effect can make new mom said. moms more anxious.

But a week after bringing Anna home, her “You’re not like anybody else,” Parker said. “My excitement turned faith kicked in to stop the comparison battle with into anxiety. other mamas.”’

“When we came She also believes it’s important to avoid home, I didn’t unsupportive people who are judgmental or don’t sleep,” Brown said. try to understand your situation.

“I guess I didn’t Another important part of her support team is the really realize how Life Group at Midway Church in Villa Rica. hard it was going to “It’s a place where I can just let it all out,” Parker be.” said.

When her She urges moms returning to work not to shame husband, Justin, themselves if they experience a relapse or an uptick went back to in their postpartum symptoms. work, she realized “When I started work again, all of the symptoms something was resurfaced, and I had to sit with those and process wrong. them,” Parker said. “Don’t shame yourself if you “I couldn’t talk have a relapse because you’re just getting used to without crying,” your new normal.”

Brown said. “If I tried While having postpartum anxiety and depression to speak, I cried. It has been painful, it’s brought purpose. didn’t matter what I “My baby is my purpose, and I’m thankful my was talking about.” story will hopefully be able to help other moms,” She recalls Now that she's a toddler, little Anna keeps Brown on her toes.

Parker said. when her husband 27

“It was late, and I remember just sobbing. I was like, ‘It’s not fair you get to go to work, and I don’t ever get to leave.'”

returned to work one day, and she couldn’t get Anna to go to sleep.

“It was late, and I remember just sobbing,” Brown said. “I was like, ‘It’s not fair you get to go to work, and I don’t ever get to leave.'”

Compounding her feelings of guilt, she struggled to bond with Anna. Brown, with her husband, Justin.

“I remember she would look at me, and she would smile, and I wouldn’t feel anything,” Brown said. “This is my baby. I’m supposed to feel happy when she smiles at me, and I just didn’t feel anything.”

Before her pregnancy, she had anxiety and bouts of seasonal affective disorder (SAD).

But what she was feeling a week after bringing Anna home was different, and she wondered if it could be PPD. She was familiar with PPD because she knew people who had it but didn’t realize how it would affect her.

“I thought it would be similar to what I was dealing with already as far as anxiety,” Brown said.

But it wasn’t.

Brown dreaded waking up in the morning and when it would get dark outside.

“The thought of having to get her to go asleep – it would paralyze me,” she said.

Besides her husband, her support system included

Brown, with her support system from left to right: Grandmother, Linda Daniell, mother, Rhonda Hylton, Brown, Anna and Justin. During her first few weeks of suffering from postpartum depression, Brown would spend her days at her grandmother’s house napping or sitting around while Linda cared for Anna. After three weeks of dealing with anxiety and sadness, Brown reached out to Dr. Stanfill for help.

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her mother and grandmother. She spent her days at her grandmother’s house while her husband worked.

“I would just sit around, or I’d take naps while she watched her for me,” Brown said.

After three weeks of dealing with anxiety and sadness, her support system suggested she see a doctor, so she called Dr. Stanfill.

“I really love Dr. Stanfill,” Brown said. “I love her bedside manner. She’s always calm and reassuring.”

When she arrived at her appointment the next day, she filled out a PPD assessment, which confirmed her suspicions. When Dr. Stanfill came in and asked her how she was doing, she replied, “I’m good.”

But Dr. Stanfill knew Brown wasn’t being completely honest.

“She said, ‘Real talk, Courtney,’ and that’s when I started crying, and I couldn’t stop,” she said. “The whole time I was telling her what was going on, I was just crying. She sat there and listened.”

Dr. Stanfill reassured her it was OK to feel this way.

“She never made me feel like I was a bad person or that I was in the wrong,” Brown said. “She just spent a lot of time reassuring me, telling me this is something we can handle, and it will get better.”

Dr. Stanfill also asked her if she wanted to try medication.

“I remember I told her I just want to be happy,” Brown said. “I want to feel normal.”

She decided to take Zoloft, which is safe for breastfeeding moms. Four weeks later, she could feel that the medicine was working.

When she returned to her six-week check-up, she felt like a completely different person.

“It made a world of difference,” Brown said. “I was happy to have my baby. I was happy to play with her. I wanted her to be awake, so I could play with her.”

While she was able to get help for PPD, some women don’t have a support system. She stressed the importance of having a trusted healthcare provider.

“They should never make you feel like what you’re going through is not valid or that it’s wrong,” Brown said. “It breaks my heart that people think they can’t get help and that they just have to do it alone. There are options out there to get help.” WGW If you or a loved one is experiencing PPD, it’s important to get help. Schedule an appointment to talk to your provider and find out what options are available.

For more information about postpartum depression, visit http://healthlibrary.tanner.org.

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Women

and Diabetes

30

How One Woman Turns Diagnosis Into Opportunity

W

"

It was a shock when I found out. It took me a couple of days to get it in my mind, 'Hey, there is something wrong, you need to do something. You need to do something or die from it and miss out on life.'

hen Otonia Johnson walked into the eye doctor's office that fateful day in 2009, she had no idea she'd be walking out with a recommendation to see her primary care doctor.

"I went to get my eyes checked, and they couldn't get a reading on my eyes," Johnson, 78, of Carrollton, said.

Her eye doctor told her she might need to see her primary care provider to get checked for diabetes.

Johnson knew that her blood sugar was a little high at her last doctor's visit but couldn't remember the reading.

The reading was 400 mg/dL. A blood sugar level above 400 mg/dL can lead to a medical emergency.

After learning the results, her eye doctor noted the urgency of the matter.

"She said, 'you need to go see your doctor,'" Johnson said.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 34.2 million Americans have diabetes, and there are 1.5 million new cases each year.

Diabetes causes a person to have too much glucose in their body, leading to serious health problems – including endangering one’s vision.

The risk of cataracts, glaucoma and retinopathy increases with diabetes.

Johnson scheduled an appointment with her primary care doctor, who confirmed she had diabetes and prescribed medication.

"It kind of helped for a while, and then it wasn't working," said Johnson, who admitted she wasn't

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following any particular diet at the time. "I was still walking and doing everything else, but it just wouldn't stay regular.

Then she started taking insulin. The insulin shots have helped Johnson manage her condition.

While being diagnosed and learning to live with diabetes was new to her, she was familiar with its effects. Her mom, who passed away in 1985, was diagnosed with diabetes in her late 60s.

Her mother didn't die from diabetes, but Johnson remembers her not taking the best care of herself when it came to her diet. Despite her family history of diabetes, her diagnosis came as a surprise.

Johnson was always good about going to her annual check-ups and was already following a healthy lifestyle. She was walking two to three miles a day, watching her diet and trying to lose weight.

"It was a shock when I found out," Johnson said.

"It took me a couple of days to get it in my mind, 'Hey, there is something wrong, you need to do something. You need to do something or die from it and miss out on life.'"

Even though being diagnosed with diabetes meant having to adopt a healthier lifestyle, Johnson tackled the challenge head-on.

She cut back on eating bad carbs and practiced portion control to lose weight.

"I love rice. I love potatoes. I love bread," Johnson said. "Those are my three vices that I really have trouble with, but my kids and my husband keep me on track."

Another key to her success is a diabetes support group hosted by Tanner Health System's Get Healthy, Live Well. Each month a speaker came in to talk about a topic on diabetes management.

The group was led by Peggy Cooper, RN, CDE, a registered nurse and certified diabetes educator with Get Healthy, Live Well.

"The diabetes support group provides a safe haven where members can freely talk about the struggles they face and what steps they've taken to control their condition," Cooper said. "Having that added support lets them know that they are not alone."

Johnson is also a member of the TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) Club in Carrollton.

"We meet once a week, and we weigh-in," she said. "You get to know people, and it's like another family – another group to support you."

It is that support that has helped Johnson stay on track. When the going got tough, she kept going – no matter how hard it was to diet and exercise.

And her determination has paid off. Her last A1C

(estimated average glucose) level reading was closer to the normal range at 6.7 mg/dL. "I'm doing fine, and it's getting easier," Johnson said.

She owes her success to her support system, wanting to see her great-grandchildren and her mother.

"I keep thinking about her," Johnson said. "If she would have had what we had here today, maybe she'd still be with us."

She encourages anyone living with diabetes to reach out for help if they need it.

"With all the help available out there, don’t give up," Johnson said. "Keep trying. If you fall off, get back on. Start over." WGW

A Serious – and Sometimes Silent – Disease Many people have diabetes and don’t realize it. Speak to your doctor if you have any of the risk factors above or if you experience: • • • • •

Frequent urination Excessive thirst Excessive hunger Vision problems Bruises and cuts that won’t heal • Pain, numbness or tingling in your hands or feet Diabetes is a chronic disease.

You may be diagnosed with diabetes if your doctor determines that your blood sugar is consistently too high. This means that your body is not able to process sugar properly.

Source: www.tanner.org

33

Four Keys to a

By Jennifer Marshalek, DO Tanner Healthcare for Women

R

Healthier

egardless of age or what stage of life a woman is in, she should understand that part of taking charge of her health involves learning how to protect it for the years to come.

These four suggestions are keys every woman can focus on now to improve her health and wellness through middle age, retirement and beyond.

Schedule Regular Checkups With an OB/GYN Regular checkups are one of the keys to keeping yourself healthy. Getting regular checkups are one of the best ways to help reduce your risk for illness and help physicians detect problems early when treatments are more effective.

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You at Every Age

For women, regular checkups should include making an appointment with a women’s care specialist, such as a gynecologist. Scheduling a visit with a women’s care specialist helps you take better control of your health and provides an opportunity for you to discuss any questions you may have about your health.

You can also learn about any preventative screenings and exams you may need and at what age you need to consider having them.

Focus on Eating Healthy Life can be busy, which

doesn’t always make it easy to eat well. But having a healthy diet can have a big impact on your health and can reduce your risk for major health problems like diabetes and heart disease.

When it comes to what you eat, you don’t have to make drastic changes all at once. Start small.

Focus on adding more vegetables, fruits, whole grains and lean protein to your plate. Limit the sugary sodas and drink more water. Try to save sweets for special occasions. Skip the fast food line and opt to have your meals at home.

If you’re looking for healthier meal options or snack ideas, there are tons of easy healthy recipes in Tanner’s free Health Library at http://healthlibrary. tanner.org.

Get Moving While exercising may not be your favorite thing to do, it does have its benefits and can improve a woman’s physical and mental health.

Exercise has been shown to lower the risk for heart disease, which is a leading cause of death for women. Physical activity also releases endorphins (the natural, feel-good chemical our bodies produce), which makes The Rapha Clinic of West Georgia (Rapha) is you feel a faith-based, non-profit, charitable ministry serving uninsured adults in West Georgia (Carroll, happier.

Douglas, Haralson, Heard, and Paulding Physical counties). Volunteer professionals provide high quality medical and dental care to those most in activity need. In addition to the best healthcare, Rapha doesn’t always patients receive spiritual support and guidance mean hitting without forcing beliefs. At Rapha, we believe that good health is everyone’s responsibility. the gym for hours at a Please support us by attending our Annual time – you can Fundraiser concert, Sound of Medicine on September 10, 2021 at Mill Town Music Hall get enough spotlighting some of West Georgia’s greatest musical physical performers who happen to be in healthcare. activity in just

30 to 45 minutes a day. To make it easy, think of ways to get active that work with your lifestyle, and set reasonable goals. Try taking a brisk morning jog, a lunchtime walk or an afternoon bike ride with a friend.

Don’t Neglect Your Mental Health Mental health can have a big impact on your overall health and wellness. Stress is a factor of life, but left unchecked, it can contribute to raising your risk of depression, anxiety and other health problems, and can affect your sleep, mood and more – especially as you age.

Your day may be inundated with work, family, appointments and more, but be sure to take time for yourself to de-stress. Make time to do something you enjoy.

Whether it’s time for your checkup, you’re pregnant or planning a pregnancy, or you’re just consulting about living a healthier lifestyle, an OB/ GYN can provide care for all of that and more. It's never too early or too late to take control of your health and wellness. WGW Dr. Marshalek is a board-certified obstetrician and gynecologist with Tanner Healthcare for Women, with locations in Carrollton and Villa Rica.

More on the practice is online at www.TannerHealthcareforWomen.org.

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Pregnancy-related complications including preeclampsia, blood clots and stroke – up to 12 months after delivery – can be life-threatening. The risk is even greater for Black and Hispanic moms.

If you are pregnant or delivered within the last year – or you have a friend or family member who has – these symptoms require medical attention right away:

A headache that won’t go away or gets worse over time Fever of 100.4 degrees or higher Trouble breathing Chest pain or rapid heart rate Severe swelling, redness or pain of the leg or arm Changes in vision Dizziness or fainting

Seek care at your closest emergency department. Do not delay. These symptoms will not go away.

Keep yourself and your baby safe and healthy.

36

Learn more about Better Birth Days at tanner.org/better-birth-days.