Crossroads medical

Crossroads Medical Guide - 2014

Magazine

Cayce Redding Nurse battles rare neurological condition Berlon Durham Cancer survivor inspires others to keep fighting Jaylene Whitehurst Columnist: Are cell phones affecting our wellbeing?

A Daily Corinthian product

Crossroads What’s Inside Magazine

A Daily Corinthian Publication | Spring 2014

Berlon Durham: Cancer survivor inspires others to keep fighting

Tara Spencer: ‘Identify the Signs’ of hearing loss

Pages 8-10

EDITORIAL Publisher Reece Terry

Michael Perry, M.D.: How to treat your allergies

Editor Mark Boehler Contributors Jennifer Garrett, M.D. Heath Haddock David McCoy Michael Perry, M.D. Kimberly Shelton John Shipp, M.D. Tara Spencer Zack Steen Jaylene Whitehurst

Pages 11-13

Heart disease: There is an urgent need for accurate testing.

Page 14

ADVERTISING Advertising Director Denise Mitchell Sales Representatives Falon Coln, Coordinator Skylar McCrimon Derinda Nunley Creative Designer Marissa Ferreira Crossroads Magazine is published by the Daily Corinthian, 1607 Harper Road, Corinth, MS. A complimentary 10,000 issues are distributed in the Crossroads area. The contents of Crossroads Magazine are copyrighted and may not be reproduced without consent of the publisher. Crossroads Magazine shall not be held liable for failure to publish an ad or for typographical or publication errors. Publisher reserves the right to reject any advertsing and to alter advertising copy or graphics deemed unacceptable for publications. For additional copies of Crossroads Magazine, contact the Daily Corinthian at 662-287-6111.

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Magnolia Regional Health Center Directory Pages 16-17

Heath Haddock: Heroin overdose deaths increase by 45 percent.

Pages 18-19

CROSSROADS MAGAZINE — MEDICAL GUIDE

Pages 20-21

John Shipp, M.D.: Glaucoma device provides new advance for cataract surgery Page 23

Dr. Thomas Sweat, other volunteers begin free medical clinic two days each month Pages 24-26

Cayce Redding: Nurse battles rare neurological condition Pages 27-29

Are cellphone calls affecting our wellbeing?

By Jaylene Whitehurst

Columnist A couple of weeks ago I was in the express lane at the grocery store behind a shopper who never missed a beat chatting on her cell phone, while she unloaded her items, nodded at the clerk, swiped her card, gathered up

her bags and headed out the door.

Her jabbering was distracting enough, but more disturbing was the specific personal information she shared. She told her caller, and at least ten others within earshot, the location of her hidden front door key.

Yes, she did.

Then she added how to jiggle the door to the right in case it didn’t open because the house had shifted. Finally, to cover all the bases, she added where the extra back door key was hanging (it’s on a hook behind her husband’s coveralls) with the caveat to be cautious on the steps. Hubby’s been meaning to fix the rickety handrail.

The cashier and I stood there, stunned, as the oblivious shopper headed for her car, still yakking. “You just wouldn’t believe what I hear come through this line…” With a bemused smile, the cashier shook her head and handed me my change.

I wish I were constructing that

scenario out of my imagination as an illustration of poor boundaries and a lack of awareness, but I’m not. It happened exactly that way.

As I was mulling over ideas for this column about emotional wellbeing, that grocery store vignette came up over and over. I kept going back to it, not because it’s rare, but because, as extreme as it seems, it isn’t.

It’s become common to be the inadvertent witness to one side of a personal conversation, to hear details of the lives of others which are none of our concern. It’s the norm to be sitting in a restaurant and find our ears assaulted by a strident voice from the next table giving explicit details of family problems, surgeries and financial matters to the person on the other end of the phone, and to the neighboring diners, too.

We can grouse in vain about the rudeness of the woman who answers a personal call in the middle of a lunch with friends and carries on her

CROSSROADS MAGAZINE — MEDICAL GUIDE

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conversation, as if her tablemates have suddenly become invisible, and we can glare at the offending man in the next booth and hope he takes the hint to lower his voice, but he probably won’t.

When all we had were landlines, we had to make an effort to take a call. It wasn’t always convenient, and the whole family might be overhearing, but at least the whole grocery store wasn’t.

And, yet, this is where we are today. Whether we want to or not, we’re listening in.

I am pretty sure most of us do not, on purpose, do anything with our phones to be inconsiderate or, heaven forbid, to compromise anyone’s safety. We use our phones to communicate, thinking nothing of it.

Our “thinking nothing of it,” however, is exactly the issue. For many of us, it’s become automatic, purely habit, to grab that phone, no matter where we are, and to start

jabbering.

It may be a habit, but how does this habit relate to our wellbeing?

A state of wellbeing involves being tuned in to what’s happening in our individual lives and in our environment. It includes having a sense of who we are, both personally and within the systems in which we function. Wellbeing is about our relationships with both ourselves and with others.

When we are operating on autopilot, we’re operating with a lack of awareness of what we’re doing and what the bigger picture is.

It’s impossible to see ourselves in relationship to the folks around us or even in relationship to ourselves.

While it’s not very flattering to think of ourselves as clueless, that’s how we’re acting.

Ouch.

The cell phone is a fact of life and a tremendous convenience. Yet, with that convenience we’re also handed the responsibility to man-

age it thoughtfully.

There are questions we can ask ourselves when we’re with others and the phone rings that will help us be aware of how our cell phone behavior affects our relationships.

• Would it be more courteous to let this call go to voice mail?

• What’s the reaction of the company I’m with (friends, family, co-workers) when I answer a call?

• Can I excuse myself to take this call privately?

• Am I sharing information that, if overheard, could compromise my identity or safety?

• Am I sharing the personal details of someone else’s life?

• Am I gossiping? (another ouch!)

• Do I feel I am expected by the caller to automatically answer?

• How loudly am I speaking?

Who can hear me, other than my caller?

• Am I subjecting the people around me to my personal business?

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It’s become common to be the inadvertent witness to one side of a personal conversation, to hear details of the lives of others which are none of our concern. It’s the norm to be sitting in a restaurant and find our ears assaulted by a strident voice from the next table giving explicit details of family problems, surgeries and financial matters to the person on the other end of the phone, and to the neighboring diners, too.

• Is there something I think I’ll miss if I don’t respond right this second?

• Do I feel anxiety if I can’t answer the phone immediately?

Clearly, we can’t control the behavior of others. What we can do is reframe our irritations with our fellow human beings into invitations to look in the mirror and be curious about our own behaviors. When we see ourselves clearly, we may find some blind spots that need cleaning up so we can act with consistent respect and courtesy toward friends, family and even strangers.

Relationships are built from our small daily attitudes toward each other. A solid structure for living within a community is built with the blocks of day-to-day consideration and respect.

It’s good to remember the little things create the big things in our lives.

Our wellbeing depends upon it.

(Alcorn County resident Jaylene Whitehust is a licensed professional counselor, artist and columnist.)

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Iuka resident Berlon Durham loves to play country music, play golf and do yard work.

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By Kimberly Shelton

kshelton@dailycorinthian.com “When the master of the universe sounds his call, you’d better listen and start running.”

Those words come from the lips of Berlon Durham, a 77-year-old cancer survivor who learned the life lesson growing up in west Tishomingo near the Crow’s Neck during WWII. “My uncle Ed Durham lived next door to us and used to keep fox hounds. He’d set them loose around dark and you could hear them chasing the foxes over the hills. When they went into a valley you could barely hear them at all, but once they topped the hill again, you could hear them loud and clear,” said Durham as he recalled his childhood. “At 9:00, my uncle would step to the corner of the yard and blow his horn. No matter how far they were away, within 10 min-

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utes, you’d hear those hounds come crunching through the leaves. They were answering their master’s call.”

Durham said he has paid attention and is heeding his master’s call.

After being diagnosed with follicular lymphoma three and a half years ago, he now serves as a motivational speaker, and plays country music to captive audiences at nursing homes and other facilities, inspiring others to keep fighting.

His “Boll Weevil and Chicken Choker” shows have become legendary since everyone wants to know what a chicken choker really is.

For most southerners, the name conjures images of farmers wringing the necks of chickens for Sunday dinner, but a chicken choker, according to Durham, is actually the larvae of a tiger moth.

“It’s a worm with pinchers on top of it’s head. You spit on the ground, roll the end of a broom straw and stick it down in the hole. The chicken choker doesn’t like stuff in his hole and will try and push it back out. As he does so, he clamps on it with those pinchers and you can pull him right out,” said Durham who enjoys fishing and other outdoor activities.

During the shows he relates the physiology of a cotton plant and explains the role of the boll weevil in history.

“There is actually a monument to the boll weevil near Jay, Florida,” said the entertainer. “They honor the boll weevil because it taught the farmers to raise something besides cotton.”

The story teller also enjoys writing songs, but admits they tend to be a bit wordy because he tries to tell too

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“I was on pins and needles waiting to find out and he never said a word. He just took his time fumbling through papers and folders. Finally I said, ‘The suspense is killing me Doc! Do I still have cancer?’ He just nonchalantly said, ‘No, it’s gone.’”

Berlon Durham Cancer survivor

much.

“I like to do it, but the words don’t come as quickly to me as they do my buddy, Leon. Now, that’s a demon with a pen right there,” said the acoustic guitar player with a grin.

Now in remission for three months, the former aluminum plant worker is now on a maintenance program with partial treatments once every two months.

“It’s one thing when it’s someone else, but when it’s you ... a cold chill runs through your body and all the blood runs right out of your face.

You look at your wife of 53 years and there are tears in her eyes ... it’s devastating,” said the native Iukian as he tried to explain what was running through his mind as he was given the horrific diagnosis.

David C. Portnoy, MD at The West Clinic in Corinth, suggested a series

of radiation.

“The treatments shrunk it, but it didn’t go away completely. Scans and blood tests showed it had started to grow again,” said the cancer patient.

“Dr. Portnoy then recommended as series of chemotherapy treatments which I finished about two and a half months ago.”

Durham recalled the anxiety he felt as he sat in Dr. Portnoy’s office waiting to hear the results of tests.

“I was on pins and needles waiting to find out and he never said a word. He just took his time fumbling through papers and folders. Finally I said, ‘The suspense is killing me Doc! Do I still have cancer?’ He just nonchalantly said, ‘No, it’s gone,’” said Durham, who was born in1936, four miles east of Tishomingo on the edge of Cypress Pond.

The Iuka resident laughed out loud as he remembered how the doctor had pulled his leg.

He credits The West Clinic and Dr. Portnoy with saving his life.

“I can’t say enough good stuff about The West Clinic. It is a wonderful clinic. People don’t realize what they have there. As you travel through the procedures, you are treated physically, medically and spiritually at some time during your journey,” he said.

Now cancer free, Durham enjoys doing yard work, playing golf and spending time with his German-born wife Else, son Jeffery and two grandchildren, Chad and Kalie.

When it comes to dealing with cancer, he offered the following advice.

“Just fight it the best you can, and if you can’t beat it, be prepared to make the big trip.”

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Ophthalmologist answers Bladeless Z LASIK questions

By Jennifer H. Garrett, M.D. Medical Columnist

Why is Bladeless Z LASIK better for your eyes than traditional LASIK? To better answer this question, let’s explain what a refractive error is, what LASIK surgery is, initial advancement in LASIK and why BLADELESS LASIK has become the safer choice in recent years.

Typically, there are 4 types of refractive errors that might cause a patient to wear glasses or contact lenses: 1. Nearsightedness is clinically diagnosed by Myopia. The cornea bends incoming light rays so they focus in front of the retina. This means nearby objects are clear while objects at a distance are blurry. Patients who are nearsighted represent a large portion of the individuals who choose LASIK. A refractive error of -10.00 is typically the limit to be a candidate

for surgery.

2. Farsightedness is clinically diagnosed as Hyperopia.

The cornea bends incoming light rays so they focus behind the retina.

This means nearby objects are blurry but objects at a distance are clear.

A refractive error of +3.50 is typically the limit to be a candidate for surgery.

3. Astigmatism occurs when light rays are unable to focus at an equal point in the back of the eye due to an irregularity of the cornea. Objects are typically distorted at all distances.

Astigmatism can be present with near or far sightedness and can be corrected with laser surgery.

4. Natural Aging is clinically diagnosed as Presbyopia. The lens of the eye has lost its elasticity and is unable to focus on nearby objects.

Ear, Nose & Throat care for all ages

Presbyopia is a term that roughly translates from Latin to English as “old eyes.” This condition is the natural effect of the aging process one begins experiencing around 40 years of age. This condition is not typically corrected with laser surgery.

The first LASIK procedure ever performed in the United States was over 23 years ago in 1991. LASIK is an acronym for “Laser In Situ Keratomileusis”. The latter portion of this procedure means “to stay confined in one specific area while re-shaping the inner tissue of the cornea”. It is necessary to alter the shape of the front of the eye(cornea) to re-direct light rays so a clear image will be projected on the back of the eye (retina).

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How to treat your allergies

By Michael Peery, M.D.

Ear-Nose-Throat/Otolaryngology What are allergies?

Allergies are abnormal physical reactions you experience when you are exposed to substances (allergens) to which you have developed an allergy. These substances are usually harmless and do not produce symptoms in normal, non-allergic people.

Allergy symptoms

Allergy symptoms can take many different forms. Sneezing or stuffiness of the nose accompanied by redness or itching of the eyes are classic allergic symptoms, but are not always due to allergies; they can be caused by other conditions such as a constant low-grade sinus infection, temperature changes, or reaction to smoke or fumes.

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Listed are common allergy symptoms and areas of your body affected: • Nose/Sinus: sneezing, post-nasal drip, itching, congestion and watery discharge.

• Eyes: itching, redness, swelling and dark circles.

• Ears: recurrent infections, fluid in the middle ear, itching of the ear canal and hearing impairment.

• Lungs: shortness of breath, wheezing, tightness in the chest and coughing.

• Skin: itchy welts (hives), rash and intense itching.

• Digestive System: stomach cramps, vomiting, diarrhea, and other symptoms associated with food allergy.

Other symptoms that are sometimes caused by allergy are fatigue, headache, hyperactivity and depression.

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How to find out if you have allergies

Allergies can be complex and sometimes very difficult to diagnose since the same symptoms produced

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by allergies can also be caused by non-allergic conditions. Your doctor will evaluate your history and physical examinations when he is considering allergy testing.

If the cause of your symptoms cannot be determined through information from your history and physical, more extensive investigation will be necessary. Allergy tests can be performed by skin testing or by a sophisticated blood test called RAST (Radioallergosorbent Test).

RAST testing offers many advantages: convenience, comfort, accuracy, safety and cost-effective.

How to treat your allergies

The best treatment for allergies is to identify the offending substances then carefully avoid exposure to them. This can be very effective for allergies to things like pets and foods, but is not possible for some allergies such as pollens, mold spores, and house dust.

Medications such as antihistamines, oral decongestants, nasal sprays, and bronchodilators may be

effective in controlling your allergic symptoms.

Medications may be used along with immunotherapy.

What is immunotherapy?

Immunotherapy, commonly referred to as “allergy shots,” is a program designed to desensitize you to those substances to which you are allergic.

Immunotherapy is sometimes used in addition to environmental controls and allergy medications to eliminate your allergy symptoms.

This form of therapy is most commonly used and effective for those allergies caused by substances you inhale such as pollens, mold spores, house dust and animal danders.

How immunotherapy works

Allergies to substances you inhale are caused by your body producing excessive antibodies toward these substances when you are exposed to them. If and when you’re you are re-exposed to these substances, you experience allergic symptoms.

Immunotherapy is designed to block your body’s production of allergy antibodies and stimulate production of protective antibodies which will eliminate your allergy symptoms. Small dilute doses are essential in the beginning. These doses will allow your immune system to build tolerance to the shots over a period of time.

As the doses are increased at regular intervals, you should become less sensitive to the substances that cause your allergy symptoms. The dose that provides you with the most symptom relief, or the maximum dose you can tolerate without a reaction, will become your maintenance dose and you will continue to receive this maintenance dose and you will continue to receive maintenance dose at regular intervals.

The maintenance dose is dependent on how well you tolerate the shots, which in turn can be dependent on how much pollen, mold or other allergy-producing substances are in the air you are breathing.

Doses may be decreased or increased depending on the severity

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of the allergies. Immunotherapy is an individually tailored program that is designed to combat specific allergies.

Allergy shots: What to expect

In most cases, as the strength of the treatment dose is increased, the patient will experience relief of symptoms after the injection and eventually the majority of their symptoms should be controlled from shot to shot. In most situations, symptom relief is gradual as opposed to being dramatic and patients fail to realize how much the shots are truly helping them.

Symptom relief may wear off before the next injection and in such a case, the doctor may choose to shorten the interval between injections. If an infection, high stress or other medical problems not being controlled occurs, the shots may be discontinued.

Possible side effects

The shots will more than likely have a slight sting that will quickly subside.

A small local reaction at the injection site consisting of redness and swelling is not unusual. A local reaction greater than 2 inches in diameter or persisting for more than 48 hours is an indication to adjust the next dose.

An increase in symptoms the first day after receiving the shot can also be an indication to adjust the treatment dose or to use medications to control these symptoms.

In rare cases, patients may experience increased allergy symptoms shortly after receiving their injection. If this occurs, it is important to immediately return to the doctor’s office. It is safe to administer these shots during pregnancy since allergy shots are made from common biological sources.

How long do you have to take shots?

Most patients stay on immunotherapy for three to five years.

Younger patients stand a better chance of discontinuing the shots than do older patients. The rule of thumb is to stay on the shots

until your symptoms have been controlled or minimized for two consecutive allergy seasons. When this point has been reached, you can consider discontinuing the shots.

Your doctor or the doctor’s staff can help you with this decision and may advise you to taper off or continue injections at 10-21 day intervals. If your symptoms reoccur during this lengthened interval, you are not ready to discontinue the injections. If you are off you shots for more than 30 days, the doctor or the doctor’s staff will have to determine a safe dose at which to restart your therapy.

Are allergies rare?

No. Approximately 20 percent of the U.S. population has one or more types of allergy. Allergy symptoms account for more visits to the doctor’s office than any other single disease and are a leading cause of school absenteeism in this country.

(For more information on immunotherapy or to schedule an appointment, please call 662-293-1565.)Â

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Urgent need for accurate testing

The Morgan Cardiovascular family includes Sheila Settlemires, CFNP-BC, and Kerry Morgan, M.D.

One in three adults have one or more types of cardiovascular disease For Medical Guide More than 600,000 people die of heart disease every year, making the need for more accurate testing even more urgent.

Heart disease accounts for 25 percent of all U.S. mortalities and one in three adults have one or more types of cardiovascular disease.

The traditional lipid panel accuracy can be questioned due to the calculation being highly variable and strongly influenced by triglyceride concentrations. 50 percent of patients hospitalized with coronary artery disease had “normal” cholesterol levels and over 75 percent of patients with myocardial infarction (MI) fell within current guideline-recommended targets for LDL as measured by the traditional lipid panel.

So how can health care providers accurately treat numbers that are inaccurate?

In the past the treatment would be hit or miss with patients continuing to have cardiovascular events even if their numbers were improving. But the great news is that now there is a treatment approach that improves patient outcomes and identifies cardiovascular risk. The test is the Comprehensive Lipid Panel and is offered at Morgan Cardiovascular.

The Comprehensive Lipid Panel shows risk factors the traditional lipid test can-

not identify. Knowing these risk factors can assist in personalizing a treatment plan for each individual patient.

Providers first perform an initial assessment with the Comprehensive Lipid Panel, which is a laboratory test where the patient does not have to be fasting.

The Comprehensive Lipid Panel directly measures the LDL and HDL to provide accurate results, not calculated results.

Included are lipoprotein subclasses which reflects atherogenic load, directly measures triglycerides to identify triglyceriderich disorders and identifies Lp(a), a hereditary marker of risk.

Also included in the test are secondary and emerging risk factors, such as homocysteine level (increased level is associated with

WILLIAM G. JACKSON, M.D. Family Practice/Occupational Medicine 202 Alcorn Drive- Corinth, MS 38834 Telephone: (662) 287-4481 Hours: Mon., Tue.,Thurs., & Fri. 8:30am-5:00pm PA G E 1 4

an increased risk of developing coronary artery disease), Hs-CRP (marker of inflammation in vessels), proBNP (hormone released by cells in the heart when it is under stress), Vitamin D (low levels increase risk of coronary artery disease), and glucose levels.

Personalized treatment approach is based on the above levels as well as lifestyle factors. Providers will set personalized targets and evaluate and prescribe therapeutic options based on the findings.

If you have diabetes mellitus, age >-45 in men and >-55 in women, family history of coronary artery disease, history of cigarette smoking, hypertension and lack of physical activity, you are at increased risk of developing coronary artery disease.

When it comes to heart disease, prevention is the key. Morgan Cardiovascular is available to assist in all your cardiovascular needs.

Dr. Kerry Morgan is proud to announce the newest addition to the Morgan Cardiovascular family, Sheila Settlemires CFNP-BC. Sheila is offering a Lipid Clinic to assist with cardiac care as well as offer internal medicine/primary care for patients without a primary care provider.

Sheila has had extensive training in lipids and the Lipid Clinic is a collaborative effort between Dr. Morgan and Sheila.

Your health is important. Thank you for entrusting your heart and health to Morgan Cardiovascular.

CROSSROADS MAGAZINE — MEDICAL GUIDE

Advice

By David McCoy Grief Columnist

I was traveling home from a visit when I was listening to the radio and heard an interview from an individual in the entertainment industry speak about the death of their parent.

They shared how they were estranged from the parent who abandoned the family when the children were young. It did get me thinking of a family I know.

This family also has a member very distant from their parent.

I could not help but ask myself why? Why would one remain separate especially during the twilight period, perhaps just weeks left in the life of the parent?

I know it can be difficult deal-

Visit parents while they are alive; it will leave no room for possibility of regret

ing with people.

I know sometimes pride can get in our way, preventing us from taking the important step that we should. I know because I have been there in my own past.

Yet, I tend to think that most of us would be able to be polite even in the company of one whom we dislike. If the parent dies before and without reconciliation with the estranged child, what then?

Will the child have feelings of guilt or remorse that they will have to live with and carry for the rest of their life or will they be indifferent?

How could a child not at least go to the funeral?

Someone once said to me, it is better to go and see the parent while they are alive and reaffirm

the relationship than to wait until their death.

In the case of the estranged, I would recommend they take the mature high road and go see the parent. I believe it is the best choice, and it will leave no room for the possibility for regret for having not done so later.

Again, you do not have to like someone or even agree with someone to make this choice. It is an act of kindness and closure on your part. In the case of the parent, it may give them the opportunity to apologize for the past.

Who among us does not need forgiveness?

(Grief columnist David McCoy can be reached at Sunrise@sfdcares.com. SUNRISE is a service of Shackelford Funeral Directors.)

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Baron Herford, D.O.

Timothy Noyes, M.D.

Sidney K. Pace, M.D.

David V. Pizzimenti, D.O.

Charles Swanson, D.O.

Internal Medicine/Pediatric Robert McKinney, M.D.

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Corinth Medical Specialists

Magnolia Specialty Clinic

Magnolia Hospitalist Group

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Herford Internal Medicine

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Magnolia Regional Community Care Clinic

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West Clinic, P.C.

West Clinic, P.C.

West Clinic, P.C.

West Clinic, P.C.

Corinth Medical Specialists

Tommy Alexander, M.D. FACOG

West Clinic, P.C.

Magnolia Clinic of General & Vascular Surgery

Magnolia Professional Associates

Corinth Surgical Clinic, P.A.

Magnolia Gastroenterology Clinic, LLC

Corinth Family Care Center

Tri State Rural Health

Medistat

Pratt Family Medical Clinic, Inc

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Flannery Medical Clinic

Pratt Family Medical Clinic, Inc

Dr. George Cain, M.D.

Magnolia Cardiovascular & Thoracic Clinic

Magnolia Cardiovascular & Thoracic Clinic

Magnolia Cardiovascular & Thoracic Clinic

Magnolia Cardiology Associates

Magnolia Cardiology Associates

Cardiology Clinic

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Corinth Cardiology PLLC

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Bradley Somer, M.D.

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David C. Portnoy, M.D.

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Laura J. Crecelius, M.D.

Hematology/Oncology Stephen Besh, M.D.

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Mathew Johnson, M.D.

Gynecology Tommy Alexander, M.D., F.A.C.O.G.

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General Surgery James Edmonson, M.D.

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Erica Noyes, M.D.

Gastroenterology Fred Corder, M.D.

Gynecology/Oncology Mark Reed, M.D.

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Carl Welch, M.D.

General/Vascular Surgery Robert Mathis, M.D.

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William Ross, M.D.

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Alphonsus L. Flannery, M.D.

William Jackson, M.D.

Joseph L. Pratt, M.D.

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Amy Davis, M.D.

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Family Medicine George Cain, M.D.

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Billy D. Parsons, M.D.

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CardioThoracic Surgery James C. Gilmore, M.D.

Clyde M. Hutchinson, M.D.

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Nanni Pidikiti, M.D.

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Nemalan Selvaraj, M.D.

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Kerry Morgan, M.D.

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Angel Rodriguez, M.D.

Emad H. Mohamed, M.D.

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Tina Jobe, M.D.

John Prather, M.D.

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Anesthesiology Anthony Armstrong, M.D.

NAME

3301 Tinin Drive, Corinth, MS

1001 South Harper Road, Corinth, MS

611 Alcorn Drive, Corinth, MS

703 Alcorn Drive, Suite 109, Corinth, MS

2000 Shiloh Road, Corinth, MS

401 Alcorn Drive, Suite 2C, Corinth, MS

703 Alcorn Drive, Suite 109, Corinth, MS

703 Alcorn Drive, Suite 109, Corinth, MS

703 Alcorn Drive, Suite 109, Corinth, MS

703 Alcorn Drive, Suite 109, Corinth, MS

2003 State Drive, Corinth, MS

2002 State Drive, Corinth, MS

2001 State Drive, Corinth, MS

2001 State Drive, Corinth, MS

3301 Tinin Drive, Corinth, MS

2010 Shiloh Road, Corinth, MS

2001 State Drive, Corinth, MS

611 Alcorn Drive, Suite 210, Corinth, MS

703 Alcorn Drive, Suite 102, Corinth, MS

703 Alcorn Drive, Suite 111, Corinth, MS

3050 Corder Drive, Corinth, MS

2000 Shiloh Road, Corinth, MS

502 Alcorn Drive, Corinth, MS

703 Alcorn Drive, Suite 109, Corinth, MS

121 Pratt Drive, Corinth, MS

202 Alcorn Drive, Corinth, MS

703 Alcorn Drive, Suite 106, Corinth, MS

121 Pratt Drive, Corinth, MS

506 Alcorn Drive, Corinth, MS

611 Alcorn Drive, Suite 200, Corinth, MS

611 Alcorn Drive, Suite 200, Corinth, MS

611 Alcorn Drive, Suite 200, Corinth, MS

611 Alcorn Drive, Suite 230, Corinth, MS

611 Alcorn Drive, Suite 230, Corinth, MS

703 Alcorn Drive, Suite 104, Corinth, MS

2427 Proper Street, Corinth, MS

401 Alcorn Drive, Suite 1A, Corinth, MS

401 Alcorn Drive, Suite 1E, Corinth, MS

401 Alcorn Drive, Suite 1E, Corinth, MS

401 Alcorn Drive, Suite 1E, Corinth, MS

401 Alcorn Drive, Suite 1E, Corinth, MS

PRACTICE ADDRESS

(662) 665-9111

(662) 665-8041

(662) 293-1000

(662) 293-1680

(662) 287-6999

(662) 286-9255

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(662) 665-0151

(662) 284-9541

(662) 665-0605

(662) 665-0605

(662) 665-0605

(662) 665-0605

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Sherill B. Stewart, M.D. P.A.

Corinth Laser Center, Inc.

Corinth Medical Specialists

Magnolia Pediatric Clinic

Pathology Lab Inc.

Magnolia Corinth Ear, Nose & Throat

ENT Physicians of North Mississippi, PA

Magnolia Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine Clinic

Magnolia Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine Clinic

N MS Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Associates

Crossroads Eye Center

Shipp Eye Clinic

Shipp Eye Clinic

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David Derr, M.D. Justin Lohmeier, M.D. Jeffery O'Rear, M.D. Graham Sexton, M.D. Brandon Skelton William Tidwell, M.D. Sam Waits, M.D. Ralph E. Williams, M.D.

Urology W *

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**

Richard K. Cole, M.D.

Radiology (Neurological) Charles Currie, M.D.

Radiology

Daniel Schroyer, M.D.

**

*

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*

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Magnolia Specialty Clinic

James W. Cole, M.D.

Imaging Assoc. of N MS Magnolia, LLC

Imaging Assoc. of N MS Magnolia, LLC

Imaging Assoc. of N MS Magnolia, LLC

Imaging Assoc. of N MS Magnolia, LLC

Imaging Assoc. of N MS Magnolia, LLC

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Imaging Assoc. of N MS Magnolia, LLC

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Imaging Assoc. of N MS Magnolia, LLC

Radiation Oncology of North MS, PLLC

Radiation Oncology of North MS, PLLC

Corinth Pulmonary Clinic and Rehabilitation

Magnolia Specialty Clinic

Pulmonary/Critical Care/Internal Medicine/Sleep Medicine David Chase, SR, M.D. ** David Chase, M.D.

Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery Sherrill Stewart, M.D.

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Robert McKinney, M.D.

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Blakley A. Fowler, M.D.

Michael Todd, M.D.

Phlebology Angel Rodriguez, M.D.

Pediatrics

Pathology

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Michael Peery, M.D.

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Randall Frazier, M.D. Otolaryngology James Montgomery Berry, M.D.

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Orthopaedic Surgery John Foropoulos, M.D.

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John Shipp, M.D. Darwin Wooten, M.D. Oral/Maxillofacial Surgery Scott Bauer DM.D.

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Bernard Shipp, M.D.

Garrett Eye Clinic, PLLC

Magnolia Women's Center at Corinth

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Quinisha Logan, M.D.

Women's Clinic

The Buchanan Women's Center

BB/Z The Magnolia Women's Clinic, P.A. Magnolia Women's Center at Corinth T

Don Simpson, M.D.

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Magnolia Specialty Clinic

Midsouth Neurology

Shiloh Neurology

Corinth Medical Specialists

PRACTICE NAME

Jason Cesario, M.D.

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Patrick Hsu, M.D.

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Rance B. Wilbourn, M.D. Shantwania Buchanan, M.D.

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William Owens, M.D.

Andrew Kerby, M.D.

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MAP ID

Ophthalmology Jennifer Garrett, M.D.

OBGYN

Neurology

Nephrology Nephrology Group of Tupelo

NAME

1001 South Harper Road, Corinth, MS

212 Alcorn Drive, Corinth, MS

611 Alcorn Drive, Corinth, MS

611 Alcorn Drive, Corinth, MS

611 Alcorn Drive, Corinth, MS

611 Alcorn Drive, Corinth, MS

611 Alcorn Drive, Corinth, MS

611 Alcorn Drive, Corinth, MS

611 Alcorn Drive, Corinth, MS

611 Alcorn Drive, Corinth, MS

611 Alcorn Drive, Corinth, MS

611 Alcorn Drive, Corinth, MS

611 Alcorn Drive, Corinth, MS

620-A Crossover Road., Tupelo, MS

620-A Crossover Road., Tupelo, MS

209 North Harper Road, Corinth, MS

1001 South Harper Road, Corinth, MS

100 Hospital St, #300, Booneville, MS

401 Alcorn Drive, Suite 2D, Corinth, MS

615 N Cass St, Corinth, MS

3301 Tinin Drive, Corinth, MS

401 Alcorn Dr, Suite 2B, Corinth, MS

611 Alcorn Drive, Corinth, MS

611 Alcorn Drive Suite 110, Corinth, MS

2907 Highway 72 West, Corinth, MS

611 Alcorn Drive, Suite 100, Corinth, MS

610 Alcorn Drive, Suite 100, Corinth, MS

207 Alcorn Drive, Corinth, MS

3035 Corder Drive, Corinth, MS

3302 C West Linden St, Corinth, MS

3302 C West Linden St, Corinth, MS

1804 Shiloh Road, Corinth, MS

3714 Highway 72 West, Corinth, MS

3714 Highway 72 West, Corinth, MS

512 Alcorn Drive, Corinth, MS

703 Alcorn Drive, Suite 110, Corinth, MS

616 Alcorn Drive, Corinth, MS

1001 South Harper Road, Corinth, MS

2425 Proper Street, Corinth, MS

201 Alcorn Drive, Corinth, MS

3301 Tinin Drive, Corinth, MS

PRACTICE ADDRESS

(662) 665-8041

(662) 287-9970

(662) 840-5255

(662) 841-7880

(662) 840-5255

(662) 840-5255

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‘Know your enemy’ Heroin overdose deaths up by 45 percent

By Heath Haddock Columnist

President Richard Nixon publicly declared drugs “public enemy number 1” in 1971, essentially beginning one of the most costly public campaigns undertaken by the U.S. government.

The Drug Policy Alliance estimates tthe United States spends $51 billion annually on the “War on Drugs.” During this time we have witnessed increases in the use of cocaine, crack cocaine, crystal meth and prescription medications.

However, the effects of our efforts are seeing some positive results.

A recent study (2012) conducted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA) shows a significant decrease in the number of Americans who said they used crystal meth. Efforts by states to restrict access to the one of the key ingredients, pseudoephedrine, have probably played a large role in the significant drop of crystal meth use.

The area of exception to these trends has been prescription pain relievers. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), from 1997 to 2007 there was a 402 percent increase in the amount of per

person use of prescription opiates.

In 2000, retail pharmacies dispensed 174 million prescriptions for opiate pain medication. The reported number of dispensed opiates was 257 million in 2009 -- an increase of 48 percent.

It is no coincidence these numbers reflect the trend in the rise of prescription medication abuse. As with any war, you have to be prepared to fight an enemy that adapts and changes. In Sun Tzu’s “The Art of War” he says, “Attack him where he is unprepared, appear where you are not expected.”

In 2013, the state of Alabama and Governor Robert Bentley increased efforts to address the growing problem of opiate addiction. Signing three laws into effect Governor Bentley attacked opiate addiction by imposing laws that made it harder on individuals using doctors to feed their addiction. Among stronger monitoring of prescription database, Governor Bentley made it a crime for individuals to “doctor shop” going from one doctor

to another just for prescriptions.

As our elected officials and government agencies worked to crack down on prescription opiate abuse, it appears the enemy in this war on drugs has changed again.

Attorney General Eric Holder recently reported that between 2006 and 2010, heroin overdose deaths increased by 45 percent. Calling this rise in heroin overdose “an urgent public health crisis”, Holder said, “when confronting the problem of substance abuse, it makes sense to focus attention on the most dangerous types of drugs. And right now, few substances are more lethal than prescription opiates and heroin.”

In a public video on the Department of Justice’s website Holder continued, “Since 2011, DEA has opened more than 4,500 investigations related to heroin. They’re on track to open many more. And as a result of these aggressive enforcement efforts, the amount of heroin seized along America’s southwest border increased by more than 320 percent between 2008 and 2013.”

There are a few factors that play into this growing and alarming rise in the use of heroin.

As it becomes harder for individuals to find or obtain prescription medications, they appear to be turning to the closest available thing. Heroin is a lot cheaper to get on the street than prescription opiates, and its availability is increasing. The high from heroin is more powerful than the euphoric high

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obtained from prescription pain killers, but tolerance is lower.

Individuals who have abused prescription pain medications develop a tolerance level, in effect making daily use more of a “get by” than a “get high.” It becomes about being able to get up and prevent withdrawal symptoms, and not about getting high. When the switch is made to heroin, the tolerance is lower, and the euphoric effect is there. In many cases this is the significant event contributing to increased use, and possibly overdosing.

Younger people who are experimenting with pain medication, stealing their parents prescriptions, are trying heroin without a complete understanding of the dangers or the effects on the body. More and more young people are seeking treatment for heroin addiction.

Our program is uniquely set up to treat opiate addiction. Metha-

done maintenance programs were developed in the late ’60s and early ’70s to treat and manage heroin use, and continued as effective treatment for opiate dependent persons as abuse of prescription pain medication skyrocketed. In the past we would have very few people who listed heroin as their drug of choice.

We have seen a significant increase in the number of clients who are coming into treatment who list heroin as their drug of choice, and many others who are saying, “if I can find it. That’s want I want.”

Since opening in 1995, heroin was a rarity for us to see, but in the past few months it has become expected. Recent police reports in our area indicate several arrests and overdoses related to heroin and heroin use. Despite living in a “small town” this problem can no longer be ignored. Corinth police have recently reported a rise in

heroin use.

Sun Tzu encouraged “know your enemy,” and in the face of the alarming rise of heroin use evident in the United States, everyone needs to focus on education about the dangers and warning signs of drug use, and arm yourself about available treatment options in your area.

If you have questions, please contact a qualified professional service, and talk with someone who can help. You may not need the help, but you may know someone who does.

The best thing you can do to help fight the “War on Drugs” is know what you can do for yourself, a friend or family member who does need help.

(Heath Haddock, BS, CCM, ADC is program director for Shoals Treatment Center in Sheffield, Ala. He can be reached at www.thetreatmentcentersinc.com.)

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Drs. John and Nixon Dodd

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Hearing loss

‘Identify the Signs’ of hearing loss during Better Hearing, Speech Month

By Tara Spencer Medical Columnist

With hearing loss affecting 36 million American adults and spiking in younger populations in recent years, May’s Better Hearing and Speech Month is the ideal time to learn about the signs of hearing loss.

“Identify the Signs,” a national campaign effort of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), is designed to educate people about hearing loss. Visit http://identifythesigns.org.

Hearing loss is a significant and growing public health issue—for people of all ages. Approximately 15 percent (26 million) of Americans between the ages of 20 and 69 have high-frequency hearing loss due to exposure to loud sounds, whether at work or play. One in 5 kids, ages 12–19, is suffering from hearing loss. This is a trend that coincides with the skyrocketing use of personal audio technology.

Hearing loss can be present at birth or acquired. Although newborn hearing screening is widespread in the United States, hearing issues can develop after children leave the hospital.

Causes include ear infections, other illnesses such as Tara Spencer with Michael Perry, M.D.

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chicken pox or influenza, head injury, and noise exposure. Therefore, parents should be attuned to the early signs of hearing loss even if their child passed a newborn hearing screening in the hospital.

Only 1 out of 5 people who could benefit from a hearing aid actually wears one. A large number of people with hearing loss needlessly suffer by waiting far too long to seek help.

This is why the “Identify the Signs” campaign is important.

People should familiarize themselves with the signs of hearing loss and seek a hearing assessment from an audiologist, if they have questions or concerns. Treatment is often easier and more effective than people think.

Left untreated, hearing loss in children can have a negative impact on their speech and language development, communication, and learning. This can affect social success, academic development, and future vocational choices. In adults, untreated hearing loss is tied to social isolation, problems at work,

Hearing loss can be present at birth or acquired.

Although newborn hearing screening is widespread in the United States, hearing issues can develop after children leave the hospital. depression and an overall reduced quality of life.

In children, parents should watch for the following signs of hearing loss: • Lack of attention to sounds • Failure to follow simple directions • Failure to respond when his/her name is called • Delays in speech and language development • Pulling or scratching at his/her ears

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• Difficulty achieving academically, especially in reading and math • Social isolation and feeling unhappy in school • Persistent ear discomfort after exposure to loud noise (such as regular and constant listening to electronics at high volumes) In adults, signs of hearing loss include: • Inattentiveness • Buzzing or ringing in the ears • Failure to respond to spoken words • Muffled hearing • Constant frustration hearing speech and other sounds • Avoiding conversation • Social isolation • Depression (For more information or to schedule an appointment, call Magnolia Corinth Ear Nose & Throat at 662293-1565. Audiologist Tara Spencer holds a Doctorate of Audiology, and she is Corinth’s only full-time audiologist. She is ASHA certified and licensed by the Mississippi State Board of Health.)

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Corinth, MS 38834 662-396-9447

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We Treat Alzheimer’s Disease, Parkinson’s Disease, ALS, Tremors, Strokes, Seizures, Multiple Sclerosis, Sleep Disorders, Migraines, Back Pain And Neuropathy.

Only Emg (Nerve Conduction Study) Full Service Lab EEG Testing Performed In Office Botox for Migraine Headaches, Cervical Dystonia & Blepharospasm.

Specializing in Gastrointestinal, Liver, and Pancreatic Diseases

INFLAMMATORY BOWEL TESTING • CROHN’S•TREATMENT • COLON CANCER SCREENING • H. PYLORI COLON CANCER SCREENING • UPPER ENDOSCOPY PROCEDURES • LOWER ENDOSCOPY • UPPER ENDOSCOPY PROCEDURES • LOWER ENDOSCOPYPROCEDURES PROCEDURES

Fred A. Corder, MD, AGAF • Mary Ellen Mitchell, FNP www.magnoliagastro.com

662-284-9902 662-284-9902

3050 Corder Drive•Corinth, MS 38834 3050 Corder Drive Corinth, MS 38834

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iStent glaucoma device provides new advance for cataract surgery

By John R. Shipp, M.D. Medical Columnist

The advancements and techniques in cataract surgery in recent years have expanded the role of comprehensive cataract surgeons.

Refinements in lenses and incisions have resulted in higher patient satisfaction and better visual outcomes for millions of patients.

As new technologies are developed, cataract surgeons will continue their attempt to improve the quality of life for even more patients.

Glaucoma surgery, on the other hand, has seen little advances over the past few decades until now. For eye surgeons, one of the most exciting of these recent advancements is the iStent Glaucoma System. The iStent is the only FDA-approved device for the treatment of mild-tomoderate glaucoma. It is also the

smallest medical device ever approved by the FDA. The iStent received FDA approval after a clinical study showed that 68 percent of glaucoma patients who received the iStent during cataract surgery did not have to resume their glaucoma eye drops after surgery, compared to only 50 percent of those who had cataract surgery alone.

Today, many leading ophthalmologists believe that procedures like iStent provide physicians with important new options in glaucoma therapy.

Renowned glaucoma surgeon Ike Ahmed, M.D. said, “As one of the first surgeons to implant iStent, I have been impressed with the device and the clinical results. After surgery, many patients are ecstatic the iStent can control their eye pressure and possibly eliminate their eye

medications.”

This is good news for the many glaucoma patients who are burdened with the daily regimen of eye drops because of inconvenience, Please see GLAUCOMA | 31

Eye Care Specialists

Keeping our community seeing well for over 35 years!

Providing excellence in medical and surgical eye care including: • Cataract Surgery

• Diabetic Eye Care

• Glaucoma Surgery

• Macular Degeneration

• Eyelid Surgery

• Routine Eye Exams

John Shipp, M.D.

Bernard Shipp, M.D.

3302 W. Linden St. • Corinth, MS 38834 662-286-6068 www.shippeyeclinic.com

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The Living Free Medical Clinic is located in the old South Corinth/Easom School on Cass Street in Corinth.

We get you moving again.

EXPERTS IN ORTHOPAEDIC CARE

HEALTHGRADES, the nation’s most trusted, independent source of physician information and hospital quality ratings, named Magnolia Regional Health Center recipient of the Orthopedic Surgery Excellence Awards.

MAGNOLIA REGIONAL HEALTH CENTER RECEIVED THE FOLLOWING HEALTHGRADES 2014 AWARDS: •

Recipient of the Healthgrades Orthopedic Surgery Excellence Award™ in 2014

•

Ranked Among the Top 10% in the Nation for Overall Orthopedic Services in 2014

•

Magnolia Regional Health Center also received a 5-Star rating in Hip Fracture Treatment for 3 Years in a Row (2012-2014) which means their clinical performance is better than expected in treatment of hip fractures.

ORTHOPAEDIC CENTER

611 ALCORN DR. • CORINTH, MS 38834 662.293.1000 • www.MRHC.org PA G E 2 4

CROSSROADS MAGAZINE — MEDICAL GUIDE

Living Healthy Free Medical Clinic

Dr. Thomas Sweat, other volunteers begin free medical clinic two days each month in former school building

By Zack Steen

For Medical Guide Adults and children age 12 and up with no income and no health insurance can now get professional medical treatment in Corinth for free.

The Living Healthy Free Medical Clinic in the old South Corinth/Easom School on Cass Street is now open. The clinic’s hours are from 1-5 p.m., on the second Wednesday and fourth Saturday of each month.

At present there are no free medicines available and $4 prescriptions are used as much as possible. Only pain medicines without prescription are given, such as Aleve, Ibuprofen, Tylenol and Aspirin.

At the reigns of the free health clinic is long time Corinth physician Dr. Thomas L. Sweat, who retired from his practice in Sept. 2013.

“There are a number of people in this community who don’t have access to medical care,” said Dr. Sweat. “People who don’t have insurance, Medicare or Medicaid and have no money. When something is wrong, they’ll go to the emergency room, but they won’t get continuous care.”

Dr. Sweat wants to help people by teaching them how to manage their condition.

“We advise patients about blood pressure, diabetes, cholesterol, arthritis or emphysema,” said the medical doctor. “Patients always have access to the same doctor and we keep their information on file.”

Sweat said he hopes his clinic will help keep people without insurance or income out of Magnolia Regional Health Center.

“The E.R. has great doctors,” he said. “It’s just important that folks see the same physician if they have an acute or chronic condition.”

Amanda Watlington, a medical student currently completing her third year rotation at MRHC, is one of many medical volunteers at the clinic.

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“We have no money and everyone here is 100 percent volunteer, so every single person is very important. We have had Dr. Alexander, Dr. Welch and Dr. Bob Davis step up to help, but I would like to have more younger doctors from the area volunteer.”

Dr. Thomas Sweat

Living Healthy Free Medical Clinic

Sweat received the okay from MRHC before opening the clinic.

“They signed off on the idea,” said Sweat. “I don’t want to compete with the hospital.”

Sweat is quick to commend his volunteer staff.

“We have no money and everyone here is 100 percent volunteer, so every single person is very important,” he added. “We have had Dr. Alexander, Dr. Welch and Dr. Bob Davis step up to help, but I would like to have more younger doctors from the area volunteer.”

MRHC nurse Ann Walker, former Mississippi University for Women medical professor Linda Cox and Amanda Watlington, a medical student currently completing her third year rotation at MRHC, all are volunteering their time at the clinic.

Non-medical volunteers are also needed to help keep patients flowing and paper work filled at the clinic.

Volunteers Anne Thompson and Gwen Southward share front desk responsibilities at the clinic.

“I started when I was 12 years old talking to the principal about wanting to be a doctor,” said Sweat.

“Now I’m retired, loving life and still helping people -- exactly what I’ve always wanted to do.”

(The clinic is always looking for both medical and non-medical volunteers. Medical volunteers should contact Ann Walker at awalker@mrhc.org or 662-2847361. Non-medical volunteers should contact Ann White at eaw3@comcast.net or 662-415-9446.)

Staff photo by Zack Steen Dr. Thomas L. Sweat talks with volunteer nurse Linda Cox at the Living Healthy Free Medical Clinic.

‘If you get scared, just say Psalm 23’ Nurse battles rare neurological condition

By Kimberly Shelton For Medical Guide

After battling shingles during the first week of December in 2013, Cayce Redding thought the pain in her back was normal.

Being a nurse, she knew pain was a common symptom of singles because it affects the nerve endings.

The pain in her back worsened on Feb. 15 and her left leg became weak.

“I probably should have gone to the ER right then, but I just wanted to sleep,” said Redding. “I awoke the next morning to find that I was paralyzed from the belly button down and had no control of my left leg.”

The 28-year-old knew something was

terribly wrong. With her medical background, the nurse was able to conclude she was suffering from some type of compression on her spinal cord.

“My first thought was that it was a tumor. I was beside myself. I started freaking out and my fight or flight response started kicking in. I didn’t want to wait for an ambulance. So, I drove

to the (Baptist Memorial) - Booneville ER.” said the 2003 Kossuth High School graduate. “I trusted the doctor there and knew he would take me seriously.”

After parking her car and measuring the distance from her parking spot to the hospital entrance, Redding concluded it was too far and with nothing to support herself on, she made her decision.

“I crawled out of my car and drug my paralyzed leg behind me,” said the nurse. She shuddered as she recalled the memory.

A series of tests were ran and soon after, Redding received devastating news.

Her doctor diagnosed her with Cauda Equina Syndrome, a rare neurological condition in which something compresses on the spinal nerve roots. It is usually caused by a traumatic injury.

According to WebMD, CES affects a bundle of nerve roots called cauda equina (Latin for horse’s tail due to its shape). These nerves are located at the lower end of the spinal cord in the lumbar spine. They send and receive

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messages to and from the legs, feet and pelvic organs. “They told me I would have to have emergency surgery that night,� said Redding, who was at the time working in Dr. Leonard Pratt’s office in Corinth. “Tupelo (NEMMC) wouldn’t take me because of my age, so they asked me where I wanted to go. I told them I wanted to go to Baptist East (Memphis).

I worked there as an oncology nurse from 2008 until the fall of 2012 and knew they’d take care of me.�

After stopping by the hospital to check on his friend and employee, Dr. Pratt phoned someone in Memphis and the young medical worker was airlifted to Baptist East. “I remember him saying to me as they were loading me into the aircraft, ‘If you get scared, just say Psalm 23’.� I knew some of the nurses in the helicopter and that comforted me a little, but I was scared to death. So, I started saying Psalm 23:1 to myself,� said the University of North Alabama Registered Nurse, who is now a nurse practitioner.

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not

“I was just so thankful for all they had done for me. I remember looking at him and saying thank you. Everything ran so smoothly. It was all so beautifully orchestrated by the Lord.�

Cayce Redding want.

Upon reaching Baptist East, the terrified patient was wheeled into the OR and surrounded by a medical unit of 12 or 13. “Dr. Fountain introduced himself and told me they were going to have to cut open my back. He said the odds were stacked against me that I would ever walk again,� said Redding with barely contained emotion. “Two discs in my back, the L5 and Sl had ruptured and were causing central spinal cord compressions.�

At Baptist East, the walls of patient rooms are inscribed with Bible verses.

After being admitted to her room sometime around 3 a.m., the health care professional was amazed to find that there, written on the walls above her. was Psalm 23:1. It was the verse she’d been saying over and over in her head. “After seeing the verse, I knew I’d be okay,� said the two-year Northeast Mississippi Community College nursing student.

She recalled Dr. Fountain, the neurosurgeon standing at the foot of her bed on the Monday morning after her surgery, telling her again there was a good chance she would be permanently paralyzed. If not, recovery could take up to a year. “I was just so thankful for all they had done for me. I remember looking at him and saying thank you. Everything ran so smoothly. It was all so beautifully orchestrated by the Lord,� she said. “He looked at me stunned for a moment and then told me he was only doing his job.�

Redding then inquired when she’d be able to go back to work if she did regain

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CROSSROADS MAGAZINE — MEDICAL GUIDE

the use of her limbs.

“I told him I’d had been in the process of changing jobs and had hoped to return to work at a hospital. He said, ‘Oh, I was hoping you would have a desk job.

You’ll never be able to do that job again.’

I was so devastated because that’s where I found my fulfillment, in helping other people, not being on the other side of the bed,” said Redding who was no longer able to contain her tears.

Eight days later, the surgery patient was transported by ambulance to inpatient rehab where she learned to walk without a walker.

“I had to retrain my brain much like a stroke patient. I had to retrain it to make my legs move again,” said the rehab patient.

After eight more days she was discharged and put on home health care.

“I had to go see Dr. Fountain again.

When he first saw me, his eyes got big and he shouted, ‘You’re upright!’,” said Redding with a grin. He said, ‘For you to only be 28 years old and so young … and you seem like a nice person and a hard worker … it utterly devastated me

for something so traumatic to happen to you and seeing your progress lifts my heart’.”

“I saw him again the other day and he is pleased with my progress. I’m going to out-patient physical therapy and getting stronger and better every day. It’s a miracle because it is something so rare,” she added.

Redding looks back on her ordeal and wonders if she would have seen the signs if it had been someone else.

“I knew my back pain had progressed, but I put it off as shingles and didn’t pay attention like I would have at the clinic,” said Redding. “I would have sent them for an MRI and other tests, tried steroids, muscle relaxants, physical therapy … that sort of thing. If it isn’t caught before 48 hours, the odds of recovering from any spinal compression injury are greatly reduced.”

Since the morning she woke up to her paralysis, she has asked herself if it could have been prevented.

“Dr. Fountain said no. There was nothing I could have done. On, Feb. 16, 2014 it was just going to happen to me.

He believes it was a birth defect, something congenital,” she said. “It gave me peace because I felt I should have been able to do something to help myself.

Now, I know I couldn’t have.”

“I know it sounds strange, but if it had to happen to someone, I am glad it happened to me because a non-medical person who woke up in that kind of situation might not have known what to do or sought the care they needed before it was too late,” added the spinal patient.

The medical professional said she strives to look at each day, not as an obstacle, but as an opportunity to get better.

“I knew God had not allowed me to get through nurse practitioner school for this to stop me now. I will be a better healthcare provider because of it,” said Redding. “I continue to pray, but I’ve decided if I never regain all the feeling, I’m fine with it. I’m just so thankful I can walk. My hope is that through my pain and suffering, someone else might be touched … that it might be an example that God really is the great physician.”

Life’s too Short to be Sick Dream Live Laugh “Caring for your Body, Mind, and Spirit”

Trinity Health Clinic

Walk ins and Acute Care Welcome

Cynthia Pearson MSN, ANP-BC, FNP-BC

Most Medical Insurance Accepted

Mon - Thurs 8am - 6pm • 123 Alcorn Dr. Corinth • 662-286-2866 CROSSROADS MAGAZINE — MEDICAL GUIDE

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Staying power For Medical Guide Dietary fads come and go, but the gluten-free movement is one nutritional trend that seems to have staying power. The gluten-free diet was once largely exclusive to sufferers of Celiac disease, a condition that damages the lining of the small intestine, preventing it from absorbing parts of food the body needs to stay healthy.

That damage is the byproduct of the body’s reaction to gluten, a term used to describe proteins found in specific grains. But while the glutenfree diet remains a necessity for those who cannot tolerate gluten, nowadays even nonsufferers are embracing the gluten-free diet for a variety of reasons.

One such reason is non-Celiac gluten sensitivity, or NCGS. Though NCGS is not as severe as Celiac disease, research has suggested that a gluten-free diet can relieve NCGS symptoms, which include abdominal pain and headaches.

Allergies are another reason some people may opt for a gluten-free diet.

Unlike Celiac disease or NCGS, both of which are digestive system responses to gluten, wheat allergy is an immune-system response and, like other allergies, can be outgrown. But until a wheat allergy is outgrown, it’s best to avoid foods, including those with gluten, that might trigger an allergic reaction.

While a gluten-free diet is a necessity for people with Celiac disease, NCGS or wheat allergies, according to Michell Nacouzi, MD, a primary care physician at Duke Primary Care Brier Creek, it may provide little health benefit to those without such conditions. But that doesn’t mean the popularity of the gluten-free diet is about to wane. Those without a preexisting medical condition who are considering a gluten-free diet anyway should know a few things PA G E 3 0

about this diet before making such a drastic change. * Gluten-free is not easy.

Unlike eliminating sugary soft drinks or cutting back on fried foods, going cold turkey on gluten can be very difficult. Many people who adopt a gluten-free diet find it extremely challenging, as gluten proteins can be found in additives, making something as seemingly simple as reading labels a lot trickier than it looks. Though labels may not list gluten among a product’s ingredients, men and women must be aware of all additives that contain gluten proteins in order to avoid gluten entirely. And while supermarkets are stocking more gluten-free products, shopping for groceries while on a gluten-free diet can be tedious. * Certain foods and drinks must be avoided.

Though people considering a gluten-free diet are aware that such a diet requires some sacrifices, they may not know which foods and beverages they will need to avoid until they have instituted the diet.

For example, a gluten-free diet excludes any beverages that contain barley, meaning beer cannot be part of a gluten-free diet. Though many gluten-free beers are now on the market, beer afficionados may find such alternatives cannot compare to the real thing. Rye and wheat products also must be avoided, and these include products whose labels list bulgur, durum flour, farina, graham flour, kamut, semolina, and spelt among their ingredients. Though there are now many gluten-free foods on the market, unless labels say gluten-free, the following are a handful of products that should be avoided: * Breads * Cakes and pies * Cereals * Croutons

Explaining the gluten-free diet * French fries * Pastas * Salad dressings * Soy sauce * Soups Many doctors also recommend men and women on a gluten-free diet avoid oats, as they can easily be contaminated with wheat during the growing and processing stages of production. * Be mindful of the dangers of cross-contamination.

Cross-contamination can occur during the manufacturing process when gluten-free foods come into contain with foods that contain gluten. Manufacturers typically include the phrase “may contain” on labels as a warning to consumers looking to avoid gluten and other ingredients. When labels include this phrase, there’s a strong chance that cross-contamination has occurred, and such products should be avoided by men and women on gluten-free diets.

Cross-contamination also can occur when gluten-free foods are prepared on the same surfaces as foods containing gluten. For example, toasting gluten-free bread in the same toaster as regular bread can easily lead to contamination.

Preventing cross-contamination can be a difficult task, and that difficulty merits consideration by people who want to adopt a gluten-free diet. * A gluten-free diet may lead to a vitamin and nutrient deficiency.

Grains are often rich in vitamins, and avoiding grains as part of a gluten-free diet can deprive men and women of these vitamins, weakening their bodies as a result. When adopting a gluten-free diet, speak with a dietitian to ensure your diet has enough iron, calcium, fiber, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, and folate. If the diet is lacking, you will need to make adjustments.

CROSSROADS MAGAZINE — MEDICAL GUIDE

The healthy attributes of soy milk

LASIK CONTINUED FROM 23

distortions caused by irregularities on the surface of the cornea. Studies have shown a larger percentage of Custom LASIK patients have achieved 20/20 vision, which is greater than when compared to LASIK patients.

In March of 2008, bladeless LASIK was first introduced in the U.S. with the technological breakthrough of a femtosecond laser. Traditional LASIK uses a handheld metal blade to make a flap similar to a can opener; however, bladeless Z LASIK uses a low energy laser to create the flap. This laser is tightly focused to create small openings within the tissue of the cornea. Then a different type of laser, the STAR S4 IRExcimer Laser, reshapes the inner tissue of the cornea. This allows the light rays to evenly meet at the back of the eye which will produce clear images for the patient.

Other benefits include: • An unprecedented level of safety, precision and comfort compared to traditional LASIK. • Less opportunity for surgical complications.

• A custom-tailored flap for patients with varying corneal thickness.

• A Da Vinci series laser that is minimally invasive, allowing more comfort for the patient.

• Surgical procedure is done in less that 10 minutes per eye.

• Patients exhibit shorter recovery times.

We perform laser surgery in our office. All vision insurance discounts are available for qualified candidates as well as financing with approved credit.

(For more information about bladeless Z LASIK, call662-212-9001to schedule an appointment to see if you are a candidate. Other information about Garrett Eye Clinic, the physicians and services available is easily found atgarretteyeclinic.com. Jennifer H. Garrett, M.D, is Board-Certified Ophthalmologist, Cataract and Z LASIK Surgeon.)

Individuals who have an intolerance to dairy products typically seek out alternatives to enjoy the foods and beverages they like.

For example, those who cannot enjoy regular milk in their cereal or coffee often turn to soy milk to fill the void. However, those who understand the health benefits of soy may choose soy milk over other options whether they can tolerate dairy or not.

Soy milk is made by soaking, grinding and boiling soybeans in water. A traditional beverage in parts of Asia for years, soy milk has only recently gained popularity in North America, where people turn to soy milk as a dairy alternative or because they are vegetarians or vegans who prefer a plant-based beverage alternative.

But soy milk has nutritional attributes anyone can benefit from. * Improves cholesterol levels: One of the foremost benefits of soy milk is its role in lowering cholesterol and helping prevent heart disease. Research indicates a diet with significant soy proteins reduces total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol (also known as “bad” cholesterol) and triglycerides. In 1993, in a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, researchers from Erdman & Potter reported a 12 percent drop in cholesterol when 20 to 25 grams of soy protein and fiber

were included in a person’s diet. * Strengthens blood vessels: There is evidence that the antioxidants and essential fatty acids in soy can protect blood vessels from lesions and hemorrhages by binding to the walls of the blood vessels. * Forms healthy bones: Soy products are naturally high in calcium or may be fortified with calcium. Soy also contains magnesium and boron, which are also important for the strength of bones. In addition, soy foods contain isoflavones, which may inhibit the breakdown of bones. * Aids in weight loss: Cow’s milk has about 12 grams of sugar per cup, but soy milk has just seven grams of sugar per cup. Soy milk also has fewer calories than other milks and the fatty acids can inhibit intestinal fat absorption.

Although there are many health benefits of soybeans, there are some risks. Different processing methods may result in unhealthy byproducts. Unfermented soy has a high amount of phytic acid, which may lead to lower absorption of certain vitamins and minerals. However, many people feel the benefits of soy outweigh the risks.

For the best health benefits, look for soy products that are produced with nongenetically modified soy crops.

GLAUCOMA CONTINUED FROM 23

cost or side effects.

What makes the iStent unique is its favorable safety profile. Traditional glaucoma surgeries, although effective for advanced disease, are associated with high complication rates. A single iStent implanted during cataract surgery can significantly reduce eye pressure and has a safety profile similar to that of cataract surgery alone. Proven safe and effective, the iStent system: • Is safely implanted during cata-

ract surgery • Spares important eye tissue that is often damaged by traditional glaucoma surgeries • Does not limit treatment options that could help maintain your vision in the future The stent placed in the eye during cataract surgery is so small, patients won’t be able to see or feel it after the procedure is over, and is designed to work continuously to improve the outflow of fluid from the eye to help control eye pressure.

For the 2.6 million Americans with glaucoma today, there are many different treatment options available to help prevent vision loss caused by high eye pressure. If you have both glaucoma and cataracts, iStent is a new, FDA-approved treatment that can significantly reduce your eye pressure.

(To learn more about iStent and how it can help, contact Shipp Eye Clinic at 662-286-6068 or view information about iStent at http://www.glaukos. com/patients.)

CROSSROADS MAGAZINE — MEDICAL GUIDE

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