Skip to main content

Posts

Educational Series: Breast Reconstruction and Lymphatic Surgery

                          Sponsored by Cancer Rehab Austin Presented by Christine Fisher, M.D., board certified plastic surgeon. We had a great turn out at Sushi Zushi in Austin for Dr. Fisher’s presentation, “Breast Reconstruction: Your Options.” She was incredibly informative and interactive. For those seeking in-depth understanding of the surgical procedures and choices available, presented in layman’s terms with lots of Q & A, this was the ticket! (A link to the slide presentation can be found at the bottom of this article.) Dr. Fisher opened with the benchmarks of a successful surgery plan: 1) Safety  2)  What is appropriate for the individual patient 3) Design choice 4) A procedure that heals well and stands the test of time Symmetry is a prime concern, because we all want to feel good about what we see in the mirror and how we, the patients, feel about our appearance. Dr. Fisher is a perfectionist and plans the reconstruction design keeping in mind that enca
Recent posts

Education is Key in Lymphedema Care

                          In a recent lymphatics presentation by Christine Fisher, M.D., Board Certified Plastic Surgeon, participants gleaned answers that many had sought from specialist after specialist with little or no success. She provided a clear understanding of what lymph looks like, what helps and what impedes its flow, and what can be done to support one’s lymphatic system. Lymphatics that are damaged from radiation and/or trauma impair immunity because they limit white blood cells’ ability to reach invasive bacteria. When lymph cannot flow properly, swelling results. There are modalities of treatment, and surgeries to address damaged lymphatics. Dr. Fisher provided an overview of lymph transfer surgery.  She shared “east” vs. “west” beliefs; to generalize, Asian surgeons embrace the stump theory, believing that the implanted lymph tissue soaks up chyle, (lymph fluid,) like stumps, while European surgeons espouse the bulb theory…over time, from one (trans)plant man
I'll leave a Note Part of Louisiana Health Care Quality Forum by Christine Maynard, Patient Advocate When my mother was in her 80’s, my sister and I decided it was time to have a discussion with her concerning the whereabouts of her medical records. We didn't have any of her medical history, doctors’ contact information or records of drug allergies. Being a proud southern woman, and feeling that walking four miles a day protected her against any negative effects of aging or diseases, she declined to agree with our "need to know." Finally, while packing for elder hosteling abroad she primly replied, "I'll leave a note." My sister and I looked between mattresses, under floorboards and in drawers with secret panels for days for that note at a crucial time. We never found it. There are remedies to potential problems like this. Vital health information can easily be recorded in our secure medical portals. In a medical emergency, details can be
Patient Portals Provide Ease and Accessibility Posted  by MakeMyHealth   on Wednesday, 02 September 2015  in  EHRs 13 in Share By Christine Maynard, Patient Advocate In 1969, Vice President Spiro T. Agnew vowed publicly that cable television would not fly in America. In his estimation, people would continue to go to the "picture show" to see movies; they would never be broadcast into living rooms across the country. Clearly, technology changed that, giving us the ability to broaden our horizons from the comfort of our own homes. Technology has also changed how we access information, including our health information. The ability to gather health records online opens many new doors for us as patients. Now, through patient portals, we can view our medical information, from test results to doctor's notes, from our homes or offices. We no longer have to wait at a doctor's office for the staff to print our records, which some patients in