Why Wait? Get Goals Going with New Year’s in November!

It happens like clockwork.  Immediately after Halloween, everywhere you look, the signs of the impending holidays are everywhere:  Christmas music wafting through the air of the local mall, holiday lights strung around street lamps, and of course, the food.  Cookies, cakes, turkey, stuffing, chocolate, candy, and booze – it’s enough to give you a sugar high that lasts until spring.

We all know that overindulgence has a high price tag – extra pounds, bloat, moodiness, tight-fitting clothes, and fatigue.  This year, why not jump-start your resolution to be fit and fabulous?  Is there a secret rule that says you must wait until midnight, December 31?

No one will argue that deprivation on Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa or any other wintertime holiday you celebrate is unrealistic.  However, there is a big difference between a sensibly sized portion of turkey and all the trimmings, a small piece of pie, and maybe a glass of wine than second and third helpings of everything, too much alcohol, and a glut of sweets.  With a little planning, you can have your cake (or pie) and eat it too.

Here are some suggestions for avoiding Holiday Hangovers (of too much of anything!):

• Plan ahead of time what you are going to eat
• Enjoy your turkey – it’s good for you!  Take off the skin as it’s just fatty calories.
• Go ahead and have mashed potatoes or a roll – but limit yourself to one small scoop and one roll. 
• If you are going to bring a dish, opt for a healthier version of an unhealthy classic – marinated green beans vs. green bean casserole, whole-wheat rolls vs. white, or homemade whole grain bread.
• Eat a green salad before your meal so you get full faster.  Toss with balsamic vinaigrette rather than a creamy full fat dressing.
• Choose larger servings of veggies than starchy carbs.
• If you must graze, eat fresh cut raw veggies.  Hummus or plain yogurt is a healthy alternative to ranch or onion dip.
• Savor your meal!  Enjoy every bite, just as you enjoy the time you are spending with your loved ones.
• Don’t over-do the alcohol.  Limit yourself to one drink, and sip it over the course of dinner.  If you are driving, skip the alcohol altogether and have water with lemon (naturally detoxifying) or coffee or tea.
• Think about a 21-day jump-start of the HCG diet!  Because the first 2 days are calorie-loading days, you could actually start your diet on Thanksgiving and the day after, and finish your first round before Christmas!
• Herbal 10 day detox:  to get clean from the inside out, ask us about our exclusive detox plans that can get you feeling great and looking beautiful just in time for those holiday parties and family get togethers.

It’s a wonderful time of year to take control of your health.  The holidays are a time to reflect on our blessings and practice gratitude.  Why not give yourself an early gift of rejuvenation?

Come January 1, your friends and relatives will still be recovering from their holiday stupor, and you’ll be glowing with health and boundless energy.

To fight the post-holiday blues, join us for our first event of 2012:  

Girls Night Out!

Thursday, January 5, 4-8 p.m.

Topics on Bio-Identical Hormones, Weight Loss, and Decreased Libido (Low Sex Drive)

Giveaways, Facials, Chair Massages, and More!  Join us!

RSVP by calling our office at 513-777-0787

To Your Holiday Health,

Dr. Brenner and Staff

Finding Time: The Balancing Act of Healthy Boundaries

As women, we take on the world.  We have so many roles we love and enjoy:  mother, daughter, wife, aunt, professional roles, and the list goes on.  Our schedules are filled to the brim, and then some.  We love our lives, yet having too much to do can take a serious toll on our bodies if we do not occasionally say “no”.  Saying “no” or “not now” can also be a liberating experience, especially if you suffer from “people pleaser disease”.  We need to honor and love ourselves enough to draw healthy boundaries, create balance, and know that the world will go on if there is one or two events we don’t volunteer for, a meeting we can’t make, or the dishes wait a few more hours to be put away.

Part of creating healthy boundaries is in taking charge of your health.  Regular gynecological exams are crucial for any woman’s wellbeing, yet I see it time and time again how these appointments are canceled, put off, or in some cases, ignored altogether.  There are so many reasons for not making and keeping your doctor’s appointment, but no real excuse for not taking good care of your health.  How can we as women take care of so many others if we are not taking proper care of ourselves?

Many times, people who rely on us as caregivers or as support may not realize the burden they place on us, because we never complain.  If we never draw healthy boundaries, we will forever be asked to do more, give more, and work more, even to the breaking point.  It’s not that we don’t want to give, but there is always a limit to creating and sustaining a healthy life.

I think it’s important to remember that a gynecological exam is an hour or so either once a year, or if you are a patient with higher risk factors, perhaps every 4-6 months.  It’s not much to ask that people respect your need to have regular medical care.  If you have children, you make sure they always see their pediatrician on time.  Why should it be any less important for you?

On the day of your appointment, don’t try to cram a whole bunch of to do’s either before or after your appointment.  Give yourself the needed time to get to our office at a leisurely pace, and do not rush.  While we try to respect everyone’s time and get our patients in and out as quickly as possible, we will not skimp on any patient’s care to make things run faster.  

I want my focus as a gynecological physician to be on my patients’ care more than their schedules.  I am also a busy mom, wife, employer, and member of the community.  Yet when I am here in the office, I am a physician first.  As much as I dislike charging cancellation fees for missed appointments, I have to somehow minimize the effect of them on my practice as a whole.

So, please take the time to honor yourself by honoring your body.  Take the time to take care of it.  The emails, phone calls, texts, soccer games and meetings will all be there when you are done with your appointment, back in the game and ready to participate.

Boo! Taking the “Scary!” Out of Outpatient Office Procedures

Halloween is just around the corner, with many people enjoying the reminders of the season – little ones picking out their costumes, putting up decorations, and carving pumpkins.  It’s all in fun, and most of us enjoy a light-hearted scare at this time of year.  However, some women are truly frightened of in office gynecological procedures that could vastly improve their quality of life.  In reality, I believe it’s more fear of the unknown than the actual procedure.

Medicine has progressed leaps and bounds in the last 10 years, even from the time I was in medical school.  This is why I am so passionate about continuing education, and through a love of teaching, imparting my knowledge on advanced gynecological medicine to other physicians all over the country.  New technologies, treatments, and discoveries happen every day, and I want to make sure I know about the ones that can help all my patients live longer, healthier, more vibrant lives.

Because of the progress in gynecological treatments in the last decade, procedures that used to require a hospital stay are now done in a medical office setting.  As a busy mother and wife, I understand that my patients have lives to lead, soccer practice to get to, business meetings to attend, and dance recitals to watch their kids perform.  Sometimes, our own health as women gets pushed to the back burner as we see to everyone else’s needs but our own.  Still, there may be more than just the pull of family and work obligations preventing women from seeking and scheduling a procedure that could improve the quality of their lives.  The fear of pain, recovery time, and complications lead some to just “live with” symptoms that disrupt and inconvenience their lives, like dealing with the hassle of a monthly birth control pill when a family is complete, and constant, heavy bleeding.

Here I hope to demystify a couple of common procedures and take away needless fear regarding them:

Essure Permanent Birth Control

Essure is a permanent sterilization procedure that offers no incisions, no scarring, or hormonal therapy.  There is no need for any anesthetic or actual surgery, and any discomfort (some women report none at all) is very minimal. With Essure, small micro-inserts are placed inside the fallopian tubes by way of the vagina and cervix pathways.  After the procedure, the body’s natural healing process takes over, allowing tissue in the fallopian tubes to heal over the micro-inserts, forming a barrier between sperm and egg.  After 3 months, a special x-ray test will confirm that the procedure was successful and the tubes are blocked.

For more questions and information on Essure, please visit our website:

http://www.dramybrenner.com/services-essure.htm

Thermachoice Endometrial Ablation

One of the most common complaints I hear from my patients is episodes of heavy bleeding.  This potentially embarrassing condition inconveniences every aspect of a woman’s life and inhibits social interaction, an active lifestyle, and even intimacy with a partner.  With Thermachoice, there is no surgery, no downtime, and no scarring.  This very quick procedure is done in the office (average time in only 8 minutes) and no anesthetic or incisions is involved.  First, a mild sedative is given to relax the patient, and a numbing agent is applied to the uterus.  A slender, hand-held catheter is inserted into the uterus through the cervix, and applies controlled heat to destroy the lining of the uterus.  This ends the hassle of monthly periods and any need for feminine protection products.  Child bearing must be complete to consider this procedure.

For more information on Thermachoice, please click on the link below:

http://www.dramybrenner.com/services-thermachoice.htm

I hope everyone enjoys Halloween, taking their little ghouls and goblins trick-or-treating.  When it comes to your health, the only thing to be scared of is not seeking the available help you need to enhance your health and give you a happier, more balanced life.

Happy Halloween!

~Dr. Brenner & Staff

Embracing My Passion for Teaching Patients, Not Just Doctors

One of my areas of expertise as a physician is teaching.  I travel quite a bit to teach other OBGYN doctors the latest innovations in minimally invasive outpatient surgeries.  I enjoy contributing to the well being of women everywhere by sharing my knowledge with their physicians, ensuring they are well equipped to provide their patients the very best care.

In the spirit of that philosophy, I invested in our Patient Education System, available to all my patients to get more information about their concerns in the privacy of the exam room.  

What is a Patient Education System (PES) and how does it work?

Our PES consists of a large screen TV located within our exam rooms, with a corresponding remote.  As you get ready for your appointment, you can access this easy to use system to look up any kind of information regarding women’s health, symptoms, treatments, and prevention right there at your fingertips.  While I always encourage my patients to formulate questions prior to an appointment, the PES may spark additional questions or topics of conversation, to make the most of the time we have together during your exam.

As your physician, I want you to be informed as a patient, as we partner together to reach your goals of vibrant health and balance. 

Here are some pictures of the PES at work:

As with all my patients who have used it, I know you are going to love it!

Our PES is just one way we strive to demonstrate our commitment to the latest technology and tools to make the lives of you, our patients, easier and healthier through education and empowerment.

To your health and well-being,

-Dr. Brenner & Staff

West Chester Chamber Alliance Welcomes My New Practice!

On Sept. 2, 2011, we were welcomed by the West Chester Chamber Alliance into the West Chester business community with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, attended by all my staff as well as Chamber officials.

In addition, we are being featured in this month’s issue of “The Voice”, The Chamber’s magazine.  This article will describe what makes our brand of care entirely unique to the community, and not just another doctor’s office.  Of course, women come from all over the Cincinnati area to our practice, because of our personalized approach to caring for our patients.

Here are some pictures from the event:

We are so excited about being part of the West Chester business renaissance and growth.  In addition, West Chester Hospital, just a few miles from our office, offers world-class medical care to our growing community.

Thanks to all my patients who have made my new practice your home away from home for advanced gynecological and anti-aging treatment and care.

We look forward to helping you stay healthy, happy, and looking and feeling your best!

-Dr. Brenner and Staff

The Reviews Are In! Find Out What My Patients Love Most About My New Practice…

It’s hard to believe we have been open for over a month now.  I am amazed at how beautifully everything has come together due to my dedicated team, a lot of hard work, and meticulous planning.  It goes without saying we had a few hiccups in our journey, but I am so thankful for the realization of this new medical practice because to me, it’s all about you, my treasured patients.  

Here are some of the wonderful things people are saying about us:

• The coziest, warmest office atmosphere.  You may not know this, but I didn’t hire some fancy decorator to come in and design the interior of my office.  I wanted all my patients to feel like they had just walked into my living room, as my honored guest, with warm colors, homey touches, and a fresh cup of hot coffee to greet them.  My office decorating, which I did with some great help from my college roommate and dear friend, was a labor of love that extends from the reception area to each exam and procedure room.  I picked out many of the pieces myself and so many patients have told me how the atmosphere alone has helped set their mind at ease.

•  Our cuddly-soft spa robes.  My patients absolutely love them and comment about them often.

• The most welcoming, concerned, and caring staff.  I handpicked each one of my team members and they all share my vision and commitment to creating the very best gynecological and anti-aging medical practice in Cincinnati.  To us, you are not just a patient.  You are the reason we do what we do, and every person working for me believes in our mission to providing you the best care, with compassion and understanding.

• When you call, we answer!  We have a 2-ring answer goal that we strive to meet every day, so you can talk to a human being, not an automated attendant.

• The most advanced solutions in women's health and youth preservation.  Continuing education is not just a responsibility for me.  I teach physicians all across the country in the latest innovations in minimally invasive gynecological surgery.  I have the most experienced and skilled staff specializing in anti-aging treatments to help you look and feel your best.  Patients love that the best in gynecological care and the best in anti-aging care can be found in one place. 

• We care what you think!  We have survey cards at the ready for you to offer feedback about your experience.  We want to know what we are doing right, or if there is something we can improve on.

Feel free to talk to one of my staff about their professional specialty.  We welcome questions!  Whether you want to know about losing weight with pharmaceutical grade HCG, or spider vein elimination with sclerotherapy, or scientific skincare, we can answer all your questions and then some.  It’s why we are here!

We all look forward to seeing you!

~Dr. Brenner and Staff