The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Mary Rathman

03/16/2016 – Parkinson’s support

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The Tampa area Parkinson’s Support Group will meet on March 16 at 1 p.m., at the North Tampa Library, 89916 N. Boulevard. The guest speaker will be Dr. Stephen Sergay, neurologist. Light refreshments will be served. The group is for anyone diagnosed with Parkinson’s, family members and caregivers.

For information, call Jane Lowry at (813) 252-9037 or Adele Ida Walter at (813) 932-6902.

Health News 03/02/2016

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March is National Colon Cancer Awareness Month
The Medical Center of Trinity has introduced an enhanced recovery protocol to help patients tolerate colorectal surgery more easily and recuperate more quickly.

Dr. Jared Frattini, a colorectal surgeon, now offers a regimen of medicines and nutrients to help reduce the amount of narcotics a patient needs.

The surgical procedure itself has not changed for treatment of small intestine and colon conditions; however, the recovery process incorporates non-narcotic medicines such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen to reduce pain, allowing bowel function to resume more quickly.

A normal colon procedure performed via laparoscopy has a typical hospital stay of four to six days. The enhanced recovery protocol has shortened that time to two to four days. For open surgeries, the length of stay has been reduced to three to five days, from a previous five- to seven-day stay.

The Medical Center of Trinity is located at 9330 State Road 54, near Little Road.

Center for veterans
The Pasco County Vet Center, 5139 Deer Park Drive in New Port Richey, provides counseling for post-traumatic stress disorder, military sexual trauma, bereavement counseling, marriage and family counseling, and resources for benefits information and suicide prevention referrals.

The center is open Monday to Wednesday from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., and Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Some Saturday appointments are available.

All services are confidential and provided at no cost to the veteran and family members.

To learn more, or to schedule a tour of the facility, call (727) 372-1854.

Information is also available at www.vetcenter.va.gov.

Medicare help

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The New River Library, 34043 State Road 54 in Zephyrhills, will host a SHINE (Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders) representative on March 3 at 11 a.m., to answer Medicare enrollment questions. For information, call (813) 788-6375.

Women’s health luncheon

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Florida Hospital Zephyrhills will host “Ladies Who Lunch” on March 3 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the East Pasco Seventh-day Adventist Church, 7333 Dairy Road in Zephyrhills.

The free event includes breakout sessions on health issues, complimentary screenings, a health fair, giveaways, and a luncheon with keynote speaker, Lissette Campos, director of community affairs for Tampa’s ABC Action News and host of the affiliate’s “Positively Tampa Bay.”

Participants are encouraged to wear or bring a favorite spring hat for a contest during the luncheon. There will be prizes.

For information and a reservation, call (877) 534-3108.

Breast cancer support

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Florida Cancer Affiliates, 3611 Little Road in Trinity, will offer a breast cancer support group meeting on March 3 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The group is an open discussion on topics of interest for anyone who has been touched by breast cancer. Light refreshments will be served. For information, call (727) 236-0302.

Chatterboxes meeting

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The Medical Center of Trinity, 9330 State Road 54, will host a Chatterboxes meeting on March 3 from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. The meeting is for individuals who suffer from communication deficits. For information or reservation, call (727) 834-5630.

Childbirth prep class

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The Medical Center of Trinity, 9330 State Road 54, will offer a childbirth super-prep course on March 5 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For information and reservation, call (727) 834-5630.

Diabetes education

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Access Health Care, 5382 Spring Hill Drive in Spring Hill, will offer “Diabetes 101” on March 7 at 1 p.m., for those newly diagnosed or not so newly diagnosed. Reservations are required. For information, call (352) 597-7249.

NAMI meeting

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The Medical Center of Trinity, 9330 State Road 54, will offer a NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) family and friends support group on March 7 from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., in Conference Room A. Reservations are advised. For information, call (727) 834-5630.

Alternative medicine choices

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Congregation Kol Ami, 3919 Moran Road in Tampa, will offer a monthly class on “Alternative/Integrative Choices in Medicine,” for preventing and reversing chronic disease and promoting optimal health and wellness. The next meeting is March 8 at 7:30 p.m.

The guest speaker will be Erica Stamps on the topic of organic food and why it is different.

For information, call (813) 962-6338, or email .