Barb's Daily Dose

Robotic Surgery Part IV

Robotic Surgery:  An Innovation That Changes Everything

This changes everything.  How many times have you heard that and wondered if it was really true.  Well, in the case of Robotic Surgery, not only is it true, but it's transforming the way patients are getting treatments and recovering in days instead of weeks. Imagine the old-fashioned way, when as surgeon, Dr. Mary Kilkenny described, she had "Barbie Doll arms" and could only access areas of the body using the equivalent of "scissors on a stick".  You can see my interview with Dr. Kilkenny and Dr. Pisani and listen to what real women who had the procedure have to say.  

Disclosure: I'm thrilled to be working with El Camino Hospital to highlight some of the extraordinary ways that they do whatever it takes for patients. The more I learn about the innovations and cutting-edge use of technology in health care, the more impressed I am.

Robotic Surgery

Dont' forget to watch me tonight on CBS 5, KPIX at 7:20 p.m., before Judge Judy in the San Francisco Bay Area.  I'll be talking about robotic surgery for gynecologic conditions.  I hope you'll tune in.

Healthy Delicious Recipes

Recently I was privileged to learn some cooking tips from Chef Jacques at El Camino hospital.  He made a delicious chicken with artichoke hearts, roasted red peppers and sun dried tomatoes.  It was low-sodium, and yet delicious because he used herbs for seasoning.

You can see Chef Jacques and me cooking on CBS-5 in the San Francisco Bay area, tonight, Wednesday, January 18 at 7:20 pm, just before Judge Judy.  I hope you’ll tune in for more weight loss tips and a fun cooking demonstration.

Family Medical Officer

I recently spoke with Grace Lee from Bay Sunday on CBS 5 in San Francisco about a very cool app for the Family Medical Officer.  The FMO app is now available.

You can see the interview here.

I'm delighted to be working with El Camino Hospital to inform people about the incredible services available there, including The Genomics Institute and the Health Library. The more I learn about their programs and services, the more impressed I am with their commitment to do whatever it takes to help people live their best lives. I'm excited that they're offering Health Perks to my readers and followers free of charge. I hope you'll take advantage of it.

Please click here for more information.

Family Health History

As you do your holiday baking, wrapping and hopefully a little relaxing, I wanted to let you know that I'll be on with my latest edition of Nurse Barb's Daily Dose on CBS -5 in San Francisco tonight at 7:20 pm. Just before Judge Judy.

Preventing Falls in the Home and Keeping Your Bones Healthy

Watch Nurse Barb on "Home with Lisa Quinn" talking about simple tips in the home to keep you safe.

Lights, Camera, Stethoscope

Featured in the Los Altos Town Crier

Written by Diego Abeloos - Staff Writer/diegoa@latc.com   

Wednesday, 23 November 2011

Los Altos resident Barbara Dehn plays many roles for many people.

To her family, she’s a mother and wife.

To her patients at El Camino Hospital’s Women Physicians GYN Medical Group, she’s the nurse practitioner with a penchant for lending a friendly ear.

To local television viewers, however, Dehn is known as “Nurse Barb,” a name that stems from her monthly five-minute segments, “Nurse Barb’s Daily Dose,” on local CBS affiliate KPIX-TV.

Kegels are Just the Beginning

Tune in to CBS-5 in San Francisco Tonight at 7:20 pm.  I'll be talking about Pelvic Health.

As I walked into the exam room to see my patient (Alicia* - not her real name) for her annual exam, I could tell by the expression on her face that she was struggling with an issue. After washing my hands and talking about her young kids in preschool and their soccer schedules, she started to open up about a deeply personal and embarrassing issue.  She was very upset about how much she was leaking urine and that sometimes during sex her bladder, her bladder would also release it's contents.  She was alternately angry, frustrated and horrified.  She was in mid thirties and was very active with her kids and her own small business.

Pelvic Health

Tune in to CBS-5 in San Francisco Tomorrow night at 7:20 pm.  I'll be talking about Pelvic Health.

Physical Therapy for Pelvic Floor Muscles

Joan couldn't get the key to open the front door fast enough. She was kegeling with every fiber of her being and trying desperately not to wet her pants as she struggled with the front door. She was willing her bladder to calm down so that she could make it to the bathroom in time.  This was beginning to become a very troublesome routine. Just as she arrived home from work or an errand, even if her bladder was minimally filling up, she would have a sudden and intense urge to go as soon as she stepped out of the car and fumbled with her keys.

Robotic Surgery: Less Invasive and a Quicker Recovery

Recently I had the opportunity to watch Dr. Katherine Sutherland perform a hysterectomy using Robotic Surgery. This particular patient had very large fibroids that were wreaking havoc in her life and all the other treatments she had tried with other doctors hadn't worked.  She consented to allowing me to observe because as she said, "She wanted more people to know about this remarkable new innovation."  To say that her fibroids were large and "in charge" would be an understatement. They were causing pain and bleeding and she was ready to have them out.