The Patient Podcast

Critical Care and End-of-Life episode: It’s a hard topic to discuss, but one of the most important conversations we NEED to have is about death and dying as it relates to the medical world and our personal family’s journey. Critical Care and End-of-Life Care specialist, Dr. Jamie Taylor, sits down with Nicole to discuss what families really need to know about this most difficult time we all should be prepared for.

In this episode, we learn the basics about Anti-Depressants with Dr. Samantha Stewart, a psychiatrist at Venice Family Clinic. Nicole and Dr. Stewart discuss what our brains and bodies do in reaction to anti-depressants, how and why they work, when to know if you might want to consider taking them, and how to go about getting the help you need. Dr. Stewart recommends these helpful websites if you need to find more resources or information:   SAMHSA: Treatment Referral Routing Service  Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health

Nicole sits down with licensed Physical Therapist, Debra Bear. They discuss what physical therapy is, how it can help you, and what to expect when you work with a PT in your own home.

This special episode is for our Healthcare Providers who have worked so tirelessly to serve patients during the pandemic. Burnout is serious and it’s hard to continue to deliver compassionate care when you yourself are terribly depleted. Nicole sits down with Patient Lee Tomlinson, speaker, TED Talk presenter, and author of "Compassion Heals," a book dedicated to healthcare workers that provides a recipe for self-care and specific tools that can help them step off the treadmill and restore themselves, so they can freely give from a well of wellbeing and compassion within. Patient Lee Tomlinson inspires medical professionals to bring compassionate care back to the forefront of modern medicine to improve patient outcomes, decrease staff burnout, and enhance the bottom line.   You can learn more about Lee Tomlinson or contact him directly at his website: http://leetomlinson.com/  You can buy his book, Compassion Heals: From Self-Care to Healthcare, on Amazon by clicking HERE.

In this episode our host, Nicole, had the incredible honor of sitting down with Dr. Pejman Naghdechi, the Medical Director of Seasons Hospice. Dr. Naghdechi educates listeners about the medical world of Hospice – what it really is, who it’s for, how to use it, insurance coverage, what to expect, what to do, etc. Additionally, and more importantly, Dr. Naghdechi opens his own heart and truly reveals the deep emotions that come with the death and dying process. Please enjoy this very special episode.

This episode is not just for the diabetics out there! You know, because healthy eating is important for everyone! Plus, turns out MOST of the country suffers from being prediabetic or diabetic! Nicole sits down with nutritionist, Jennifer Shiri, MSc, RD, who gives us some easy tricks of the trade to keep your meals easy, fast, yummy, and super HEALTHY! Additionally, if you are caring for someone that needs your help when it comes to healthy food, this episode covers some simple caregiving cooking hacks. Jennifer suggests these helpful and healthy websites during her episode. Bon Appétit! https://nutritionfacts.org/ https://pamelasalzman.com/ https://dishingouthealth.com/

When it comes to mental health our brain is a complicated organ and there are many ways to help ourselves truly feel better! In this episode, Nicole sits down with PK Maxx, Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist and Therapeutic Guided Imagery Master, who will help us understand the clinical reasons hypnotherapy can truly change our habits, feelings, and lives! You can learn more about PK Maxx at https://www.bodymindimaging.com/ and find her recommended resources below. Enjoy! Becoming Supernatural: How Common People are Doing the Uncommon by Joe Dispenza Change Your Brain, Change Your Life by Daniel Amen Bruce Lipton, PhD

As promised during episode 25, it's a free bonus track courtesy of our guest PK Maxx!  Please sit back, relax and enjoy!  (In a safe, quiet spot, please!) You can learn more about PK Maxx at https://www.bodymindimaging.com

Today’s episode focuses on substance use during the pandemic. Nicole sits down with expert David Lisonbee, President and Chief Executive Officer of Twin Town Treatment Centers. Nicole and David have an honest conversation about using alcohol and drugs during the pandemic, what it does to us physically, mentally, and emotionally, and what helpful resources are out there.   You can find David at https://twintowntreatmentcenters.com/   More Resources David mentions:   Alcoholics Anonymous: https://www.aa.org/   Narcotics Anonymous: https://na.org/   Al-Anon Family Groups: https://al-anon.org/     Smart Recovery: https://www.smartrecovery.org/   Refuge Recovery: https://www.refugerecovery.org/    Celebrate Recovery: https://www.celebraterecovery.com/

Yes, turns out YOGA can actually help you medically! It’s not just for people who enjoy kale, turnips and granola. Want scientific proof? Listen in to hear Elizabeth Ko, MD, a top UCLA expert as both an internist and integrative specialist, as she explains how and why a yoga practice can change your health for the better. Not only does Dr. Ko explain the medical benefits of yoga, she helps us discover a way to start a practice as a beginner and shares a free online yoga class put on by UCLA every Tuesday and Thursday at noon. (You can even do it at your desk! Kale, turnips, and granola not included.)  Information can be found here for UCLA’s Yoga Classes:  https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ucla-health-virtual-yoga-therapy-tickets-122644851051 You can find more information on Dr. Ko here: https://www.uclahealth.org/elizabeth-ko

What tools do you use for managing stress, anxiety, and trauma? In this episode, we sit down with a mental health psychotherapist expert who will leave you with actual tools and coping strategies! Shira Myrow, MA, LMFT explains how Mindfulness and Meditation might just be the Medicine you need when facing the aftermath of a pandemic!   Email: therapy.smyrow@gmail.com  Phone: 310-916-7479  Website: www.shiramyrowtherapy.com Social Handles: @shiramyrowlmft  Recommended Resources:   https://www.mindful.org/ https://insightla.org/  Jon Kabat-Zinn's 8-week Course Info: https://mbsrtraining.com/jon-kabat-zinn/

In Part 3 of The Covid Vaccine Podcast Series, Nicole welcomes back Health Educator and Chief Medical Officer at Irvine Clinical Research, Dr. Dung Trinh. This COVID Vaccine episode discusses what a vaccination really is and how it works in our bodies, vaccinations throughout history, what they have achieved, understanding herd immunity, what it will take to end this pandemic, and how you can personally talk directly to Dr. Trinh and ask him questions during his live Facebook chats about the coronavirus, the vaccine, and more. You can find Dr. Trinh on Facebook: @trinhhealth

In this special episode, Nicole speaks with Infectious Disease specialist, Dr. Keith Armitage, about the COVID Vaccine. Dr. Armitage not only breaks down why this vaccine is safe for people to take but discusses how he himself volunteered to be part of the COVID Vaccine Clinical Trials! He covers short-term and long-term side effects, how to balance the risk versus benefits of taking the vaccine, what you need to know about being contagious after getting the vaccine, why there are two doses, and what we know about fertility regarding COVID and the vaccine. Dr. Keith Armitage is Professor of Medicine at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio and Vice Chair for Education and Residency Director in the Department of Internal Medicine. This episode is part two of three special episodes on the COVID vaccine.

In this special episode, Nicole speaks with her family's personal physician about the COVID Vaccine. Dr. Manali Shendrikar discusses what we need to know about taking and getting the COVID Vaccine, whether it has been proven safe to take, who should take it, who should NOT take it, how people will find out when it is their turn to receive it, where to go to get the vaccine, the latest updates about the virus, new info on testing to find out if you have the virus, and questions and answers regarding pregnancy and family planning during COVID times. Dr. Manali Shendrikar is a primary care family MD that sees patients from birth to death, was trained at UCLA and is now at Providence St. John's Hospital in Santa Monica, CA. This episode is Part 1 of 3 special episodes on The COVID Vaccine.

In this episode I have a nice heart to heart talk with Cardiologist, Dr. Ray Kawasaki. We talk about everything from the basics of understanding heart health, to identifying an anxiety attack versus a heart attack, to how how AFib is treated, to what it was like for him as a doctor to get COVID himself! Dr. Kawasaki talked about Dr. Dean Ornish's Program for Reversing Heart Disease - you can find more info here: https://www.ornish.com/

In this "eye opening" episode, Nicole and optometrist and eye surgeon, Dr. Gavin Bahadur, dig into what we really need to know about our eyes and maintaining proper eye health. Turns out, there's more to this than meets the eye! We cover everything from how often you really need to get your eyes examined, how and why screens are affecting our eyes and sleep, glaucoma, cataracts, and how breast milk cures pink eye (wink wink)! You can find more info on Dr. Bahadur by going here: https://www.uclahealth.org/gavin-bahadur

There is lots of discussion in the news today about working with a D.O. (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine) or an M.D.(Medical Doctor). In this episode, Nicole sits down with an old friend who is a D.O. that specializes in Neurology. With Trump using a DO instead of an MD, it's good to know what each type of doctor brings to the table. We also get into understanding headaches, how a neurologist will diagnose and treat them, and how screen time is affecting us. You can find more info on Dr. Cliff Segil by finding him here: https://cliffordsegil.com/

In this episode we tackle the big world of HOME CARE! What is home health care? Who can get it? Does insurance cover it? When do we need it? How do I find a good home care company? What should I know before I get it? What's the difference between home health and non-medical caregiving? Nicole sits down with home care expert and social worker, Neil Rotter, MSG, MSW to uncover everything you need to know about thriving safely in your home. For more information on Accredited Home Care, go to: https://www.accreditednursing.com/ And to use Medicare's website to find a quality home health agency near you, go to: https://www.medicare.gov/homehealthcompare/search.html

Is MENOPAUSE in your future? If so - LISTEN to this episode! OBGYN, Dr. Rebecca Brown, gives a detailed tell-all about perimenopause, signs, symptoms, and an in-depth breakdown of hormones, specifically covering Bioidentical vs Synthetic Hormones. If you wish your personal OBGYN had a full hour to sit down with you to discuss this topic, this episode is your chance to do just that!

Taboo - Shmaboo! When it comes to the C WORD and our ANUS we tend to tense up! This is a must-listen episode that will open your eyes (ears, and sphincter) to learn about a type of cancer that you can completely prevent or transmit! This episode is not only for sexually active adults, but it's especially important for parents with young children to hear more about the HPV vaccine and what it can do to prevent cancer. Dr. Alen Voskanian is a passionate specialist in High Resolution Anoscopist, is the Medical Director for Cedars-Sinai Medical Group (CSMG) and an Associate Clinical Professor of the highly prestigious David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California, Los Angeles. Dr. Voskanian is a board-certified physician in both Hospice & Palliative Medicine and Family Medicine. Additionally, he is an HIV specialist certified by the American Academy of HIV Medicine.