Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaledition.com/i/62321
A Provider to Calm Her Fears When Jillian McElroy, 14, of Freehold, complained of stomach pains on a Saturday night, her mother, Linda, wasn't initially too concerned. When the pain worsened and her daughter started to become pale on Tuesday, she knew something was wrong. "Jillian has always had a high tolerance for pain," Linda says. "We took her to the pediatrician on Wednesday, who recommended she have an ultrasound." Jillian had an ultrasound that same day, and her pediatrician called to inform them that the results showed what she believed was a large ovarian cyst. She advised that Jillian needed to see an ob/gyn immediately. Linda called her own longtime ob/gyn, Helen Simigiannis, MD, FACOG, with Antheia Gynecology and on the medical staff at CentraState Medical Center, and scheduled an appointment for the following day. [PHOTO] Helen Simigiannis, MD, board-certified ob/gyn MYSTERY DIAGNOSIS "Jillian's symptoms were very non- specific, but I could tell she was in a good deal of pain. I didn't feel comfortable about what I saw, so I wanted to take a closer look," Dr. Simigiannis says. "After much discussion with Jillian and her mother, we decided it would be best to look at what was going on laparoscopically and ensure this was indeed an ovarian cyst." The procedure would be Jillian's first surgery, which made the teen and her mother nervous, but the staff at CentraState took extra steps to calm their nerves. "I was scared and didn't like the idea of having surgery," Jillian says. "But everyone was so nice and kept trying to make me more comfortable." "I think back now, and it makes me want to cry remembering how wonderful everyone there was, every step of the way—from admissions to surgery," Linda says. "They were extremely kind and realized how scary this was for both of us." RELIEF IN THE ANSWERS During the procedure, Dr. Simigiannis discovered that Jillian wasn't suffering from an ovarian cyst, but from a very rare condition called fallopian tube torsion, which occurs when the fallopian tube twists and shuts off blood supply to the tube. Because the tube was no longer viable, Dr. Simigiannis decided to remove the tube to prevent it from rupturing or becoming infected in the future. After the procedure, Dr. Simigiannis explained what she found to Jillian and Linda. "Dr. Simigiannis personally came and got me from the waiting room," Linda says. "She was extremely gentle in explaining what happened to Jillian and myself. She handled it with professional expertise, but was very human about it. We were able to leave with a positive attitude about the outcome." "After the procedure, I was just so happy," Jillian says. "I was so relieved, and now I'm able to do everything without having to worry about being in pain." [PHOTO] After a surgical procedure performed by Helen Simigiannis, MD, Jillian McElroy is back to life without pain. To find an ob/gyn to meet your health needs, call (866) CENTRA7 (866-236-8727) or visit www.centrastate.com/doctors.