CentraState - Healthy Directions

Quality of LIFE F NO LIMITATIONS ON or 80-year-old Dolores Fair of Freehold, exercise was a regular part of her routine. Then she started experiencing muscle spasms every time she walked, and she knew she had to talk to her physician. "Since the CentraState Fitness Center is just seven minutes away from my house, I enjoy going there four times a week to walk and swim," Dolores says. "Taking the aqua aerobics classes really help with my arthritis, so when I began experiencing more severe symptoms, I knew it was more than that." Dolores talked about her symptoms, which included leg discomfort, with her primary care physician, Fiolakemi Sowemimo, MD, board-certified internal medicine physician with Prime Internal Medicine and on staff at CentraState Medical Center. Fiolakemi Sowemimo, MD, board-certified internal medicine physician "Dolores has been my patient since last April, and I knew how important keeping active was for her," Dr. Sowemimo says. "After performing some tests, a blockage was found in one of her legs, which, if left untreated, could lead to advanced peripheral artery disease or limb loss. Many times, patients wait Multigenerational Health Care Fiolakemi Sowemimo, MD, board- certified internal medicine physician with Prime Internal Medicine and on staff at CentraState Medical Center, also cares for other members of Dolores' family. Pleased with the care Dr. Sowemimo provided to her, Dolores referred her daughter and granddaughter, and Dr. Sowemimo is now their primary care physician. After undergoing an endovascular procedure that restored blood flow to her leg, Dolores Fair is back to exercising regularly at the CentraState Fitness Center. www.centrastate.com November/December 2012 9 too long to have stenting [insertion of a tube into the body to open a blocked passageway] and require a more involved surgery. I knew we needed to act quickly. " GETTING BACK TO A FULLER LIFE Dr. Sowemimo encouraged Dolores to consider her options, which included stenting to restore blood flow to the affected leg. After some consideration and with the help of Dr. Sowemimo, Dolores underwent an endovascular procedure and was able to return home the next day. Since undergoing this procedure, Dolores has been able to maintain her fitness routine and continues to swim and walk regularly, as well spending time shopping or having lunch with her granddaughter. "In my lifetime, I've had a variety of doctors—some good, some not so good. Dr. Fiola, as we call her, is the best doctor I've ever had. She is caring and compassionate and really takes my concerns to heart," Dolores says. "I know that if I need anything, she'll refer me to other great specialists or explain my treatment options." Dr. Sowemimo is also pleased by Dolores' progress. "It's not uncommon for me and my daughter to run into Dolores at the Fitness Center, " Dr. Sowemimo says. "I want other people to know that if they are having symptoms like Dolores had, they should speak with their physicians so treatment can begin before quality of life is affected." Need a primary care physician? Visit www.centrastate.com/physicians or call (866) CENTRA7 (866-236-8727). HD

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