Health notes

By MICHELLE JONES, Times Correspondent
Published December 30, 2007

Oak Hill Hospital and Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point will have a seminar from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Jan. 8 at Plantation Inn, 9301 West Fort Island Trail in Crystal River. The presentation will be on the surgical approach and management of atrial fibrillation, with Dr. Ravi Sharma and Dr. Kenneth Yamamura discussing a new minimally invasive treatment now available. Call 352-597-6383.

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The Pasco Post-Polio Syndrome group will meet at 2 p.m. Jan. 7 at the Hudson Library, 8012 Library Road. All Polio survivors and friends are invited. Call Tony at (727) 862-1770 or Pat at (727) 844-7810.

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The West Pasco Fibromyalgia Information Support group meets from 2 to 4 p.m. Friday at the Conference Center behind Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point, 14000 Fivay Road in Hudson. The guest speaker is Maryann Steirmfela of the Social Security Administration. She will discuss how to get Social Security disability benefits. Call (727) 863-4738.

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The Aging Assistance sponsored Caregivers Support group will meet at 10 a.m. Jan. 8 at the administrative offices of Gulfside Regional Hospice, 6117 Trouble Creek Road in New Port Richey. Lori Payne, ADT, will discuss companion services. Call (727) 847-1857.

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The Florida Cancer Institute will host its first Breast Cancer Support group meeting at 6 p.m. Jan 10 at the New Port Richey Center, 8763 River Crossing Blvd. Reservations are recommended and available by by calling (727) 842-8411, ext. 150. The group will meet every other Thursday.

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The Epilepsy Support Group (adult) will meet at 1:30 p.m. Jan. 8 at the Suncoast Epilepsy Association, 9851 State Road 54 in New Port Richey. Call (727) 375-7774 or (727) 546-2856.

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Help with legal problems for Pasco County residents ages 60 and older is available through Helping the Elderly with Legal Problems. Free half-hour consultations are available beginning at 1 p.m. on Jan. 10 and 24 at the CARES Claude Pepper Senior Center, New Port Richey. Call (727) 844-3077 for an appointment. Other appointments are available on Jan. 15 and 29 at the CARES Phil Mishkin Center in New Port Richey. Call (727) 862-9291.

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Community Hospital offers free blood pressure checks from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. each Thursday at 5637 Marine Parkway, New Port Richey. Call (877) 442-2367.

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Adult children of Alcoholics and Dysfunction Families meet at 7 p.m. Thursdays at Unity of Port Richey, 5844 Pine Hill Road in Port Richey. This is a 12-step program that maintains anonymity. Call Bonnie at (727) 862-4556.

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The Pasco County Chapter of National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) offers three types of support group meetings each month for family and friends of those with mental illness and those with mental illness. This includes all types of brain disorders, including but not limited to OCD, depression, autism, bi-polar, schizophrenia and multiple personalities. Daytime meetings are from 3 to 5 p.m. the first and third Monday of each month at the Regency Park Civic Association Building, 10240 Regency Park Blvd., Port Richey. The evening meetings are from 7:30 to 9 p.m. the second and fourth Monday (except holidays) of the month at Conference Room C at Community Hospital, 5637 Marine Parkway, New Port Richey. Call Gloria at (727) 992-9653. The Family and Friends Adolescent Support Group meets from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. the second Thursday of each month at the North Pinellas Children's Medical Center, River Crossing Professional Center, 5508 Little Road, New Port Richey. Call Charity at (727) 457-8514. A consumer support group meets from 7 to 9 p.m. the first and third Wednesday of each month at Community Hospital Resource Room, 5637 Marine Parkway, New Port Richey. Call Mike at (727) 842-3372.

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Nicotine Anonymous meets from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursdays in the Educational Center of St. Vincent DePaul Church, 4843 Mile Stretch Drive in Holiday. Call (727) 937-1396.

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The Alzheimer's Family Organization offers one support group this week. A group meets at 6 p.m. Wednesday at La Casa Grande, 6400 Trouble Creek Road in New Port Richey. Call Rich Beason at (727) 847-2980. The organization has a Wanderers Identification Program for people with memory disorders. Each person is given an identifying bracelet or pendant with a code number and telephone number to the participating sheriff's office. Call the office for details at (727) 848-8888 or (888) 496-8004

Please send any health related meetings or information to Michelle Jones at mjones721@tampabay.rr.com or fax to (813) 684-2457 or mail to P.O. Box 558, Valrico, FL. 33595. Call (813) 685-2200.

[Last modified December 29, 2007, 20:57:28]