Rhoades Family Practice

Rhoades Family Practice “Healthcare as it should be” - Dusty Rhoades, MSN, APRN, FNP-C

At Rhoades Family Practice we want to say thank you to all of our first responders. What does it mean to be a first resp...
10/28/2025

At Rhoades Family Practice we want to say thank you to all of our first responders. What does it mean to be a first responder?

First Responder
One of the first to arrive and provide assistance at the scene of an emergency. They adapt in challenging situations, they are admired for their strength, courage, and running towards danger so the rest of us can remain safe ❤️

We honor our first responders everyday by always giving our first responders a discount here in the office, so if you come in to be seen, always let the staff know you serve our community so we can thank you.

Today is your day !!!!!
Thank you for your service, God bless you, may he wrap his arms around you and keep you safe ❤️

Thought for the week......1 Corinthians 3:16Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dw...
10/28/2025

Thought for the week......

1 Corinthians 3:16
Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst?

Jesus promised the disciples at the Last Supper that even though he would not be physically present, he would never leave them, he would always be with them, he told them he would send them a helper, to guide them through trials and tribulations, that helper is The Holy Spirit, as christians, God dwells in us, he abides in our soul to offer us peace in times of despair, he guides us and navigates our path when things get tough, all we have to do is be still and listen, seek his voice, and he will answer ❤️

I have received a lot of messages the last few weeks asking if I do hormone replacement on men, and the answer is yes !!...
10/28/2025

I have received a lot of messages the last few weeks asking if I do hormone replacement on men, and the answer is yes !!!
I also provide primary care to men as well.

I have almost as many men that come in and see me for HRT as women. The same symptoms apply to men, as do women when talking about hormones. Men will experience fatigue, weight gain, lack of motivation, low libido, erectile dysfunction, joint pain, anxiety, depression, mood swings, insomnia, and memory fog.

Men are told way too many times that their labs are "normal" just like we are, when in reality, their testosterone needs replacing. I have been working with men for years, and know exactly how to get them feeling better.

If you are needing help regulating your hormones, or as a wife, you know your husband has some of these symptoms, give us a call, I am happy to help 🩺💊
903-202-0765

Progesterone, what you need to know, and why you do not need to check your levels.Let's talk about why you do not monito...
10/23/2025

Progesterone, what you need to know, and why you do not need to check your levels.

Let's talk about why you do not monitor progesterone levels in women being treated for menopausal symptoms. I have recently been asked this question several times by patients.
Routine monitoring with blood tests is not considered necessary or clinically useful during peri and post-menopause.

Progesterone levels are typically not checked in women being treated with progesterone for menopause because, after menopause, a woman's natural progesterone levels are already very low, and the primary goal of progesterone therapy is to maintain a stable, protective level in the uterine lining, or to control symptoms, which can both be achieved with a standard dosage regardless of individual fluctuations in blood levels.

When you give a progestogen in HRT for symptom management, most women feel great. The micronized progesterone in oral capsules can help get you into a deeper state of sleep and will take the edge off of anxiety.

The only use of blood tests for progesterone is to check to see if you have ovulated – that is to find out if you have released an egg during the menstrual cycle that can then become fertilized by sperm. This blood test should be timed to be taken 7 days before your period.

My patient are not seeing me for fertility issues. I am practicing BHRT for peri and post menopausal symptoms, therefore there is no reason for me to check your progesterone levels.

Most women are prescribed either a standard 100mg or 200mg capsule orally. In some instances we will increase the dosage to 400mg temporarily to shut down any unwanted uterine bleeding.

I have also had multiple patients come to me from other providers that get sent for ultrasounds and biopsies after spotting or bleeding when initiating HRT, this is normal and will typically subside if hormones are dosed appropriately, if not, we alter the dose of the progesterone. There are certain protocols providers should follow that are certified in HRT to handle these situations, and rarely is an ultrasound or a biopsy necessary. Providers that do not know how to manage hormones will jump the gun and send you for unnecessary testing, when it is an easy fix with altering the dose of the progesterone.

I also have women ask me "is it necessary to take my progesterone", and the answer is YES ! It is very important for a woman that has not had a hysterectomy especially. Progesterone provides uterine protection by preventing the overgrowth of the uterine lining (endometrium), which can be stimulated by estrogen. When a woman takes estrogen therapy, the uterine lining can build up excessively, leading to conditions like endometrial hyperplasia and cancer. Progesterone counteracts this effect, making it a crucial component of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for women with a uterus. My patient have all heard me say this many times, the ones with a uterus anyway 😉

Education is key ❤️

Are you being told that hormones are bad for your heart, going to make you have a stroke, blood clots, etc...Patients as...
10/22/2025

Are you being told that hormones are bad for your heart, going to make you have a stroke, blood clots, etc...

Patients ask me everyday, "why would another provider tell me hormones are harmful?"

Studies have proven that hormones are cardio protective, they relax the cardiac muscle and dilate the blood vessels. They actually protect the heart from ischemic injury.

It is never recommended to discontinue HRT on women, studies have shown that acute withdrawal from estradiol may predispose patients to potentially fatal coronary artery events due to vasoconstriction.

Declining hormone levels may also contribute to and modulate cardiac rhythm, and help prevent long QT intervals.
Androgens have been shown to inhibit inflammatory activation and induction of procoagulant and adhesive properties, they show anti-thrombotic properties, therefore possessing a cardioprotective function.

In other words, testosterone does not increase clotting risk.
Recent studies have shown that low levels of testosterone have been a predisposing factor in and major determinant of CAD and hypertension.

I have said this over and over, but other providers continue to tell patients otherwise, hormones are cardio protective !!!

Know your latest medical research, educate yourself ❤️

A new study has discovered that drugs for diabetes and weight loss could significantly reduce mortality for Americans.Re...
10/20/2025

A new study has discovered that drugs for diabetes and weight loss could significantly reduce mortality for Americans.

Researchers at Swiss Re, a reinsurance company in Zurich, Switzerland, released estimations that GLP-1 drugs could lead to a 6.4% reduction in all-cause mortality in the U.S. by 2045.

In the U.K., more than a 5% reduction in mortality was projected over the same 20 years.

The U.S. and U.K. share high obesity rates and a "strong uptake" in GLP-1 drugs, the researchers noted in a press release.

America has the world’s highest obesity rate, as more than 40% of the adult population is obese. Obesity is one factor that has "stalled progress in life expectancy," as it is linked to 70% of the leading causes of death in high-income countries, according to the latest research. These causes include heart disease, stroke, Alzheimer’s and many cancers.

Recent research has revealed that GLP-1 medications can improve a variety of conditions beyond weight loss and diabetes.
These include heart, kidney, liver and skin conditions, as well as arthritis, cognitive decline, addiction and even certain cancers. Triple board-certified weight loss physician Dr. Sue Decotiis, who is based in New York, confirmed in an interview with Fox News Digital how patients have experienced an improvement in various conditions while on these medications.

Fat cells, which are burned by an increase in insulin from GLP-1 drugs, produce cytokines that are responsible for inflammation in the body, potentially leading to autoimmune disease, cancer and other issues, according to the expert.

"By reducing the volume of fat cells in the body, we reduce all these inflammatory cytokines," she said. "And that's why we are seeing a lot of the effects that we are seeing."

Go to Fox News to read more on this story from yesterday 🩺💊

I can attest to this statement as a provider, patients will try to come off of GLP-1 medications and say that they can tell their "body inflammation" comes back and they will come back into the office wanting back on the medication just for anti-inflammatory properties.

Thought for the week......From today's sermon John 14:1-3“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believ...
10/20/2025

Thought for the week......

From today's sermon

John 14:1-3
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.

Do you know for certain that your home is in heaven? Don't let another day pass being uncertain where you will spend eternity.

Jesus said in John 14:6 “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

I know where I am going, beyond a shadow of a doubt, but if anyone out there is struggling with what this scripture means, or has never trusted Christ as your Savior, and you need someone to help point you in the right direction, don't ever hesitate to reach out, tomorrow could be too late ❤️

Had no idea it was boss's day !! The girls surprised me after lunch with gifts 😍
10/16/2025

Had no idea it was boss's day !! The girls surprised me after lunch with gifts 😍

I am a huge advocate of Omega 🐟I keep Omega Plus here in the office for patients. This is a pharmaceutical blend of an O...
10/16/2025

I am a huge advocate of Omega 🐟

I keep Omega Plus here in the office for patients. This is a pharmaceutical blend of an Omega 3 fatty acid supplement containing 900 mg EPA and 660mg DHA combined with high potency Vitamin D3 per serving.

Omega Plus is a superior quality, lemon flavored Omega-3 formula providing 900 mg EPA and 660 mg DHA combined with 1,000IU of Vitamin D3. The Omega-3 fish oil, in this product, is from wild caught anchovies, sardines, mackerel, and tuna. The oil is then molecularly distilled to ensure purity and stability.

Omega Plus supports cholesterol balance, cardiovascular, joint & skin health, as well as immune system function. Omega-3 fatty acids are important to health, especially for the heart, brain and cell membranes of the body. The omega-3 fatty acids, Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA) and Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA), are precursors to the PGE3 series of prostaglandins, which are substances important to proper body regulation.

For my patients with triglycerides over 200 mg/dL, who are treated with Omega Plus, you should see a 30% reduction in triglycerides over a six month period of time. For patients with a triglyceride level over 500 mg/dl, you should see significant improvement in numbers when combined with fibrates. Omega helps to raise the HDL, which is our good cholesterol.

Some studies have shown that Omega fish oil also helps reduce you chances of CAD, MI, sudden death, and can even lower your risks for diabetes, heart failure, and sudden cardiac arrhythmias.

Some of the best leaders in medicine make people uncomfortable. Good leaders will also tell you that comfort zones are m...
10/14/2025

Some of the best leaders in medicine make people uncomfortable. Good leaders will also tell you that comfort zones are most often expanded through discomfort.

Resilience is described as the ability to work through the intense, often unpleasant emotions that leaders encounter daily. When you choose to challenge the normal, you will encounter resistance from the opposition, and you must be ready to face the opposition with a positive self-awareness that screams resilience.

Leaders are meant to motivate and positively challenge the comfortable, if it were not for strong leaders, no learning or growth would take place, the World would be a stagnate place, and what fun would that be?

Medicine is ever evolving, and ever changing, don't ever be afraid to challenge the "normal" for your patients, that is what makes a great provider !! 🩺💊

Dusty Rhoades MSN, APRN, FNP-C
"healthcare as it should be"

Thought for the week from Sunday's sermon...."The love of Jesus is giving a person what they need the most when they des...
10/14/2025

Thought for the week from Sunday's sermon....

"The love of Jesus is giving a person what they need the most when they deserve it the least."
Jack Graham

Address

601 Airport Road, Suite 150
Sulphur Springs, TX
75482

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 12pm

Telephone

+19032020765

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