Regina
07-06-2007, 02:13 PM
GET THE SKINNY
JUNES 2007
Welcome to Junes newsletter.
We had another great support meeting in June. Once again for those of you who could not make it I will go over what was discussed.
Some of you may not know that Dr Allam is now doing the Lap Band while still performng the Gastric Bypass Surgery. Lap Band seems to be becoming a little more popular over the gastric bypass mostly due to the advertisements on TV. Lap Band surgery is very different in many ways but there are similarities.
For those of you who are thinking about having surgery the first thing you need to decide on is WHAT IS BEST FOR YOU. Whether it be the Gastric Bypass or the Lap Band. My advice is to research both. Weigh up the differences between them.
Dr. Allam explained all about the band at the last support meeting - the pros and cons of it. Just like gastric bypass they do have their plusses.
The Band is not such an invasive surgery as the gastric bypass is. The band is placed around your stomach and there is a balloon inside the ring. That balloon gets filled with a saline solution to make the opening smaller. This is how it works. When the surgery is first performed they do not fill it with anything. The surgeon wants to see how you do with the band before adding any more solution to it. When you visit your doctor after the surgery you will get weighed and the doctor will want to know how you are doing with your eating. They will want to know if you are eating small amounts or still large amounts, if you are getting sick after eating or if everything seems to be good. Based on your answers the doctor will determine if you need an adjustment or not.
If you are looking for a fast weight loss then the Band might not be what you are looking for. It is a slower weight loss procedure but still effective if you do what you need to do. The Band is not for everyone and you are the one who has to make the decision based on what you want. The band is reversible but only if it is medically necessary. If after having the procedure you decide that you don’t want to do this anymore the doctor will not take it out for that reason - it must be a medical reason. So make sure that you are well-educated on which procedure you want. Come to the support meetings, ask questions, get answers and then make a decision based on the knowledge that you absorbed and on what is best for you. Don’t let anyone talk you into something that you might not want. Whichever procedure you choose, remember that either procedure is only a tool. If you use your tool correctly then you will have a very successful weight loss. In the end it is your body and your choice to make. Good luck in whatever choice you make.
Dr Allam also talked about a survey that was done on people who have had the surgery and those who were successful in the survey were ones that come to support meetings, follow up with there doctor appointments and get their blood work done. People who have gone off track and may have gained back a substantial amount of weight are those who don’t do those things. Please remember that even if you are busy, try to take the time out for yourself once a month. The reason that you went through this was because you were having health problems and overeating so why stop after the surgery? Our support meetings are an integral part of the process.
Pat talked about the difference in food and vitamins in regard to both the Lap Band and the Gastric Bypass.
Go to our website to see the paper that she handed out to us at the meeting.
OUR NEXT SUPPORT GROUP MEETING
Will be on July 17, 2007 at the Hampton Bays Library, Hampton Bays.
New Patients please be there at 6:00 PM
All others please be there at 6:30 PM
__________________________________________________ _______________
Interview With A Patient
1. Your name Darla McCavanagh
2. How did you find Dr Allam? He was reccomended to me by my Gyn – Dr. Gerri
Schmidt
3. What procedure did you choose? RNY Gastric Bypass
4. Why did you choose this one over another? I had a lot of weight to lose
and I thought I would play around with the band like I did with so many
diets & not really accomplish much. Also, I knew a person who had the band 3 – 4 times & was still MO.
5. How long did you research it before going ahead with it? I watched
several people who had the surgery; one of them for 3 yrs. When I became
serious about it I hit the WEB hard for about 6 months.
6.a) Have you had your surgery? Yes or No
6.b) If Yes, when? August 4, 2006
7. Explain as briefly as you can how you felt after your surgery. Very
relieved that I was finally on the way to being a big LOSER.
8. Were you in a lot of pain?I was in quite a lot of pain for about 3
days(thank God for the Morphine drip). By the time I went home I felt much
better – I only used the pain meds for a few nights. Every day was better
than the one before. Overall it wasn't too bad.
9. How soon were you up and about? The night of surgery they had me up & I haven't been down much since.
10. How long were you in the hospital for – 4 days
11. Where there any complications after surgery? No, Dr. Allam did a
wonderful job!!!
12. If you work, how long was it before you were able to return back to
work? Five weeks.
13. What kind of work do you do? Special Ed Teacher's Aid
14. Did you find it hard to return to work after the surgery? It was a
little hard to organize my eating & drinking, but my co-workers were very
supportive.
15.a) Did you tell people - family, friends, co-workers - that you were
having this surgery? Yes or No
Yes – I tell everyone. I want people to see that the surgery is a good thing; especially if they could benefit from it too.
16.a) Did you have any health problems besides being obese? Yes or No
16.b) If yes, what were they? Yes – I have high blood pressure and anxiety
issues.
17. Do you still have any of the above health problems? They are under
control with medications.
18. Do you attend the support group meetings? Yes – in fact I hate to miss
them.
19. Do you follow up with your visit to Dr Allam? yes
20. Do you take all your vitamins and follow the rules on what to eat? Most
certainly!!! I think that is a great part of my success & lack of
complications.
21.a) If you have lost all of your weight already have you had any other
surgery since then? Yes or No no
21.b) If yes, what?
22.a) Are you considering having any other surgery? Yes or No
22.b) If so what? I'm not sure yet. I want to lose more first.
23. Is there anything you would like to say to the people who are thinking
of this surgery that you think may help them or guide them with their
decision? It is the best thing I ever did for myself. I'm still in awe everytime I walk by a mirror(which I don't avoid anymore).
24. Most importantly, would you do this surgery again now that you know what it is all about? IN A HEARTBEAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you Darla for your interview.
JUNES 2007
Welcome to Junes newsletter.
We had another great support meeting in June. Once again for those of you who could not make it I will go over what was discussed.
Some of you may not know that Dr Allam is now doing the Lap Band while still performng the Gastric Bypass Surgery. Lap Band seems to be becoming a little more popular over the gastric bypass mostly due to the advertisements on TV. Lap Band surgery is very different in many ways but there are similarities.
For those of you who are thinking about having surgery the first thing you need to decide on is WHAT IS BEST FOR YOU. Whether it be the Gastric Bypass or the Lap Band. My advice is to research both. Weigh up the differences between them.
Dr. Allam explained all about the band at the last support meeting - the pros and cons of it. Just like gastric bypass they do have their plusses.
The Band is not such an invasive surgery as the gastric bypass is. The band is placed around your stomach and there is a balloon inside the ring. That balloon gets filled with a saline solution to make the opening smaller. This is how it works. When the surgery is first performed they do not fill it with anything. The surgeon wants to see how you do with the band before adding any more solution to it. When you visit your doctor after the surgery you will get weighed and the doctor will want to know how you are doing with your eating. They will want to know if you are eating small amounts or still large amounts, if you are getting sick after eating or if everything seems to be good. Based on your answers the doctor will determine if you need an adjustment or not.
If you are looking for a fast weight loss then the Band might not be what you are looking for. It is a slower weight loss procedure but still effective if you do what you need to do. The Band is not for everyone and you are the one who has to make the decision based on what you want. The band is reversible but only if it is medically necessary. If after having the procedure you decide that you don’t want to do this anymore the doctor will not take it out for that reason - it must be a medical reason. So make sure that you are well-educated on which procedure you want. Come to the support meetings, ask questions, get answers and then make a decision based on the knowledge that you absorbed and on what is best for you. Don’t let anyone talk you into something that you might not want. Whichever procedure you choose, remember that either procedure is only a tool. If you use your tool correctly then you will have a very successful weight loss. In the end it is your body and your choice to make. Good luck in whatever choice you make.
Dr Allam also talked about a survey that was done on people who have had the surgery and those who were successful in the survey were ones that come to support meetings, follow up with there doctor appointments and get their blood work done. People who have gone off track and may have gained back a substantial amount of weight are those who don’t do those things. Please remember that even if you are busy, try to take the time out for yourself once a month. The reason that you went through this was because you were having health problems and overeating so why stop after the surgery? Our support meetings are an integral part of the process.
Pat talked about the difference in food and vitamins in regard to both the Lap Band and the Gastric Bypass.
Go to our website to see the paper that she handed out to us at the meeting.
OUR NEXT SUPPORT GROUP MEETING
Will be on July 17, 2007 at the Hampton Bays Library, Hampton Bays.
New Patients please be there at 6:00 PM
All others please be there at 6:30 PM
__________________________________________________ _______________
Interview With A Patient
1. Your name Darla McCavanagh
2. How did you find Dr Allam? He was reccomended to me by my Gyn – Dr. Gerri
Schmidt
3. What procedure did you choose? RNY Gastric Bypass
4. Why did you choose this one over another? I had a lot of weight to lose
and I thought I would play around with the band like I did with so many
diets & not really accomplish much. Also, I knew a person who had the band 3 – 4 times & was still MO.
5. How long did you research it before going ahead with it? I watched
several people who had the surgery; one of them for 3 yrs. When I became
serious about it I hit the WEB hard for about 6 months.
6.a) Have you had your surgery? Yes or No
6.b) If Yes, when? August 4, 2006
7. Explain as briefly as you can how you felt after your surgery. Very
relieved that I was finally on the way to being a big LOSER.
8. Were you in a lot of pain?I was in quite a lot of pain for about 3
days(thank God for the Morphine drip). By the time I went home I felt much
better – I only used the pain meds for a few nights. Every day was better
than the one before. Overall it wasn't too bad.
9. How soon were you up and about? The night of surgery they had me up & I haven't been down much since.
10. How long were you in the hospital for – 4 days
11. Where there any complications after surgery? No, Dr. Allam did a
wonderful job!!!
12. If you work, how long was it before you were able to return back to
work? Five weeks.
13. What kind of work do you do? Special Ed Teacher's Aid
14. Did you find it hard to return to work after the surgery? It was a
little hard to organize my eating & drinking, but my co-workers were very
supportive.
15.a) Did you tell people - family, friends, co-workers - that you were
having this surgery? Yes or No
Yes – I tell everyone. I want people to see that the surgery is a good thing; especially if they could benefit from it too.
16.a) Did you have any health problems besides being obese? Yes or No
16.b) If yes, what were they? Yes – I have high blood pressure and anxiety
issues.
17. Do you still have any of the above health problems? They are under
control with medications.
18. Do you attend the support group meetings? Yes – in fact I hate to miss
them.
19. Do you follow up with your visit to Dr Allam? yes
20. Do you take all your vitamins and follow the rules on what to eat? Most
certainly!!! I think that is a great part of my success & lack of
complications.
21.a) If you have lost all of your weight already have you had any other
surgery since then? Yes or No no
21.b) If yes, what?
22.a) Are you considering having any other surgery? Yes or No
22.b) If so what? I'm not sure yet. I want to lose more first.
23. Is there anything you would like to say to the people who are thinking
of this surgery that you think may help them or guide them with their
decision? It is the best thing I ever did for myself. I'm still in awe everytime I walk by a mirror(which I don't avoid anymore).
24. Most importantly, would you do this surgery again now that you know what it is all about? IN A HEARTBEAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you Darla for your interview.