Regina
04-22-2008, 02:48 PM
GET THE SKINNY
APRIL 2008
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v237/LRJD/Dr%20ALLAM%20FOLDER/Project0DRALLAMFADED.jpg Dr. Allam was away in Peru this week helping the under-privileged as he does his annual pilgrimage to help the needy. We hope he makes out well with this endeavor and wish him the best, and a safe return trip.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v237/LRJD/Dr%20ALLAM%20FOLDER/Pat.jpg Pat started the meeting out with passing around a quiz with questions for both bypass and lapband patients. She went over each question and explained the answers. Everyone did really well and knew most of the answers even if they were questions about a different procedure than the one they had. The questions had to do with proper eating habits, getting enough protein, liquid intake, and a couple of questions on good and bad foods. This quiz will be on the website, so if you were not at the meeting, try it and see how you do. You can private message me Regina and I will check your answers and private message you back with your score. Good Luck!!!
The next part of the meeting was the part where everyone introduces themselves and talks a little about their story, and if anyone has a question, this is where it will pop up and believe me; they will usually give you great answers!!!
There was a nice mix of bypass and lapbanders there and it seems that we can co-exist in a peaceful manner. It is so nice to see everyone learning about the other's procedure, jumping in, and offering help to those who need it.
Hampton Bariatric Summer Picnic The last topic on the agenda to be brought up was the possibility of a Picnic. I started these a few years ago, and although we haven’t had one in a while I was thinking that maybe since our group has been growing that it might be a good time to have one again. It would be held at Indian Island State Park, which has a nice layout. It has a covered pavilion in case of rain, bathrooms, picnic tables, BBQ grills, a ball field, and parking nearby. Everyone would bring their own food and drink to prepare on the grills themselves, and perhaps everyone could bring a dessert to put on a table so all could enjoy. The people that have children could organize games for them and bring small prizes for each child so every child would be a winner. We are going to maybe look into having a DJ for a few hours. It sounds like this could be a very fun event. {There was even talk about a tug-of-war between bypass and lapbanders that sounds interesting}!!!!
Visit our message board for more information on this event.
Our Message Board:
Please I can’t stress enough on how important it is to use it. Dr Allam just paid for an upgrade for this board and I have already made some changes. I am looking into doing more over the next couple of weeks.
I also would like to start adding anniversary surgery dates to our board. If you can please send me your name and when you had surgery, I can add it to our calendar. It is a nice way of all of us congratulating you. Please send all information to
Bellamama256@aol.com
If you need any help, with registering on the message board, you can also email me at the above email and I will arrange to help you.
At this time, I would like to thank Jamie for his help with our Newsletter and all his suggestions. In addition, I would like to thank Carrie for all her help and suggestions. To both of you thanks I think that with the three of us working together with the newsletter and message board we are going to make it all much better for all involved.
Next Support Group Meeting
May 20, 2008 at 6:30 pm
Written By: Regina and Jamie
Some might remember that I started to do this but I didn't get many responses. So I am giving it a try again. Thanks Jamie for your inteview.
Interview With A Patient
1. Your Name Jamie Forrester
2. How did you find Dr Allam? My search for lapband surgeons had his name listed, and my niece had Dr. Allam do her bypass also.
3. What procedure did you choose? Lapband
4. Why did you choose this one over another? After researching both operations for a long time, I thought this was the way to go for me. It was the least evasive and I felt it was very important to be able to absorb minerals, vitamins and essential nutrients naturally.
5. How long did you research it before going ahead with it? I had been in a study with Columbia Presbyterian Hospital in NYC for two years and had a gastric stimulator implanted to see if we could get FDA approval. I would go back to be monitored once a month and at the end of the study we didn’t end up getting approval. The head of bariatric surgery at the hospital asked me if I had ever considered a lapband. That was the first time I had really even seen one of the bands, and that is what started my search.
6. a) Have you had your surgery? Yes
b) If Yes, when? June 28, 2007.
7. Explain as briefly as you can how you felt after your surgery. I felt great, and really wasn’t even sure if the operation was over or not!!!
8. Were you in a lot of pain? I really wasn’t in any pain at all. Maybe a little sore, but I didn’t have to take any of the pain medication that I was sent home with.
9. How soon were you up and about? I was up and walking as soon as I got the OK from the nurse. (maybe a couple of hours) It is very important to walk, walk, and walk some more. The gas that is pumped into your abdomen for surgery so the surgeon has room to use his tools, and gives him a better view is probably the most common complaint. It can make you bloated and even come back as shoulder pain if you don’t walk it off.
10. How long were you in the hospital? I was operated on Thursday morning and came home the next afternoon.
11. Were there any complications after surgery? If so, what were they? I didn’t have any problems after the operation. You can call me lucky, but you have to listen to Dr. Allam’s follow-up instructions, so you don’t run into any complications. Even though you are feeling OK, you don’t want to push it. You do tend to tire easily for a while, so let everything heal before you do too much. The worst part was putting on those support stockings in the hospital!!!!
12. If you work, how long was it before you were able to return back to work? I was operated on a Thursday, and went back to work that Monday.
13. What kind of work do you do? I am a Facilities/Safety manager for a manufacturer in Sag Harbor.
14. Did you find it hard to return to work after the surgery? No, I was ready to get back. I do a lot of safety training at work and this allowed me to get caught up on my training records.
15. a) Did you tell people - family, friends, co-workers - that you were having this surgery? I did on a limited basis. I had this operation and I didn’t want the constant monitoring and criticism.
b) If Yes, what was their reaction? The ones I told about it were excited and wanted to see me succeed at this for my own health.
16. a) Did you have any health problems besides being obese? Yes.
b) If yes, what were they? I had type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure.
17. Do you still have any of the above health problems? I never was on any medication for the sugar, but the counts are down and under control if not gone altogether. I am due for my annual physical very soon and there is a good chance that I will be taken off the high blood pressure medicine also. (that medication is minimal anyway).
18. Do you attend the support group meetings? Absolutely!!! The support group is an important part of using this tool that you have been given by Dr. Allam. The people there are there to help and support you and it is a big part of keeping on track.
19. Do you follow up with your visit to Dr Allam? Yes. This is another important part of this process. Lapband and Bypass patients are all different and may have very different situations. Some patients lose weight a little faster or slower than others, Others may not be able to tolerate certain foods, and some can. The Lapband patients need different amounts of saline to make them feel full. This is why it is imperative to follow-up with Dr. Allam and Pat because they are the experts and can keep an eye on things as you progress. As time goes on and you stabilize, you don’t need to be in as often as you do in the beginning, but you still must keep it in check.
20. Do you take all your vitamins and follow the rules on what to eat? As much as I can, I’m still not quite sure if I have found that elusive “SWEET SPOT” yet or not, but I am very close.
21. a) If you have lost all of your weight already have you had any other surgery since then? No, I am about 10 months out and I still have a way to go before I get to the point that Dr. Allam wants me to reach. I have lost a little more than 80 lbs so far.
b) If yes, what? N/A
22. a) Are you considering having any other surgery? I have a way to go before I start to think about a tummy tuck, so I’m not sure.
b)If so what? N/A
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? I can’t stress enough how important it is to research this to see if it is for you or not. .Go to our website: www.hamptonbariatric.com and read, post, and ask questions. We are there to help and give you advice. We have all gone through it and you can’t ask for a better group of people that are willing to share their experiences. Come to our Group Meetings on the third Tuesday of each month. (See Website for times and directions).
24. Most importantly, would you do this surgery again now that you know what it is all about?
IN A HEARTBEAT!!!!
Thank you for taking the time out to complete this survey.
I think it will help people that read our website to read what people here think.
By filling this questionnaire out you are giving permission for us at Hampton Bariatric Forums to post this in our newsletter and /or message board.
APRIL 2008
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v237/LRJD/Dr%20ALLAM%20FOLDER/Project0DRALLAMFADED.jpg Dr. Allam was away in Peru this week helping the under-privileged as he does his annual pilgrimage to help the needy. We hope he makes out well with this endeavor and wish him the best, and a safe return trip.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v237/LRJD/Dr%20ALLAM%20FOLDER/Pat.jpg Pat started the meeting out with passing around a quiz with questions for both bypass and lapband patients. She went over each question and explained the answers. Everyone did really well and knew most of the answers even if they were questions about a different procedure than the one they had. The questions had to do with proper eating habits, getting enough protein, liquid intake, and a couple of questions on good and bad foods. This quiz will be on the website, so if you were not at the meeting, try it and see how you do. You can private message me Regina and I will check your answers and private message you back with your score. Good Luck!!!
The next part of the meeting was the part where everyone introduces themselves and talks a little about their story, and if anyone has a question, this is where it will pop up and believe me; they will usually give you great answers!!!
There was a nice mix of bypass and lapbanders there and it seems that we can co-exist in a peaceful manner. It is so nice to see everyone learning about the other's procedure, jumping in, and offering help to those who need it.
Hampton Bariatric Summer Picnic The last topic on the agenda to be brought up was the possibility of a Picnic. I started these a few years ago, and although we haven’t had one in a while I was thinking that maybe since our group has been growing that it might be a good time to have one again. It would be held at Indian Island State Park, which has a nice layout. It has a covered pavilion in case of rain, bathrooms, picnic tables, BBQ grills, a ball field, and parking nearby. Everyone would bring their own food and drink to prepare on the grills themselves, and perhaps everyone could bring a dessert to put on a table so all could enjoy. The people that have children could organize games for them and bring small prizes for each child so every child would be a winner. We are going to maybe look into having a DJ for a few hours. It sounds like this could be a very fun event. {There was even talk about a tug-of-war between bypass and lapbanders that sounds interesting}!!!!
Visit our message board for more information on this event.
Our Message Board:
Please I can’t stress enough on how important it is to use it. Dr Allam just paid for an upgrade for this board and I have already made some changes. I am looking into doing more over the next couple of weeks.
I also would like to start adding anniversary surgery dates to our board. If you can please send me your name and when you had surgery, I can add it to our calendar. It is a nice way of all of us congratulating you. Please send all information to
Bellamama256@aol.com
If you need any help, with registering on the message board, you can also email me at the above email and I will arrange to help you.
At this time, I would like to thank Jamie for his help with our Newsletter and all his suggestions. In addition, I would like to thank Carrie for all her help and suggestions. To both of you thanks I think that with the three of us working together with the newsletter and message board we are going to make it all much better for all involved.
Next Support Group Meeting
May 20, 2008 at 6:30 pm
Written By: Regina and Jamie
Some might remember that I started to do this but I didn't get many responses. So I am giving it a try again. Thanks Jamie for your inteview.
Interview With A Patient
1. Your Name Jamie Forrester
2. How did you find Dr Allam? My search for lapband surgeons had his name listed, and my niece had Dr. Allam do her bypass also.
3. What procedure did you choose? Lapband
4. Why did you choose this one over another? After researching both operations for a long time, I thought this was the way to go for me. It was the least evasive and I felt it was very important to be able to absorb minerals, vitamins and essential nutrients naturally.
5. How long did you research it before going ahead with it? I had been in a study with Columbia Presbyterian Hospital in NYC for two years and had a gastric stimulator implanted to see if we could get FDA approval. I would go back to be monitored once a month and at the end of the study we didn’t end up getting approval. The head of bariatric surgery at the hospital asked me if I had ever considered a lapband. That was the first time I had really even seen one of the bands, and that is what started my search.
6. a) Have you had your surgery? Yes
b) If Yes, when? June 28, 2007.
7. Explain as briefly as you can how you felt after your surgery. I felt great, and really wasn’t even sure if the operation was over or not!!!
8. Were you in a lot of pain? I really wasn’t in any pain at all. Maybe a little sore, but I didn’t have to take any of the pain medication that I was sent home with.
9. How soon were you up and about? I was up and walking as soon as I got the OK from the nurse. (maybe a couple of hours) It is very important to walk, walk, and walk some more. The gas that is pumped into your abdomen for surgery so the surgeon has room to use his tools, and gives him a better view is probably the most common complaint. It can make you bloated and even come back as shoulder pain if you don’t walk it off.
10. How long were you in the hospital? I was operated on Thursday morning and came home the next afternoon.
11. Were there any complications after surgery? If so, what were they? I didn’t have any problems after the operation. You can call me lucky, but you have to listen to Dr. Allam’s follow-up instructions, so you don’t run into any complications. Even though you are feeling OK, you don’t want to push it. You do tend to tire easily for a while, so let everything heal before you do too much. The worst part was putting on those support stockings in the hospital!!!!
12. If you work, how long was it before you were able to return back to work? I was operated on a Thursday, and went back to work that Monday.
13. What kind of work do you do? I am a Facilities/Safety manager for a manufacturer in Sag Harbor.
14. Did you find it hard to return to work after the surgery? No, I was ready to get back. I do a lot of safety training at work and this allowed me to get caught up on my training records.
15. a) Did you tell people - family, friends, co-workers - that you were having this surgery? I did on a limited basis. I had this operation and I didn’t want the constant monitoring and criticism.
b) If Yes, what was their reaction? The ones I told about it were excited and wanted to see me succeed at this for my own health.
16. a) Did you have any health problems besides being obese? Yes.
b) If yes, what were they? I had type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure.
17. Do you still have any of the above health problems? I never was on any medication for the sugar, but the counts are down and under control if not gone altogether. I am due for my annual physical very soon and there is a good chance that I will be taken off the high blood pressure medicine also. (that medication is minimal anyway).
18. Do you attend the support group meetings? Absolutely!!! The support group is an important part of using this tool that you have been given by Dr. Allam. The people there are there to help and support you and it is a big part of keeping on track.
19. Do you follow up with your visit to Dr Allam? Yes. This is another important part of this process. Lapband and Bypass patients are all different and may have very different situations. Some patients lose weight a little faster or slower than others, Others may not be able to tolerate certain foods, and some can. The Lapband patients need different amounts of saline to make them feel full. This is why it is imperative to follow-up with Dr. Allam and Pat because they are the experts and can keep an eye on things as you progress. As time goes on and you stabilize, you don’t need to be in as often as you do in the beginning, but you still must keep it in check.
20. Do you take all your vitamins and follow the rules on what to eat? As much as I can, I’m still not quite sure if I have found that elusive “SWEET SPOT” yet or not, but I am very close.
21. a) If you have lost all of your weight already have you had any other surgery since then? No, I am about 10 months out and I still have a way to go before I get to the point that Dr. Allam wants me to reach. I have lost a little more than 80 lbs so far.
b) If yes, what? N/A
22. a) Are you considering having any other surgery? I have a way to go before I start to think about a tummy tuck, so I’m not sure.
b)If so what? N/A
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? I can’t stress enough how important it is to research this to see if it is for you or not. .Go to our website: www.hamptonbariatric.com and read, post, and ask questions. We are there to help and give you advice. We have all gone through it and you can’t ask for a better group of people that are willing to share their experiences. Come to our Group Meetings on the third Tuesday of each month. (See Website for times and directions).
24. Most importantly, would you do this surgery again now that you know what it is all about?
IN A HEARTBEAT!!!!
Thank you for taking the time out to complete this survey.
I think it will help people that read our website to read what people here think.
By filling this questionnaire out you are giving permission for us at Hampton Bariatric Forums to post this in our newsletter and /or message board.