april 2006
YOUR
health matters
N e w s F r o m m e m or i a l h e r m a n n MEM O R IAL C I T Y H O S P I T AL
Patient Finds Joy and Success After Weight-Loss Surgery
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obbi Temres decided to take charge of her weight while on vacation in Hawaii with her husband. A lover of water sports, Bobbi felt humiliated when there were no scuba wet suits available to fit her then-300-pound frame. “For me, it was a quality-of-life issue,” says the 47-year-old Cypress resident. “I just knew I had to do something.” Bobbi Temres
Bobbi Temres After Surgery
inside this issue: A Healthier You Through Weight-Loss Surgery
page 2
The Team Approach to Success
page 3
Join a Support Group for Weight-Loss Surgery
page 4
memorialhermann.org
First Failure, Then Success Before Surgery In the late 1990s, Bobbi underwent a weight-loss surgical procedure at another hospital and failed to lose weight. “It felt like my last hope, and when the surgery failed, I was devastated,” she says. “I just wanted to be normal.” After several years of coping with disappointment, Bobbi decided to research her options for a revision and to give bariatric surgery one more try. In May 2005, with Memorial Hermann Memorial City Hospital’s Bariatric Surgical Services Program, she underwent a revisional bariatric procedure, converting her failed vertically banded gastroplasty (VBG) to a gastric bypass Roux-en-Y. Her surgeon, Adam Naaman, MD, bariatric medical director at Memorial Hermann Memorial City Hospital, had performed a successful surgery on one of Bobbi’s colleagues, so she was familiar with Dr. Naaman’s outcomes and expertise. Before her surgery, Bobbi received nutritional education, counseling and emotional support from continued on page 4
A Healthier You Through Weight-Loss Surgery by adam weinstein, do
Tips for Weight-Loss Surgery Success You can start preparing for your weight-loss surgery by incorporating these simple things into your lifestyle now: Begin walking up to 30 minutes a day. You can accomplish this by walking several times throughout your day. For example, start with five minutes six times a day, gradually working up to 15
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ariatric surgery has a profound impact on more than just the waistline. It has the potential to cure diseases such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol and obstructive sleep apnea, which are often nonresponsive to traditional treatments such as diet, exercise and medication. To what degree resolution is achievable depends on both the procedure being performed – LAP-BAND®, gastric bypass Roux-en-Y or the duodenal switch – and the surgeon performing it. A recent review of multiple large studies shows just how powerful bariatric surgery can be:
minutes twice daily, prior to surgery. As the weight comes off quickly after surgery, you’ll be well on your way to walking for 30 minutes at a time with ease. Begin taking your chewable multivitamin twice daily for life. We recommend Adult Centrum® chewables or Flintstones Complete® chewables. Both products can be found virtually anywhere in the U.S., and they contain essential vitamins and minerals that you must supplement for the rest of your life in order to maintain good health. Sip, sip, sip. Water will become one of your best friends in your journey to freedom from obesity. Staying hydrated helps your body break down and flush out fat, helps with cognitive thinking, and even helps with the elasticity of your skin. Taking
■ When it was defined as the ability to discontinue all diabetes-related medicines and maintain normal levels of blood sugar, 77 percent of patients showed complete resolution of diabetes. ■ On average, LDL, or bad cholesterol, declined by 30 mg/dl and triglycerides by
80 mg/dl. For most bariatric-surgery patients, this change means they will no longer need to take cholesterol medication. ■ Of those patients with Adam Weinstein, DO high blood pressure, 62 percent had full resolution; another 16 percent showed a significant improvement. All told, 78 percent of patients benefited. ■ For patients with sleep apnea, 86 percent no longer needed their continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) or BiPAP machines. These are only a few of the medical problems that improve or resolve after bariatric surgery, but most bariatric-surgery patients also experience a significant improvement in back pain, arthritis, asthma, fertility and depression. The rate of improvement or resolution will vary from person to person and procedure to procedure; however, the statistics mentioned here were experienced within the first two years after surgery. Many comorbidities resolve immediately or within weeks to months after surgery. For this reason, you should stay in close contact with your doctor in the immediate postoperative period and continue to monitor your blood sugar and blood pressure levels at home. n For more information about the benefits and risks of weight loss surgery, please call 713-242-4290 and mention your interest in this article.
three small sips every 15 minutes is the goal.
2
Memorial Hermann
Your Health Matters
It Takes a Village: The Team Approach to Success
W
hen it comes to weightloss, or bariatric surgery, going the journey alone is not recommended. “For people to think they’ll have surgery, lose all their excess weight, eat whatever they want and have all their problems solved . . . well, it just isn’t realistic,” says Kimberly Taylor, bariatric program manager at Memorial Hermann Memorial City Hospital. Taylor speaks from experience. At 320 pounds with a body mass index of 47.8, she underwent gastric bypass Roux-en-Y in July 2002. “It was one of the most difficult decisions I’ve ever made; it was emotionally, physically and spiritually overwhelming. After surgery, I immediately started losing weight – which is what I wanted – but I was becoming someone I didn’t know, recognize, or understand, and there was no support system in place to help me get through the radical metamorphosis from caterpillar to butterfly.” From that basic need for support, the entire multidisciplinary program
recipe for health
at Memorial Hermann Memorial City Hospital was born. “Fortunately for me and the hundreds that have come after me, the surgeon at the helm of it all, Dr. Adam Naaman, recognized the need for patient support, as did the hospital’s administration,” says Taylor. “They got behind the program and embraced the needs of patients, allowing us to grow from one support group a month to a thriving comprehensive program that now involves preoperative educational seminars, nutrition and psychological counseling, two monthly support groups, a 24/7 online message board and two full-time staff members.” In addition, the program added another expert, Carlos A. Ferrari, MD, who has performed more than 3,000 bariatric surgeries. “Dr. Ferrari and Dr. Naaman are two of the best in the entire region,” says Taylor, “and to have them both here in the same program is phenomenal.” Taylor adds, “If you’re considering
weight-loss surgery, take a look at the whole program. Make sure the tools and resources you need for the shortand long-term are in place. Your success and good health depend on it.” n For more information about the comprehensive Bariatric Surgical Services Program at Memorial Hermann Memorial City Hospital, call 713-242-4290.
high protein chili
1 pkg “Smart Ground” original crumbles* 1 can black beans 1 can kidney beans 1 can corn
1 1 1 1 2
1 Put all ingredients in a big pot. Don’t drain any of
2 Bring contents to a boil and then reduce heat.
the vegetables—you want all the liquid. Add only as much of the Lawry’s seasoning as you want; the more you add, the hotter your chili will be. If you prefer, omit the sugar or add ½ can of beer for variety.
Simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. 3 Top with shredded cheddar cheese for a little more protein. *0 g fat, 12 g protein in 2 oz (1/3 cup) of crumbles
3
can crushed tomatoes pkg Lawry’s chili seasoning tbs salt tsp black pepper tbs sugar or ½ can of beer (optional)
memorialhermann.org
Physician Referral 713-222-CARE
Memorial Hermann Memorial City Hospital 713-242-3000.
weight-loss surgery
921 Gessner, Houston, TX 77074. Call
continued from page 1
experts at Memorial Hermann Memorial City Hospital. Healthier — And Happier Today, Bobbi’s life has taken a dramatic turn. She’s lost more than 80 pounds so far and has dropped many dress sizes. She intends to lose more weight and regularly checks in with her doctor. She also regularly attends the support group for bariatric patients at Memorial Hermann Memorial City Hospital. In addition to losing weight, Bobbi is able to do things she could never have done before. On a recent cruise, she stopped off in Jamaica for a “canopy tour” in which she and fellow tourists hiked up a forested mountain and leapt from tree to tree while being hoisted by a pulley system. “It was exhilarating!” she says. Bobbi feels a certain responsibility to others who want to lose weight. “I feel so much joy when I hit a milestone, and I want others to experience that,” she says. “I want people to know that success happens, and if it can happen for me, it can happen for them, too.” n For more information about the Bariatric Surgical Services
Need Help? Join the WeightLoss Surgery Support Groups
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ark your calendar for Memorial Hermann Memorial City Hospital’s weight-loss surgery
support groups! Meetings are held the second Sunday, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., and fourth Thursday, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., of every month. Sunday meetings focus on education while Thursday meetings cover the personal journey and emotional support. Please note the schedule is subject to change:
April 9 Let’s Face It: Major Weight Loss and Gravity Can Be Overcome! Michel Siegel, MD, board-certified plastic
June 22
surgeon
The Personal Journey Continues: Emotional Support and
April 27 The Personal Journey Continues:
Summer Clothing Exchange!
Where:
Emotional Support
Memorial Hermann Memorial City Hospital
May 7 (This meeting is scheduled for the first Sunday of May because of Mother’s Day.)
921 Gessner Road Houston, Texas 77024 Meetings are held in the large conference
Night, Night, Sleep Tight:
center, first floor. Park on Frostwood, one block
Anesthesia During Surgery Scott Duncan, MD, anesthesiologist
west of Gessner. Go through the West Lobby and turn left at the first hallway; the conference
May 25
center is on the left-hand side before you reach
The Personal Journey Continues:
the Lindig Center.
Emotional Support
Contact:
Program, call Kimberly Taylor,
June 11
Kimberly P. Taylor, Bariatric Program Manager
Bariatric Program Manager,
Core Health and Fitness: Creating and
921 Gessner Road
at 713-242-4290.
Maintaining an Exercise Routine That
Houston, Texas 77024
Anyone Can Do!
[email protected]
Ty Beasley, certified personal trainer
713-242-4290
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