WLS Center E-Newsletter

A FREE publication from
http://www.WLScenter.com

Hosted by Barbara Thompson
Author of:
Weight Loss Surgery:
Finding the Thin Person Hiding Inside You.

Barbara Thompson
The Voice of Obesity

Hello Everyone,
We are coming up on the most difficult eating time of the year – Halloween through Christmas, two months worth of solid emphasis on food. There seems to be food everywhere you turn. We start with the Halloween candy last night. Hopefully you have given it all away, or better yet gave non-candy treats. This is followed by Thanksgiving which is a day with far more emphasis on food than on “thanks,” holiday parties, Christmas and New Year’s. Yikes!

If you have just had surgery, this can be very depressing as you try to figure out how your new eating patterns will fit in and be managed.  You may want so much to be a part of the fun, especially since you are looking and feeling better. But there are so many dynamics going on over the holidays.  If you are a year or more post-op, you maybe struggling with weight regain. I will be talking about our relationship with food in the next 4 issues of this newsletter so stay tuned.

In This Issue

* Research Article: Age and Weight Loss Surgery
* Back on Track
* Oh my Aching Back: Back Problems Following Weight Loss Surgery
* Recipe: Pumpkin Pie
* Retreat News
* Success Story: Karen Andrews
* Spreading the Word in Orange, CA

I am often asked what the age limit is for weight loss surgery, such as in the email below:

Hi Barbara,
What is the age limit on weight loss surgery? A friend of mine is in her 60’s and wants to have the surgery
Pamela

Dear Pamela,
Technically there is no age limit for weight loss surgery. However the risk of surgery increases with age. The following article details research on this subject:

Flum, David, et al. “Early Mortality Among Medicare Beneficiaries Undergoing Bariatric Procedures.” Journal of the American Medical Association, Vol. 294: 15, Oct. 19, 2005: 1903-1908.

The study followed 16,155 Medicare patients who had weight loss surgery. Of those aged 65 to 74, 13% of men and 6% of women died within a year. Those aged 75 and above, 50% of men and 40% of women died within a year.

Most surgeons have an age limit, so your friend will have to check. But Centers of Excellence have more experienced surgeons and are better equipped to treat older patients.  For a current list of Centers of Excellence, go to http://www.surgicalreview.org/locate.aspx

If you really want to have pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving, try this one. It is sugar free and low in calories.

Pumpkin Pie

Folded refrigerated unbaked pie crust (1 crust only)
1 envelope unflavored gelatin
2 Tbl. cornstarch
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg
1/4 tsp. ground ginger
1/8 tsp. salt
16 oz. can pumpkin
12 oz can evaporated skim milk
1/2 cup egg substitute
16 packets or 5 tsp. Equal or Splenda

Bake one piecrust according to package directions; reserve remaining piecrust for garnish or another pie.

In a large saucepan combine gelatin, cornstarch, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and salt.  Stir in pumpkin and evaporated skim milk.  Let stand 5 minutes to soften gelatin.  Cook and stir over medium heat until mixture bubbles; cook and stir for 2 minutes more.  Remove from heat.

Gradually stir in one cup of hot mixture into egg substitute; return all egg mixture to saucepan.  Cook and stir over low heat for 2 minutes.  Do not boil.  Remove from heat.  Stir in Equal or Splenda.  Pour into baked piecrust.  Cover and chill for a minimum of 6 hours or overnight.  Makes 8 servings.

Nutritional information per serving:  237 calories, 8 grams protein, 28 grams carbohydrates.

If you have a recipe that you would like to share in future issues of this newsletter, please send it to me at Barbara@WLScenter.com

I want to offer a special thanks to Karen Andrews. Here is her story:

Dear Barbara,
I was the poster child for "Yo-Yo" dieting.  Since high school, I was always trying some new fad.  I would lose the weight then always gain it back, plus more.

In the Fall of 1999, I made the decision to become a mom.  I flew to China and adopted the most beautiful child!  I thought that being responsible for this precious life would inspire me to take better care of myself!  Unfortunately, it didn't. 

Finally, in the Fall of 2004, I decided to investigate gastric bypass surgery.  A good friend of mine had done it with wonderful results.  I contacted my Human Resources Office at work and they said the only plan we had that would cover it was Blue Cross HMO.  As a result, I switched to Blue Cross during open enrollment in November and by March of 2005, I was approved for surgery. 

When I went in for surgery April 13, 2005, I weighed 250 pounds. My surgery was done by Dr. Titus Duncan, the surgeon who supposedly did Starr Jones’ surgery.  

As of today, I am a constant 145!  This is the second best thing I have ever done in my life (second only to getting my sweet child)! I am off blood pressure medication for the first time in 20 years.  My sleep apnea has disappeared.  My joints rarely hurt from the arthritis and I'm playing tennis again!

I know I have been blessed in many ways.  But when people say this is a second chance at life, I know it's true.  Hopefully by doing this surgery, I can look forward to seeing my daughter graduate from college and make me a grandmother!

Sincerely,
Karen Andrews
Kennesaw (Atlanta), Georgia
kandrews@kennesaw.edu

Congratulations Karen

If you are a nurse and would like for me to speak on positive patient outcomes, patient satisfaction, or obesity sensitivity for your State Nurses Association, please have the conference planner for your State Association contact me. I have a corporate sponsor who will pay my fee and expenses so it is free for your Association. I also speak for many hospitals on the same topics. 

Contact me at Barbara@WLScenter.com or 412-851-4195.