The Morbid Me

Vitamin A deficiency linked to Weight Loss Surgery

The news is popping up again in the media. As I wrote a few days ago, patients with a remote history of major intestinal surgery may have an increased risk of developing vitamin A deficiency. Read more about this here.

Half-ton Mexican man loses 200 pounds

Manuel Uribe, 41, has lost 200 pounds since February following the high-protein diet. But he is not discarding having gastric bypass surgery.

For the last five years, Uribe has been bedridden. He keeps a television and a computer he uses to update his Web site near his iron bed.

Click here to read the news or here.

Reaching the 100 lbs. mark

Today is a very important day. I reached the 100lbs mark in weight loss! It all started in November 2005 with 331lbs, and seven months later, my weight has dropped to 231lbs.

I told my wife this morning, and she came up with some amazing statistics: I have lost an overall of exactly 2 times the total weight of my 5 year old daughter, or exactly 3 times the total weight of my 3 year old son.

What is more encouraging is that thanks to this procedure, I have added many more years of enjoying my children, wife and life.

I can't stress enough how positive and beneficial a Gastric Bypass procedure is in the life or a morbid obese. I hate cliche, but it really changes your life.

Thanks to all of you for supporting this blog... I will continue to provide you with more tips and tricks and real life experiences on this issue. I will be posting my amazing transformation (before and after) pictures soon. Stay tuned!

Tips To Drinking Alcohol While Minimizing Damage

Everybody knows that drinking large amounts of alcohol is one of the worst things you can do when your goal is to loose weight loss. Because alcoholic beverages are liquid, it is so easy to get it down; you really loose the notion of quantity. Also, it empties the pouch (formerly known as stomach for WLS patients) so fast, there will be always room for more.

I am a Wine lover. I just can’t get enough of it. I have my little collection at home, and it is very tempting for me not to open a bottle every other day. But, because I choose to have Gastric Bypass, I have to stay focused and stay away from it, at least during the first year to maximize my weight loss. For example, one 750ml bottle of red wine has between 500 – 900 calories and between 4.5 to 5.5 grams of Carbs.

Here are some tips to minimize the damage if you decide to drink alcohol:

1. Count the calories in Alcohol. A lot of people mention that they have a beer belly, and that alcohol makes you fat. But you need to remember that in the end, it’s always calories you consume versus the calories you burn that determine fat loss or fat gain. Alcohol contains 7 calories per gram, which makes it more or less calorie dense, so that’s why you should always count them so you stay within your calorie limits. People always forget to count their calories from drinks, which is why it’s so easy to go overboard specially with sugary alcoholic drinks.
   
   
2. Drink your water. Alcohol, much like caffeine, is a diuretic. This means that it dehydrates your body, and when you’re dehydrated your body can’t burn fat as efficiently. This is why it is very important to stay hydrated, especially when drinking. A good guideline is to drink one extra cup of water for every alcoholic drink you have.
   
   
3. Don’t over drink or get drunk. There are no positive benefits to drinking more than two drinks a day for anyone who’s trying to lose fat or just trying to stay healthy. Maybe occasionally on a celebration it would be acceptable, but if you’re drinking in large quantities on a regular basis, then you must admit to yourself that you have other priorities in mind and that you are not serious about achieving weight loss.
   
   
4. Don’t stay up too late. Most people do their drinking at nights and go to bed late. This combination usually means that you’ll have interrupted sleep that night, and wake up all groggy. This can lead to bad workouts, poor recovery for your muscles and even depression. You should give your body sufficient time to rest and recover from all the damage alcohol has done to it.
   
   
5. Don’t drink on a regular basis. Everything in moderation is fine but you should save the drinking for special occasions.
   
   

Ten Tips to Gastric Bypass Success

One of my favorite online forums about Gastric Bypass is Thinner Times. There I found a nice and truly useful little guide with 10 Tips and Tricks you have to consider after your operation.

1. EAT THREE PLANNED MEALS PER DAY.
   Make good choices and supplement between meal cravings with a protein shake to attain your target for protein. Breakfast IS important.
2. EAT ONLY HEALTHY SOLID PROTEIN FOODS.
   Protein foods will fill you up faster than junk food. Likewise, solid protein foods will keep you full longer than quick burning carbohydrates. Eat Protein First... kick unhealthy carbs to the curb.
3. EAT SLOWLY, SENSE FULLNESS AND THEN STOP.
   Remember that this is a tool. Let it work for you.
4. NO EATING BETWEEN MEALS.
   Grazing behavior can easily add hundreds of calories a day to your intake. Eat until you are full at meals, so you won't have room to nibble.
5. DON'T DRINK WHEN YOU EAT.
   Liquids will flush the solids from your pouch as you eat them and you will have room for more food. Drinking after a full meal may induce vomiting. Choking is the only acceptable exception to this rule. Drink before your meal to reduce thirst.
6. EXERCISE AT LEAST 30 MINUTES EVERY DAY.
   Regular physical activity will keep your weight loss going, reduce stress and make you feel good about yourself. It will also help you maintain your weight loss in the long run because it helps to rebuild muscle which has a positive affect on metabolism. 
7. DRINK ONLY ZERO CALORIE BEVERAGES
   Liquids pass right through the small stomach and do not produce a feeling of fullness. You can easily consume 1000 calories a day by drinking alcohol, fruit juice or other beverages. A Starbucks Sugar Free Vanilla Latte has 340 calories and 24 sugar grams.
8. CONSUME ENOUGH PROTEIN.
   You need to get in 70-120 grams of protein per day depending on your build. Taking in adequate protein will help prevent muscle loss, minimize hair loss, and will keep hunger at bay. Patients who consume adequate amounts of protein for their body size enjoy a much greater weight loss.
9. DRINK PLENTY OF WATER.
   Aim for a minimum of 64 ounces of water per day. Keep a bottle or glass of water within reach at all times as a reminder to sip. Blend a 64-ounce pitcher of Crystal Lite with 3 scoops of Nectar and keep in the fridge for all day sipping to accomplish two tasks at once.
10. TAKE YOUR VITAMINS and SUPPLEMENTS.
    We have disrupted our digestive system and cannot eat enough food to run our body. We must take a special multivitamin, B's, specialty calcium, and iron... for life!

Losing weight, Gaining Life

I found this nice little article about Bob Iapaluccio, a WLS patient in Danbury, CT. It is very interesting to read not because of his personal success story, but also because it summarizes the many aspects of Gastric Bypass surgery. Not only the operation itself, but all the extra steps one has to go in life after the surgery.  (Read Here)

Gastric Bypass May Boost Blindness Risk

My WLS is a success so far, and as you can tell from my writings I am always very positive and optimistic about the procedures and the benefits. On the other side, I feel I have to show you some downsides of this procedure, so you can make your own conclusions. In this particular case, I do not completely agree with this study.

A new study, published in the current issue of the British Journal of Ophthalmology, concluded that Gastric Bypass may boost the risk of blindness. Now, that sounds horrible, doesn’t it? Well, as you can read from the publication, the study focused on 3 (three) patients… Hmmm… I would not be alarmed by now to tell you the truth.

It is known that WLS does alter the ability to effectively absorb vitamin A, but there is stronger evidence out there that proves that an adequate supplement of vitamin A can keep you healthy and going after Gastric Bypass Surgery.

Read the news story here

Pre-Gastric Bypass Surgery Psychological Evaluation

The decision to undergo Obesity Surgery is a very serious one, and anyone considering it should think about it carefully, because it also involves the individual making significant lifestyle changes after the surgery is conducted.

Many surgeons, medical centers, and insurance companies require that patients who are to have this surgical procedure undergo a psychiatric or psychological evaluation to assess their psychological status prior to the Gastric Bypass Surgery.  The requirement for the patient to see a psychologist or psychiatrist is part of the preparation for the surgery.

Prior to the Gastric Bypass Surgery, patients should be evaluated to rule out any existing eating disorders or any other psychiatric or psychological issues that might adversely affect the results of the surgery.  The evaluation assesses whether the patient is mentally and emotionally prepared for the surgery, and is mentally and emotionally prepared to deal with the outcome of the surgery.

Psychological Evaluations assess the presence of any psychiatric issues that are relevant to the Gastric Bypass Surgery, such as:

• Whether or not the patient is psychotic or clinically depressed.
• Whether the patient is competent in making the decision to proceed with Gastric Bypass Surgery.
• Whether the patient fully comprehends to serious of the procedure and the lifestyle changes that must take place once it is done.
• Whether the patient has unrealistic expectations about the outcome of surgery.
• The patient's ability to handle the stress of the period following surgery.
• Any history of substance or alcohol abuse.

Psychological Evaluations are powerful tools that assist in the diagnosis, treatment, or management of any psychological, emotional, or behavioral problems that a patient might have. Psychological Evaluations are extremely important in preparation for Gastric Bypass Surgery.

Gastric Bypass Risks and Complication Rates

As with all major surgeries, you have to consider the risks involved, not only during but after the procedure. It is proven that the risks and complication are minimal and that the benefit totally outweights those issues. The following are complication rates related to Gastric Bypass Surgery recently released by the American Society of Bariatric Physicians.

Complication Rates For Biliopancreatic Diversion Bypass

• Protein malnutrition 11.9%
• Anemia 35%
• Incisional hernia 10%
• Intestinal obstruction 1.0%
• Stomal ulcer 3.0%
• Bone demineralization

- Pre-op 25%
- At 1 - 2 years 29%
- At 3 - 5 years 53%
- At 6 - 10 years 14%

• Hemorrhoids 4.3%
• Acne 3.5%
• Night blindness 3.0%
• Operative mortality .04 - 0.8%

Complication Rates For Biliopancreatic Diversion w. Duodenal Switch

Here are the rates of complications associated with biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch. (Note: The risk of dumping syndrome is lower after biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch as this procedure maintains the pyloric valve intact.)

• Deep vein thrombophlebitis 0.7%
• Non-fatal pulmonary embolus 0.5%
• Pneumonia 0.5%
• Acute respiratory distress syndrome 0.25%
• Splenectomy 0.9%
• Gastric leak and fistula 2.0%
• Duodenal leak 1.5%
• Distal Roux-en-Y leak 0.25%
• Post-operative bleeding 0.5%
• Abscess unrelated to leaks 0.25%
• Duodenal stomal obstruction 0.75%
• Small bowel obstruction 2.0%

Source: American Society of Bariatric Physicians

African Americans having Gastric Bypass in Record Numbers

Between sixty and seventy percent of African Americans are considered overweight or obese, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

African Americans make up 9 percent of gastric bypass patients, and the average age is around thirty-nine, according to data complied by the International Bariatric Registry.

Robyn McGee, author of the book "Hungry for More : A Keeping-it-Real Guide for Black Women on Weight and Body Image" writes:

Plastic and cosmetic surgery used to be frowned on in the African American community. “Being cut” tapped into both a mistrust of the medical profession and an aversion to altering one’s features to look “more white” (Michael Jackson predictably comes up in that discussion). But high profile celebrities, like singing legend Patti LaBelle, have made so-called surgical makeovers more acceptable among blacks. In just two years, the number of black cosmetic surgery patients has grown by almost one-third, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, jumping from 375,025 in 2002 to 487,887 in 2004.

Gastric bypass surgery is far more serious than a cut and fold, however. Desperate to be thin, African American men and women are willing to risk their lives having their stomachs cut and reconfigured.

They see surgery as a shortcut to ridding themselves of all their problems along with pounds of fat. They view weight loss surgery as a magic bullet, a symbol for taking control of their lives, a renewal of hope. They consider hair loss, additional surgeries, and eating complications after gastric bypass operations are a small price to pay to be thin.

Fortunately, most people who undergo gastric bypass will not die. Weight loss surgeons quote the mortality rate as one death out of every two hundred patients. But a study by the University of Washington cites an even scarier statistic: one death in every fifty, when taking into account all weight loss surgery patients at all hospitals that will suffer and die from various surgery-related complications such as blood clots, fluid leakage, and infections. In addition, the people who want the surgery most--those with so-called “co-morbidities,” such as diabetes and heart disease--face the greatest risk of having something go wrong.

Hungry for More : A Keeping-it-Real Guide for Black Women on Weight and Body Image