The Morbid Me

Medicare pays Gastric Bypass Surgery for SC Patient

This is the story of Danny Hammett from South Carolina. For years, he hid out in his truck, sat in his chair, and had his son untie his shoes for him because - at 535 pounds - he couldn't do it himself. When he was no longer able to work, Medicare ended up paying the approximately $30,000 for the surgery that saved his life.

In February, Medicare expanded its coverage of bariatric surgery with a few conditions. For one, the surgery must be performed at a high-volume surgical center with a low mortality rate. Specifically, a "Center of Excellence," as certified by the American College of Surgeons or the American Society for Bariatric Surgery. (Read more Here)

Mesh can make Weight-Loss Surgery Safer

About 25% of patients who have open gastric bypass surgery develop incisional hernias. These lead to serious complications. Holding the incision closed with a polypropylene mesh can prevent these hernias.

A small, randomized clinical trial reported today in the British Journal of Surgery studied 74 seriously obese patients who had a gastric bypass. Polypropylene mesh was used to help close the incision in 34 patients, while 36 patients received standard sutures alone.

The result was clear – none of the patients with mesh closures developed hernias, while hernias occurred in eight of those who only had sutures.

Developing a hernia is the most common reason why patients return to hospital after a gastric bypass, so finding that mesh can prevent this is important

Using the mesh did not affect any other aspect of the treatment, including the length of a patient's stay in hospital, or the overall cost of the procedure. (Read more Here)

Texas County backs off controversial Weight Loss Surgery Plan

I saw it coming. There was no way society would accept such a ridiculous plan. As reported a few days ago, Travis County (TX) officials voted unanimously Tuesday to rescind their offer of free weight-loss surgery to obese county employees.

Public outcry over the Travis County Commissioners Court's decision to pay for up to 15 bariatric surgeries per year during a five-year trial prompted the officials to reconsider the program. The surgeries would each cost about $15,000 to $25,000.

As you know, I am pro Weight Loss Surgery (as you can tell from my blog), but I believe that public money should be invested in educational programs to avoid obesity. I would love to visit some Travis County kitchens to see if State employees are being fed correctly… (Read Here)

I’m gonna eat everything I wanna eat before my Weight Loss Surgery!

This is an interesting story about Chris Stockbridge from Boston. He will soon face Gastric Bypass Surgery and guess what… he is eating himself to death before the operation to enjoy it while he can.

I am sorry to say, but I can bet he will not be as successful with his operation as he could be. He probably does not know that Weight Loss Surgery is much more than a medical procedure; you have to program yourself mentally first and for the rest of your life. If you think it the way Chris is doing it, it will probably be a failure. Click here to read his story, and for more information on how your mind is equally as important as the surgery, click here to read what I wrote about it a few weeks ago. (Photo by Douglas McFadd, BostonHerald)

Del Kruger's fight continues with Great Support but little Money.

I was really touched by the story of Springfield, Illinois morbid obese Del Kruger and his effort to raise money for his life-saving operation after his Insurance Company (not surprisingly) rejected his petition for the surgery, even after providing all necessary paperwork and being a candidate for the surgery.

Here is an update on his current situation written by Dave Bakke from The State Journal-Register, the one that broke his story that has created hundreds of comments all over the web.

Body Lift after Weight Loss Surgery

I just found this great website about a consumer guide to Plastic Surgery. It is well written and very informative and organized. One of the topics covered is about the “Body Lift”, also known as a belt lipectomy that improves the appearance of the abdomen, thighs, and buttocks. The operation is performed typically to remove excess skin and fat following massive weight loss.

According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the four most popular body contouring procedures after massive weight loss are breast lift, upper arm lift, thigh lift, and lower body lift.

Check out this particular article here.

For Super-Obese Patients, Duodenal Switch Beats Gastric Bypass

Researchers report that a newer operation, the duodenal switch, produced substantially better weight loss in super-obese patients (BMI greater than 50) than gastric bypass, the standard operation. Three years after surgery, 84% of duodenal switch patients had lost more than half of their excess weight, compared to 60% of those treated with gastric bypass.

Researchers at the University of Chicago studied 350 super obese patients who had weight loss surgery -- 198 had the duodenal switch; 152 had the gastric bypass surgery. They report DS patients lost more total weight and a larger percentage of their excess weight, which led to a bigger decrease in BMI. One year after surgery, DS patients lost an average of 149 pounds, compared to 121 pounds for RYGB patients. And after three years, DS patients had lost 173 pounds, while RYGB patients' weight loss was 118 pounds. (Read Here)

Weight Loss Surgery from a Surgeon's Perspective

Here is a nice article from the Washington Universtity in St. Louis regarding a doctor and his Weight Loss Surgery experience. Read if in full, it is interesting the interaction between doctor and patient.

Patients come to Christopher Eagon, M.D., having suffered a lifetime's worth of indignities. Severely obese, they are forced to pay for two seats on airplanes, shop for clothes in special stores and endure stares, derisive comments and other reminders that they don't fit in.

Eagon specializes in weight-loss surgery, also known as bariatric surgery. The technique he uses most frequently reduces the stomach from the size of a football to that of an egg and shortens the length of the intestine. This so-called gastric bypass surgery helps patients lose weight by decreasing the number of calories they can consume and absorb. Eagon has performed more than 900 such surgeries since 1999, giving many patients a new lease on life. (Read Here)

Radical Approach to Weight Loss Gains Popularity

Gastric bypass surgery (Weight Loss Surgery), a method to control morbid obesity, has increased significantly in the United States.  According to researchers at the University of Kentucky and University of North Texas Health Sciences Center, gastric bypass surgery jumped from seven per 100,000 to 38.6 per 100,000 people between 1998 to 2002. (Read more Here)

Weight Loss Surgery Recipe: Almond Macaroons

Chewy, moist and delicious… a wonderful Christmas cookie that happens to be sugar free. For a beautiful touch, I garnish with a thin slice of dried cranberry before baking. I have not tested this recipe with Splenda granular; I have only made it with Nature Sweet crystals. Make sure you use the parchment paper to line your baking sheet (or a Silpat) or you will have to pry the cookies from the surface. Another great cookie tip is to pick up a one inch ‘ice cream scoop’ from the kitchen gadget section of WalMart or your grocery store. It is made for measuring an even portion for perfect batches of cookies and is invaluable.

These will become a family favorite as they are fabulously simple and taste superb.

Makes 36 cookies
Per Cookie, calories 36, Fat 3gr, Carbs 1.5gr, Protein 1.5gr

• 2 ¼ cups sliced unblanched almonds, about 10 ounces
• ¾ cup Granular Splenda
• ¼ cup all purpose flour
• ½ stick butter, melted
• 1 egg white, slightly beaten
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
• Sliced dried cranberries, (called Craisins)
• Parchment paper
  

Lightly spray each of two baking sheets with nonstick vegetable cooking spray. Place a sheet of parchment paper on each (parchment wont slide if you use the cooking spray first). Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Combine almonds, Splenda, flour, butter, egg white, and vanilla in a large bowl, gently tossing to coat almonds and evenly moisten mixture. Mound tablespoonfuls on prepared cookie sheet. Gently press a slice of dried cranberry into each cookie. Bake for 10-12 minutes, until golden. Cool for 10 minutes and carefully remove to a wire rack. Store in an airtight container.

Before & After is a journal of Susan's own inspirational story, where she shares her ups and downs, her tips and techniques, but mostly it's a book about hope for anyone who has a serious weight problem.

Copyright © 2006 by Susan Maria Leach. Reprinted with Permission. All rights reserved.