Guest guest Posted October 22, 2002 Report Share Posted October 22, 2002 Sorry the link didnt' work so i cut and pasted the artical. Love, Theresa Weighing the options: For those suffering from severe obesity, gastric bypass surgery could be a lifesaver By Cherie Black .. When Theresa Hensley’s father, Ernest, died last year, weighing more than 400 pounds, she knew she had to make a decision. At 5 feet 7 inches tall, Hensley, 33, weighed 327 pounds. She had struggled with weight all her life and had tried everything from dieting to taking laxatives to purging, losing 30 pounds here and there and then gaining twice as much right back. But when her father died, suffering from endless complications due to his weight, she knew her life had to change. “I was there when he took his last breath and it devastated me,” she said. “Lowering him into the ground, I knew I would be next if I didn’t do something.” That was when she decided to look into gastric bypass surgery, also called bariatric surgery. It is a procedure in which a surgeon divides the stomach into two pouches, connecting the upper pouch to the small intestine. The upper pouch, about the size of a pingpong ball, becomes the patient’s functioning stomach. “It’s not an easy fix,” said Dr. Philip Siegert, a surgeon with Trinity Medical Center in Rock Island who has performed about 1,600 of the procedures during the past 22 years. “It’s major surgery. We open the patient from the breastbone to the navel. And they still have to diet, exercise and change their habits. But for 85 percent of my patients, it works.” Clinically severe obesity, defined as being 100 pounds or more overweight, affects 3 percent to 5 percent of the U.S. population. It is a medical condition that seems to defy the traditional treatments of dieting, exercise and behavior modification. More than 95 percent of those who are clinically severely obese fail to keep weight off by using conservative, traditional methods. If they submit to gastric bypass, they have a much higher success rate, Siegert said, and most people lose 70 percent of their excess weight within the first year. After consulting with Siegert, Hensley underwent the surgery in July. More than a year later, she has lost 140 pounds, but cautions that the procedure was hard on her both physically and emotionally. “This is not an easy out and this is not a diet. This is life-altering,” she said. “When you’re an obese person, your best friend is food, and losing that best friend and losing that reality was tough. It’s like losing a family member.” While the length of recovery depends on each patient, Hensley was released from the hospital after two days and was back at work within two weeks. After her surgery, however, she had to learn how to eat all over again. For the first two months, she gradually moved from mushy to semi-solid to solid food. She has to watch her sugar, carbohydrate and protein intakes. If she eats too much or too fast, she gets violently ill, so she sets a timer and takes five minutes between bites. “For 33 years, I shoveled the food in, and I had to realize the weight wouldn’t all come off in just one day,” she said. As with any major surgery, there are risks involved, and before any procedure, Siegert informs his patients of the short- and long-term risks, which include internal bleeding and the possibility of infection. He also looks for obvious medical difficulties and screens for possible psychological problems such as suicide and depression. Although the success rate for the gastric bypass procedure is quite high, not all results are favorable. Dale Hoyt, 62, of Cambridge, Ill., had the surgery three years ago when his weight had reached 345 pounds. Afterward, he suffered from internal bleeding and infections and underwent numerous surgeries to repair his stomach and other complications from the surgery. Today, Hoyt, who retired from running his business, Hoyt & Son Automotive in Bettendorf, just before his operation, uses a wheelchair and is confined to his recliner most of the day. After consultations with his surgeon, Dr. Stoner, also at Trinity Medical Center, Hoyt said he was confident the procedure would be a success. “When I went into the hospital, I was perfectly healthy and I felt like I was strong enough to go through with it,” Hoyt said. Although he has lost 95 pounds since the surgery, Hoyt said he regrets having the surgery. “It’s too serious an operation. They told me I would be back to normal in a month and they took three years out of my life,” he said. “I should have known better.” Siegert said the surgery is an option that may not work for everyone and that patients need to realize the serious risks involved. “The surgery is an alternative. It’s not for everybody, but for those who do qualify, it seems to be a great procedure that helps a lot of people,” he said. “It’s not perfect, but it helps people a great deal.” Hensley is satisfied with the outcome of her surgery and said she can now go to the movies and sit in the theater seats without embarrassment or discomfort. She used to have to pretend to fasten her seat belt on airplane flights because it would not fit around her body, so she now can fly comfortably. And while her husband did not agree with the decision to have major surgery, he was supportive. “Society puts stigmas on you when you’re overweight. It’s a way of life and we have to do something and this is what I chose to do,” she said. “I might have lost my best friend in food, but I’ve gained so much more: I’ve gained myself.” Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 22, 2002 Report Share Posted October 22, 2002 Sorry the link didnt' work so i cut and pasted the artical. Love, Theresa Weighing the options: For those suffering from severe obesity, gastric bypass surgery could be a lifesaver By Cherie Black .. When Theresa Hensley’s father, Ernest, died last year, weighing more than 400 pounds, she knew she had to make a decision. At 5 feet 7 inches tall, Hensley, 33, weighed 327 pounds. She had struggled with weight all her life and had tried everything from dieting to taking laxatives to purging, losing 30 pounds here and there and then gaining twice as much right back. But when her father died, suffering from endless complications due to his weight, she knew her life had to change. “I was there when he took his last breath and it devastated me,” she said. “Lowering him into the ground, I knew I would be next if I didn’t do something.” That was when she decided to look into gastric bypass surgery, also called bariatric surgery. It is a procedure in which a surgeon divides the stomach into two pouches, connecting the upper pouch to the small intestine. The upper pouch, about the size of a pingpong ball, becomes the patient’s functioning stomach. “It’s not an easy fix,” said Dr. Philip Siegert, a surgeon with Trinity Medical Center in Rock Island who has performed about 1,600 of the procedures during the past 22 years. “It’s major surgery. We open the patient from the breastbone to the navel. And they still have to diet, exercise and change their habits. But for 85 percent of my patients, it works.” Clinically severe obesity, defined as being 100 pounds or more overweight, affects 3 percent to 5 percent of the U.S. population. It is a medical condition that seems to defy the traditional treatments of dieting, exercise and behavior modification. More than 95 percent of those who are clinically severely obese fail to keep weight off by using conservative, traditional methods. If they submit to gastric bypass, they have a much higher success rate, Siegert said, and most people lose 70 percent of their excess weight within the first year. After consulting with Siegert, Hensley underwent the surgery in July. More than a year later, she has lost 140 pounds, but cautions that the procedure was hard on her both physically and emotionally. “This is not an easy out and this is not a diet. This is life-altering,” she said. “When you’re an obese person, your best friend is food, and losing that best friend and losing that reality was tough. It’s like losing a family member.” While the length of recovery depends on each patient, Hensley was released from the hospital after two days and was back at work within two weeks. After her surgery, however, she had to learn how to eat all over again. For the first two months, she gradually moved from mushy to semi-solid to solid food. She has to watch her sugar, carbohydrate and protein intakes. If she eats too much or too fast, she gets violently ill, so she sets a timer and takes five minutes between bites. “For 33 years, I shoveled the food in, and I had to realize the weight wouldn’t all come off in just one day,” she said. As with any major surgery, there are risks involved, and before any procedure, Siegert informs his patients of the short- and long-term risks, which include internal bleeding and the possibility of infection. He also looks for obvious medical difficulties and screens for possible psychological problems such as suicide and depression. Although the success rate for the gastric bypass procedure is quite high, not all results are favorable. Dale Hoyt, 62, of Cambridge, Ill., had the surgery three years ago when his weight had reached 345 pounds. Afterward, he suffered from internal bleeding and infections and underwent numerous surgeries to repair his stomach and other complications from the surgery. Today, Hoyt, who retired from running his business, Hoyt & Son Automotive in Bettendorf, just before his operation, uses a wheelchair and is confined to his recliner most of the day. After consultations with his surgeon, Dr. Stoner, also at Trinity Medical Center, Hoyt said he was confident the procedure would be a success. “When I went into the hospital, I was perfectly healthy and I felt like I was strong enough to go through with it,” Hoyt said. Although he has lost 95 pounds since the surgery, Hoyt said he regrets having the surgery. “It’s too serious an operation. They told me I would be back to normal in a month and they took three years out of my life,” he said. “I should have known better.” Siegert said the surgery is an option that may not work for everyone and that patients need to realize the serious risks involved. “The surgery is an alternative. It’s not for everybody, but for those who do qualify, it seems to be a great procedure that helps a lot of people,” he said. “It’s not perfect, but it helps people a great deal.” Hensley is satisfied with the outcome of her surgery and said she can now go to the movies and sit in the theater seats without embarrassment or discomfort. She used to have to pretend to fasten her seat belt on airplane flights because it would not fit around her body, so she now can fly comfortably. And while her husband did not agree with the decision to have major surgery, he was supportive. “Society puts stigmas on you when you’re overweight. It’s a way of life and we have to do something and this is what I chose to do,” she said. “I might have lost my best friend in food, but I’ve gained so much more: I’ve gained myself.” Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 22, 2002 Report Share Posted October 22, 2002 Thanks Jeanne! I appreciate that a lot! Hugs Theresa > Thank you for sharing it. Great article. Congrats, you celebrity, you. I > liked the way you were represented in the article, and what you said. > > Jeanne in WI > Age 39 > Open RNY 05/21/2002 > 314/ 248/150-175 > 5' 8 " > djgraves@... > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 22, 2002 Report Share Posted October 22, 2002 Thanks Jeanne! I appreciate that a lot! Hugs Theresa > Thank you for sharing it. Great article. Congrats, you celebrity, you. I > liked the way you were represented in the article, and what you said. > > Jeanne in WI > Age 39 > Open RNY 05/21/2002 > 314/ 248/150-175 > 5' 8 " > djgraves@... > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 22, 2002 Report Share Posted October 22, 2002 Thanks Jeanne! I appreciate that a lot! Hugs Theresa > Thank you for sharing it. Great article. Congrats, you celebrity, you. I > liked the way you were represented in the article, and what you said. > > Jeanne in WI > Age 39 > Open RNY 05/21/2002 > 314/ 248/150-175 > 5' 8 " > djgraves@... > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 22, 2002 Report Share Posted October 22, 2002 Theresa two thumbs up that is a wonderful article *good going sis * Re: Copied Artical ~Long > Sorry the link didnt' work so i cut and pasted the > artical. Love, Theresa > > Weighing the options: For those suffering from severe > obesity, gastric bypass surgery could be a lifesaver > By Cherie Black > > . > When Theresa Hensley's father, Ernest, died last year, > weighing more than 400 pounds, she knew she had to make > a decision. > At 5 feet 7 inches tall, Hensley, 33, weighed 327 > pounds. She had struggled with weight all her life and > had tried everything from dieting to taking laxatives to > purging, losing 30 pounds here and there and then > gaining twice as much right back. But when her father > died, suffering from endless complications due to his > weight, she knew her life had to change. > " I was there when he took his last breath and it > devastated me, " she said. " Lowering him into the ground, > I knew I would be next if I didn't do something. " > That was when she decided to look into gastric bypass > surgery, also called bariatric surgery. It is a > procedure in which a surgeon divides the stomach into > two pouches, connecting the upper pouch to the small > intestine. The upper pouch, about the size of a pingpong > ball, becomes the patient's functioning stomach. > " It's not an easy fix, " said Dr. Philip Siegert, a > surgeon with Trinity Medical Center in Rock Island who > has performed about 1,600 of the procedures during the > past 22 years. " It's major surgery. We open the patient > from the breastbone to the navel. And they still have to > diet, exercise and change their habits. But for 85 > percent of my patients, it works. " > Clinically severe obesity, defined as being 100 pounds > or more overweight, affects 3 percent to 5 percent of > the U.S. population. It is a medical condition that > seems to defy the traditional treatments of dieting, > exercise and behavior modification. More than 95 percent > of those who are clinically severely obese fail to keep > weight off by using conservative, traditional methods. > If they submit to gastric bypass, they have a much > higher success rate, Siegert said, and most people lose > 70 percent of their excess weight within the first year. > After consulting with Siegert, Hensley underwent the > surgery in July. More than a year later, she has lost > 140 pounds, but cautions that the procedure was hard on > her both physically and emotionally. > " This is not an easy out and this is not a diet. This is > life-altering, " she said. " When you're an obese person, > your best friend is food, and losing that best friend > and losing that reality was tough. It's like losing a > family member. " > While the length of recovery depends on each patient, > Hensley was released from the hospital after two days > and was back at work within two weeks. After her > surgery, however, she had to learn how to eat all over > again. For the first two months, she gradually moved > from mushy to semi-solid to solid food. She has to watch > her sugar, carbohydrate and protein intakes. If she eats > too much or too fast, she gets violently ill, so she > sets a timer and takes five minutes between bites. > " For 33 years, I shoveled the food in, and I had to > realize the weight wouldn't all come off in just one > day, " she said. > As with any major surgery, there are risks involved, and > before any procedure, Siegert informs his patients of > the short- and long-term risks, which include internal > bleeding and the possibility of infection. He also looks > for obvious medical difficulties and screens for > possible psychological problems such as suicide and > depression. Although the success rate for the gastric > bypass procedure is quite high, not all results are > favorable. > Dale Hoyt, 62, of Cambridge, Ill., had the surgery three > years ago when his weight had reached 345 pounds. > Afterward, he suffered from internal bleeding and > infections and underwent numerous surgeries to repair > his stomach and other complications from the surgery. > Today, Hoyt, who retired from running his business, Hoyt > & Son Automotive in Bettendorf, just before his > operation, uses a wheelchair and is confined to his > recliner most of the day. > After consultations with his surgeon, Dr. Stoner, > also at Trinity Medical Center, Hoyt said he was > confident the procedure would be a success. " When I went > into the hospital, I was perfectly healthy and I felt > like I was strong enough to go through with it, " Hoyt > said. > Although he has lost 95 pounds since the surgery, Hoyt > said he regrets having the surgery. > " It's too serious an operation. They told me I would be > back to normal in a month and they took three years out > of my life, " he said. " I should have known better. " > Siegert said the surgery is an option that may not work > for everyone and that patients need to realize the > serious risks involved. > " The surgery is an alternative. It's not for everybody, > but for those who do qualify, it seems to be a great > procedure that helps a lot of people, " he said. " It's > not perfect, but it helps people a great deal. " > Hensley is satisfied with the outcome of her surgery and > said she can now go to the movies and sit in the theater > seats without embarrassment or discomfort. She used to > have to pretend to fasten her seat belt on airplane > flights because it would not fit around her body, so she > now can fly comfortably. And while her husband did not > agree with the decision to have major surgery, he was > supportive. > " Society puts stigmas on you when you're overweight. > It's a way of life and we have to do something and this > is what I chose to do, " she said. " I might have lost my > best friend in food, but I've gained so much more: I've > gained myself. " > > > To Subscribe to 's weekly FREE Newsletter send an email to GBCookbook-subscribe@... > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 22, 2002 Report Share Posted October 22, 2002 Theresa two thumbs up that is a wonderful article *good going sis * Re: Copied Artical ~Long > Sorry the link didnt' work so i cut and pasted the > artical. Love, Theresa > > Weighing the options: For those suffering from severe > obesity, gastric bypass surgery could be a lifesaver > By Cherie Black > > . > When Theresa Hensley's father, Ernest, died last year, > weighing more than 400 pounds, she knew she had to make > a decision. > At 5 feet 7 inches tall, Hensley, 33, weighed 327 > pounds. She had struggled with weight all her life and > had tried everything from dieting to taking laxatives to > purging, losing 30 pounds here and there and then > gaining twice as much right back. But when her father > died, suffering from endless complications due to his > weight, she knew her life had to change. > " I was there when he took his last breath and it > devastated me, " she said. " Lowering him into the ground, > I knew I would be next if I didn't do something. " > That was when she decided to look into gastric bypass > surgery, also called bariatric surgery. It is a > procedure in which a surgeon divides the stomach into > two pouches, connecting the upper pouch to the small > intestine. The upper pouch, about the size of a pingpong > ball, becomes the patient's functioning stomach. > " It's not an easy fix, " said Dr. Philip Siegert, a > surgeon with Trinity Medical Center in Rock Island who > has performed about 1,600 of the procedures during the > past 22 years. " It's major surgery. We open the patient > from the breastbone to the navel. And they still have to > diet, exercise and change their habits. But for 85 > percent of my patients, it works. " > Clinically severe obesity, defined as being 100 pounds > or more overweight, affects 3 percent to 5 percent of > the U.S. population. It is a medical condition that > seems to defy the traditional treatments of dieting, > exercise and behavior modification. More than 95 percent > of those who are clinically severely obese fail to keep > weight off by using conservative, traditional methods. > If they submit to gastric bypass, they have a much > higher success rate, Siegert said, and most people lose > 70 percent of their excess weight within the first year. > After consulting with Siegert, Hensley underwent the > surgery in July. More than a year later, she has lost > 140 pounds, but cautions that the procedure was hard on > her both physically and emotionally. > " This is not an easy out and this is not a diet. This is > life-altering, " she said. " When you're an obese person, > your best friend is food, and losing that best friend > and losing that reality was tough. It's like losing a > family member. " > While the length of recovery depends on each patient, > Hensley was released from the hospital after two days > and was back at work within two weeks. After her > surgery, however, she had to learn how to eat all over > again. For the first two months, she gradually moved > from mushy to semi-solid to solid food. She has to watch > her sugar, carbohydrate and protein intakes. If she eats > too much or too fast, she gets violently ill, so she > sets a timer and takes five minutes between bites. > " For 33 years, I shoveled the food in, and I had to > realize the weight wouldn't all come off in just one > day, " she said. > As with any major surgery, there are risks involved, and > before any procedure, Siegert informs his patients of > the short- and long-term risks, which include internal > bleeding and the possibility of infection. He also looks > for obvious medical difficulties and screens for > possible psychological problems such as suicide and > depression. Although the success rate for the gastric > bypass procedure is quite high, not all results are > favorable. > Dale Hoyt, 62, of Cambridge, Ill., had the surgery three > years ago when his weight had reached 345 pounds. > Afterward, he suffered from internal bleeding and > infections and underwent numerous surgeries to repair > his stomach and other complications from the surgery. > Today, Hoyt, who retired from running his business, Hoyt > & Son Automotive in Bettendorf, just before his > operation, uses a wheelchair and is confined to his > recliner most of the day. > After consultations with his surgeon, Dr. Stoner, > also at Trinity Medical Center, Hoyt said he was > confident the procedure would be a success. " When I went > into the hospital, I was perfectly healthy and I felt > like I was strong enough to go through with it, " Hoyt > said. > Although he has lost 95 pounds since the surgery, Hoyt > said he regrets having the surgery. > " It's too serious an operation. They told me I would be > back to normal in a month and they took three years out > of my life, " he said. " I should have known better. " > Siegert said the surgery is an option that may not work > for everyone and that patients need to realize the > serious risks involved. > " The surgery is an alternative. It's not for everybody, > but for those who do qualify, it seems to be a great > procedure that helps a lot of people, " he said. " It's > not perfect, but it helps people a great deal. " > Hensley is satisfied with the outcome of her surgery and > said she can now go to the movies and sit in the theater > seats without embarrassment or discomfort. She used to > have to pretend to fasten her seat belt on airplane > flights because it would not fit around her body, so she > now can fly comfortably. And while her husband did not > agree with the decision to have major surgery, he was > supportive. > " Society puts stigmas on you when you're overweight. > It's a way of life and we have to do something and this > is what I chose to do, " she said. " I might have lost my > best friend in food, but I've gained so much more: I've > gained myself. " > > > To Subscribe to 's weekly FREE Newsletter send an email to GBCookbook-subscribe@... > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 22, 2002 Report Share Posted October 22, 2002 very touching youve done a great job always dolly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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