News, Updates, and Events at Hope Bariatrics

Center of Excellence Re Certification

March, 2010

Hope Bariatrics, Geoffrey Wilcox, M.D., Michael Felix, M.D. and Heritage Valley Sewickley recently received their recertification with the American Society for Metabolic Bariatric Surgery. The ASMBS Center of Excellence designation recognizes surgical programs with a demonstrated track record of favorable outcomes in bariatric surgery and a long term post-surgery follow up program.

The Hope Bariatrics’ surgery program and Heritage Valley Sewickley was recertified after a thorough documentation review of outcomes data and a site visit in which all aspects of the surgical program were closely evaluated. The ASMBS review assessed the program’s ability to help patients cope with the significant emotional and lifestyle changes through a multi-tiered approach that includes nutritional, psychological, and educational support. The surgeons’ skills and the quality of the hospital in which the bariatric procedures are performed are also assessed.

“Heritage Valley Sewickley’s role in providing a state-of-the-art facility for bariatric surgery and post-surgical care is reflected through this Center of Excellence recertification,” said Norm Mitry, president and chief executive officer for Heritage Valley Health System. “The experience and expertise of the bariatric care team including physicians and staff involved in caring for our bariatric patients is evident through the excellent outcomes experienced by bariatric patients.”

“This designation is an indicator of the excellent level of care we provide to our patients, beginning with the pre-operative information seminar and office visits, to the surgery and hospital stay, and through the extensive post-operative follow-up process,” said Dr.
Wilcox.

Newsletter (Summer 2009)

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Nutrition Update

Bone Health: New Studies indicate an even greater than expected risk for osteoporosis after bariatric surgeries. Both gastric bypass and lap band patients had higher incidence of bone loss.

Read your dosage and labeling carefully for all supplements, especially calcium products. All bariatric patients need the following to maintain good bone health: 1500-1800 mg calcium citrate or calcium lactate-gluconate daily. (Do NOT use calcium carbonate products.) Take in divided doses of 600 mg or less. Plus two servings of low fat milk or yogurt daily.

2000 IU (International units) of D-3 daily or the equivalent per week such as 5000 IU D-3 per week. It is fat soluble and does store in the body, so you do not need to take it daily to be effective. Vitamin D is necessary for the proper absorption of calcium along with reducing the risk of numerous co-morbidities such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes, etc. Examine your vitamins and calcium supplements carefully to determine the amount you are already taking and then supplement accordingly. We screen in the scheduled blood work for vitamin D. We see a great deal of deficiencies of Vitamin D, so please review your intake.

Call the office with any questions.

Emotional Eating

Carol Crawford, LPC, NCC, Psychotherapist/Counselor, recent guest speaker at our support group is offering sessions for emotional eating. There is a fee for this service and you can get details by calling 412-749-1747. Don’t sabotage your hard work………get help!!

Exercise!!

We all know the importance of this component. If you’re having difficulty starting a program or keeping one, call Signature Rehab. If you were at our support group when Chad Vorderbreggen spoke and shared his expertise, you may have been motivated to incorporate exercise in your weight loss journey. Call Chad and let him help you get started. He’s informative, enthusiastic and motivating. Now get going!!! Call 412-749-7178 for details of the program Hope Bariatrics and Signature Rehab share with your good health in mind.

Insurance Considerations

For those who are researching bariatric surgery or those already in our program, remember these important lifestyle changes insurance companies are looking for to approve your surgery. DO NOT GAIN WEIGHT on your 3 or 6 month diet visits with your PCP or your surgery may be denied by the insurance company. Also, they are looking for changes in your eating habits and that you’re making good food choices. Use this phase to begin your healthy, successful weight loss journey. Please call the office with any questions.

Pre-Surgery Classes

If you’re planning to attend a pre-surgery nutrition class review, please call the office to verify time and date prior to attending.

What a journey it has been! About a year ago, on my 39th birthday, I had an epiphany. I realized that I had a wonderful life. I was married to an amazing man; I had a great job, and was surrounded by lots of people who loved me. So why was I slowly killing myself? I had never had a weight problem...up until the age of 14 or so. From then on, it was all downhill, or in my case up on the scale. I graduated from high school at around 180 pounds. In college, while they talk about the freshman 10, I put on the freshman 40. Every year I'd put on a few more. But it's not like I didn't try to stop it. Over the years, I tried Weight Watchers countless times, Jenny Craig, Atkins, grapefruit, cabbage soup, and all the other fad diets out there. I don't think there is one I didn't try.. and fail at. So, as my confidence in myself went down, my weight went up until that 39th birthday when I weighed in at whopping 250. That is the day that I called my doctor who I'd seen for more than a decade for an appointment. When I finally got in to see her, she asked me if I was finally ready, as if she had been waiting for me to make this decision all along! She taled to me about Hope Bariatrics, and I was on my way to changing my life...at last. On the day of my surgery, I weighed 278 pounds, thanks to a few months of ice cream for dinner. I was very nervous, but I had my wonderfully supportive husband by my side. He kept telling me that he married me when I was a positively svelte 230 pounds and that no matter what happened, he would be with me. With those words, I went peacefully to sleep. The initial surgery went well, an I was home within a few days. I was incredibly nervous, but I had all the literature that Hope Bariatrics had given me to refer to. I followed the instructions to the letter, felt really good, and ready to go back to work. At that point I had dropped 10 pounds, and was feeling great. As the weeks went by, I began to notie that my clothes were fitting a little looser, and that people were beginning to say things about my weight loss. A few months in, and I ha to give all of my old clothes to charity. I also had to buy a belt, which I had never needed before. These days, I'm about 165 pounds, an even though I don't feel like I look that much different, to everyone else the change is dramatic. Recently, I had to give a presentation to a group of people at work that I had not seen since before my surgery. As I introduced myself, I heard a few gasps from the audience. Afterwards, at least a half a dozen people said they did not recognize me. So, that's my journey, and I have to say that even though there have been moments along the way where I questioned by decision, now that I've arrive at this wonderful place, I wouldn't have changed a thing. Thank you to Hope Bariatrics for all the support and encouragement you have provided along the way.

- Cleva