Portion Control After Bariatric Surgery

Weight loss is something that many people are doing and sometimes this means that a surgical procedure is needed. There are two processes for surgery. One is the Roux-en-Y which is another term for the full Gastric Bypass surgery or the Lap-Band procedure that is so widely publicized. In both procedures there comes a time when they must control their portions in order to lose weight.

The individual who has the Roux-en-Y often has the most problems because they may have been used to eating larger portions. They are restricted now to a much smaller amount than they are used to and it can be challenging trying to understand the type of portion they need to do.

The first few weeks to a month are not the problem because the individual will be on liquids first , then pureed food. This gives the pouch time to heal and helps them start getting used to the pouch, how much it holds and so forth. They will not have challenges probably until they start eating solid food.

When they are in the hospital they receive measuring cups and once they get to more solid food they can only eat 4 ounces at each meal. The measuring cups are the exact measure but people have a tendency to over fill the cup because they are not exactly sure how to visualize “enough.”

Many bariatric patients will experience dumping which means they vomit because they have eaten too much and the pouch fills to over flow and the extra has to come out. Because they are unsure of adjusting their portions they can have this happen frequently until they get used to the portions.

Once an individual gets through the first month or so of eating they can go to solid foods. This creates another difficulty because they are to stick within the guidelines of the four ounces which causes a problem again.

We have found a great idea to help people who need to see their portions measured accurately–it is called a Meal Measure. It creates a stronger visual image for people to see the exact portions that they need.

Knowing the right portion to use is important when you want to lose weight or keep your diabetes under control. It makes good sense to make sure that you can do the best for yourself when you are attempting to lose weight and get into a different routine with your eating now.

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Exactly What Can You Have Done With Cosmetic Eye Laser Surgery?

Lasers can be used to perform cosmetic eye laser surgery on both the upper and lower eyelids. The tissues around the eye can have certain age-related changes; the elasticity decreases causing the skin tone to change, the eyebrows start to droop and additional skin accumulates on the upper and lower eyelids.

The collection of bags of fat around the eyes is also all too common. Then there are eye diseases like facial nerve palsy or disthyroid which can also cause these skin problems even with young people.

Blepharoplasty: a popular cosmetic eye surgery procedure

This cosmetic eye surgery is often used to remedy these skin problems. In essence during the procedure the surgeon will remove all unwonted skin by making incisions with a laser.

The lasers can also be used to remove fatty deposits from under the eye and erase wrinkles from the lower eyelid. Small sutures are then used to close the incisions, these are then removed after about four to five days.

Lasers, a world of benefits

There are a whole world of benefits to combining lasers and cosmetic surgery. One big advantage is that the surgeon can see the organ he’s working on much, much better since he has the ability to very quickly seal any blood vessels.

Better precision of the surgeon is the main advantage here. Also a patient who undergoes cosmetic laser eye surgery will normally suffer far less swelling after the operation.

After The Procedure

One must be prepared for some discomfort from bright lights and possibly some blurred vision soon after the operation.

This is quite normal and in a lot of cases your doctor will probably give you some medication to deal with this problem. It shouldn’t be long before these side-effects cease and you can enjoy perfect vision once more.

Anyone interested in undergoing cosmetic surgery on their eyes will first need to go through a thorough examination by their doctor first, to be sure they are good to go with their cosmetic eye surgery.

Be sure to consider all aspects of a cosmetic eye laser surgery procedures before deciding to go through with the procedure. As with all surgical procedures there are both benefits and risks that should be weighed carefully before proceeding.

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The Pros and Cons of an Abdominoplasty

Also called a “tummy tuck”, Abdominoplasty is a surgical procedure for the removal of excess skin and fat from the abdominal area. This surgery is done for two reasons: to reduce the protrusion of the abdomen and to improve the muscle tone of the abdomen by tightening these muscles.

Who needs abdominoplasty?

Men and women, who are otherwise in good shape, but have a protruding abdomen due to fat deposit or loose skin that has not improved even with exercise, may be candidates for abdominoplasty. It is particularly popular among women, who, due to multiple pregnancies have lost the tightness of their tummies beyond the point where diet control and exercise can restore it.

Risks of Abdominoplasty

When performed by a skilled, qualified surgeon, there is very little risk of complications and is a total success in most patients. However, it should be understood that any surgical procedure does come with some risks of complications. The patient considering an abdominoplasty procedure must of course be aware of these risks before having the surgery.

Infection and blood clots are possible, though very rare complications sometimes seen from an abdominoplasty. These complications are treatable, but will result in a longer hospital stay following the operation. Healing is better in some patients than in others, with scar formation happening in a small number of patients. If the scars are prominent, a second operation may be needed. If you are considering undergoing this procedure and you smoke, quit! Smoking can exacerbate any complications from the operation.

Planning and preparation for surgery

First, the surgeon must evaluate the skin tone of the patient and the size and location of fat deposits in the patient’s abdomen. After having looked at these factors, the surgeon will recommend either a partial or full abdominoplasty based on their findings. If fat deposits are to be found only below the navel, then a partial abdominoplasty will likely be their recommendation. If they are more extensive, or simply to result in a better end result for the patient, the surgeon will recommend either a full abdominoplasty or a partial abdominoplasty in tandem with liposuction.

Your surgeon will give you a list of rules for drinking, smoking and diet to follow in the time leading up to the surgery. If you are sick or have an infection, your surgery will be rescheduled. A Complete abdominoplasty will require anywhere form two to five hours to perform, with a partial abdominoplasty taking between one and two.

In a complete abdominoplasty a long incision will be made from one hipbone to the other, just above the pubic area. Another incision will also be made to free the navel area from the abdominal tissue. Partial abdominoplasty needs a much shorter incision, and the second incision may not be required at all.

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Going Home After Tubal Reversal

After tubal reversal surgery, many women find they have several questions. Those who travel to their surgeon especially have questions regarding their return trip and after they get home. We will provide answers to four of the most common in this article about tubal reanastomosis.

If you have decided to have your tubal reanastomosis done by a premiere surgeon such as Dr. Gary Berger of Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center, your first question will be about the flight home. How soon after the surgery can you leave? Now, if you are questioning why you would fly somewhere else to get this operation done, you should check out the author’s other articles on selecting a tubal reversal doctor or check the resources listed below.

If you live within the continental US, you can usually fly back the day after tubal reversal surgery, after being checked out in the morning by the doctor or one of the nurses. However, if you live further away, you should wait at least one extra day before traveling. It might even be better if you wait a couple extra days after surgery and look on it as your last chance for a little time away.

Another question about travel after tubal reversal has to do with comfort on the flight. There are three things that are suggested to make your trip more comfortable. One is to have a small pillow that you can lay over your incision area to help provide support.

Be sure to take your pain medication along with a couple ibuprofen just before the flight to help take the edge off the pain. Most women have little pain after a tubal reanastomosis but the effort and bumpiness of a flight or car trip could aggravate things for you. Of course, you should check with your own surgeon to learn what he suggests. Also, if you do get a little motion sick, you might want to check into some medication to help with that. Discuss this with your surgeon.

If it is available, a direct flight is the best way to go. Tell the gate attendant that you just had surgery and need to board before the other passengers. Contact the appropriate person to have a wheel chair or cart waiting to get you around the airport. If you must change flights en route, this will be very helpful.

Seeing your doctor at home is usually the next question asked after tubal reversal. You want to know if you need to make an appointment to see him. If he is the one that sent you to the surgeon, it might be a good idea to go see him when you get home. But, otherwise, it is up to you and whether or not it would make you more comfortable to do so.

The last question for right after the tubal reversal is usually about how you contact your tubal reversal surgeon. In these days, not only should you have a phone number that you can use day or night, there should be other ways as well though there’s nothing like a phone for an emergency. Email could be one way to get more questions or concerns answered. A moderated message board is an even better way that also allows you to contact other women who have had or are considering tubal reanastomosis.

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Cancer Treatments

by Dane Masters

If you or a loved one has recently been diagnosed with cancer, then the discussion has mostly been regarding recommended cancer treatments, side effects, and efficacy. There are a number of cancer treatment options available, including alternative or natural cancer treatments, invasive and non-invasive procedures, chemotherapy, radiation, or a combination. Not every cancer treatment works the same for every patient. It depends a great deal on what type of cancer has been diagnosed, how much it has progressed, and what type of cancer treatments are effective at that particular stage.

Of course there are always cases where a cancer can spread unnoticed until finally it strikes a major organ like the lungs, brain or kidneys. Sometimes undergoing a long and potentially painful treatment regime will just be delaying the inevitable, in which case some people may decide to refuse treatment and enjoy their final days. But with medicine advancing by leaps and bounds one should fully explore their options before giving up.

The most popularly used method of treating cancer is chemotherapy. This treatment is actually a concoction of many medicines put together, and the ‘cocktail’ varies depending on the type of cancer and how advanced it is. Chemotherapy is usually used in cancer cases because of its ability to reach multiple areas of the body in case the cancer has begun to spread.

Chemotherapy medication can be given to the patient orally, be injected into a muscle or be supplied intravenously. Depending on the cancer and the treatment course it may be given over a few days, weeks or even months. Of course there are many side effects associated with chemotherapy, although most of these can be managed with other medications to make the patient more comfortable over their course of treatment.

Other treatment options are available, such as radiation therapy and surgery, but usually chemotherapy is the first choice. There are many people out there offering natural remedies which are unproven, so anyone who wants to tries these remedies should discuss with their doctor first to make sure they aren’t just being taken for a ride.

It is important during the course of your cancer treatment to advise your doctor of any and all medications you may be taking, whether they are herbal or medical. There are many medications that you may be taking at one time and you will want to make sure that none of them interfere with each other, and that all of them are working together to give you the best chance of beating this disease.

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