January 23, 2010

Here is my Lapband Story…

Filed under: Gastric Band surgery, Gastric Banding, Gastric band Procedure, Lap Band procedure, Lap band surgery, Lapband, Lapband mexico, Lapband procedure, Lapband surgery, Obesity, Obesity surgery, RYGB, Roux-n-Y, Weight loss surgery, gastric bypass — Tags: Arturo Rodriguez, Arturo Rodriguez MD, Dr. Arturo Rodriguez, gastric band, gastric bypass, Lap Band, Lap band surgery, Lapband, Lapband surgery, Realize Band, realize band procedure, realize band surgery, weight loss success — Dr. Arturo Rodriguez @ 11:58 pm

Here is my Lap Band Story…

I was overweight most of my life. I had tried every diet out there only to gain all the weight back. I was depressed and frustrated. I had heard so many Weight Loss Surgery success stories and realized that Lapband surgery was my only option for permanent Weight Loss. While researching my options I ran across Dr. Arturo Rodriguez’s website and decided to call. I was skeptical about traveling outside the U.S. but after a lot of research I was certain that Dr. Arturo Rodriguez was the right doctor for me.

An important thing I learned in my research was that the experience of your Lap-band Surgeon plays a huge role in your success with Lap-band. Dr. Arturo Rodriguez has performed thousands more Lap-band Surgeries than any doctor I could find in the U.S. I decided that if I was going to have this surgery I wanted the best Surgeon to do it!

My experience in Monterrey was amazing! I was greeted at the airport and taken directly to the hospital. When we arrived, Dr. Rodriguez and his assistant met my husband and I. They discussed everything that would take place. After surgery I was taken to my hospital room. There was always a nurse to help if I needed. I have never received such good care in any hospital in the U.S. as I did in Monterrey.

The next day I was picked up and taken to my hotel room and later that evening, one of Dr. Arturo Rodriguez’s staff came to check on me and take my husband and I around Monterrey. The next day someone picked us up and drove us to the airport. We never had to worry about a single thing the entire time we were there.

My life since Lap-band Surgery has changed dramatically. I can play with my boys and not get tired, I’m more outgoing, I wake up and my back doesn’t hurt, and I have endless amounts of energy. It’s also taught me what true portion control is and given me the skills to lifelong Weight Loss! I’ve learned what it takes to keep the weight off forever! Most importantly I have eliminated my chances of acquiring obesity related illnesses.

I have Dr. Arturo Rodriguez and the Lap-band Surgery to thank for all of this. It changed my life so much that my Mom even decided to have Gastric Bypass Surgery (by Dr. Arturo Rodriguez of course) and she too has had amazing success losing over 100 lbs and going off many of the medications she was on prior to surgery. In fact, I was so impressed by Dr. Rodriguez and his staff that when the opportunity came to work with them and to help others see the many benefits of this surgery, I jumped at the chance.

I would love to talk to you about how much this amazing Surgery can change your life and why Dr. Arturo Rodriguez is the right Surgeon for you.

Shelby, Lapband patient, http://www.thebariatric.com

Shelby Hashagen

Patient Coordinator / Dr. Arturo Rodriguez

(360) 304-0610

shelby@thebariatric.com

http://www.thebariatric.com

Originally posted 2009-03-25 19:53:23. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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January 20, 2010

THE GASTRIC BANDS AND THE LAPBAND PROCEDURE

Filed under: Gastric Band surgery, Gastric Banding, Gastric band Procedure, J & J Band, Lap Band, Lap Band procedure, Lap band surgery, Lapband, Lapband mexico, Lapband procedure, Lapband surgery, Obesity, Obesity surgery, Realize Band, Weight loss surgery — Dr. Arturo Rodriguez @ 9:31 pm

The Gastric Bands and the Lap Band Procedure

When the Lap Band Surgeon discusses the lap-band Weight Loss Surgery, he will also discuss the lap band surgery cost with the patient. But more important than understanding the lap-band surgery cost, the patient must understand what the lap band is and what is involved in the surgery.

The Band or “belt” is constructed of a silicone material that is placed around the upper part of the stomach during the Lap Band Procedure. This is used to limit food intake. There is a hose or tube that connects the Lap band to a port or “valve”. This port is placed in the fat of the abdominal wall. It is used to inject saline solution into the band to increase or decrease its diameter. This changes the opening of the stomach where food passes through.

Different types of Adjustable Gastric Bands differ in design, shape, smoothness and edges. There are also differences in the way that the Band is placed in the abdominal cavity. They vary in length and after closing it differs from one to another in the way it ties to the stomach (concentric, in triangular manner, or as a clip).

Some of the Adjustable Gastric Bands can be seen by x-ray as opposed to other types of bands. The Port and the way it is connected with the hose differ with each band. The ports are made of different material and come in different shapes and sizes.

Arturo Rodríguez, MD

http://www.thebariatric.com

http://www.bandstersforum.com/

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January 16, 2010

Talking About Several Lap Bands? The Hidden Story Behind the Lap Band…PART I

Filed under: Gastric Band surgery, Gastric Banding, Gastric band Procedure, Lap Band procedure, Lap band surgery, Obesity, Obesity surgery, Weight loss surgery — Tags: before Lapband, Health, Lap Band, Lap band message board, Lap Band Mexico, Lap band surgery, Lapband, Lapband forum, Lapband mexico, Lapband procedure — Dr. Arturo Rodriguez @ 8:49 pm

Talking about SEVERAL Lap Bands? The hidden story behind the Lap Band…PART I

You find yourself searching through Doctors or Promoters websites and you don’t find information about the existence of different Lap Bands. How come? Why is this information so hard to find? How long have there been different Lap band Models?

When you visit message boards and forums and find little information about different models of the Lap Band, the information you do find usually comes from someone with misinformation (even when they think they are informed and write with some kind of authority because they have had the Lap Band surgery done) and their contribution to this subject is manipulated by comments by others.

Why is this not discussed PROPERLY on the message boards and forums? It is difficult to believe that nobody cares about this. Why is there little interest in this? Is it important to know that there are several different kinds of Lap Bands? Or does it matter at all?

Why is the market distracted by the Lap Band price and not the quality of the Lapband, the patient’s satisfaction with the Lap Band procedure or the doctor’s service? Why hasn’t anyone questioned Allergan’s practices of flooding the border town’s market with Lap bands that have been stolen from the factory? Why is Allergan letting this happen? What does Allergan gain from this practice?

January 10, 2010

INTERNAL HERNIAS RELATED TO A GASTRIC BYPASS

Filed under: Obesity, RYGB, Revision Surgery, Roux-n-Y, Weight loss surgery, gastric bypass — Tags: Arturo Rodriguez, bariatric procedure, Gastic Bypass Surgery, Gastric Bypass procedure, Revision Surgery, weight loss procedure, Weight loss surgery — Dr. Arturo Rodriguez @ 7:59 pm

INTERNAL HERNIAS RELATED TO A GASTRIC BYPASS

The internal hernias after a Laparoscopic Gastric Bypass may occur in 10 % of patients. Early detection is important because they threaten the patient by causing intestinal obstruction, intestinal strangulation with perforation and peritonitis.

It is very important to know that the Internal hernias often pass unnoticed delaying the diagnosis and the treatment.

The doctors either do not suspect the problem as a cause of the symptoms or the patients misunderstand the severity of their symptoms due to their initially vague clinical symptoms.

It is very common that the patients tend self medicate themselves delaying the prompt attention, not consulting with a doctor until symptoms are more serious with a higher risk of catastrophic complications.

Internal hernias in patients with Gastric Bypass occur most frequently 18 months after surgery, however there are reports from the first postoperative day up to 25 years after the operation.

It is important to know if your doctor completed a laparoscopic Gastric Bypass “retro colic” or gastric Bypass “ante colic”.

There are 3 sites in the first case (retro colic) where hernia occurs: At the Petersen’s space, at level the jejunum-jejunostomy and at the mesocolon underneath the transverse colon; and there are two sites in the ante colic laparoscopic Gastric Bypass with a potential internal hernia presentation.

When a surgeon uses sutures during the bypass surgery the potential of a hernia space decrease the risk of the presentation of internal hernia.

In some private hospitals operatory time is very expensive and some doctors prefer to ignore this very important surgical step, on the other hand, to close these spaces also requires the development of advanced laparoscopic skills to do it correctly and in expeditious manner with intracorporeal stitches to close such potential hernia spaces and that has to be done by hand (not staplers), as a result, that explains some of the incidence of hernia with intestinal obstruction.

Common symptoms of internal hernia after a Laparoscopic Gastric Bypass are mild peri umbilical pain progressing to an intermittently cramping pain but increases in frequency and if not treated it will progress to the classic intestinal obstruction.

Occasionally the intestinal obstruction is mild and resolves quickly but may become a true surgical emergency where the life of the patient is at risk and surgical laparoscopic treatment has to be done without delay.

If you experience any of the described symptoms you must act quickly to resolve the hernia and need to be explore the area by laparoscopic means. Closure of the hernia ring is very feasible in most cases, even more, when a bypass patient arrives with obstruction and it is diagnosed quickly needs to undergoing laparoscopic exploration to avoid complications. If not treated immediately the chances increase due to the high possibility of a second catastrophic event.

Don’t expect that the hernia will be resolved with general measures because sooner or later the patient’s life is in jeopardy.

Dr. Arturo Rodriguez

Gastric Surgery and Obesity

http://www.thebariatric.com

http://www.bandstersforum.com

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January 9, 2010

Vertical Gastrectomy Procedures

Filed under: Gastric Band surgery, Gastric Banding, Gastric band Procedure, Lap Band procedure, Lap band surgery, Obesity, Obesity surgery, RYGB, Revision Surgery, Roux-n-Y, Weight loss surgery, gastric bypass, gastric sleeve — Tags: Fobi-Capella Procedure, Gastic Bypass Surgery, Health, Lap Band, Magenstrasse operation, Vertical Banded Gastrectomy, Vertical Gastrectomy, Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy — Dr. Arturo Rodriguez @ 8:19 pm

Vertical Gastrectomy Procedures

The original procedure, conceived by Dr. D. Johnston in England, was called The Magenstrasse and Mill Operation. The stomach is stapled vertically and divided from the incisura angularis to reach the angle of His at the gastric fundus. Dr. Johnston’s procedure of leaving a long gastric tube that resembles the German highway Magenstrasse was rapidly called that way. The Magenstrasse, or “street of the stomach“, is a long tube fashioned from the lesser curvature of the stomach, which conveys food from the esophagus to the antral Mill without the total partition of the stomach. The normal antral grinding of solid food and neuro-hormonal, antro-pyloric-duodenal regulation of gastric emptying and secretion are preserved.

It is now called the Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy (VSG) but is also known as Vertical Gastroplasty. If a silastic ring or mesh is added to the technique, it is called the Vertical Banded Gastroplasty (VBG) and was suggested to help increase the restriction needed for a better weight loss. If a silastic ring is added to the pouch of a Gastric Bypass, it is called the Fobi-Capella Procedure.

These techniques (VSG and VBG) generate weight loss by restricting the amount of food that can be eaten (Purely Restrictive Procedure) without having any bypass of the intestines or malabsorption. Both procedures have largely been abandoned due to poor long term results.

The more popular procedure known today as the Gastric Sleeve (much longer “street” than the Magenstrasse procedure) is done laparoscopically and is considered a variation of the Vertical Gastrectomy, but includes the removal of the remaining 80% of the stomach after its partition.

I met Dr. Gagner several years ago, a very friendly Canadian doctor that was living in NY and then moved later to Miami. He is considered among bariatric surgeons as one of the fathers of the Gastric Sleeve (GS) as a primary procedure and told me that the success of the procedure was largely discovered by accident because no one expected the remarkable weight loss produced by the Gastric Sleeve. Later medical scientific publications revealed that the driving force for the weight loss was the decreased level of Ghrelin Factor when removing the 80% of the stomach.

GASTRIC SLEEVE Advantages:

Stomach volume is considerably reduced to more than 100 cc but not as much as compared to the pouch of the Lap band (15 cc) or the Gastric Bypass (30 cc).
The Sleeve motility gradually returns to normal functioning after 3 months following the operation, so most regular foods can then be consumed but in smaller amounts.
The procedure eliminates the portion of the stomach that produces the Ghrelin Factor (the hormone that stimulates hunger). By avoiding the intestinal bypass, the chance of intestinal obstruction (blockage), anemia, osteoporosis, protein deficiency and vitamin deficiency are eliminated.
Very safe and effective as a Primary procedure, First Stage procedure for very high BMI patients or as a Revisional procedure.
Can be checked with a scope when needed.
Appealing option for people with existing anemia, Crohn’s disease, arthritis and numerous other conditions that make them too high risk for intestinal bypass procedures.
Success rate is 60-80% of excess weight loss.
Proven to work better on Type 2 Diabetes and on Metabolic Disease than other procedures because increases in the Incretins secretion which lower the sugar Insulin resistance.
It can be converted to almost any other weight loss procedure.

GASTRIC SLEEVE Disadvantages:

Poor patient cooperation will result in inadequate weight loss or weight regain like binging eaters.
Patients with a high BMI often need to have a second stage procedure later to lose all the remaining extra weight.
Two stages is safer and more effective than one operation for high BMI patients.
Soft and liquid calories from ice cream, milk shakes, chocolates, etc., can be absorbed and slows down the weight loss.
This procedure does involve stomach cutting and stapling and therefore leaks and other complications related to cutting and stapling may occur.
It is not a reversible procedure.
Considered investigational by some surgeons and insurance companies.

Arturo Rodríguez, MD.

http://www.thebariatric.com

Originally posted 2008-09-05 01:09:58. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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January 2, 2010

Lap Bands: Truth or Myth?

Filed under: Gastric Band surgery, Gastric Banding, Gastric band Procedure, Lap Band procedure, Lap band surgery, Obesity, Obesity surgery, Weight loss surgery — Tags: Health, Lap Band, Lap Band erosion, Lap band slippage, Lap Band USA, Realize Band — Dr. Arturo Rodriguez @ 5:39 pm

Lap Bands: Truth or Myth?

I can’t have a Lap Band Surgery if I am not Super-Obese: Every day we do more Lap Band Surgeries in overweight and mildly obese patients, especially if they have a family history of co-morbidities such as Type 2 Diabetes, High Blood Pressure or High Cholesterol. The tendency world wide is that patients qualify for the Lap Band Procedures with BMI of 30 and above. The Lap band works also very well in patients who don’t want to gain weight but maintain in the weight they are and this is possible due to the Lap Band versatility to be adjustable to the patient’s needs.

You have to lose more than 10 pounds the first month after a Lap band Surgery: Yes, you do… The liquid diet should help you to lose much more than 10 pounds in the first month after surgery. When patients don’t reach this minimum it is because they are drinking many liquid calories and/or are not moving at all to burn the excess fat. Your goal after the first month of your surgery would be to lose at least 2 pounds per week and exercise will help you to reach this goal.

I am eating too much therefore I should go for a fill: Getting a lap band fill should not be based on the amount of food you are eating. As long as you are losing weight or sizes, you won’t need a fill. If you are eating more, this could mean that you are moving or exercising more than you did before, or that you are making better choices about the foods that you are eating. If you are in a plateau or gaining weight, then you should go for a fill. The purpose of the fill is to increase the restriction to food when you quit losing weight.

Should I expect to lose weight without exercising? You can lose weight without exercise if you are eating a very low calorie diet, but normally you will need some kind of exercise in addition to the diet to lose or maintain a healthy weight. Remember that the Lap band is a tool and you have to learn how to use it – this includes the change in the bad old habits.

I was expecting not to be dieting with the Lap Band Surgery. The Lap Band procedure is a restrictive aid for treating excess weight and needs full cooperation from the patients in order to work as desired. Even in patients with a big fill, there are calories that will pass through easily, like ice cream or chocolates, and you can gain weight if you choose too many high-calorie foods. The key is: Follow a healthy, well-balanced, low-calorie food intake and also get active – do some kind of exercise to boost your health.

The Lap Band shows me when I am over eating and that is why I vomit all the time: History of vomiting is frequently found in patients that have to be de-banded because of Lap Band Erosion or Slippage. You have to learn to be satisfied before vomiting. If you are someone that vomits frequently, you may have developed a bad habit of over eating, not chewing well or eating too fast - and at some point you will end up hurting your stomach.

I don’t need fluoroscopy for a Lap Band fill: I recommend a fluoroscopic check-up done at least once a year. Fluoroscopy helps us to detect early complications such as anatomical changes in your stomach and esophagus, and also the functional status of the Lap Band.

My friend has a very good fill with 3 cc and I do not: Stomachs differ in size from person to person, and everyone reacts differently to the Lap Band. You can’t compare yourself with anyone. That was Inamed’s big mistake: the Lap Band was made too short to fit all the patients’ stomachs, assuming that they were equal in size. This caused some patients to have complications such as disphagia (difficulty swallowing) after having the Lap Band for several months.

Support Groups and Message Boards are a waste of time: It is critical for the patients to have a supportive group if they truly want to succeed. I encourage all my Lap Band patients to join our Lap Band Message Boards where they can feel comfortable exchanging and sharing experiences in a friendly environment.

Arturo Rodríguez, MD

http://www.thebariatric.com

http://www.bandstersforum.com

Originally posted 2008-09-15 21:12:18. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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