10/30/2008

Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy


This is the surgery that I plan to get at the begining of the year. As obese as I've become this would help me eliminate some of the comorbidities that I've developed.

10/25/2008

Bariatrics

I've been contemplating the idea of having bariatric surgery for some time. At first I was totally against it and swore up and down that I'd be able to do it on my own. I went to see the bariatric specialist and was convinced that this is the only way for me to lose the weight. The doctor was excellent and advised me that as long as I had doubts in my mind and felt that I had a chance of doing it on my own he would not operate on me. When I left his office I was pretty much convinced that the lap band was the way for me to go. I did more and more research, I knew I didn't want the gastric bypass and perhaps health issues would have not allow me to be able to get it. Finally, after a conversation with another Weight Loss Surgery (WLS) patient (I won't say her name, but she's lost lots and lots of weight and she looks absolutely beautiful!!! and feels great too!!! Hint... Hint.. she's not only my prima but she is also my long time friend and classmate!!) I was guided to the website of Dr. Guillermo Alvarez, he specializes on both lap band and vertical sleeve gastrectomy. I've thought this over and over and this is what I'm getting. Now I only pray that my doctor will not go against it, since this is and old surgery revised from the 1980's. In my heart i do believe that this is the one for me. I post again later with more detailed information as far as procedure!

My birthday! (45)


Mom and myself at Mi Tierra!

Mom and Lee!


These were taken on September 11, 2008, a day after my 45th birthday. Mom, Lee and I had dinner at Mi Tierra in San Antonio while I was attending a Probate School. Mom and Lee got sick that evening. I didn't get sick until the following day and was sick throughout the weekend. My doctor said it was a stomach virus and that we should NOT be eating Mexican food away from home!!! What a way to celebrate a birthday!


Lee and me!

Mike couldn't join us, he had to take my MIL to the funeral of a family friend. I could not attend due to my job committment.

POSTHERPETIC NEURALGIA

I've had a headache (neuralgia) since the middle of August. This is what I was finally disgnosed with. My mom and I both suffer from the same ailment. She's had it for approximately 10 years. Our local nurse practitioner put me on Gabapentin, what a blessing, it's been the only thing that has given me some relief. Mom on the other had has had no relief whatsoever.

I took this info from Wikipedia...

Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) is a neuralgia caused by the varicella zoster virus. Typically, the neuralgia is confined to a dermatomic area of the skin and follows an outbreak of herpes zoster (HZ, commonly known as shingles) in that same dermatomic area. The neuralgia typically begins when the HZ vesicles have crusted over and begun to heal, but it can begin in the absence of HZ, in which case zoster sine herpete is presumed (see Herpes zoster).

Treatment options for PHN include antidepressants, anticonvulsants (such as gabapentin or pregabalin) and topical agents such as lidocaine patches or capsaicin lotion. Opioid analgesics may also be appropriate in many situations. There are some sporadically successful experimental treatments, such as rhizotomy (severing or damaging the affected nerve to relieve pain), and TENS (a type of electrical pulse therapy).

Postherpetic neuralgia is thought to be nerve damage caused by herpes zoster. The damage causes nerves in the affected dermatomic area of the skin to send abnormal electrical signals to the brain. These signals may convey excruciating pain, and may persist or recur for months or even years.

In the United States each year approximately 1,000,000 individuals develop herpes zoster. Of those individuals approximately 20%, or 200,000 individuals, develop postherpetic neuralgia.
Less than 10 percent of people younger than 60 develop postherpetic neuralgia after a bout of HZ, while about 40 percent of people older than 60 do.

It may influence susceptibility to herpes zoster. African Americans are one fourth as likely as Caucasians to develop this condition.

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