vervetomove
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"True friends stab you in the front." Oscar Wilde
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Post by vervetomove on Mar 3, 2012 22:21:44 GMT -5
President of 1-800-GET-THIN marketing firm resignsMarch 2, 2012 The president of the 1-800-GET-THIN marketing company, which has blanketed Southern California freeways and television and radio stations with ads for Lap-Band weight-loss surgery, said he has resigned "to pursue other career opportunities." In a news release Thursday, Robert Silverman said that his resignation was effective Tuesday. He had served as the firm's president since February 2010, the release said. "I believed in the mission and I believe that I was assisting individuals [to] overcome their battle with obesity, which has reached world-wide epidemic status," Silverman said in the release. The 1-800-GET-THIN campaign had come under increasing scrutiny after the deaths of five Lap-Band patients since 2009. In December, the Food and Drug Administration sent warning letters to the marketing company and its affiliated surgery centers, saying the ads for Lap-Band weight-loss surgery were misleading because they did not adequately display warnings about risks of the surgery. The California Department of Insurance also has confirmed it is investigating the surgery centers affiliated with 1-800-GET-THIN for possible insurance fraud. In February, Lap-Band manufacturerAllergan Inc.said it had halted sales of the weight-loss device to all firms affiliated with the marketing company. In addition to his role as president of 1-800-GET-THIN, Silverman, a lawyer, had represented the firm and its affiliated surgery centers in several lawsuits. He said in an email to The Times that he no longer represents them. www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-get-thin-20120302,0,266516.story
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vervetomove
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"True friends stab you in the front." Oscar Wilde
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Post by vervetomove on Mar 5, 2012 7:56:22 GMT -5
Lap-band patient released despite 'alarming' vitalsUpdated March 5, 2012, 7:47 pm An inquest into the death of a 26-year-old lap band patient in Tasmania has been told her vital signs were not stable when she was released from hospital the day before her death. Joanne York died on January 31, 2010 - 10 days after the initial surgery. The mother of two was readmitted to the Hobart Private Hospital four days after the operation, and surgeon Stephen Wilkinson and the treating doctor Sonia Peters treated her for a chest infection. The inquest in Hobart heard Ms York spent five more days in the hospital, and the night before her second discharge her pulse rate was twice that of a healthy adult. Forensic pathologist Donald Ritchey described Ms York's vital signs at the time as "alarming" and an indication she was not stable. Ms York's mother, Christine Caudwell, wept as she told the inquest her daughter could not walk by herself and was breathless on the morning of her second discharge from the Hobart Private Hospital. The inquest heard Dr Wilkinson had given his approval for the discharge over the phone. Ms Caudwell says she vomited when she realised that a doctor had not discharged her daughter in person. That night Ms York was taken to the Royal Hobart Hospital for emergency surgery and died of multiple organ failure caused by a stomach infection. The emergency surgery revealed a widespread infection and a perforation on the wall of her stomach. Dr Ritchey told the inquest it was his opinion it was likely that the perforation was the cause of the infection which led to her death. The inquest was told a video of the lap band operation shows no apparent complications or traumas. au.news.yahoo.com/latest/a/-/latest/13087304/lap-band-patient-died-of-infection-inquest-hears/
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MEZ
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RNY 12/6/2011 James A. Harris
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Post by MEZ on Mar 5, 2012 10:23:34 GMT -5
Holy crap. That is horrifying. These types of reports are why I never once considered the LAP band.
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vervetomove
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"True friends stab you in the front." Oscar Wilde
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Post by vervetomove on Mar 8, 2012 10:17:08 GMT -5
Surgeon appears at inquest into lap band death Updated March 08, 2012 21:45:55 The surgeon who performed lap band surgery on a woman who later died has told a coronial inquest he made an error of judgement in releasing her from hospital. Joanne York died of multiple organ failure caused by a stomach infection 10 days after her lap band surgery in January 2010. Surgeon Stephen Wilkinson gave evidence on the fourth day of the inquest into the 26-year-old's death. He said Ms York was re-admitted to the Hobart Private Hospital four days after her surgery and he began working on a diagnosis of chest infection. She was released from hospital five days later. Dr Wilkinson told the inquest he was reluctant to send Ms York home as he had not reviewed her condition, but he buckled under pressure from the patient and discharged her over the phone. The surgeon rejected suggestions he perforated Ms York's bowel, saying he had never perforated an organ in 16,000 operations. Earlier, weight loss surgery specialist George Hopkins gave evidence, appearing at the Magistrates Court in Hobart via video link. Dr Hopkins told the inquiry that when Ms York was re-admitted to hospital, he would have performed a laparoscopy. He said it was likely that procedure would have diagnosed the problem and it was also likely the patient would not have died. Dr Hopkins told the inquest he would not have discharged Ms York from the hospital because her heart rate was too high and was rising. The inquest has been adjourned until May. www.abc.net.au/news/2012-03-08/lap-band-death-avoidable2c-inquest-hears/3876944?section=tas
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vervetomove
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"True friends stab you in the front." Oscar Wilde
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Post by vervetomove on Mar 8, 2012 10:24:27 GMT -5
Holy crap. That is horrifying. These types of reports are why I never once considered the LAP band. Scary huh? I know all forms of WLS have their horror stories but the least invasive (heh), reversible/removable (heh) lap band is serious business.
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vervetomove
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Post by vervetomove on Mar 8, 2012 12:16:21 GMT -5
I guess we can see from the picture why this poor woman was anxious to get home....she had an ill infant at home and only wanted to be healthy...Alarm over lapband mumMarch 07, 2012 12.01am A PRIVATE hospital patient's test results indicated she was fighting a severe infection the night before being discharged without seeing a doctor. An inquest in Hobart yesterday heard from medical staff including the nurses responsible for releasing her after getting the go-ahead from her surgeon by phone. Joanne York, 26, was rushed to the Royal Hobart Hospital that night in January, 2010, and died from multiple organ failure. A post-mortem found a massive infection in her abdomen was likely to have been caused by a perforation to her stomach wall. The mother-of-two had undergone weight loss lap band surgery at the Hobart Private Hospital 10 days before her death. When she became unwell four days after the operation she was readmitted and tested for potential infections. Test results showed infection indicators four times the accepted level of concern but treating doctor Sonia Peters told the inquest she thought Mrs York had pneumonia. She did not investigate the possibility of a stomach infection beyond ordering an abdominal x-ray. "Didn't the facts indicate the need for further investigation?" lawyer Philip Jackson asked Dr Peters yesterday. She conceded the x-ray had ruled out a large perforation but had not ruled out the possibility of a micro-perforation and no further testing was done. Mrs York was nurse Leanne Cowen's patient on the day of her discharge. Aware of the hospital's intention to discharge Mrs York, the night nurse had raised serious concerns based on abnormal observations she had taken throughout the night showing very low oxygen levels and a high temperature. But Ms Cowen told the inquest the patient wanted to be discharged and she was not sure if or when surgeon Stephen Wilkinson would be in to do his rounds because it was a Saturday. She said she decided it would be sufficient for another nurse to ask him if Mrs York could be discharged while she was on the phone to him discussing another patient. The nurse who spoke to Mr Wilkinson was asked if she would have discharged Mrs York if she had not spoken to the surgeon. "No," she said. The inquest continues. www.themercury.com.au/article/2012/03/07/307181_scalesofjustice.html
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vervetomove
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Post by vervetomove on Mar 8, 2012 19:51:21 GMT -5
Lapband doctor accusedMarch 09, 2012 12.01am HOBART lapband surgeon Stephen Wilkinson was accused by an interstate expert yesterday of failing to properly investigate the symptoms of a patient who died 10 days after her operation. Dr George Hopkins told an inquest in Hobart that abdominal sepsis should have been obvious in Joanne York, 26, who died in January 2010. He said a laparoscopy on readmittance would have identified the beginnings of the massive infection and likely saved the mother's life. Dr Hopkins also said in his opinion the cause of the massive infection was a perforation of the bowel during surgery. Dr Wilkinson a leading obesity surgeon with, by his own description, one of the largest laparoscopic surgery case loads in the world later gave evidence in which he rejected Dr Hopkins' opinions. "I've put in 50,000 (lapband) ports and not once have I perforated any other organ. Not on a single occasion have I perforated anything," he told Coroner Rod Chandler. Mrs York underwent the initial surgery on January 21 and was released on January 25 before returning to hospital the next day. She was released again on January 30 and died early the next morning. Dr Wilkinson was interrogated over reports he prepared for the coroner stating that he saw Mrs York every day she was in hospital the second time, except on the day of her discharge. Counsel assisting the coroner, Philip Jackson, suggested he was misleading the inquest and asked him if he had any difficulty examining Mrs York's abdomen after she was readmitted to accident and emergency. He said he had not. Mr Jackson queried why then the emergency ward doctor's notes showed she had been unable to examine the mother-of-two's stomach that day because lying down caused her to retch. Dr Wilkinson had kept no notes in Mrs York's case, the inquest heard. Counsel for Healthscope, Paul Halley, questioned the surgeon over his evidence that he saw Mrs York on January 26 between operations. "Do you have any respect for the court, doctor?" Mr Halley asked. "I have respect for the court and the truth," Dr Wilkinson replied. Mr Halley then told him January 26 was Australia Day, a public holiday, and the hospital records showed there were no operations scheduled that day. Mr Halley suggested Dr Wilkinson perforated Mrs York's bowel during the operation. "If you'd like to stand there and suggest someone with an Order of Australia and 30 years' clinical experience is a pathological liar, go ahead," the surgeon retorted. "Those are your words, not mine," the lawyer replied, causing Mrs York's family, seated in the rear of the court, to clap loudly until the coroner ordered quiet. The inquest has been adjourned for final submissions mid-year. www.themercury.com.au/article/2012/03/09/307741_tasmania-news.html
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vervetomove
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Post by vervetomove on Mar 9, 2012 12:15:42 GMT -5
Patient notes not taken, inquest hearsUpdated March 08, 2012 08:24:41 An inquest into the death of a lap band patient has heard a senior nurse made no official clinical notes despite concerns about the patient's health. Joanne York died in January 2010, 10 days after surgery. The inquest has heard the last observations were taken at 5:00am, more than five hours before nurses phoned surgeon Stephen Wilkinson to approve her discharge. Senior nurse Saryna Lynne told the inquest she tried to convince the family to stay until Mr Wilkinson did his rounds. She said she had made no formal notes about Mrs York on January 30 but had written some notes the day after the woman's death. Ms Lynne told the inquest she had thrown those notes away but under questioning agreed the notes may still be in her locker.The inquest was adjourned for Ms Lynne to search for the notes. Earlier, the inquest heard that Joanne York was re-admitted to the Hobart Private Hospital four days after the lap band operation and was treated for a chest infection. The night before Mrs York was sent home, her pulse rate was twice that of a healthy adult and her surgeon had approved her release over the phone. www.abc.net.au/news/2012-03-07/patient-notes-not-taken2c-inquest-hears/3873848/?site=hobart§ion=news
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vervetomove
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Post by vervetomove on Mar 15, 2012 9:56:02 GMT -5
Many 1-800-GET-THIN freeway billboards disappearMarch 15, 2012 Advertisements for Lap-Band weight-loss surgery with that catchy telephone number, 1-800-GET-THIN, have quietly been pulled off roadside billboards across Southern California. Billboard companies Clear Channel Outdoor Inc. and Lamar Advertising Co. confirmed that marketing firm 1-800-GET-THIN has let its contracts with them expire. If the ads do not return, it would mark the end to one of Southern California's most aggressive medical advertising campaigns — one marked by controversy. The Food and Drug Administration and the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors have expressed concern about the ad campaign and its affiliated surgery centers. The FDA said the ads violated federal law because they did not include adequate warnings about the surgery's risks. Five Southern California patients have died since 2009 after Lap-Band surgeries at clinics affiliated with 1-800-GET-THIN, according to lawsuits, autopsy reports and other public records. Allergan Inc., the Irvine maker of the Lap-Band, said in February that it would no longer sell the device to clinics affiliated with the marketing company. An attorney for 1-800-GET-THIN did not respond to a request for an interview. The Times called 1-800-GET-THIN and left a message seeking comment, but no one responded. A few 1-800-GET-THIN billboard ads remain up with a third company, CBS Outdoor, which declined to comment. Betsy Merryman, who runs a public relations firm and teaches medical marketing classes at USC and UCLA, said the advertising campaign was one of the most aggressive she's seen. Besides billboards, there was a major presence on television, radio, the Internet and MTA buses. "Their use of billboards particularly were what I always heard comments on," Merryman said. "Even when I had colleagues visiting from out of town, I heard comments about how they saw billboard after billboard after billboard. "Even my 9-year-old son is familiar with the TV ads," she said. "He sang the jingle to me. That is unusual that even a kid recalls the campaign. It's so aggressive and broadly targeted." A stretch of the 710 Freeway that once included numerous 1-800-GET-THIN billboards is now lined with ads for such things as a $799 divorce or bankruptcy, a Signal Hill strip club and the McDonald's Egg McMuffin, as well as a new billboard warning consumers that drinking "sugar-loaded" sodas can lead to obesity, diabetes and heart disease. >>>>>Read Complete Article www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-get-thin-billboards-20120315,0,4872752.story
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vervetomove
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Post by vervetomove on Mar 15, 2012 10:08:33 GMT -5
Yippeeee for the doc for not recommending the Lap Band to treat this man for obesity. He already has major health concerns....************* Some Patients Too Obese For Transplant SurgeryMarch 14, 2012 5:26 PM DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) - A growing number of patients are too obese to become candidates for life saving transplants. For them, desperate times call for drastic measures and a surgery that helps them take off the excess weight quickly but safely. Kyle Spencer didn’t always struggle with his weight. “Actually when I was younger, I never really battled weight,” he said. Looking back at a picture of himself at age eight, he appears to have been at a normal weight. Then, he became a teenager. “Yeah. 14, 15, 16. Yeah,” he said. By 18, he was obese, weighing 240 to 250 pounds. By age 20, his kidneys he was diagnosed with End Stage Renal Failure. His kidneys didn’t work anymore. It’s a condition his mother and grandmother suffered from. Kyle’s been on dialysis. “I do that three times a week, in the morning,” he said. Kyle, who’s 27 now, knows he needs to lose weight. So far, diets haven’t worked. “I was successful with it for a couple of months But it wasn’t long lasting,” Kyle said. He said he’d lose 40 to 50 pounds and then gain it back. Now, he says, his only hope for a better life is a kidney transplant. His chances increase if he loses the excess weight. According to the research journal, Science Daily, chances for patients on the waiting list for kidney transplants who were severely obese were 27% less likely. It was 44% less likely for patients who were morbidly obese. “What we’d like to see is Kyle lose 80 to 100 pounds. And, we think we can do that in the next 8 to 12 months,” Dr. Chris Bell said. Dr. Bell is a surgeon at Medical City Dallas Hospital. He says the best surgery for transplant candidates is a “Sleeve Gastrectomy.”
“This is an operation that removes a portion of the stomach and it allows patients to lose weight,” Dr. Bell said.
Dr. Bell said other operations, like the lap band surgery require periodic adjustments of the band.Once a portion of Kyle’s stomach is removed, it will be closed with staples which aren’t likely to trigger an anti-rejection response once he receives a transplant. The Sleeve Gastrectomy is done laparoscopically which means small incisions for a camera and surgical instrument. It will help Kyle get back on his feet in one to two weeks. The surgery is permanent. “It is not reversible. So, once it is done. It is done,” Dr. Bell said. Dr. Bell will perform Kyle’s operation on March 30th. Kyle said, “This kind of surgery opens the door for me to get back to a life where I’m not chained to a machine.” He knows the surgery isn’t for everyone. “I really think this is something that going to work for me,” he said. Kyle also knows diet and exercise will come back into the picture for him. He says the surgery gives him the best chance “now” for a longer more fulfilling life. dfw.cbslocal.com/2012/03/14/some-patients-too-obese-for-transplant-surgery/
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Post by larra on Mar 15, 2012 11:05:08 GMT -5
Another reason lap band would be inappropriate for this unfortunate young man is that once he has his transplant, he will need to take anti-rejection medications, which increase risks of infection. The last thing he needs is an infected foreign body. And the malabsorption of RNY and DS might interfere with absorption of his anti-rejection drugs (depending on what drugs, etc), so really VSG is a great choice for him. I hope his surgery goes well and that it leads to a kidney transplant.
Larra
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vervetomove
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Post by vervetomove on Mar 16, 2012 11:31:44 GMT -5
Another reason lap band would be inappropriate for this unfortunate young man is that once he has his transplant, he will need to take anti-rejection medications, which increase risks of infection. The last thing he needs is an infected foreign body. And the malabsorption of RNY and DS might interfere with absorption of his anti-rejection drugs (depending on what drugs, etc), so really VSG is a great choice for him. I hope his surgery goes well and that it leads to a kidney transplant. Larra Very true....good points.
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vervetomove
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Post by vervetomove on Mar 19, 2012 11:01:49 GMT -5
DayOne Health Launches Its Second LAP-BAND® Giveaway Contest Chicago, IL (PRWEB) March 19, 2012 >>>>>SNIPPED Between March 1st 2012 and June 30th 2012, prospective patients may enter the DayOne Health LAP-BAND® Giveaway Contest by submitting a 500 word essay on why they should win a free LAP-BAND® surgery. All submitted essays will be reviewed by DayOne Health staff and a team of former patients. The winner will be announced in August 2012 and will receive a free LAP-BAND® surgery and twelve months of follow-up care at the DayOne Health location at The 900 North Michigan Surgical Center, Chicago, IL. “Our first contest was such a great success for our winner Amy that we wanted to make this opportunity available again for our prospective patients,” says Guita Griffiths, President of DayOne Health. “Last year we heard many compelling stories but unfortunately we could give away only one band. Our second contest provides a great opportunity to all of those who didn’t win or didn’t submit their entries last time to try again. We can’t wait to hear our entrants’ stories and help one of them to fulfill his or her dreams of long-term weight loss.” Amy, the last DayOne Health LAP-BAND® Giveaway Contest winner, showed that there is no doubt that the LAP-BAND® procedure can be life changing. In a little less than twelve months, Amy lost over 100lbs. This amazing transformation is wonderful, and Amy notices it too, “I’ve lost a lot of weight, gained a new sense of freedom and self-confidence and now I can buy the stylish and fun things I’ve always wanted to wear.” Throughout her weight loss journey Amy shared her day-to-day experiences with the LAP-BAND® and DayOne Health via her blog postings and video entries on DayOne Health's website. Anyone reading the blog and looking at pictures can see Amy’s success with DayOne’s LAP-BAND® program documented over time. As Amy herself admits, she was happy to be able to share her experience with others and hopes that her account of her LAP-BAND® journey will help others in their quest to lose weight and keep it off. Like last year’s contest, this year’s event is sponsored fully by DayOne Health’s 900 North Michigan Avenue location. DayOne Health’s downtown office is located at The 900 North Michigan Surgical Center, a JCAHO-Accredited, state-of-the-art outpatient facility just down the street from the John Hancock Center. The 900 North Michigan Surgical Center is also where the lucky winner will receive his or her free LAP-BAND® and a year of follow up care from Dr. Jonathan Myers. www.prweb.com/releases/2012/3/prweb9279652.htm
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vervetomove
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Post by vervetomove on Mar 21, 2012 17:44:26 GMT -5
Carnie Wilson Undergoes Lap-Band SurgeryFor Carnie Wilson, hopefully the second time is the charm. The singer has revealed that she underwent lap-band surgery in January, reports People. MORE: Blame Bridesmaids! Wilson Phillips Preps Comeback "It was the right decision for me and I'm doing really well so far," Wilson tells the magazine. "It's all about taking good care of yourself." The 43-year-old mother-of-two has already lost 30 pounds since having the procedure, which involves placing a silicone band around the stomach in order to minimize food consumption. This is somewhat familiar territory for Wilson, who underwent gastric bypass surgery in 1999 and subsequently lost 150 pounds, only to regain some of it back later after becoming pregnant with her daughters, Lola, 6, and Luciana, 2. Meanwhile, Wilson recently reunited with Chynna Phillips and sister Wendy Wilson to record a new Wilson Phillips album titled Dedicated (due out on April 3) as well as shoot Wilson Phillips: Still Holding On, the group's upcoming reality show premiering April 8 on the TV Guide Network. Read more: www.eonline.com/news/carnie_wilson_undergoes_lap-band_surgery/302966#ixzz1pnXOKrg9
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vervetomove
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Post by vervetomove on Mar 22, 2012 16:39:58 GMT -5
hooo huumm no new news here....Is Carnie Wilson safe undergoing 2nd weight-loss operation? Lap band may not spell successThursday, March 22, 2012, 3:31 PM Carnie Wilson liked her weight loss surgery results so much, she did it again. Wilson, who famously underwent a gastric bypass in 1999, confirmed she recently underwent lap band surgery. But is it safe to undergo two weight loss surgeries? HOLLYWOOD'S BATTLE OF THE BULGE Dr. Larry Gellman, co-director of Bariatric Surgery at Long Island Jewish Medical Center and North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset, L.I., said that some patients undergo a second surgery if the “pouch” that’s created during gastric bypass surgery stretches or there is a physical problem that’s impeding weight loss. “The patient would have to meet certain criteria,” he said. The surgery is a weight-loss tool, not a magic bullet, Gellman says. If a patient continues to eat high-calorie foods and not exercise, the weight will creep back on, he noted. While some weight-loss surgery patients experience “dumping” physical side effects in response to overeating that include vomiting, nausea, sweating and discomfort — other patients do not. Without the physical response, some patients can continue to eat unhealthily with the expectation of continued weight loss. Some patients may expect too much from the surgery. “Some patients gain some of the weight back but are thrilled that they don’t suffer from sleep apnea and Type 2 Diabetes,” he said. “Others feel like they failed if they don’t achieve what they feel is their ideal body type.” Patients who didn’t stick to their diets the first time around will be disappointed a second time. “Many patients lose a ton of weight but never learn to adjust their behavior and eating habits,” said Gellman. “If he or she doesn’t change their behaviors, then the chances for failure are high.” Read more: www.nydailynews.com/life-style/health/carnie-wilson-safe-undergoing-2nd-weight-loss-operation-lap-band-spell-success-article-1.1049067#ixzz1pssdD4OP
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formerlyfluffy
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Post by formerlyfluffy on Mar 23, 2012 19:19:19 GMT -5
I hate that she got BOB. She should have revised to DS. :-(
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vervetomove
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Post by vervetomove on Mar 26, 2012 10:57:53 GMT -5
I hate that she got BOB. She should have revised to DS. :-( I have to agree but I think she needed a quick fix as she is supposedly going on tour with Wilson Phillips or whatever her group is called. I wouldn't be surprised that if sometime in the future she actually dose revise to the DS as her 3rd WLS . We'll be watching....
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vervetomove
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Post by vervetomove on Mar 27, 2012 20:11:21 GMT -5
One doctor's take on how surgery reverses Type 2 diabetesMarch 27, 2012, 4:05 p.m. On Monday, researchers reported in two new clinical trials that several types of weight-loss surgery were more effective at controlling blood-sugar levels in obese people with diabetes than the usual care regimen of diet and drugs. In many cases, as Los Angeles Times reporter Melissa Healy wrote Monday (see related items link), surgical procedures to reduce the size and sometimes the placement of the stomach often allowed subjects to discontinue diabetes medications within weeks. Dr. Carson Liu, a surgeon in Santa Monica who has been performing weight-loss surgeries for more than a decade, said he welcomed the studies. They bore out his experience in his practice: that patients who have gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy surgeries (as well as those who have lap-band surgeries with proper follow-up, who weren’t tracked in the clinical trials) have great success reversing their Type 2 diabetes. "It’s great to get the word out there," he said. “We want patients to be aware of the options.” Liu told Booster Shots that he believed the surgeries worked because they forced patients to eat more healthfully, eschewing starchy and sugary food in favor of green vegetables and lean proteins. “Surgery seems to have better outcomes because it forces patients’ hand on the diet,” he said. “Gastric bypass, the sleeve and the band get people into better habits.” Diabetes can be controlled through diet and exercise if addressed early enough, Liu added. But once patients are on medication, they run the risk of slowly poisoning the insulin-producing islet cells in the pancreas, leading to insulin dependence and, often, weight gain. For that reason, people with diabetes should act on it — and perhaps get surgery, if they need it to keep them on the right eating track — within five to seven years of their diagnosis if they want to get off of medications, he said. www.latimes.com/health/boostershots/la-heb-diabetes-surgery-interview-20120327,0,4059843.story?track=rss
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vervetomove
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Post by vervetomove on Mar 27, 2012 20:15:24 GMT -5
Allergan Lap Band News Already Priced In March 27, 2012 You might feel tempted to place a bet today on Allergan (AGN), following news that its lap-band surgery can effect a cure for Type 2 diabetes. But resist that temptation. Allergan funded the study in question, which covered just 150 patients who had uncontrolled diabetes. The study said 42% of those who got gastric surgery had a result, and that "many" of this group found that result obtained with surgery alone. The study is certain to gain wide publicity, given that it seems to hold a surgical answer to two of America's top health problems -- obesity and diabetes. Citigroup, in fact, has raised its price target on AGN to $110 and repeated its buy rating on the stock. Allergan got into the gastric bypass market in 2006 after buying Inamed, which became the center of what's now its medical devices group. But it's not a one-trick pony. The company has drugs in the areas of eye care, neurosciences, medical dermatology and urologics. Your downside gets protection from the fact that over 90% of shares are held by institutions. In Allergen's case, these include patient insurers and mutual fund companies like Vanguard, State Farm and Fidelity. The problem here is that the company is currently priced to perfection. At almost $95/share it carries a PE of 31.44, which is very high for this group. (Pfizer PFE, by contrast, holds a PE of 20, and Amgen AMGN is short of 17.) The PE is high because the mean earnings estimate for this year held by analysts is $4.18/share (a forward PE under 25) and for next year is $4.90 (which if achieved would get you down to 20). That kind of earnings momentum is certainly possible. But it may be speculative. If anything goes wrong in any of Allergen's units, you have trouble. AGN has been marching forward quite smartly since last summer when it was "on sale" for $72/share. It may not get down there again soon, but it will go down at some point. That's where I'd look for a buy point, at something closer to the industry's standard multiple. AGN is not a bargain, but with so many conservative players already in it, the company could be a good investment. Disclosure: I have no positions in any stocks mentioned, and no plans to initiate any positions within the next 72 hours. seekingalpha.com/article/461971-allergan-lap-band-news-already-priced-in
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formerlyfluffy
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Post by formerlyfluffy on Mar 28, 2012 21:50:24 GMT -5
I just think it is despicable that Allergan and Realize are still manufacturing and selling their bands considering all the people out there that have been injured by failed bands! They remind me of the Agent Orange manufacturers!
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vervetomove
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Post by vervetomove on Mar 29, 2012 5:05:14 GMT -5
Consumer Reports targets medical devices' safetyThe Lap-Band, surgical mesh, metal hips and certain cardiac devices are cited by Consumer Reports, which says the government allows some products to be sold with little or no advance safety testing.March 28, 2012, 3:00 a.m. Consumer Reports has criticized the safety testing that went into the Lap-Band weight-loss device, raising concerns about poor regulatory oversight of medical equipment implanted in U.S. patients. In a report issued Wednesday the consumer magazine also expressed concerns about risks related to surgical mesh, metal hips and certain cardiac devices. It highlighted how the federal government allows some products to be sold with little or no advance safety testing. Consumer Reports questioned the effectiveness of Allergan Inc.'s Lap-Band product and said government approval was based on a clinical study of only 299 patients. The magazine said 25% of those patients had their bands removed before the end of the three-year study because of complications or failure to lose enough weight."Imagine if a car had a recall rate that high," said John Santa, director of the Consumer Reports Health Ratings Center. "Consumers and regulators would be up in arms." Allergan has sold more than 650,000 Lap-Bands worldwide, and it is the world's top manufacturer of surgically implanted bands that constrict the stomach to limit food intake. The Irvine company said it controls more than 80% of the market. The company cites the 1995 study of 299 patients on its product labeling and said these patients experienced "significant improvement" in weight loss after placement of the Lap-Band. Allergan spokeswoman Naziah Lasi-Tejani said the Lap-Band "has been approved internationally since 1993, and as such has a 19-year safety and effectiveness record." Last year, the Food and Drug Administration allowed the Lap-Band to be marketed to less-obese patients and cited a study that showed 80% of patients using the product lost at least 30% of their excess weight and kept it off for one year. Rita Redberg, a professor of medicine and cardiologist at UC San Francisco, said Allergan and other medical-device manufacturers are complying with current federal regulations. It's those lenient standards that are the problem, she said. "What the device industry is doing is certainly legal," Redberg said. "There needs to be congressional action to improve the requirements for the safety and effectiveness of high-risk medical devices. A lot of people have these devices or they are candidates for one." >>>>>Read the Complete article www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-consumer-reports-lap-band-20120328,0,4580709.story?track=rss&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+latimes%2Fbusiness+%28L.A.+Times+-+Business%29
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vervetomove
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"True friends stab you in the front." Oscar Wilde
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Post by vervetomove on Mar 29, 2012 5:15:19 GMT -5
Rob Ryan set to undergo weight-loss surgeryPosted 3/28/2012 Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Rob Ryan will soon be undergoing lap-band surgery to help him lose weight, his brother, New York Jets coach Rex Ryan, told reporters at the NFL owners meetings in Palm Beach, Fla. Rex Ryan underwent a similar procedure in March 2010, telling reporters he thought he was “too fat” to get a head coaching job. Rex Ryan blamed his weight on him not getting a job with Atlanta in 2007. Cowboys coach Jason Garrett told ESPNDallas.com on Wednesday morning that Rob Ryan has been at the team’s office in Irving every day as he prepares for the procedure. blog.mysanantonio.com/nfl/2012/03/rob-ryan-set-to-undergo-weight-loss-surgery/
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vervetomove
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"True friends stab you in the front." Oscar Wilde
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Post by vervetomove on Apr 2, 2012 11:11:00 GMT -5
One brother had problems with the band but still recommends it to his brother? So much for brotherly love Rob Ryan follows brother Rex in having Lap-Band surgery April 1, 2012 at 05:13 p.m. Rob Ryan is responsible for managing the Dallas Cowboys' defensive line, but this offseason, he's taking a step to manage his own waistline with Lap-Band surgery. New York Jets coach Rex Ryan, who underwent the same procedure before the 2010 season, revealed his twin brother's plan last week at the NFL Annual Meeting in Palm Beach, Fla., according to USA Today. Cowboys coach Jason Garrett didn't comment on his defensive coordinator's decision to have the procedure, but he said Rob Ryan has been in the office and isn't expected to miss any time during the offseason program, minicamp or training camp. Last year, Rex Ryan suffered from a complication related to the Lap-Band procedure following a loss to the Broncos, causing him pain and prompting the team's medical personnel to evaluate the coach near Denver International Airport, where paramedics also were called to the scene
"Sometimes with the Lap-Band, you get indigestion," Rex Ryan told The Denver Post. "All along, I knew that was the case. However, our medical staff didn't want to take any chances. Once I got to the airport, I felt better. It was no big deal. Believe me, the loss to the Broncos hurt a lot worse than this did." www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d82804196/article/rob-ryan-follows-brother-rex-in-having-lapband-surgery?module=HP11_content_stream
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Post by larra on Apr 2, 2012 17:11:31 GMT -5
It sounds like at least one reason he is choosing lap band is so he won't miss any time from work. I'm sure he isn't the only person who went with lap band for that reason, but how short-sighted is it to base your decision on how best to fix a longterm, chronic illness on how fast you can get back to work?
Larra
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formerlyfluffy
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Join me on my journey to become.........Formerly Fluffy!
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Post by formerlyfluffy on Apr 2, 2012 18:13:02 GMT -5
It sounds like at least one reason he is choosing lap band is so he won't miss any time from work. I'm sure he isn't the only person who went with lap band for that reason, but how short-sighted is it to base your decision on how best to fix a longterm, chronic illness on how fast you can get back to work? Larra Yeah only a little more logical than the "eney, meeny, miney, mo" approach to chooseing a WLS. :-(
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vervetomove
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Post by vervetomove on Apr 7, 2012 2:39:46 GMT -5
Los Angeles police are investigating Lap-Band deathPublished: Friday, Apr. 6, 2012 - 1:00 am LOS ANGELES -- Los Angeles police say they are investigating the death of a patient who had Lap-Band weight-loss surgery at an outpatient clinic last year. Paula Rojeski, 55, died Sept. 8 after having a Lap-Band device surgically implanted at Valley Surgical Center, which is affiliated with the 1-800-GET-THIN advertising campaign. The Los Angeles County coroner's office has not publicly released its autopsy report on Rojeski at the request of the Los Angeles Police Department, which is investigating the circumstances of her death, said Ed Winter, L.A. County's assistant chief coroner. Los Angeles Police Department Cmdr. Andrew Smith confirmed that the robbery-homicide unit was investigating a Sept. 8 death at the facility in the West Hills section of Los Angeles, but he declined to identify the person. No other patients died after Lap-Band surgery at the clinic that day, Winter said. Mark Braykovich, a spokesman for the law firm that represents Valley Surgical Center, declined to comment. Rojeski, who lived in Ladera Ranch, was one of five patients who died after surgery at clinics affiliated with 1-800-GET-THIN, according to lawsuits, autopsy reports and other public records. Until recently, the marketing company had promoted Lap-Band weight-loss surgery on Southern California roadside billboards, television, radio and the Internet. In a civil lawsuit, two former surgery center workers alleged that a series of medical gaffes contributed to Rojeski's death. That lawsuit, filed in January, said an intravenous line was not properly inserted into Rojeski's arm during surgery, causing solution to pool on the floor of the operating room. Former surgical technicians Dyanne Deuel and Karla Osorio also said in the lawsuit that the anesthesiologist forgot to turn on the oxygen tank before surgery. In addition to the lawsuit, Deuel made the same allegations in a letter to the Los Angeles County coroner. She said she was not in the operating room, but based her allegations on statements made by medical staff there that day. In February, an attorney who represents the surgical center sent a letter to Coroner Anthony T. Hernandez, challenging the allegations that Deuel and Osorio made in the lawsuit. The letter said the former workers were not in the operating room during Rojeski's surgery and were "not to be believed." Some of the surgery centers filed a federal lawsuit in March against Deuel and Osorio accusing them of unlawfully accessing Rojeski's medical records and violating a confidentiality agreement by discussing Rojeski's care with outside parties. In December, the Food and Drug Administration warned 1-800-GET-THIN and its affiliated surgery centers that its ads for Lap-Band surgery were misleading because they failed to adequately disclose risks of the surgery. Nearly all of the billboard ads have been removed, officials with several billboard ad firms said. Autopsy reports have been released for the four Lap-Band patients other than Rojeski who died after surgery. Willie Brooks, 35, of Perris died June 8, 2009, three days after Lap-Band surgery at a clinic in Beverly Hills affiliated with 1-800-GET-THIN. An autopsy report listed peritonitis - inflammation of the lining of the abdominal cavity - and obesity as contributing factors in his death. Ana Renteria, 33, died Feb. 14, 2010, 10 days after surgery at the Beverly Hills clinic. An autopsy report listed peritonitis as a contributing factor in her death. Laura Faitro, 50, died July 26, 2010, five days after surgery at the West Hills clinic. An autopsy noted that Faitro's liver was lacerated and that 3 liters of bloody fluid were found in her abdominal cavity. Tamara Walter, 52, died Dec. 26, 2010, three days after surgery at the Beverly Hills clinic. A coroner's report faulted the anesthesiologist involved in the surgery, classifying the cause of death as "accident due to suboptimal anesthesia care." Read more here: www.sacbee.com/2012/04/06/4396715/los-angeles-police-are-investigating.html#storylink=cpy
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vervetomove
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Post by vervetomove on Apr 10, 2012 11:14:45 GMT -5
Carnie Wilson: Why I needed Lap-Band surgeryupdated 7:20 AM EDT, Tue April 10, 2012 It’s been 12 years since Carnie Wilson of Wilson Phillips underwent gastric bypass surgery to lose 150 pounds. Now Carnie is opening up to Showbiz Tonight’s A.J. Hammer about her decision to undergo a second weight loss surgery – inserting the Lap-Band – and why she decided to share it with the world. “I don’t hide anything that I do especially when it’s about the message of getting healthy,” said Wilson. “I needed help and I got it, and the main thing is not just that I had a Lap-Band put on … but it’s about the change of behavior. It's what I'm doing everyday, it's what I'm putting in my mouth. I'm changing the way I'm living and I'm hoping that that's for good.” Carnie broke the news to her bandmates -- Chynna Phillips and Wendy Wilson (also Carnie’s sister) -- about her surgery on their new TV Guide Network reality show “Wilson Phillips: Still Holding On.” The reality show showed Chynna and Wendy’s shocked reaction to the news, and they tell A.J. Hammer how scared they were when they heard. Phillips said, “It just took us by surprise because we were planning on doing a show in New Orleans, and we had all of these plans and then all of a sudden Carnie’s getting surgery, so it freaked me out a little bit.” Wendy added, “It was scary, I mean we felt like we were walking on eggshells.” After the initial surprise set in, the bandmates supported Carnie and her decision. "My health came first, and I’m so happy they supported me," Wilson said. Carnie also joked that being in the band is also what made her want the surgery. “I mean try standing next to these two! I’ll try my whole life and I’ll never be as thin or as tall as them and that’s the way it is, but I’m proud of who I am.” >>>>>Complete article and view clip www.hlntv.com/video/2012/04/09/carnie-wilson-opens-about-lap-band-surgery
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vervetomove
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Post by vervetomove on Apr 12, 2012 7:47:08 GMT -5
Obesity message delivered in novel formPublished: April 10, 2012 As he made his way from Huntington Beach to East Los Angeles College on the freeways, C.D. Shelton couldn't miss the billboards for Lap-Band and other obesity solutions. "It piqued my interest," he said. "Particularly the Lap-Bands, which can be pretty disastrous. At least 2 percent end up causing internal injury, for example." Shelton, 82, should know. He's a professor of biology, an educator for 56 years, 45 of those as a college instructor. He's also a former USTA tennis instructor, high school teacher, pilot and author of more than a dozen books. Shelton's latest is "I'll Take the Fat One," a love story that incorporates many facets, from weight-control information to a detective tale. Q. Why the obesity angle? Well, the increasing frequency of advertising Lap-Bands, for one thing. And obesity has become so much more a part of our lives. I looked up a state-by-state rating, for example, and found out no state has a population with less than a 20 percent obesity rate. That's millions and millions of people. Q. Tell me about the novel's obesity information. A. It's based on the character going to a weight-control clinic where she hears lectures on obesity and how to control and lose weight. That lecture information is all my researched material. There are six topical seminars in the book. Life is all about choices, moderation and good habits. With this book, I wanted to address the issues of the obesity epidemic in a real-life way – through a love story and detective tale. But I also wanted to present readers with factual, researched information and how to lose weight and keep it off. The goal is to make listening to how to lose weight palatable to the general public. The purpose is to remove the sting we use with wQ. Got any ideas why obesity is such a problem today? A. Eating food is one of our basic drives. We all want water, food and sex and our urge is activated by the hypothalamus. If you don't get enough, you will compensate. Q. You also deal with the myths and realities of weight loss and the real-life dangers of dieting. A. I try to use humor. Don't let the weight-loss society take control of your life. Education is still the key. Many still don't understand that excess calories with little exercise still leads to excess weight or that there are genetic risk factors to obesity. But most are habits, such as excess consumption of animal fats, that contribute to obesity. People tend to look for an easy fix, and there is not one. Q. You are a longtime Orange County resident and certainly of an age where you can kick back. Why teach and why write books at age 82? A. Why not? I'm currently working on a novel on the building of the Erie Canal in the 1830s. Q. You said you don't work alone? A. My wife, Danielle, is my publisher and greatest critic. She makes all the final decisions on my work. Q. And what you about your own weight? A. I am not overweight, if that's what you mean. www.ocregister.com/articles/obesity-348586-weight-one.html
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vervetomove
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Post by vervetomove on Apr 12, 2012 10:01:16 GMT -5
Hell to the NOLap Band Surgery: Allergan Asks FDA to Approve Obesity Surgery for TeensMay 25, 2011 Jacy Johns had tried everything to lose weight -- from the Slim Fast diet to Special K. She hit the gym and read "books and books and books" on weight loss. But Johns, an 18-year-old high school student from Jacksonville, Fla., couldn't seem to shed the pounds. In her early teens, at 5 feet 5 inches, she weighed 225 pounds. After years of trying, she'd had enough. "I was scared because my health was getting so bad," said Johns. "I knew I was pre-diabetic and I kept having to go to the doctor's to get tested for diabetes." With her mother's consent, Johns decided to undergo Lap-Band surgery, a procedure in which a silicone ring is placed around the top portion of the stomach to decrease food intake. The results thrilled Johns. She lost 95 pounds in the first nine months after surgery. "I feel more upbeat and outgoing now, and I'm not so scared to be noticed," said Johns. "I don't try so hard to blend in anymore." "If I hadn't done anything at that time, I was going to get diabetes," continued Johns. "I was almost past the point of saving. I was ready to just accept that that was how I was going to be the rest of my life." And now, like Johns, more teenagers may have the opportunity to turn their weight around through Lap-Band procedures — possibly even with FDA approval. Currently, minors must have parent permission, but the Lap-Band creator, Allergan, has requested that the FDA approve Lap-Band procedures for anyone more than 14 years old. Cathy Taylor, a spokesperson for Allergan, said the company made the request because of the increase in obese teenagers, and the disease's correlation to life-threatening conditions such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes. "In addition, the prevalence of obesity continues to rise, making it a significant health epidemic," said Taylor. "Due to all of the above, Allergan continues to be committed to the research and development of the Lap-Band System to help those affected by obesity, to improve their health and lives." Because the Lap-Band System is not currently FDA-approved for use in patients younger than 18, Taylor said, "Allergan does not promote the use of the product with adolescents. Therefore, we cannot elaborate on the potential benefit of Lap-Band in this patient population." But that does not mean the company is not trying to prove that it is beneficial to adolescents. Amanda Sena, a spokesperson for the FDA, confirmed that Allergan is currently conducting clinical trials in the United States to determine the effectiveness of the Lap-Band in the morbidly obese teen population. Sena said she could not comment on when the FDA would come to a decision for Lap-Band use in teens. The Lap-Band procedure in teens remains a controversial issue. While some obesity experts agree that the surgery should be available for teens, others believe the procedure should be a last resort, if not forbidden altogether, in this age group. Dr. John Holup, associate director of bariatric surgery at Beth Israel Medical Center in Manhattan, is one of the advocates for the approval of the teen procedure. >>>>>Read the complete article abcnews.go.com/Health/lap-band-maker-allergan-hopes-offer-surgery-teens/story?id=13678820
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Post by pumpkin on Apr 12, 2012 11:51:03 GMT -5
Hell to the NOLap Band Surgery: Allergan Asks FDA to Approve Obesity Surgery for TeensMay 25, 2011 Jacy Johns had tried everything to lose weight -- from the Slim Fast diet to Special K. She hit the gym and read "books and books and books" on weight loss. But Johns, an 18-year-old high school student from Jacksonville, Fla., couldn't seem to shed the pounds. In her early teens, at 5 feet 5 inches, she weighed 225 pounds. After years of trying, she'd had enough. "I was scared because my health was getting so bad," said Johns. "I knew I was pre-diabetic and I kept having to go to the doctor's to get tested for diabetes." With her mother's consent, Johns decided to undergo Lap-Band surgery, a procedure in which a silicone ring is placed around the top portion of the stomach to decrease food intake. The results thrilled Johns. She lost 95 pounds in the first nine months after surgery. "I feel more upbeat and outgoing now, and I'm not so scared to be noticed," said Johns. "I don't try so hard to blend in anymore." "If I hadn't done anything at that time, I was going to get diabetes," continued Johns. "I was almost past the point of saving. I was ready to just accept that that was how I was going to be the rest of my life." And now, like Johns, more teenagers may have the opportunity to turn their weight around through Lap-Band procedures — possibly even with FDA approval. Currently, minors must have parent permission, but the Lap-Band creator, Allergan, has requested that the FDA approve Lap-Band procedures for anyone more than 14 years old. Cathy Taylor, a spokesperson for Allergan, said the company made the request because of the increase in obese teenagers, and the disease's correlation to life-threatening conditions such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes. "In addition, the prevalence of obesity continues to rise, making it a significant health epidemic," said Taylor. "Due to all of the above, Allergan continues to be committed to the research and development of the Lap-Band System to help those affected by obesity, to improve their health and lives." Because the Lap-Band System is not currently FDA-approved for use in patients younger than 18, Taylor said, "Allergan does not promote the use of the product with adolescents. Therefore, we cannot elaborate on the potential benefit of Lap-Band in this patient population." But that does not mean the company is not trying to prove that it is beneficial to adolescents. Amanda Sena, a spokesperson for the FDA, confirmed that Allergan is currently conducting clinical trials in the United States to determine the effectiveness of the Lap-Band in the morbidly obese teen population. Sena said she could not comment on when the FDA would come to a decision for Lap-Band use in teens. The Lap-Band procedure in teens remains a controversial issue. While some obesity experts agree that the surgery should be available for teens, others believe the procedure should be a last resort, if not forbidden altogether, in this age group. Dr. John Holup, associate director of bariatric surgery at Beth Israel Medical Center in Manhattan, is one of the advocates for the approval of the teen procedure. >>>>>Read the complete article abcnews.go.com/Health/lap-band-maker-allergan-hopes-offer-surgery-teens/story?id=13678820 This has been coming for a very long time now. I think we should start a petition and send it to someone of importance, stating why we believe this would be medically negligent to allow to happen to a child.
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