Delivering Hope

Hope. This very short word is a powerful one when you are struggling with infertility. Believe me, I know. Throughout my battle with infertility, all I wanted a doctor to do was to tell me it was going to be ok and there was hope. Guess what? There was hope for us and there is hope for many couples.

Many people do not know that 10 percent of couples experience infertility problems. That is the other amazing thing about this journey. When you are in the throws of trying to start a family, the people who you never knew struggled with infertility become some of your greatest supporters and resources.

Finding a physician you believe in and you trust is also extremely important. If you are like many couples, you do not know what is involved with infertility treatment, if you are a candidate or even how much it is going to cost and if your insurance will cover it. These are normal questions!
If you find yourself reading this and feel like you can relate, I want to invite you to join us for a free advances in medicine seminar with Dr. Laura Lawrence.

Details:
Infertility Advances in Medicine
July 14, 5:30 - 6:30 p.m.
Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth
Call 1-877-THR-WELL or click here to reserve your spot

An opportunity like this is a very non-threatening way to get many of yours and your spouse's or significant other's questions answered. Hopefully, for many of you, it will offer some hope! Hope to see you there!

- Whitney

Bariatric Diaries 5: Is the room spinning?

First of all, I apologize for taking longer than normal to get my next blog entry done. The last few weeks have been very, very hectic to say the least.

I went back to see Dr. Douglas Lorimer a couple weeks ago for my 3 week checkup after surgery. It was pretty routine office visit. He checked out all the incisions to make sure everything was healing up well and asked some questions about how the diet was working out for me. After I got done, he sent me over to the lab to have some blood work done and to see if there were any changes since pre-op. I got a call later in the week that everything was looking good and all the results within normal range. I am fortunate to have not had a lot of medical issues before surgery with the exception of normal day-to-day stress and something called fatty liver syndrome. From my understanding there are lots of bariatric patients who have fatty liver syndrome. I assume that since all the results came back normal, that maybe that is gone now. I will need to confirm with Dr. Lorimer next office visit. I have my next follow up on July 7th.

Then last week, I received some very unfortunate news. My lovely mother passed away at the young age of 59. My poor mother has been through the ringer with medical issues in her life but had been doing well recently so this came as a huge shock. So instantly life go a little crazier as my family starting making plans and trying to deal with all the stress that comes with it. I didn’t do very well with my diet last week. I was so busy that I found myself on what amounted to a very poor clear liquid diet again. I wasn’t keeping much of anything down and was starting to think that I had fallen off the deep end and maybe mentally I was making myself sick. I talked with our dietician Jaime Bass at the hospital and she reminded me to do my best to stay hydrated and eat when I needed to eat. She put my mind at ease that I was not going crazy and that a lot of this was probably my body’s way of dealing with stress. After all in just a month, I have had major surgery and now this. My body probably didn’t know what to think. Things are better now and one of my biggest supporters is my guardian angel who can be with me all the time. She will be missed, but I have found peace in knowing she is in a much better place and all her health problems are gone.

I experienced my first holiday since surgery, Father’s Day. We spent some time with my dad on Saturday and then had dinner with my father n law on Sunday afternoon. My son and wife plotted together to make a custom made card for me. I opened the card and couldn’t help but laugh a little when it said I love you dad. I am glad you had your surgery. At first I thought this was my wife’s way of making a joke but apparently when they ordered online, that is what he asked her to put into the card. Obviously with the holiday and the meals that came with it, I was put to a major test. I did well. I had my little portion of food and sat back and enjoyed the company of my family. I think it is funny that people realize the position I am in and apologize for eating in front of me. I make it a point to explain to them that it is not a problem and as much as I would love to partake in the bbq or steak, I would much rather not be sick from eating it.

So after yet another week off work, I am back in the saddle and working to play catch up here at the office. Things are going well in my mind though. It is nice to be back at work and talking with my clients again. It has been a very productive week which always makes it better and next month is already looking up as well.

These little life occurrences make the journey a little more interesting but really tests my ability to stay strong and continue down the right path. If it is ok, I would prefer to not have many more big surprises like I have had over the last couple weeks for awhile. So far I have lost 80 lbs since I started this journey and I feel like I am beginning to gain some of my strength back. I encourage everyone to come to the support group for Bariatric surgery patients Thursday, July 1 at 6:00 pm at the hospital. Jaime Bass from bariatric services will be discussing Bartiatric diet which I know I can definitely use.

The journey continues….

- Casey Armstrong

It's Snake Season

Snakes are remarkable animals successfully living on land, sea, forests, grasslands, lakes, deserts and as of last week my backyard. Although the one my back porch wasn’t successful for long. I don’t know how you feel, but I HATE snakes. I coexist with all the geckos, spiders, frogs and other various forms of wildlife that make it to my backyard from the open field behind my house. I don’t even mind listening to the coyotes that “yip-yip” alongside my fence at night after a big rain. But I do draw the line at snakes. They are simply sinister. I realize that most snakes are harmless and even beneficial. I have read these cold blooded creatures are almost always more afraid of humans than we are of them. Whoever wrote that hasn’t met me.
With that being said, I am focusing this month’s blog on snakebite prevention. We are now officially in “snake bite season”. These legless reptiles are more active in the summer months. Recently several patients have been admitted for snake bite treatment. Most of those bites have been from copperheads and rattlesnakes. All snakes are meat eaters. They don’t see humans as their next “value meal” but rather as a threat and will strike out when they are startled, provoked or have no means of escape if cornered. There are about 45,000 snakebites per year in the US. Only a small percentage of those are poisonous. If you are bitten you should seek immediate medical attention. Effects from a bite can be instant or gradual. Puncture wounds can easily become infected from non-poisonous varieties. A tetanus shot is required if the victim hasn’t had one within 5 years. Keep the injured area below the level of the heart, and DON’T apply a tourniquet or ice. Remove any constricting items near the bite, such as rings or other jewelry which could cut off blood flow if the bite area swells. Being calm also helps slow the absorption of the venom. Although I don’t believe remaining calm after a snakebite is even possible. Do not risk further bites or delay treatment by attempting to capture or kill the snake.
Obviously snakebite prevention is far superior to treatment. If you see a snake, give him the opportunity to escape. Step away slowly and cautiously. Use a flashlight when camping. Never reach into firewood or under rocks or crevices without examining them first. I even wear my cowboy boots when trimming bushes (we do live in Texas after all). Be aware that snakes may be swimming in the water. Avoid snakes that appear to be dead, as some species will actually roll over on their backs and stick out their tongue to fool potential threats. Which means those species are essentially smarter than my Jack Russell. If you do kill a snake, know that the detached head can immediately act by reflex and potentially bite.
Have a healthy respect for them (or at least a rational fear) and enjoy your summer.

Mary Ann Contreras RN
Injury Prevention

Doctor Talk

I’ll set the scene: You have been admitted to the hospital and this time your Primary Care Physician (PCP) won’t be coming to see you as an inpatient, so you’re assigned a hospitalist. A hospitalist is a physician who specializes in inpatient care. The hospitalist just read your medical record when they approach your bed to discuss your care…
Communicating with this new physician can seem intimidating since you’re in a new environment and sick enough to be admitted. It’s important that you tell the hospitalist and nursing staff all the important details of your medical history and current symptoms so the best plan of care can be created. There’s a natural hesitancy not to tell a stranger everything about your private medical conditions, but the physician and staff are here for you and you’re protected by federal privacy laws. The time to open up is now.
It’s no secret that hospitalists and PCP’s have a lot of patients to see in the hospital and don’t always ask if you have any questions before they leave your hospital room. Please don’t let that stop you from asking. It’s best to be prepared. Write down the question(s) beforehand so that you’ll be organized, then ask the physician if they “have a minute” to answer your most important question(s) and fire away. Think of it as a “grocery list” for your acute health problems. If possible, it’s best to limit questions to the appropriate specialist. For example, the neurologist will not be able to answer your question about an ankle rash. Your nurse is your guide about which physician to ask which question on your list.
If you listen to the physician’s answers and are not sure if you understand, it’s ok to repeat back what you think he/she said and let them correct you if need be so you’re both on the same page. Misunderstandings left uncorrected are worse than not understanding at all.
It’s important to be proactive and involved in your own care. As Texas Health Harris Methodist’s “Patient Rights and Responsibilities” states, “You have the right to take part in developing and carrying out your plan of care.” Communication is the key and whether you’re at our hospital or a routine physician’s appointment, it’s best to make the most of that limited time by being prepared.

- Craig Pomykal
Patient Advocate

Beyond the walls of the hospital!

If you take time to think about it, how often do you hear comments such as, “People just aren’t like they used to be?” Or “Well in the good old days, people would treat you better.” Or “Nobody cares for anyone but themselves.” We’ve all heard it and probably even said it a time or two. So, if you or a loved one has ever felt dismayed about your fellow human beings, then this story might just change your mind.
Not too long ago on the Palliative Care Unit, a decision was made that a patient would be going home on hospice. A hospital bed would need to replace the bed in the bedroom...but there was a problem. Both husband and wife were elderly, and the husband was not able to dismantle the bed and did not know anyone that could help him. Always willing to help, one of the unit nurses contacted a co-worker who was on vacation. He went over and helped the patient’s husband take down the bed. In the meantime, the hospice decision was altered, and it was determined that the patient actually needed inpatient hospice facility care. The nurse again took time from his vacation to go back over and help the husband put the bed back together. Not only did he stop what he was doing while enjoying his time off, but he heard someone needed help and gave his time, strength, and aid.
While something like this may not happen every time we deal with our fellow human beings, it does serve as a reminder that most people are kind and compassionate. So, today, if you feel a bit disgruntled because you dealt with someone who was insensitive and unsupportive, try thinking of all the people you know who are just the opposite. It’s guaranteed to lift your spirits and put a smile on your face! This story and nurse exemplify that amazing care and compassion are not limited to your hospital stay at Texas Health Fort Worth, but can be experienced outside of our doors!

- Ashley Hodo

Palliative Care Nurse Manager

Bariatric Diaries 4: Back to work and BIG NEWS!!

Well summer is finally here and man is it hot outside. Drink your water because you get dehydrated very quickly, and the last thing you want is to end up in the ER because of dehydration.

I went back to see Dr. Lorimer last Wednesday (1 week and a day after surgery) for my first check up. If your surgery is done laproscopically, you will have six small incisions across your stomach area and each one will have a clear band-aid type covering over it. Each incision was glued shut but I did have 4 stitches on one of mine that had to be taken out. Let me just say OUCH!! The covering material is a lot stickier than a band-aid and ripped my skin in a couple places. Those small little spots are a very small price to pay for the end results. So my stitches are out and I am moving on to recovery. I am still a bit sore from surgery but stopped taking pain meds a couple days after I was home from the hospital. I figure that there is no need to take them unless I am in serious pain. Full liquids for two more weeks, I am really excited, ok not really. I left Dr. Lorimer’s office with an appointment for 2 weeks out and his blessing to return to work, so all in all I was a happy camper.

I went back to work June 1 and to be honest, it was nice to get out of the house and be back around a large group of people. I did find that working all day tired me out a lot quicker than before surgery. I am sure it will get easier every day and the sooner the better. It was nice to see everybody again and definitely helped that they were all telling me how good I look now that I have lost more weight.

For the most part, I have just been taking it easy when I get home and try to walk as much as I can when my wife and I go places. You will get tired a lot quicker that you expect and especially if you are out in the heat of the day. Fortunately for me, my wife is there to keep an eye on me and make sure I don’t overdo things. I feel like I am recovering well and hope to be able to start working out later this month to help burn off some extra pounds. With all the heat we are experiencing I make sure to keep a bottle of water with me at all times and it seems to help with hunger as well as keep me cool.

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention some very big news. I have officially reached my first milestone in this journey. As of this morning, I am officially less than 300lbs. There is no turning back now. Goodbye 300s I am done with you forever!! My total weight loss since the start of the year is 55 lbs. I am fitting into clothes I thought I would never get to wear again and feeling great.

The journey continues…