Teen Talk: Underage Drinking

We are now in the middle of another sizzling Texas summer. Yard work and grilling on the back porch are weekly events in my neighborhood. There are children outside in the evenings chasing dogs and soccer balls. Students that graduated from high school have already headed off to college. A recent study from the University of Rhode Island has shown that this is a time when teens tend to increase their alcohol consumption. In fact, many American teenagers begin to drink at the age of 15. By the time they leave for college, most have considerable drinking experience. Parents should take the opportunity to have conversations about alcohol throughout high school, but it is never too late to begin a dialogue concerning drinking. More than 1800 college students die each year in alcohol related crashes. 750,000 are involved in alcohol related physical or sexual assaults. It is important for parents to make known their beliefs and guidelines as well as to provide clear and fair consequences associated with crossing the line. Research shows this combination of factors decreases alcohol use and problems all through adolescence and into college. Parents have so many tools available to communicate with their students now. I proudly admit to texting 748 times last month. Of course that is nothing compared to my 17 year olds 2332 rambling banters. Adolescents tend to increase their alcohol use the summer before entering college and during their first semester at college. Research has proven that parental involvement influences the decisions students make. This internalization of values, attitudes and expectations continue to exert a positive effect. These students are less likely to transition to heavy drinking or experience alcohol-related problems. This same research also shows students overestimate how much their peers are drinking, and correcting this false impression results in lower levels of alcohol use and alcohol problems. So go ahead and be bossy but informative. Set the standard and then hold firm. Let your teens know you care by communicating in a way that they will listen. Who knows, I may just twitter or update my Facebook status to get their attention…


MaryAnn Contreras, RN
Injury Prevention Coordinator

Bariatric Diary # 7: Frustration sinks in

You remember that time when your parents told you not to stick your finger in the hole because it might get cut off? As a child we always did it anyways, just to find out. Well now I am faced with same dilemma after having weight loss surgery. I really want to be on the full foods diet like I should be at this point post surgery. Well everyone keeps telling me to take it easy and take it slow. Everyone has some tidbit of advice on what I should or shouldn’t eat. Do I listen? Kinda sorta, but not really.

This month has been extremely busy. By the end of the month, I will have gotten so frustrated that I actually called Tiffany in bariatric services, traveled for almost two weeks throughout Texas and Oklahoma for work, been sick, been to the hospital, be banished to a week of liquids, do an interview for the newspaper, and turned another year older. Sounds like fun but this has been one of the most frustrating months I have had since I had my surgery in May.

So let’s break this all down.
Frustration- Yes, I admit it. I sometimes want to scream I get so frustrated. See 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 below. Then I realize I got myself into this situation and I have to grab the ole boot straps and keep trucking. One of the nice perks of having surgery at Texas Health Fort Worth is that you get to call and voice questions and concerns with Tiffany Norris and Jaime Bass in bariatric services. I sometimes wonder why they have not reached sainthood for dealing with everyone’s whining… Oops I meant answering everybody’s questions and addressing concerns. I am kidding of course; every question is a good question!!!
Work- Aren’t we glad we are all grown up and get to be responsible? HAHA. It was actually kind of nice to get out and meet some of my new clients and make new ones.
Sick- Had a few rough weeks with food not agreeing with me. I talked with Dr. Lorimer and we game planned, which lead to both the liquid diet for a week and the trip to the hospital. The last week has proven that the plan is working fairly well. I guess that is why they call him a doctor.
Liquid Diets- At least it wasn’t clear liquids. Seven days of full liquids to give my stomach some time to try and recalibrate its thingy-ma-bob so it would quit rejecting anything solid that entered it. Not too horrible actually.
Hospital- Well shortly after the liquids wore off; I found a couple things that still made me sick, so I went to have an Upper GI performed at Texas Health Fort Worth. Barium breakfast is something that I highly recommend passing off if ever given the opportunity. The good news is that it came back normal and now I just need to stick to what my body will allow until I can advance things.
Interview- While on my way back from my first work trip, I did an interview with the Fort Worth Star -Telegram about minimally invasive bariatric surgery and my experience. I should probably apologize for all the dropped calls that almost resulted in my phone becoming a casualty on the highways of Paducah, TX. Maybe if one person reads about my experience and is able to make a life changing decision, I will earn some brownie points with the big guy upstairs
Birthday- I turned 31 this week. I am starting to get old. I still remember kindergarten when I was not willing to let 0+0=0.

So in summary, when the staff at the hospital tells you take it easy, don’t charge forward full steam. I have learned my lesson several times now. This is a huge adjustment for every patient who goes through the procedure and just because something works for one person doesn’t mean it will work for everyone. You have to listen to your body when it says stop and not your eyes and taste buds. Nobody said this was supposed to be all fun and games!!

Overall things are going well. I have slimmed down to a much more aerodynamic 238 lbs. I feel relatively strong and my energy to do different things in the yard and around the house seems to be better than ever. Since I started this journey in January I have now lost 116 lbs. Keep in mind about 20 lbs of that was before I started the liquid preoperative diet in May. Nonetheless, I am happy as a clam in the sand.
The journey continues……


Casey Armstrong- bariatric patient

Eating to Live Healthy

Recently, I read an article suggesting that fast food restaurants provide statins (a class of cholesterol-lowering medications) to their customers. The idea is that taking a statin with a fatty meal would help prevent some of the harmful effects of that meal. Statins are essential in the fight against heart disease, diabetes, and stroke. They prolong survival and improve quality of life for many.
Has our society’s health conscience waned so much that we now dress our burger with extra cheese, the special sauce, and an extra shot of Simvastatin? The authors appear to equate taking a statin before a fatty meal to safety measures like wearing your safety belt when driving or wearing a helmet prior to riding a bike. These medications are intended to treat high cholesterol when lifestyle changes like exercise and diet have failed. Statins, nor any other medication, should be taken so that the patient can make poor health choices and “get away with it”. The truth is no one can “get away with it”. Poor food choices cause so many other health problems that are unrelated to cholesterol. If you really wanted to premedicate prior to a massive fast food binge, the condiment tray needs to include a statin for cholesterol, a blood pressure pill, a diuretic to get rid of all of the added salt, and don’t forget to top it all off with a shot of insulin to help digest all of the extra sugar and simple carbohydrates. If this sounds ridiculous, that’s because it is!
If your doctor has prescribed you medication to treat cholesterol, diabetes or other health problems, it is in your best interest to keep taking such medication as prescribed. Remember that good health requires us to make good lifestyle choices. Medication to treat cholesterol, diabetes and high blood pressure is not an excuse to reject a healthy lifestyle – Instead it’s a second chance for many to start making new ones. Ask your doctor or pharmacist about lifestyle changes you can make to improve your overall health.

Randy Martin, Pharm.D.
Pharmacy Department

A Lesson in Celebration

With the palliative care unit having been opened a little over a year, this is a time to celebrate and reminisce. What a year! The palliative care unit is a special unit with very special patients and families. One thing we have all learned is that “Life doesn’t stand still, even when you are ill.” We have witnessed weddings, baptisms, deaths, and many other memorable events on our unit.
One of the most special events that come to mind was the birthday of an “elderly” gentleman turning 103 years old. Minus him being hard of hearing, he was relatively healthy!!!! The Palliative Care (PC) Team of Harris 2nd floor worked above and beyond the demands of their daily jobs to ensure this would not be an ordinary day for this beloved man. The staff purchased streamers, banners to decorate his room as well as birthday hats, party blowers, plates, napkins, and birthday cake. They even made arrangements for his son to retrieve his wife so that she, too, could participate. To make this occasion even more memorable, the patient’s wife of 64 years arrived to our unit walking with the use of her walker (she was just 97 years old, herself). The party was complete with decorations, singing, laughter, and cake and the whole Palliative Care team! I do not think this 103 year old birthday party is one that the patient, family, or staff will ever forget.
Although there is quite a bit of sorrow within our specialty, we also see a lot of joy. We learn to celebrate each day that we are fortunate to have and share with others. We have learned from our patients and families to embrace life with death and refocus our priorities daily. What a wonderful blessing it has been to share in these life lessons and experiences on this unit and with this INCREDIBLE staff of friends!!!

Hayley Brown, RN,MSN,ACNP-BC

Palliative Care Nurse Practitioner

Medical snippets

There is even more evidence from recent medical publications that nearly all patients hospitalized are at increased risk for blood clots. Fortunately, there’s also ever-growing evidence that current pharmacological approaches to prevention have reduced the risk of blood clots in hospitalized patients. Unfortunately, the evidence of protection is not as strong for non-pharmacologic approaches, but when used in combination with medications to prevent blood clots, the overall results are quite satisfactory. One of the more exciting developments is the growing awareness that the use of medications to prevent blood clots in patients who have undergone surgery rarely results in bleeding from the operative site. Earlier applications of medicines to reduce blood clots will improve outcomes in our patients.

More good news: evidence now exists that suggests hospitals that use automated processes for early detection of infections have better outcomes when compared to hospitals that use manual processes. Texas Health Resources hospitals use automated electronic processes for infection surveillance. Early detection leads to quicker treatment and better outcomes.

There’s mounting evidence that many women who have had children by C-section may still be able to have natural vaginal deliveries if they subsequently become pregnant. These results offer a choice to mothers who want to experience natural childbirth.

Remember that each patient we touch is someone special. If we treat each patient as if they were our mom, we will advance exceptional outcomes.





-Dr. Joseph Prosser
Chief Quality Officer

Healing Through Artwork

The hallways that lead up to the Texas Health Harris Fort Worth surgery area can be an anxious place at times. Before major surgeries, it’s common to see loved ones kiss the patient in the hallway before they go into surgery. In order to create the most peaceful environment possible, these high traffic hallways recently got a “therapeutic upgrade” with the addition of many beautiful pictures and original paintings. Perioperative Services Director Megi Ball and her department coordinated this initiative with a number of physicians.

One of the many art work contributors is E.L. Young. E.L. works in the Surgery Department and is also a brilliant painter who was kind enough to loan some of his original works of art to the surgery area. E.L. is known by many for his quick smile and kind words and it’s my privilege to offer this short interview question and answer (Q and A) with him:

Q: How long have you worked at Texas Health Harris?
A: October 1990, so around 20 years.

Q: When did you start painting?
A: Since 1960. My elementary teacher saw that I stayed in the lines better than the other kids and helped me get started out. I’ve enjoyed honing the craft since then and my passion is drawing pastels. I also love to draw realistic paintings of people that end up looking like real photographs.

Q: What would you like for patients and families to get out of your pictures?
A: A sense of peace so people can focus on what’s important in life and not get carried away by their circumstance. For instance, in one picture there’s a storm cloud overhead but the pond’s waters are still and confident that things will be ok.

Q: Do your paintings have any common theme?
A: Yes, all my pictures tell different stories but the underlying theme is that I like to show the celebration of life even through adversities.

Q: Any other comments?
A: I just hope people stop for a minute and look at the paintings and are grateful for ourselves and one another. I hope that people feel this during their challenging time with the surgery.

Thank you E.L. for giving this personal part of yourself and touching the lives of many people during their time of need. I also wish to thank the many other Perioperative staff and physicians who donated other works of art as just one of many initiatives Texas Health Harris Fort Worth uses to make sure patients and their families have a very satisfied experience.

- Craig Pomykol
Patient Advocate