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WHY DID I CHOSE OJW?????

Clinical Notes: Apryl Copenhaver, Occupation:     York, Pa, Age 23 5'8'' 207.50 lbs:  Goal 145 pounds, Very active, willing to commit 6 months passionately to OJW.  Expected weight loss 50 pounds   Email address:  aprylcopenhaver@yahoo.com  (ok to contact).

November 15, 2007:
    Examination of teeth, gums, all soft tissues, extent of movement of jaws, and TMJ (Temporo-Mandibular Joint) reveals that Apryl is in good health. Her medical dental history indicated that she had no medical or dental problems related to treatment using OJW. Apryl provided a note from her physician indicating she had no gastro-intestinal issues that would interfere with her going on a liquid diet. See NOTE below.

 [NOTE: AC came for OJW November 15, 2007: If you read the Informed Consent for OJW you will find "I understand that Dr. Rothstein requires a note from my physician indicating that I have no medical conditions that will cause me any problems if I begin a weight loss program based on a liquid diet". AC decided to have a complete Medical physical which included a very complete report from her physician along with results of her blood studies. I was very impressed by how thorough her physician was. I applaud the attention AC and her physician gave in preparation for her OJW. Whenever possible it behooves a person to have an annual physical exam with a blood study.  Take a look at how such a report looks.]

A routine panoramic X-ray was taken, which further showed that her teeth and TM joint were normal in appearance  i.e. no abnormalities of the hard tissues of the jaws was evident. Her occlusion was tested with articulating paper in order to test for/locate any possible traumatic occlusion. There were some noted.

Apryl was told that in OJW the jaws are wired apart with the teeth of the upper and lower jaw resting apart about 2mm enough to provide her reasonably good speech and some freedom of the lower jaw to allow TMJ functioning. thus allowing about 2.0 mm of lower jaw movement in every direction. Consequently, no pressure is placed on the TM joint. She signed the informed consent for jaw wiring . She came with  her Mother. She  was provide a review of the entire procedure and  was advised of the dangers she might encounter and how to avoid them. the informed consent and the FAQ's were reviewed and she signed the OJW Telephone memo indicating that she was aware of all aspects of the OJW treatment method for the control of compulsive overeating. "Begg" brackets were bonded on upper teeth 4,5,6 and 11, 12, 13 and lower teeth 29,28,27 and 22,21, and 20. (the canines and first and second premolars Both the teeth and the brackets were micro etched and the teeth were then also acid etched. All of the teeth to which brackets were bonded had normal enamel. The brackets were "double bonded", in that a second layer of adhesive was place on the flanges of the bracket. All excessive and unsightly adhesives was removed and the space between the teeth was checked for unimpeded passage of dental floss. Apryl was shown the wiring method and practiced on the intraoral wiring training device under Dr. Ted's supervision with precautionary advisements. Finally, she was asked to put her teeth gently "together" and the wiring was done with "dead soft" .012 inch diameter dead soft stainless steel round wire.  Apryl observed the wiring technique and then cut out the wire as a practice procedure which she did with ease in about 5 seconds. She was then wired closed on the right and left sides. She agreed to follow the recommended protocol: After 5 weeks snip off the wires, exercise for 5 days and return to the office for evaluation, cleaning and rewiring.  She said her jaws were very comfortable and that the jaw wires permitted her a slight bit of jaw movement. She was given instructions and practice regarding how and when to remove the wire. She was given instructions on how to exercise her jaws  during the 5 days she would be released from the wires and advised re the possibility of the joint becoming more limited in motion over time (two fingers of opening rather than 3 fingers).  She was counseled to adhere to a 1250 calorie  low/no salt liquid diet http://www.drted.com/Liquid diet Brody article.html  She was advised to always carry her wire-cutter with her. Lacking a wire cutter a simple fork could accomplish the emergency removal of the wire. She was provided with instruments to assist in the removal and replacement of the wires. Finally she was provide with the OJW reminders to patient a document created to help her succeed in her goals and stay out of harms way.

Ps. She indicated that she would not to return for follow up visits and was advised to weigh herself each day.  She was instructed to keep a graph of her weight loss 18"wide (each day) by 9" high (weight) and make an entry every day/week.

   Apryl

In a message dated 11/20/2007 9:41:23 A.M. Eastern Standard Time, aprylcopenhaver@yahoo.com writes:

Hi dr ted,

I just wanted to let you know how everything was going in my first 5 days.. well i lost 12 pounds.. my cravings and hungry kinda stopped actually.. im not even hungry I do at times get hungry so I have somethign to drink or some hot tea or broth..I havent drank anything sweet.. bc to me it defeats the purpose to ahev milkshake or anything high in fat...as I lose more weight I will start to incorprate small amounts of fat and sugar into my diet.. but for right now im trying to lose my water weight and start shedding a few pounds.. I lose weight very quickly.. I was on a diet last year and i lost 70 pounds in 3 1/2 months..Its just I cant keep it off.. This jaw wiring is helping me alot by showing me I eat even when I am not hungry I eat to eat.. Just bc its there I eat it.. Anyways in 3 weeks I am going for some more blood work and to get a physical to make sure all is well with my body.. I feel great though...All thanks to you...I really feel as though you have in some aspect saved my life...And have started to give me back what I lost years ago...   :)   Apryl

Dear Apryl,

      Sorry to hear about your bout with walking pneumonia a :(. I suggest you pay attention to the requests of the experts who are attending to cure you of a health problem they have diagnosed you with. I have absolutely no reason to believe there is any connection between OJW and your contracting pneumonia. Indeed I have had a patient who began to complain of pain in their feet not too long after having OJW and had me remove the wiring as a result. I could not attribute any connection between the two.  In my humble opinion patients may well be harboring bacteria that appear coincidentally after the wiring is placed or even pick up new bacteria after the wiring is placed. I have no reason to believe there is any cause and effect between the pneumonia you have now and the OJW. I do recommend that as long as you are being cared for in the hospital you accept the nourishment the hospital provides since the meals they provide are planned to be in the best interests of curing you of the bug in your system.  With care and concern, Dr. Ted
 

Ted,

Sorry I have not been on to give you an update or moms story.. I just got out of the hospital after being there for 2 days..I got walking pneumonia..and i also had an ear infection..i sat in the hospital for about 6 hours before they had seen me..then they wanted to cut my wires so they could look.. after refusing for 45 minutes they told me to cut it or go home..so i did cut my wire.. they tried to make me at over the past 2 days and i wouldnt.. they brought me soup and my ear was bothering me i tried to chew a noodle and i couldnt.. so they gave me fluids through an IV..the er doctor insisted that i was being rediculously stupid for not wanting to cut my wires.. I explianed to him that i had just apent 3,000$ between travel and price and I wasnt cutting them for anyone..i had to beg fopr liquid antibiotics..when i say beg i mean beg..for 2 days i begged..i finally got an overweight female physicians assistant who i talked with and told her why i wanted them and why i had my jaw wired..she felt sorry for me and gave in and gave me liquid pink nasty stuff.. trust me it doesn't taste like bubble gum...they ran some more blood work on me and everything looks good my blood sugar was 28 the one morning i had the shakes very bad.. so every morning i have 1/2 cup of milk and 1/2 cup of orange juice to bring it up and to also stabilize it.. (I am a nurse) to be honest with you i have lost 17 pounds but i have not eatten anything or even had anything with sugar or fat in it..i dont want to.. i have had maybe a total of 300 calories since getting the procedure..and maybe 5 carbohydrates..which now that i lost that amount i am going to start drinking some shakes and some healthy drinks maybe a juice smoothie for bkfst lunch and dinner.. i bought a very good juicer..so i thought that would be an excellent source of food..i am sorry i have not been able to email.. i will try to get moms story to you..my son is sick as well too... Have there ever been any problems with OJW and ear infections.. since i had the procedure done ive been having ear troubles.. my ears have been sore an popping alot? was just curious if there was any association between the 2..Ive never had an ear infection until a few days ago.. Tired grumpy and sick  :) Apryl

 

P.s.Mom snuck me in my wire.. and i rewired right away  :)

i

     One could postulate a link between limiting jaw movement and ear infection. It is more likely that your ear infection has arisen spontaneously and independently of the OJW.  I am not one to dismiss any one's theory lightly or flippantly. My guess is that if you medically treat the ear infection as an indepependent stand-alone event it will be cured. But suppose it does not cure "timely" by the typical methods used to treat ear infections (while you remain wired). I mean it is not cured in the typical time it takes to cure the ear infection such as the kind you have. Then if you assume a connection and you release the wiring you might expect a resolution/healing  of the infection in short order. If the ear infection heals and you resume OJW and you get another ear infection shortly thereafter you might reasonably make a connection between the two in your body. Ps. I had pain in my right ear and side of my head last week. It disappeared as soon as I went to the dentist who opened an abscess I did not realize was the cause. Conclusion: cause and effect in health matters do not live comfortably with one another and are most difficult to prove. However, one must not dismiss a theory without first giving some consideration to it.  Cordially, Dr. Ted   
 
im sorry dr. Ted I didnt mean pneumonia..I mean is there any relation to ear infections and ojw.. my physican in the ER simply said he believes it may have something to do with it..because of how immobile my jaw is all of the sudden.. and i figured i would ask you if this is true.. i know my walking pnumonia had nothing to do with my OJW..but I thought maybe i would ask about the ear infection.. sorry for the confusion i meant ear infection...I didnt know if maybe someone complained about it or not..i figured it was normal because you did say for the first few days it would be uncomfortable..either way everyones body is different and will react to things differently..just thought id let ya know about the ear.. Again sorry about the confusion..Thanks  :) Apryl

November 30, 2007  Apryl writes:

Dr.Ted,

    Today is Thursday November 29th.It has been 2 weeks since my OJW procedure. I just weighed myself today and I am 190.5 pounds. Thats a total of 17 pounds so far. I am very pleased with my weight loss so far.I am feeling much better then from our last conversation. I have not been "eating" at all .I do drink broth maybe a mug a day.But the warm broth bothers my stomach and makes me a little sick. I drink alot of water and alot of diet drinks.I am begining to feel like myself and even look like my old self as well. And I am very very pleased.Hope fully every week I can Be down another few pounds.I am able to lose a lot of weight very quickly.And get down to about 165 pounds. Then i am unable to lose anymore.Hopefully this will help me get under my 165 hump. Hope all is well in the working world  :)

Im writing this for mom...she has been busy so i figured i would write it for her..if u would like me to change it from her perspective i will...no biggie..you will need to re spell and add punctuation bc im not good at either.

 

 

WHY DID I CHOSE OJW?????

If you do not yet understand please read my mothers story.

     At the age of 42 my mother weighed in at 239 pounds (she's 5'6).I was always used to her being a heavy-set woman. It was very normal in our family. My mom had mentioned gastric bypass surgery.9 years ago it wasn't as popular as it is now. She had to go to several doctors for 6 months so they could monitor her weight. They had her on diets and also consulting with Psychologist's.

     After 6 months she passed the test and was "fat" enough to get the procedure done. My mother flew to Indianapolis to have it done. 3 days later she was back home. And then the fun began. Maybe I should explain exactly what they did years ago: They cut you from rib's to below belly button (which is a sure attraction when you make it to 120 pounds, and will wear that bikini..right?) They pull your stomach out and lay it on your belly. They clamp it fill it and "staple" it. With my mother they actually put a ring and a screen on the top entrance to her stomach. (When you eat if it cant get through the screen it lays there and rots..until you vomit it back up..I'm sure this is very healthy).

     So she came home with this very big incision and only tiny sticky sutures to hold it shut. Anyways in 6 weeks she lost 46 pounds. She kept telling herself all I want to be is 174 pounds, and then I will be happy. WRONG!!! 170 pounds came..went, So did 160 and 140 also 120..My mother had became bulemic. Vomiting more than 30 times a day. Living off of soda and chips. And vomiting along with a few packs of cigarattes a day. After losing over 100 pounds it was not enough. She had wanted to be 113 pounds. Her dreams were really coming true..what a joke.

     She started vomiting blood..all the time..30 times a day. Well she goes to the hospital and asks for help with her bulemia. They shoot her down and tell her they can not help until she is 80 pounds. UMM HELLO 80 POUNDS? Yeah send her home to die..Thanks..Over the next few months I watched my mom slowly gain weight. She did not want to die. She made the vow to help herself if no one else would (also no one else can) She had gained about 55 pounds and was at 179 pounds. Which I thought my mother looked very nice at that size.

     Well a few bad days and a little stress started it all over again.2 years of nothing. And BOOM. It starts again. This time its nothing as serious which bring me to the present day. My mother weighs 174 pounds. She vomits everyday still. but is not losing any weight. This surgery has done nothing but ruin her life. She has that screen in there FOREVER. For the rest of her life. She has to let food rot inside her until it will come back up. What a way to live. My mother spent $20,000 to sign her death certificate.

She is thin But can never wear a tank top or a bikini. Yeah she lost a lot of weight but she is so flabby that she has to wear a girddle to hold everything where it belongs. Her teeth rotted out of her mouth from all of that acid. So all in all she is in pretty decent health and spirits. But is not very happy with her body and will never disease.

     From my view being over weight has many MANY levels that need to be dealt with to change the way we think and eat. I watched my mother suffer through this for 9 years.And I will remain watching this as long as she is alive.

 

 

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