Interview with Eida A.: Former OJW patient who had just had gastric banding.
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4/10/02:
Eida returned to the office to have her OJW brackets removed. She agreed to be interviewed about her experience over past 11 months. She had recently undergone surgery for “gastric banding.”
INTERVIEW WITH EIDA A.
OJW PATIENT WHO HAS RECENTLY COMPLETED SURGERY FOR THE PLACEMENT OF
A GASTRIC BAND FOR THE CONTINUATION OF HER WEIGHT LOSS PROGRAM
[NY Times article on gastric
banding]
[graphic of gastric banding]
How long did you have your jaw wired?
A. 5 months.
How many pounds did you lose?
A. 60 pounds.
Why did you decide to have the lap-band placed?
A. I decided I needed a method to tackle the problem of regaining the weight I lost.
The lab-band creates a small stomach which can be make even smaller by means
Of an “inflatable” cuff that circles the top third of the stomach. Besides that I own a restaurant and I found my self being asked why my mouth was wire closed and I felt that that was a nuisance to me.
How is the cuff inflated?
A. There is portal (mini-device) close to the surface of my skin where my doctor can inject a saline solution which can pass into the cuff, inflate it and cause it to squeeze tighter around the stomach and make the food pouch even smaller.
So what happens when you eat?
A. You feel full even though you have eaten just a little.
Are there any problems eating after surgery?
A. Yes, in the first week after surgery. Only liquids are permitted during the first week. Doughy bread is hard to digest, as are greasy salads.
How did it cost you?
A. $17,000 for the surgeon (Insurance covered it.).
Would you mind showing us the surgical incision?
A. OK
(See photo: Eida's surgery was completed about 3 weeks ago, consequently the main surgical incision is still quite visible...as healing continues the surgical scar will become almost invisible and the four 1/4' incisions will disappear completely. I circled the incisions on the photo and placed 4 dots around each incision on her abdomen to help visualization of the incisions.)
The incision is about 1 and 3/4 inches long. (----------------------------------) As the photo shows there were 4 other mini incisions about ¼” long . I assume they were needed to help the surgeon place the cuff around the stomach.
How long did your surgery take?
How long ago was the surgery done?
A. 3 weeks ago.
Was the surgery very uncomfortable?
A. The post-operative pain during the first 3 days was 7/10. I definitely needed the
Demerol they gave me.
How are you feeling now?
A. I am still a bit tender and I will be so for a few months more.
Did you have to stay overnight at the hospital?
A. No.
Where did you have it done?
A. Hackensack University Hospital in New Jersey.
How many pound have you lost since then?
A. 15 pounds.
What is your new goal?
A. I am 235 now and 3 years from now I want to be at 140 pounds.
Was the surgery very uncomfortable?
A. On a scale of 10 (10 being very bad pain) the post-operative pain during the first 3 days was 7/10. I definitely needed the Demerol they gave me.
How are you feeling now?
A. I am still a bit tender and I will be so for a few months more.
Can I assume that OJW was a failure for you?
A. No way. I would do it again in heartbeat. It helped me psychologically gain some control over a situation that I was feeling very, very depressed about. With out it I could
never have moved on to the lap-band.
Who rewired you?
A. I did it myself like you showed me…no problem.
Any problems?
A. Once I broke a bracket?
How many brackets in total did you break?
A. 4
Did you follow my instructions to release and rewire every 4-6 weeks?
A. No
Did your jaw get harder to open?
A. Just like you said it would. I couldn’t open more than two fingers.
How long did it take for normal jaw opening to return?
A. 2-3 weeks.
So are there any residual problems to your teeth gums or jaw joints?
A. None at all.
How did you keep your mouth clean?
A. I used mouth rinses. I would say that not feeling fresh in the mouth was a bother. I also used those small perio brushes that let you get in between the teeth.
Did you ever have any emergency problems where you felt it was wise to remove the wiring and free your jaws.
A. Yes indeed, but I always kept the wire cutters with me so when I had to free myself it was no problem at all.
Would you do it again? Would you recommend OJW for others?
A. Yes. Yes…without a doubt.
Would you mind if some of the OJW patients would contact you?
A. I wouldn’t mind. I have no email. So ok to call 201 404 3629 and leave a message.
Eida A.
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