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11Jun
Led by Renown’s Bariatric Program Manager, this group connects you with peers and leaders so you can support, coach, encourage and lean on one another when you need it most. Whether you are facing post-surgery challenges or thinking about weight loss surgery and want to learn more about the client’s perspective or help reluctant family and friends better understand the process, attending this support group meeting can be invaluable. This support group is an excellent resource where you’ll find people who share your health and wellness goals. We are devoted to people with everyday experiences, sharing their feelings in a safe environment, and developing relationships that can contribute to improved physical and emotional health. We’ve found that our most successful clients attend support groups regularly. Video enabled attendance is available. Patients can access remotely and join from any video-enabled device (smart phone, iPad, laptop, or webcam/desktop). Upon registering, you will receive instructions on how to virtually connect. There is no charge to attend this class.
Read More About Bariatric Surgery Virtual Support Group
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10Dec
Led by Renown’s Bariatric Program Manager, this group connects you with peers and leaders so you can support, coach, encourage and lean on one another when you need it most. Whether you are facing post-surgery challenges or thinking about weight loss surgery and want to learn more about the client’s perspective or help reluctant family and friends better understand the process, attending this support group meeting can be invaluable. This support group is an excellent resource where you’ll find people who share your health and wellness goals. We are devoted to people with everyday experiences, sharing their feelings in a safe environment, and developing relationships that can contribute to improved physical and emotional health. We’ve found that our most successful clients attend support groups regularly. Video enabled attendance is available. Patients can access remotely and join from any video-enabled device (smart phone, iPad, laptop, or webcam/desktop). Upon registering, you will receive instructions on how to virtually connect. There is no charge to attend this class.
Read More About Bariatric Surgery Virtual Support Group
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23Jul
This FREE virtual seminar is open to all patients, family members, friends and caregivers. Learn about weight loss surgery and its effectiveness in resolving and improving diabetes and other diseases such as high blood pressure and sleep apnea. Topics include: Am I a candidate? The types of bariatric surgeries Renown offers along with the risks and benefits of each. Updated success statistics of bariatric surgery, resolution and/or improvement of diabetes and other medical problems. How you can expect to progress through the process and standard medical management following surgery. Lifestyle and nutritional changes needed to be successful. Information about our surgeons performing Weight Loss Surgery at Renown Regional Medical Center. Video enabled attendance is available. Patients can access remotely and join from any video-enabled device (smart phone, iPad, laptop, or webcam/desktop). Email with meeting link will be sent the day before the seminar. There is no charge to attend this class.
Read More About Weight Loss Surgery Education Virtual Seminar
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13Aug
Led by Renown’s Bariatric Program Manager, this group connects you with peers and leaders so you can support, coach, encourage and lean on one another when you need it most. Whether you are facing post-surgery challenges or thinking about weight loss surgery and want to learn more about the client’s perspective or help reluctant family and friends better understand the process, attending this support group meeting can be invaluable. This support group is an excellent resource where you’ll find people who share your health and wellness goals. We are devoted to people with everyday experiences, sharing their feelings in a safe environment, and developing relationships that can contribute to improved physical and emotional health. We’ve found that our most successful clients attend support groups regularly. Video enabled attendance is available. Patients can access remotely and join from any video-enabled device (smart phone, iPad, laptop, or webcam/desktop). Upon registering, you will receive instructions on how to virtually connect. There is no charge to attend this class.
Read More About Bariatric Surgery Virtual Support Group
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9Jul
Led by Renown’s Bariatric Program Manager, this group connects you with peers and leaders so you can support, coach, encourage and lean on one another when you need it most. Whether you are facing post-surgery challenges or thinking about weight loss surgery and want to learn more about the client’s perspective or help reluctant family and friends better understand the process, attending this support group meeting can be invaluable. This support group is an excellent resource where you’ll find people who share your health and wellness goals. We are devoted to people with everyday experiences, sharing their feelings in a safe environment, and developing relationships that can contribute to improved physical and emotional health. We’ve found that our most successful clients attend support groups regularly. Video enabled attendance is available. Patients can access remotely and join from any video-enabled device (smart phone, iPad, laptop, or webcam/desktop). Upon registering, you will receive instructions on how to virtually connect. There is no charge to attend this class.
Read More About Bariatric Surgery Virtual Support Group
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10Sep
Led by Renown’s Bariatric Program Manager, this group connects you with peers and leaders so you can support, coach, encourage and lean on one another when you need it most. Whether you are facing post-surgery challenges or thinking about weight loss surgery and want to learn more about the client’s perspective or help reluctant family and friends better understand the process, attending this support group meeting can be invaluable. This support group is an excellent resource where you’ll find people who share your health and wellness goals. We are devoted to people with everyday experiences, sharing their feelings in a safe environment, and developing relationships that can contribute to improved physical and emotional health. We’ve found that our most successful clients attend support groups regularly. Video enabled attendance is available. Patients can access remotely and join from any video-enabled device (smart phone, iPad, laptop, or webcam/desktop). Upon registering, you will receive instructions on how to virtually connect. There is no charge to attend this class.
Read More About Bariatric Surgery Virtual Support Group
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22Oct
This FREE virtual seminar is open to all patients, family members, friends and caregivers. Learn about weight loss surgery and its effectiveness in resolving and improving diabetes and other diseases such as high blood pressure and sleep apnea. Topics include: Am I a candidate? The types of bariatric surgeries Renown offers along with the risks and benefits of each. Updated success statistics of bariatric surgery, resolution and/or improvement of diabetes and other medical problems. How you can expect to progress through the process and standard medical management following surgery. Lifestyle and nutritional changes needed to be successful. Information about our surgeons performing Weight Loss Surgery at Renown Regional Medical Center. Video enabled attendance is available. Patients can access remotely and join from any video-enabled device (smart phone, iPad, laptop, or webcam/desktop). Email with meeting link will be sent the day before the seminar. There is no charge to attend this class.
Read More About Weight Loss Surgery Education Virtual Seminar
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12Nov
Led by Renown’s Bariatric Program Manager, this group connects you with peers and leaders so you can support, coach, encourage and lean on one another when you need it most. Whether you are facing post-surgery challenges or thinking about weight loss surgery and want to learn more about the client’s perspective or help reluctant family and friends better understand the process, attending this support group meeting can be invaluable. This support group is an excellent resource where you’ll find people who share your health and wellness goals. We are devoted to people with everyday experiences, sharing their feelings in a safe environment, and developing relationships that can contribute to improved physical and emotional health. We’ve found that our most successful clients attend support groups regularly. Video enabled attendance is available. Patients can access remotely and join from any video-enabled device (smart phone, iPad, laptop, or webcam/desktop). Upon registering, you will receive instructions on how to virtually connect. There is no charge to attend this class.
Read More About Bariatric Surgery Virtual Support Group
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8Oct
Led by Renown’s Bariatric Program Manager, this group connects you with peers and leaders so you can support, coach, encourage and lean on one another when you need it most. Whether you are facing post-surgery challenges or thinking about weight loss surgery and want to learn more about the client’s perspective or help reluctant family and friends better understand the process, attending this support group meeting can be invaluable. This support group is an excellent resource where you’ll find people who share your health and wellness goals. We are devoted to people with everyday experiences, sharing their feelings in a safe environment, and developing relationships that can contribute to improved physical and emotional health. We’ve found that our most successful clients attend support groups regularly. Video enabled attendance is available. Patients can access remotely and join from any video-enabled device (smart phone, iPad, laptop, or webcam/desktop). Upon registering, you will receive instructions on how to virtually connect. There is no charge to attend this class.
Read More About Bariatric Surgery Virtual Support Group
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14May
Led by Renown’s Bariatric Program Manager, this group connects you with peers and leaders so you can support, coach, encourage and lean on one another when you need it most. Whether you are facing post-surgery challenges or thinking about weight loss surgery and want to learn more about the client’s perspective or help reluctant family and friends better understand the process, attending this support group meeting can be invaluable. This support group is an excellent resource where you’ll find people who share your health and wellness goals. We are devoted to people with everyday experiences, sharing their feelings in a safe environment, and developing relationships that can contribute to improved physical and emotional health. We’ve found that our most successful clients attend support groups regularly. Video enabled attendance is available. Patients can access remotely and join from any video-enabled device (smart phone, iPad, laptop, or webcam/desktop). Upon registering, you will receive instructions on how to virtually connect. There is no charge to attend this class.
Read More About Bariatric Surgery Virtual Support Group
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Use Caution: Mixing Over-the-Counter Medications Can Be Harmful
With allergy season’s extended stay and cold and flu season having just begun, you may soon find yourself seeking relief through several different kinds of over-the-counter medications. Know what precautions you need to take when fighting multiple symptoms with multiple medications. When you’re too sick to go to work but not sick enough for a doctor’s visit, over-the-counter medicines are a welcome relief to help alleviate that fever, runny nose or allergies. But because those medicines aren’t signed off on or managed by your doctor and pharmacist, it’s crucial that you’re especially mindful of what you put into your body. Whenever you pop a pill, you want to make sure you’re taking the right dosage, waiting the right amount of time before taking another dose and not mixing certain medicines together. Recent stories like this one detail dangerous over-the-counter medicine combinations, and we’re following suit: Here is a quick go-to guide about potentially harmful over-the-counter combinations. Too Much Tylenol/Acetaminophen Tylenol — or acetaminophen — is a popular pain reliever for many, but too much can be bad for your liver. “Our bodies have a finite ability to metabolize Tylenol,” says Andy Wright, clinical pharmacist at Renown Rehabilitation Hospital. “When too much builds up in the liver, it becomes toxic. In patients with medical conditions like cirrhosis of the liver or hepatitis, this could be disastrous.” Remember, acetaminophen is in more than just Tylenol and generic pain relievers. You may also see acetaminophen in flu, cold and cough medicines, like Nyquil, and some prescription medications including Norco and Percocet. Keep a list of the medications you take, and limit daily acetaminophen use to 3,000 mg per day. When you’re scanning medicine bottle contents, remember acetaminophen is also referred to as APAP, AC, acetam or paracetamol. Mixing Painkillers When you’re dealing with pain and not getting any relief, taking a different medication may seem like the easy solution. Maybe you take some Aleve — a form of naproxen — for a headache, but it isn’t working, so you switch to Motrin, an over-the-counter form of ibuprofen. Not a smart idea. Ibuprofen and naproxen along with aspirin are known as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS). Because these medicines work in similar ways, they should never be combined or used in larger doses or more frequently than directed. Otherwise your risk of side effects can increase, which range from mild nausea to severe gastrointestinal bleeding. It’s also important to consider your family history when taking NSAIDs because, “recent studies have shown NSAIDs may have greater cardiovascular risks for people taking blood thinners or those with hypertension,” explains Andy. “A good example is ibuprofen: It has a relatively low gastrointestinal bleed risk while it has a moderate to high cardiovascular risk. The opposite is true for naproxen.” Rather than experimenting with multiple medicines, figure out which drug works best for you. You may find muscle soreness improves with aspirin, whereas when a headache hits, naproxen is best. Keep in mind that these medications aren’t always best for everyone in the family. “Aspirin in children and teens is not recommended unless under the supervision of a doctor,” Andy says. And pregnant and lactating women should generally avoid NSAIDS due to risk of birth defects and bleeding. “In both of these cases, acetaminophen or Tylenol are preferred but only if approved by an OB/GYN.” Fighting Allergies Over-the-counter antihistamines like Claritin, Zyrtec and Allegra have made fighting itchy eyes and runny noses a little easier. But these daily medicines — when taken inappropriately or in the wrong combinations — can also have an adverse effect. Similar to acetaminophen, you need to watch for antihistamines in other products. Sleep aids — like Tylenol PM and Unisom — commonly use an antihistamine known as diphenhydramine, which may increase your risk of overdose. “Combining antihistamines, or overdosing, can cause many adverse effects including dry mouth, blurred vision — even arrhythmias,” Andy says. “Only take these medications on their own.” If you’re still struggling with symptoms, you can talk to your doctor about adding an over-the-counter nasal steroid. Andy confirms the importance of closely following the directions listed on antihistamine (and all medicine) bottles. He has seen extended release nasal decongestants cause significant arrhythmias requiring medical care after a patient took the medicine with warm fluids. “The decongestant in question is designed to slowly release, but it can dissolve suddenly in the presence of warm liquids like coffee,” Andy explains. “This can cause the pill to deliver 12 to 24 hours of medication all at once.” Taking an Antidiarrheal with Calcium Calcium supplements and antidiarrheal medicines are another harmful combination. Calcium firms up your stool, but if taken with an antidiarrheal, can cause severe constipation. If you need to take an antidiarrheal, take a break from your calcium for a few days until you’re back to normal. Another consideration when taking calcium supplements or calcium-based antacids is gas. “I’ve had several patients report cases of excessive gas using Tums or calcium carbonate-based supplements.” Andy suggests instead “trying Maalox or Mylanta for indigestion and Citracal as a supplement.” Talk with Your Doctor or Pharmacist About Your Medications If over-the-counter drugs aren’t providing the relief you need, it’s time to see your doctor. And remember, for your safety it is important to keep your doctor and pharmacist up-to-date with any medications — prescribed or over-the-counter — that you are taking.
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How Do I Prepare for Surgery?
Renown’s team of nurses and respiratory therapists discuss what you need to know before undergoing surgery, including fasting guidelines and how to improve recovery. There are several things to know before you undergo surgery, including steps to prepare at home in advance of your procedure. Fasting Guidelines: No solid foods eight hours prior to surgery You may have clear liquids three hours before your surgery. Clear liquids include water, apple juice and lemon or lime-flavored soda water (not cola). In addition, do not chew or smoke tobacco (regular or e-cigarettes) after midnight the night before your surgery, unless instructed by your doctor or anesthesiologist.