Is This a Postoperative Emergency?

Awareness of emergency situations is included in the education provided at the Weight Loss Center; however, after surgery, it may seem more difficult to determine if your experience is really emergent. If you have a temperature of 101 degrees or higher, you have a sudden onset of chest or shoulder pain, you develop shortness of breath, or you develop pain in your legs or your abdomen, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. Significant pain cannot be diagnosed over the phone.

If you have a serious medically related question that cannot wait until regular office hours, your surgeon is available through his answering service. We will provide this number to you at the time of your case management visit.

Please review the information in your binder concerning routine postoperative situations, complications, activity, and medications. During regular office hours, our staff is available for any questions or concerns you may have. We are always happy to assist you along your path to improved health. Remember, you are our patient for life!

Eating Out

Eating out can be an enjoyable experience when you're following a healthy lifestyle plan. However, careful selection of foods is important, especially if you eat out often. Consider these suggestions:

• Choose small portions or split with a friend or family member
• Ask lots of questions, such as:
• How is it prepared?
• Do you have a low calorie salad dressing?
• May I have my topping on the side?
• Can you leave off the sauce or gravy?

Make sure to plan ahead, make a special effort to eat sensibly the rest of the day. Decide ahead what you would like to have and what restaurant would accommodate your needs!

Emotional eating support group starts Feb. 23

The Emotional Eating Support Group at the St. Francis Weight Loss Center is for anyone trying to lose weight and struggling with emotional overeating, also known as compulsive overeating or binge eating. This group offers support to patients struggling with emotional eating, or using food for reasons other than physical hunger and feeling unable to stop the behavior.

The groups will be led by Holly Pittman, a therapist at the Center, who has extensive experience providing individual, couples, and group therapy to patients with eating, mental health and addiction issues.

The latest session gets under way 6 p.m. Monday, Feb. 23, with each session held Mondays at the St. Francis Weight Loss Center, 5230-A E. Stop 11 Road, across Stop 11 Road from the St. Francis Hospital-Indianapolis campus.

There is a fee for those registering for the program. Call 317-782-7525 or visit StFrancisHospitals.org/weightloss for additional information.