Category Archives: After Weight Loss Surgery
What Is Dumping Syndrome? (And Why It Might not Be All Bad)
No surgery is 100% risk and consideration free and the gastric bypass is no different. In many cases, when we talk about the side effects of surgery, we focus on the decidedly negative ones. However, dumping syndrome is one of those very interesting side effects that, while very uncomfortable for the patient, may actually have some long term beneficial value. When we discussed dumping syndrome, we limit our discussion to the gastric bypass because of the way that the stomach is changed and. The outlets from the stomach into the small intestine, known as the stoma is removed and rebuilt during a bypass surgery. The new valve is not as efficient or as strong as the natural valve. This means that food and drink can enter into the more sensitive small intestines faster without being fully procesed in the stomach. This is known as rapid gastric emptying or dumping syndrome.
To Wait or Not To Wait – Buying Clothes After Bariatric Surgery
It is exciting to see results after bariatric surgery. You start to shed pound after pound and your clothes do not fit quite like they used to. The first place your mind may jump to is going shopping and investing in an entire new wardrobe. You have come a long way and worked so hard to get to where you are now – you are deserving of a little reward. However, buying a whole new wardrobe after the first signs of weight loss may be premature, and may end up costing you more money than necessary.
Vitamin and Mineral Deficiencies after Bariatric Surgery
If you think that consuming a small fraction of the calories you were vs before surgery may lead to nutritional deficiencies, you may be right. And this is something that we monitor very carefully after bariatric surgery. Our bodies absorb nutrients through food and drink, but if our stomachs are too small to receive enough food to fulfill these needs, we may need supplementation.
Protein Fortified Strawberry Waffles
When you want a warm, satisfying breakfast, you need a recipe that both hits the spot and fills you up. Adding protein helps keep you feeling full longer and adds nutrition to an otherwise unbalanced choice. Try these strawberry waffles and let us know what you think!
Bariatric Surgery Tied to Lowered Risk of Colorectal Cancer
Please take the time to read a recent article from MedScape.com regarding Bariatric Surgery Tied to Lowered Risk of Colorectal Cancer.
How Vitamin D Is Critical to Post Bariatric Success
Vitamin D is an incredibly important nutrient that is, unfortunately, underappreciated by the general patient population. In fact, it is estimated that up to 40% of the US population is deficient in vitamin D.
The fact is that vitamin D is a critical nutrient for our health and well-being. First, it is needed for our bodies to use and absorb calcium, this is especially important for post bariatric surgery patients who are at a greater risk of osteoporosis. Low levels of Vitamin D may also increase the risk of certain cancers, heart disease and type 2 diabetes. In addition, one of the great benefits of Vitamin D is mood improvement. Those deficient in Vitamin D have a greater likelihood of developing mood disorders including depression. Once again, important for a post bariatric patient who relies on motivation and determination to reach their weight loss goals.
What Will Eating Be Like After Bariatric Surgery?
So many of us are sick and tired of being overweight, obese, and ill. We may have lived with our diseases for years, decades or even our entire adult life. The stories we hear from our patients are all unique, varied and emotional. And even though bariatric surgery may be very daunting, one of the questions we are asked most frequently is what eating will be like after surgery. After all, we all love good food and it would be an absolute shame if we couldn’t enjoy what we eat for the rest of our lives.
We’re here to tell you that you have nothing to worry about.
Continue reading
Can Thinning the Waist Help Prevent Thinning in the Brain?
On July 31st, 2019, Dr. Husain Abbas of Memorial Advanced Surgery appeared in an interview for local station News4Jax to discuss recent study findings tying increased body mass index, a common measure for obesity, to increased risk of dementia.
We know that obesity has many health consequences including cardiovascular problems and diabetes, but a new study in the Journal of Neurology1 also indicates your excess weight may also affect your mental health including your cognitive function and diseases like dementia.
Bariatric Fashion Show
The team at Memorial Advanced Surgery was star struck watching these amazing individuals show off their accomplishments and results from hard work and determination to lifestyle change. A total of over 3,000 lbs…gone!
We think the beautiful smiles say it all, but it is obvious that confidence was running high. We are grateful to be a part of so many weight loss journeys and success stories at Memorial Advanced Surgery in Jacksonville, FL. We know each patient is a unique individual whose goals are personal and important. Helping you meet your weight loss goals and maintain your health is our passion.
Our team wants to be on your team! We are excited to cheer you on and lift you up. Whether you are looking to start your weight loss journey, or have been a patient of ours for a while, we want you to know we are here for every milestone and bump in the road. Being a bariatric patient is a lifelong commitment, so it is important to connect with a practice that you trust and feel comfortable with.
The bariatric fashion show gives us the opportunity to celebrate our patients. It is an honor each time a patient entrusts us with their care. While anytime you have surgery you are placing your life in the hands of a surgeon, with bariatric surgery it is more than just your time in the operating room. We like to say that the procedure is only a tool to aid you in your new lifestyle. With bariatric surgery, there is a much greater factor of life change involved than almost any other surgery.
In the video above, several of our Memorial Advanced Surgery bariatric patients are featured. To learn more about their chosen procedure or surgeon, please select from below.
Dr. Hussain Abbas, FACS
Patricia Zufall, lost 145 lbs with the Sleeve Gastrectomy
Robert Tolen, lost 180 lbs with the Sleeve Gastrectomy
Samantha Levitt, lost 130 lbs with the Sleeve Gastrectomy
Amanda Stimis, lost 120 lbs with the Sleeve Gastrectomy
Dr. John Deperi, FACS
Cornelius Thomas, lost 70 lbs with the BPD-DS (Duodenal Switch)
Danielle Priddy, lost 104 lbs with the Sleeve Gastrectomy
Patty Wallace, lost 63 lbs with the Sleeve Gastrectomy
Krystal Alford, lost 140 lbs with the Sleeve Gastrectomy
Dr. Steven Webb, FACS
Ada Dummer, lost 105 lbs with the Sleeve Gastrectomy
Ashlee Hawkins, lost 147 lbs with the Sleeve Gastrectomy
BJ Cook, lost 120 lbs with the Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass
Cathy Herndon, lost 100 lbs with the Sleeve Gastrectomy
Estefanie Olivo, lost 90 lbs with the Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass
Hattie Dawson, lost 120 lbs with the Sleeve Gastrectomy
Jonathan Edwards, lost 205 lbs with the Sleeve Gastrectomy
Keisha Calizaire, lost 100 lbs with the Sleeve Gastrectomy
Meredith Ulino, lost 96 lbs with the Sleeve Gastrectomy
*Patients not listed above are bariatric patients from other Memorial Hospital affiliated groups. While weight loss is expected with bariatric surgery, no individual results can be treated at typical. Results may vary and depend on many factors.
Understanding Dumping Syndrome
Sweaty, shaky, diarrhea? If you find yourself feeling this way after a meal, it could be a condition called Dumping Syndrome. After gastric bypass surgery, and occasionally with other bariatric procedures, patients may experience this unpleasant side effect. But why does Dumping Syndrome occur? And why does it affect gastric bypass patients more than others?
During a gastric bypass, the lower part of the stomach is disconnected. The pylorus, a sphincter that regulates flow of food between the stomach and the small intestine, is separated along with the larger portion of stomach. The new, small stomach pouch which accepts food is reconnected to the small bowel, without a regulating valve. This new connection is farther down the small bowel, meaning food is bypassing the first part of the intestine.
