Before & After Sleeve Gastrectomy: Down 153 Pounds!

/in , /by

Why I decided to have WLS Surgery: Before & After VSG with Khaleesi Sleeved

Simple… to save my life! My name is Jaclyn, and I am a 37-year-old single mother who has been obese since I was about 10 years old. No matter what I did, however many fad diets I was put on, the weight just kept piling on. At my heaviest, I weighed in at 360 lbs. I didn’t realize I weighed that much as I never stepped on the scale. I was 311 lbs when I got pregnant with my son 10 years ago, and I gained weight after he was born. I did Weight Watchers, Atkins, South Beach, BeachBody, you name it I had it; even Richard Simmons videos… I was sweatin to the oldies and still gaining weight.

I was always a confident woman. I carried my weight well and that is perhaps the reason my weight ballooned as it did because I was able to dress myself and look presentable. I was always the “fat” friend in the group, never been a bridesmaid, always the funny outgoing one in the bunch. My mother underwent gastric bypass surgery when I was 16 and at that time it was still fairly new and scary. She became very ill and I swore I would never do surgery, that I can get the weight off on my own.

Well about two years ago, I took my son to a birthday party with go-karts and I couldn’t fit in the cart. I had to be helped out of it as I was stuck. I embarrassed my son in front of his friends and parents. I was mortified and he didn’t even realize it. He just said its “ok mom, I don’t wanna go anyway.” The very next day I set up an appointment with my PCP, and they directed me to JFK for Life in Edison NJ.

My Surgery and Post-Op Life

I met with a nutritionist, behavioral therapist and the INCREDIBLE surgeon Dr. Aram Jawed. He stated that I had not a single pre-existing medical condition other than obesity and that I was a perfect candidate for VSG ( verticle sleeve gastrectomy ) surgery. He also said that it was very brave of me to decide to change my life BEFORE a medical issue should arise, that I was young and my son needed me. My son even said he had some “questions” for the doctor and he actually sat down with my 8-year-old and answered all his questions and eased his mind.

Then 6 months after that, I joined the loser’s bench. I went into surgery at 340 lbs 9/18/18 and today I am at 187 lbs and still losing. The energy and life I have now is something I can never find the words to thank Dr. Jawed for.

He saved my life, gave me more time with my son and allowed me to be a better version of myself. I am currently 16 months post-op and I’ve lost 154 lbs. I still follow my bariatric meal guidelines and I workout 3-4 days a week to continue a healthy lifestyle.

My son who has seen this journey is also so much more health-conscious and that is a huge reward. I have the opportunity to give my child something I never had; the gift of knowledge, nutrition and healthy, WHOA!
Special Milestones & Non-Scale Victories

My first NSV is that I would need to say is being able to run with my son and not be winded… we were playing with exercise dice and we raced and I didn’t need to stop or catch my breath. I was able to keep up with him, his smile when I actually beat him was priceless.

A special milestone I reached along the way was being able to sit in a stadium seat and watch a football game with my son. We have suite tickets to a football stadium so we sit in comfy couches never the standard stadium seats… to be able to share a stadium seat experience is a moment I won’t soon forget!

I want to thank Dr. Jawed again as if it wasn’t for him and his ability to perform this surgery who knows where I would be.

COVID-19: American College of Surgeons releases new guidance for resuming elective surgery

/in , , /by

I recently read the article, which we atAdvanced Laparoscopic Surgeons of Morris will be using to guide our patients, waiting to have Gastric Sleeve, Gastric Bypass, Revisional Weight loss surgery or General surgery, such as Gallbladder removal or Hernia repair. The documents speaks to the need to be careful, when it comes to re-starting the elective surgeries, and additional steps, which we may have to take, including COVID-19 testing for the patients and healthcare providers.

In the interim, we want you to stay safe, but please be in touch with US, – we are open for business, via Telemedicine, Virtual appointments, support groups, etc.

Together, we will get through this period in history and we will be better equipped in the future.

Click here to download the article.

Long Term Outcomes Comparing Bariatric Surgery to No Surgery in Diabetic Patients with BMI 30-35

/in , , /by

I read an article recently, which compared results between bariatric surgery and medical weight loss for patients with diabetes with BMI between 30-35 – category currently excluded from bariatric surgery coverage through insurance.

The study clearly shows that surgeries, such as gastric sleeve and/or gastric bypass are superior for resolution or improvement in management of diabetes, amount of weight loss and maintained in 5 years, which is a long time, when it comes to statistical accuracy.

Overall it proves what we at Advanced Laparoscopic Surgeons of Morris have known for a long time,- gastric sleeve and gastric bypass are safe and work better for diabetic patients, than medical management, and more patients should be referred and considering it, even if insurance doesn’t cover it, because diabetes is a deadly disease and people shouldn’t be playing with their lives, when it comes to it.

We offer very reasonably priced self-pay packages, when insurance doesn’t cover surgery, and it is tax-deductible and “pays for itself” in less than 2 years, when you compare cost of medications, sick days, etc.

To read the full article, click here to download.

Incidence and Prognosis of Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis in Patients Undergoing Bariatric Surgery

/in , , /by

I came across an interesting article today about improvements in psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis with weight loss surgery. I am proud to say that we at Advanced Laparoscopic Surgeons of Morris have known for many years about benefits of metabolic surgeries, such as gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy in the treatment of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, as well as the fact that gastric banding really doesn’t have a positive impact on these conditions.

And now one of the most reputable medical journals – JAMA, published an article, which confirms what we already know and have been advocating – we give patients an excellent tool, be it sleeve gastrectomy or gastric bypass, and combined with healthy diet, rich in protein and fiber, as well as plenty of water, they are looking to have improvement or even resolution of these conditions and much better quality of life.

Please click here to read the full article.

RMR Testing

Can You Change Your Metabolism?

/in , /by

I came across an interesting article recently about the use of Resting Metabolic Rate (RMR) testing to facilitate dieting or changing your metabolic rate.

I am proud to say that we at Advanced Laparoscopic Surgeons of Morris have been using this technology for many years prior to weight loss surgeries, such as sleeve gastrectomy and gastric bypass, to name a few, as well as after, so we can keep our patients on track to reach their goals.

The article confirms what we already know – we give patients an excellent tool, be it sleeve gastrectomy or gastric bypass, and combined with healthy diet, rich in protein and fiber, as well as plenty of water, they are empowered to succeed.

Click here to read the full article from the Washington Post.

Gastric Sleeve Resection as Day-Case Surgery: What Affects the Discharge Time?

/in , /by

A lot of patients ask me during the consultation, if they can go home on a same day of Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy surgery, or they will have to stay in the hospital. I usually answer that majority of the patient elect to stay for variety of reasons – nausea, pain, fear of going home, etc.

But, as early as in 2011, we at Advanced Laparoscopic Surgeons of Morris, were doing Sleeve Gastrectomy at the Surgery Center as a outpatient procedure! So, when I came across the article about the feasibility of surgery as a Same Day Procedure, it confirmed what I already know and now I would like to share that we you, our current or prospective patients.

Click here to read the full article

Effectiveness of Sleeve Gastrectomy and Gastric Bypass in the Resolution of Diabetes

/in , , /by

We at ALSOM wish everyone a healthy and happy New Year.

As the country struggles with diabetes and the obesity epidemic, projected to only get worse, the attached article showcases effectiveness of both sleeve gastrectomy and gastric bypass in the resolution of diabetes, as well as excellent weight loss results.

Click here to download the study.

 

Half of the U.S. Population Will Be Obese by 2030

/in , , /by

Obesity remains a serious and growing health problem in the United States, contributing to heart disease, diabetes, sleep apnea and even certain types of cancer. And according to the latest data, half of the U.S. population will be obese by 2030 – more than ever recorded.

In a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, researchers led by Zachary Ward at the Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health analyzed body mass index (BMI) data reported by more than 6.2 million adults who answered questions for the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Survey (BRFSS).

The findings from their approach suggest with high predictive accuracy that by 2030 nearly 1 in 2 adults will have obesity (48.9%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 47.7 to 50.1), and the prevalence will be higher than 50% in 29 states and not below 35% in any state. Nearly 1 in 4 adults is projected to have severe obesity by 2030 (24.2%; 95% CI, 22.9 to 25.5), and the prevalence will be higher than 25% in 25 states. We predict that, nationally, severe obesity is likely to become the most common BMI category among women (27.6%; 95% CI, 26.1 to 29.2), non-Hispanic black adults (31.7%; 95% CI, 29.9 to 33.4), and low-income adults (31.7%; 95% CI, 30.2 to 33.2).

Contact us today to learn if bariatric surgery is right for you.