- Men's Health, Women's Health, Uncategorized, Patient StoriesGeneral Page Tier 3BlogWhen gastroenterologist Melanie Lynn Jackson needed someone she could trust to perform acid reflux surgery on her own chronic illness, she turned to Adrian Park, MD, at AAMC. I’m a gastroenterologist, and I come from a family of medical professionals. My grandmother was a nurse, my father was an internal medicine physician in Philadelphia. I found a good opportunity here in Annapolis, and I joined a group practice. The problem I have is that my esophagus, my food pipe, does not contract properly. Normally your food pipe has contractions to get the food down, but mine doesn’t contract well at all. Additionally, where it meets the stomach it was very tight. So, the food pipe was starting to get big, stretching where food was trying to go through something very tight. I was diagnosed with the condition back in 1999 when I was in medical school, and I did some non-surgical methods to treat the problem. That worked well for many years, but then when I became pregnant, my symptoms got worse. That’s when I decided to have surgery. Once I heard that Dr. Park was coming to town, and I read his bio, there was really no excuse to not do the surgery now. He was an expert in this type of procedure. The surgical recovery was probably just about a week or so. Because it was laparoscopic, so you have just the small incisions. The biggest thing was not being able to lift. Of course having a two year old, it was very difficult to lift my daughter who is about 20-25 pounds. I couldn’t do that for about a month. I still have to take my time, swallow my food. I do have to make lifestyle changes, such as small, frequent meals. That’s going to be permanent.0
- Weight LossGeneral Page Tier 3BlogRecently, I celebrated the four-year anniversary of my weight loss surgery at AAMC. It’s hard to believe that it’s already been four years since that important day! The recovery of the surgery feels like yesterday, but in other ways it feels like a long time since I was obese. Someone recently suggested that I compare and contrast how life was before weight loss surgery, and how it improved after. I think this was a great suggestion, so I have dedicated this post to highlighting the improvements to my quality of life. It’s also fun to remember how much more difficult life was four years ago, and see how much better it is now. It’s easier to get in and out of my car. Before the surgery, I would struggle to get in and out of my car, particularly getting out. I would have to have both hands free and grip the frame of the door and car in order to provide the leverage needed to lift myself. Now, because I am much lighter and have stronger legs due to squats, getting in and out of vehicles is easy. It’s easier to tie my shoes. This is something most people do not think about until they’re morbidly obese. When there is a large belly in the way, bending over and tying shoes, putting socks on your feet, and anything involving interacting with your feet becomes nearly impossible. Four years later, I don’t even think about how easy it is to do these tasks. I am seldom out of breath, and sweat far less.I distinctly recall walking at a normal pace outside of my work with a friend. He commented that he was concerned that I was breathing extremely hard. Anything and everything physical would cause me to sweat profusely and breathe quickly and deeply. The most trivial tasks would turn into a terrible workout. I would have to change my clothes constantly. Now, I must perform some serious cardio to break into a sweat. It’s refreshing to easily do tasks and have the stamina to perform them. Bathing is now the easy task it should be. I discovered that when my body was covered in fat, it was very hard to bend over and twist my body in the necessary way to adequately shower myself. To a normal person, this sounds almost silly. To someone surrounded in extreme body mass, this becomes a serious issue and I would strain to contort my body in such a way where I adequately bathed. Even though I was in the shower, I would be drenched in sweat. Everything is back to normal in this department, courtesy of the substantially less body weight. I am far stronger than I used to be. This has less to do regarding body fat and more to do with increased muscle mass and strength training. In the past, I never went to the gym and I struggled to lift items, or perform basic physical tasks. Now I can easily carry heavy items, chop wood, lift my children, pick up objects, and support my body weight. Before surgery, I never in my life did a push up, crunch, chin up, or pull up. Now, I can do all of these with relative ease. I work every muscle group on my body at least weekly and while I’m far from being Arnold Schwarzenegger, I’m far stronger than I ever have been in my life, including my teenage years. I eat way healthier than before. Before surgery, I ate whatever I craved with no care in the world. I would drink multiple 2-liter bottles of Mountain Dew every day, directly from the bottle. I would snack on sweets, chips, processed food, fast food; whatever I could get my hands on, all the time. Now, I make a serious decision about everything I eat. I try to avoid processed foods entirely. I also try to eat organic food whenever possible. I try to eat food with the most basic ingredients, such as meats, nuts, beans, vegetables and greens, fruits and berries. All of these things would have been at the bottom of my list of food cravings prior to surgery. Surgery by itself did not improve my eating habits. I was able to lose my addiction to processed foods and carbohydrates as my diet evolved after surgery recovery. I no longer take any medication. Before surgery, I had high blood pressure and high cholesterol; both caused me to take five forms of medication each day. Now, both of those symptoms are gone (as well as my sleep apnea) and I instead take a wide array of vitamins and supplements to improve my overall health. I shall list all of these in a future post, but for now I will reveal that they keep me feeling great. Medication had negative side effects I do not miss. They gave me brain fog, fatigue, and swollen feet and ankles. Furthermore, I’m not convinced I was less at risk of a heart attack or stroke than had I not taken them. My brain is functioning much better. In the past, I had brain fog (from the medication, I believe), fatigue, low self-esteem, and trouble concentrating and thinking. I was poisoning my brain with medication and poor food choices, so it’s not surprising in retrospect that these symptoms existed. Now, there are no longer any cognitive issues. If I ever feel tired now, I know to eat kale chips or some form of vegetable. I eat healthy throughout the day, and I feel great and as mentally sharp as I always have been. I used to routinely fall asleep any time I was sitting down, which was often. I would fall asleep in meetings, in my computer chair, and even begin to nod off while driving, which was terrifying. I attributed that to the sleep apnea, because I would wake up exhausted and would feel tired all day long. I fit in regularly sized clothes. I can now easily walk into a store and buy a pair of pants and a shirt. I currently wear a medium or large shirt and 36″ pants, all of which are easy to find and do not require a special store or department to locate. I used to wear 3XL shirts and 52″ pants prior to surgery. Those sizes were tricky to find, were more expensive than normal sizes, and were a real drain on my self-esteem. I can hold my breath longer. This became especially apparent because of snorkeling. In the past, I could not dive beneath the surface, because I couldn’t hold my breath. When there is a lot of internal fat surrounding your organs and especially your lungs, your lungs cannot expand to their full size. As such, you take fast, short breaths and cannot hold your breath for long. Furthermore, because I was out of shape, simply diving down would case my heart rate to elevate, which would cause me to require more oxygen. Now, I can easily dive down 15 feet or more with no issue, and remain underwater for a respectable amount of time. I easily fit into airplane seats now. I was on the verge of requiring a second seat, and the seatbelt extension, on airplanes prior to my surgery. I would have to suck in my belly to buckle the seatbelt on the loosest setting, and I would quickly unbuckle it when the flight attendant was not looking. Now, I have plenty of slack on my airplane seat-belts, and plenty of room within my seat. No longer do I have indentations from the arm rests in my legs and belly. I no longer have to worry about things breaking because of my weight. Tree stands, ladders, hammocks, chairs, and countless other things are rated less than 300 pounds of support. I would break things and otherwise worry about my safety when I would put my weight on objects that were not rated for my weight. One time I was installing a light above my kitchen island, and broke the granite counter top with my weight. I don’t have to worry about that any longer! My doctor visits are significantly more pleasant. Gone are the days when I would go to my doctor and he would lecture me about my weight, and caution me that I was on the highway to a premature death. I used to dread my doctor appointments so much that I would delay them entirely. Now, I look forward to seeing how good my blood levels are, how my weight is, and to be in a healthy range of all medical parameters that he checks. I’ll continue to add to this list as I think of more, but the first 13 improvements immediately came to mind without giving it any amount of thought. To say that my quality of life has greatly improved because of the weight loss and muscle gains would be an immense understatement. Register today for a free weight loss surgery seminar. Author Mark Goss is president and principal software engineer for the Annapolis-based Wyetech. Mark had a sleeve gastrectomy with AAMC's Weight Loss and Metabolic Surgery Program in February 2014. We’ve reprinted this post, with permission, from his Bariatric Betterment blog.0
- Cancer Care, Women's Health, WellnessGeneral Page Tier 3Blog“What caused my breast cancer?” Patients have asked me this seemingly simple question every day of my 16 years as a breast cancer surgeon. Despite the incredible advances we’ve made, I still have to answer, “I don’t know.” If you search the Internet, you can discover a list of about 50 possible causes. Unfortunately you can’t prevent the major risk factors: being female, getting older, living in North America, and genetic risk. Breast Cancer and Exercise But there’s good news. There are several risk factors you can control. One way you can prevent breast cancer is with exercise. More than 60 studies show that regular exercise lowers your risk of breast cancer by 20 to 40 percent. If you’re a breast cancer survivor, exercise can help prevent breast cancer from returning by the same percentage. If that doesn’t motivate you to break a sweat, here are some other health benefits of exercise. Lowers your blood pressure Decreases your risk of many diseases and conditions (including 12 types of cancer, type 2 diabetes, dementia, arthritis, heart disease, etc.) Maintains your bone strength and builds muscle mass Boosts your energy levels Increases your metabolism Improves your memory Decreases excess body fat Helps your immune function Decreases insulin and inflammation Prevents stress The amount of time a woman is overweight also matters. For each decade a woman is overweight, her breast cancer risk may go up by 7 percent. And while adults who start exercising as a teenager have a lower risk of breast cancer, starting at any age still helps. Even if you’ve never exercised, it’s not too late to start! Get Motivated: Your Action Plan If you don’t exercise regularly, I recommend starting with 30 minutes of moderate exercise (such as a brisk walk) each day. Eventually, your goal should be four to five hours per week. For most women, that’s easier said than done because we’re often the caretakers, sacrificing our needs for those of our children, partners, parents, friends and even pets. We’re also the hardest on ourselves and often feel guilty and discouraged when we don’t meet our goals. Think of exercise as a celebration of what your body can do, not a punishment for being something it’s not. Tell yourself you are worthy of exercising for yourself and schedule exercise until it’s a natural part of your day, like brushing your teeth or taking a shower. Recommit to your daily goals and remember tomorrow is another opportunity to get back on track. Start at a level and activity that’s fun and feels almost easy. Exercise with a friend or go to a group exercise class to keep you accountable and motivated. Meet with a personal trainer to learn simple exercises you can do in the gym or at home to feel comfortable and confident. You don’t need fancy or expensive equipment to break a sweat. Mix it up with cardio, strength and flexibility exercises. Don’t get bored with repeating one activity. Don’t give up if your goal feels far away. I know many women who could barely walk for 10 minutes at a time, who eventually ran a marathon. Know your limits and talk to your doctor for an exercise plan that considers your age, exercise experience, daily energy level and chronic symptoms from medical conditions and treatment side effects. Remember, whatever your body can do that day is better than nothing. Exercise because you can. Author Wen Liang, DO, is a breast surgeon at the Fortney Breast Center. Originally published Oct. 10, 2016. Last updated Oct. 11, 2019.0
- WellnessGeneral Page Tier 3BlogProtein is popular. Grocery store shelves are packed with protein bars and high-protein cereals, fast-food chains are pushing protein-heavy menu items, and even coffee shops are blending protein powder into lattes. Keep in mind, you only need 0.54 grams of protein per pound of body weight. That means an average 150-pound adult needs about 81 grams of protein every day. If you’re struggling to hit your daily protein goal, you may consider protein powder. Do you need protein powder? Your first source of protein should be healthy, whole foods such as lean meat, eggs, nuts and lentils. Protein plays an important role in building and repairing muscles, supporting immune function and helping you feel full longer after meals. It also helps maintain healthy skin, hair and nails and provides energy for your body throughout the day. Most people meet or exceed their recommended daily protein intake with their normal diet. However, if you’re falling short of your daily protein needs, supplements like protein powder can help. What is protein powder made of? Powdered protein comes from different sources, including: Casein (the main protein found in cow’s milk) Hemp seeds (considered a high-protein food) Peas (high in protein, fiber, iron and other nutrients) Soy bean (considered a complete protein) Whey (a byproduct of cheese making) How much protein powder should you have per day and when? Most people do not need more than 1–2 servings of protein powder per day. Simple ways to take your protein powder can include: Bake it into pancakes, waffles or baked goods Make a shake using milk or water Use it in a smoothie You should spread your protein intake throughout the day. If you’re having a protein shake to support your workout recovery, it’s best to drink that shake shortly after your workout. Can protein powder make you gain weight? Depending on the protein powder you choose and how you use it, protein powder may make you gain weight. Not all protein powders are the same, and those that are high in calories or added sugar can lead to unintended weight gain. Look for a powder that helps you stay under the American Heart Association’s added sugar recommendations: 24 grams per day (women) 26 grams per day (men) Can kids have protein powder? While protein powder is generally safe for children, most kids don’t need it. Children may need supplements if they are: Experiencing growth delays or another medical condition On a restrictive diet or have significant food sensitivities or allergies Underweight Speak with your child’s pediatrician to learn if you want to use a child-safe protein powder. The Next Step for Your Nutrition Plan Every person’s protein and nutrition needs are different. Start the conversation with a registered dietitian at Luminis Health who can help you create a personalized plan to support your energy, muscle health and long-term wellness. Authors Colleen Kiley, MS, RD, is a Lead Diabetes Educator for Luminis Health.0
- ConditionConditions/Services/Treatments PageIf you're noticing pain in your jaw or face, locked jaw or popping sounds, you likely have a temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD). Physical therapy can help patients avoid surgery, recover from surgery for TMD and help to manage chronic pain associated with TMD.What are Temporomandibular Joint Disorders?TMD strains the joint that connects the skull to the lower jaw, as well as nearby muscles and nerves. TMDs can happen due to injury, arthritis, grinding/clenching, stress or an improper bite.These little joints can cause big problems. Some estimates suggest 10 million Americans have TMD. Over time, TMD can cause facial, neck, head and ear pain. It can also limit how much you move your neck and open your mouth, and make chewing painful.Fortunately, our physical therapists at Luminis Health can help you regain mobility and live free of TMD pain.0
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