- Men's Health, Women's Health, Wellness, Patient StoriesGeneral Page Tier 3BlogWhen she saw her July 2012 vacation picture, Melissa Staud of Harwood knew she had to make a change for the better. She weighed 275 pounds and knew she needed to lose weight to improve her life and her health. “I honestly tried on my own to lose weight, but I wasn’t successful no matter what I tried, even Weight Watchers and working out at the gym,” says the 34-year-old. “For me, the problem was portion control, and I also made bad food choices. After vacation, I looked into weight loss surgery and decided it was a good option for me.” In January 2013, Melissa had gastric sleeve surgery, in which a portion of her stomach was removed. The surgery opened a whole new world for Melissa, who acknowledges that people used to treat her differently. “I don’t get stares anymore, and I like the way I look. Now I can bend over, tie my shoes, actually get boots on, and buy clothes from a store.” She’s thrilled to take longer horseback rides and ride smaller horses. “Horses are my passion,” she says. She expected to lose about 50 to 60 percent of her excess weight after the surgery and was pleasantly surprised. “Thanks to the surgery, my complete lifestyle change and formation of new habits, I have surpassed those average numbers and have lost nearly 90 percent of the excess weight,” she says. Not only that, she also eliminated her high blood pressure and sleep apnea. The change required a lifetime commitment to new eating habits. “I cleaned out my kitchen cabinets and restocked with healthy items. I only drink water and decaf unsweetened tea. I’ve learned to snack on fruits and vegetables, use spices to flavor foods [instead of salt], and eat correct portions.”
- Men's Health, Weight Loss, Women's Health, Wellness, Patient StoriesGeneral Page Tier 3BlogMarcella Carter has a good reason to drive three hours to AAMC to see her doctor. “I could have found someone else,” the 47-year-old from Williamstown, New Jersey said. “But he’s the top in his field. If he’s in Maryland, I’m going to Maryland.” A well-known expert in bariatric surgery, Alex Gandsas, MD, came to AAMC from New Jersey to build the new Weight Loss and Metabolic Surgery Program. Many of his former patients, like Marcella, made the decision to enroll in the program despite the long drive. “What we are building here is comprehensive. It’s not just about the surgery. Weight loss is a matter of improving a person’s overall health and changing lifelong habits. Here, we support them every step of the way,” he said. Bariatric nutritionists and fitness experts prepare patients for surgery and the lifestyle changes they need to make through the Bariatric Optimization Program. They continue to support and monitor patients after surgery, sometimes for a year or more. “Everybody is here to help you and to make sure you are a success,” she said. For that, the three hour drive is well worth it. Within six weeks of surgery to reduce the size of her stomach, Marcella’s weight has dropped from 318 to 286 and continues to fall. She sleeps through the night for the first time in years, and her blood pressure is on the decline. “If I need to come back and have any type of procedure done, I would definitely come back to AAMC,” Marcella said, “I would recommend it to anybody else as well.”
- Men's Health, Women's Health, Uncategorized, Wellness, Patient StoriesGeneral Page Tier 3BlogDaniel Fluharty, a weight loss surgery patient, describes his experience and life after surgery. My name is Daniel Fluharty, and I teach both high school and college, and I adore teaching. Growing up I was always fat so—no matter what—I was fat in my head. I was never good enough. If someone were laughing [I assumed] they were laughing at me because of my weight. Even though it had nothing to do with me—they could be telling a joke to a friend—I saw it as me. As a teacher, if kids were talking, they were talking about me. My highest weight was approximately 342 pounds. One of the health issues that I really had to deal with was high blood pressure and some of the medication caused weight gain. I was also pre-diabetic. My family has a very strong history of diabetes and I was close to a heart attack or stroke. I have used weight watchers. I’ve done lean cuisine meals. I’ve been a member of TOPS—Taking Off Pounds Sensibly. When I realized that I needed to do something for myself—I just couldn’t deal with dieting—I thought maybe I should look into gastric bypass. Right now, my weight is approximately 200 pounds. The moment the surgeon who did the surgery said to me, ‘Dan you are at the healthiest you have ever been, you are at the weight your body should be at for your age and your height’— that was it. There’s such a major change. I’m more confident than I was. There are things I’ll do now that I wouldn’t have done before. I have gone cave tubing. I have rock climbed. I’m going to go hot air ballooning. I’ve got a sky diving opportunity. I am as far from being diabetic as you can get. I haven’t had a real headache in seven years. I am a firm supporter in gastric bypass. If I could have, I would have done it years ago. I recommend it, but I’m not going to say I encourage it, because you need to find out first if diets work. But if you feel that you’re ready for it, go talk to the physician. See what you need to do to be eligible and then go for it. Watch the video of Daniel’s interview on our YouTube Channel.
- Men's Health, Women's Health, Wellness, Patient StoriesGeneral Page Tier 3BlogAnnapolis resident Doug Jones had been a muscular young man, but just as his doctor had predicted, his weight crept up steadily with age leading to complications such as diabetes and high cholesterol. Doug was at high risk for heart a heart attack until weight loss surgery helped him regain control of his health. I went from 160 pounds to 388 pounds, and I was absolutely out of breath. Absolutely tired. I would think how far do I have to walk? Can I take a car to go two blocks? That sort of thing. My feet hurt. My ankles hurt. And then they had a thing on 60 minutes a report on the benefits of weight loss surgery for diabetics and after I saw it, I said, we ought to look into that because it sounds like it’s perfect for me. The day I got out of the hospital I never had another problem with diabetes and every day I would lose an average of two to three pounds. My cholesterol is better than it’s ever been. I guess the best way to say it is: I have 13 grandchildren and before I had this operation, I didn’t know how long I’d be around with them or how much I could enjoy them. Since I’ve had the operation I’ve felt like I cheated because I’ve tried to go on every diet there was. This went so easily that I literally feel like I’m cheating. I feel like a million dollars, and I think I look like I feel. There are no ifs, ands, or buts! If you want to know would I do it again? In a heartbeat. Watch the full video of Doug’s interview on our YouTube Channel.
- Behavioral HealthGeneral Page Tier 3BlogAs you enjoy colorful leaves and brisk temperatures, take a moment to recognize National Addiction Treatment Week during the third week in October. This annual initiative raises awareness about substance use disorder as a chronic, treatable disease and helps undo the stigma that surrounds it. Substance use changes your brain and your behavior. At Luminis Health, we understand that those impacted by substance use disorder are not in control, and we want to help you take that control back. Risk factors Substance use disorders are treatable medical disorders that affect a person’s brain and behavior, leading to an inability to control their use of drugs – whether legal or illegal – including alcohol or medications. Substance use disorders can develop from the use of many types of mood/mind-altering substances, with people developing dependencies on alcohol, stimulants, marijuana, opiates and others. Risk factors for developing a substance use disorder can include: Family history of substance use Readily available alcohol or drugs Starting substance use at a young age The presence of an untreated mental health condition Available treatment options It is important to realize you are not alone and there is hope. Many available treatment options are available to meet you or your loved ones needs, such as: Twelve-step support groups and other self-help groups, such as Celebrate Recovery Office-based treatment with a psychiatrist or primary care doctor using medications that are FDA-approved for substance use disorders Outpatient treatment—including intensive outpatient treatment—at substance use disorder treatment programs Inpatient residential treatment centers Recovery residences to help promote long-term change Resources It can sometimes be difficult to know where to begin your path to recovery. Here are some trusted organizations: Maryland residents can access substance use services by calling 211 and pressing 1, by visiting https://211md.org or by texting 898-211 and entering your zip code. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) national helpline, 1-800-662-HELP (4357) is a confidential, free 24-hour hotline for individuals or family members facing mental or substance use disorders. This service provides referrals to local treatment facilities, support groups and community-based organizations. You can also visit SAMHSA’s online treatment locator, or send your zip code via text message: 435748 (HELP4U) to find help near you. Closer to home, Luminis Health Pathways offers care for individuals that need support with managing addiction and substance use. Support for loved ones If you have a loved one who is struggling with a substance use disorder, you must take proactive steps to help them on their journey to stay sober and drug-free. Here are some suggestions: Start by having an open and non-judgmental conversation with your loved one, expressing your concern and support. Encourage them to seek professional help, such as a therapist, counselor, or addiction specialist, who can provide the necessary guidance and treatment options. Find a support group. Al-Anon and Alateen can be very helpful in learning how to take care of yourself while also discovering how to appropriately support your loved one with a substance use disorder. Consider a therapy-based education program for families. Luminis Health offers family wellness workshops. Call (443) 481-5449 for upcoming dates and more information. Be patient and understanding, as recovery can be challenging and an ongoing process. There’s always hope “I have seen many more substance use disorder success stories than failures in my years of practice,” says Dr. Aliya Jones, executive medical director of behavioral health for Luminis Health. “Most people are eventually successful when they are able to use available resources for support and stay engaged in their care.” To learn more about substance use disorder and treatment, please visit here. Author Aliya Jones, MD, is the executive medical director of Behavioral Health for Luminis Health.
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