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Weigh Beyond: Keeping up with Sam and Sara
Weigh Beyond: Keeping up with Sam and Sara
Weigh Beyond: Keeping up with Sam and Sara
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Sitting in a dim-lit room – where the only lights are the neon wire lights fading in and out along the black walls and under the desk – Sam, sitting with his back towards Sara’s back, asks, “Are you online?” Sara replies with an attentive ‘yes’ as she, too, prepares to embark on an online-gaming session that can last hours. For Sam Mitchell, 37, and Sara Hays, 31, this is not a new scene in their Bowie residence. They’ve been dating for eight years and continue to perfect their gaming skills together. They spend many evenings and weekends doing this because they play on a team. “We have a hard time getting out of the house sometimes,” says Sara, 31. “Sometimes we want to go out to eat, but other online gamers are depending on us to come online so they can also play.” Although Sara had a very active childhood – playing sports like soccer, basketball and softball all the way through high school – she struggled with her weight, asserting she was always a heavy person. “I grew up with parents who would have meat, a potato and a vegetable for dinner and encouraged me to always clean up my plate,” she says. “That resonated with me for the rest of my life and I think that was part of the problem.” Sara tried countless diets to no avail, describing the results as a yo-yo effect, where she would lose about 50 pounds and regain 70 pounds soon after. Sara tried the gym, but didn’t feel comfortable working out in front of others. “I always feel like I’m being looked at or judged,” she says. In an attempt to look for a different alternative, the couple purchased an elliptical to workout at home. The solution lasted for merely a week before the piece of equipment was put away. The turning point Weight and self-image is something that has always been on Sara’s and Sam’s mind. But despite their many efforts, nothing seemed to work. They had thought about potentially undergoing surgery, but felt there was a negative stigma attached to this option because others claimed it was ‘cheating’. Their perception changed when one day an opportunity to look at things differently came knocking at their door, literally. The woman who I met weighing over 300 pounds was now 120 pounds. “One of our friends came over to talk to us about his wife who had done weight loss surgery,” Sam says, jokingly adding that his friend felt a little jealous because his wife was now getting more attention from others. “We had seen her before and didn’t think it could be that big of a deal. She came to our door two weeks later and when I opened the door, the woman who I met weighing over 300 pounds was now 120 pounds.” Shocked with the results, Sara and Sam decided to look more into weight loss surgery. “I didn’t even recognize her; she was like a whole new person,” Sara recalls. “I thought to myself, ‘You were my size, how did you do this? What happened?’ She went through the process with us and her feedback was that she wished she had done it 20 years ago. That was the turning point for us.” The couple started looking up the doctor their neighbor had used after the raving review, but were not fully sold on the idea until they came across Courtney Doyle, MD, general and bariatric surgeon with AAMG Surgical Specialists in Annapolis. After talking to other people who had done the surgery and meeting with Dr. Doyle personally, the couple was ready to move to the next step. The surgery The AAMC Weight Loss and Metabolic Surgery Program performs more than 700 bariatric surgeries every year, a steady increase over the last few years. Recent research by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery found that 90 percent of patients were successful in maintaining 50 percent or more of their weight loss after their bariatric surgery. There are also health benefits that result from this, with data showing remission of Type 2 diabetes in more than 80 percent of patients after undergoing a Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy. After a gastric sleeve surgery, most patients can expect to lose up to 33 percent of excess weight by three months, 50 percent of excess weight by six months, and up to 70 percent of excess weight after the first year following the procedure. LEARN MORE: Dr. Courtney Doyle discusses bariatric surgery at AAMC’s Weight Loss and Metabolic Surgery program, and how it can change patients’ lives. Dr. Doyle first met the couple a few months ago. She recalls Sam was the first one to come in to the office and said he wanted to do this together with Sara. “They felt like they were in a position where they were ready to do well and support each other through the process,” she says. After attending AAMC’s free bariatric seminar, where Sara and Sam learned about the types of weight loss surgery, program requirements, insurance specifics, and other details to start their weight loss journey, they put a date on their calendar for an official consultation. For Sara, the best option was to opt in for the laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy. “This surgery is performed laparoscopically, which is the way most bariatric surgeries are performed these days,” says Dr. Doyle. “This means that we make a few very small incisions as opposed to one very large incision, the way we used to do bariatric surgery.” The smaller stomach pouch limits how much food a person can eat at one time and in turn, will help Sara to feel full more quickly and for a longer period. They’re looking for a way to do that and this surgery is a really nice way to help them get to a healthy lifestyle without having to feel every day like they’re constantly on a diet. “They want to be active and healthy for the rest of their lives together,” says Dr. Doyle. “They’re looking for a way to do that and this surgery is a really nice way to help them get to a healthy lifestyle without having to feel every day like they’re constantly on a diet.” Sara underwent surgery in January. While she continues on her successful recovery, Sam has yet to schedule his surgery due to a fractured arm. However, his excitement of being by her side while she recovers is adding to the anticipation. Stay tuned in to the Weigh Beyond series for part 2 as we continue to follow their journey in real-time. Take the first step on your journey to weight loss. Register today for one of our free seminars to learn more about weight loss surgery (also called bariatric surgery). Courtney Doyle, MD Dr. Doyle is a board-certified, fellowship-trained laparoscopic general and bariatric surgeon at Anne Arundel Medical Center. She is an expert in both primary bariatric surgeries and bariatric revision surgery. To schedule a visit with her and explore your personal bariatric journey, call 443-481-6699. Originally published March 18, 2019. Last updated March 9, 2020.
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Why Choose Luminis Health?Our expert back, neck and spine team takes a “conservative first" approach. But you're in good hands with our expert, board-certified spine surgeons available if spine surgery is needed. We'll support you and your family along each step of your treatment and recovery. Choose us because we offer:A specialized spine center. Our comprehensive care team includes physiatrists, pain specialists and spine surgeons. Each year, thousands of people come to us for help with back, neck and spine problems. That makes us one of Maryland's busiest spine programs. Many of these patients get better with treatments like exercise and injections. But if you do need spine surgery, we have the expertise you need.Easy, fast access to care. With our SpineTODAY program, you can often get an appointment the same day. Our team quickly determines how urgent your problem is by evaluating your symptoms.Treatments tailored to your needs. Our team guides you through a treatment plan that's tailor-made for you. Plus, our nurse navigator helps coordinate every step of your journey
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Back, Neck and Spine Pain
When your back or neck hurts, it seems like you hurt all over — even simple activities are painful. But you don't have to live that way. We provide the specialized care you need, giving you the best chance for a full recovery. And the sooner you get treatment, the sooner you'll feel better.Common Back, Neck and Spine ProblemsMost of us experience back pain at some point in life. In fact, it's the most common reason for visiting a doctor. Fortunately, most back pain causes aren't serious. Symptoms usually improve with treatments like heat or cold packs, over-the-counter pain medications, exercise and physical therapy.The spine care team at Luminis Health Orthopedics can pinpoint what's causing your back or neck pain. From there, we can help you develop a personalized treatment plan to help you with conditions like:Acute muscular neck pain or lower back pain.Degenerative disc disease.Compression fracture.Herniated disc.Lower back strain.Overuse injuries.Sciatica.Spinal stenosis.Scoliosis, spondylolisthesis and spinal deformity.New symptoms from prior spine surgery.We'll improve your pain, so you can get your life back on track.
Back Neck and Spine Pain
Back, Neck and Spine Pain
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Why Choose Luminis Health's Speech Pathology Team?We'll work hard to lessen the toll that speech, language or voice problems can take on your life by:Working closely with your entire care team. We'll consult with your radiation oncologist or other referring doctor to create a treatment plan tailored to your needs. But that's not all. We also work shoulder-to-shoulder with dietitians, occupational therapists and physical therapists to tackle your symptoms from many directions.Coordinating your care. Juggling appointments with several different types of health professionals is time-consuming. We handle those arrangements if your doctor recommends physical therapy, occupational therapy or cancer rehabilitation.Making access to care as painless as possible. With early morning, evening and weekend hours, you can choose appointments that fit your schedule. For some types of therapy, virtual visits are a convenient option. And you can connect with any of our locations and services through a single, dedicated phone number.Offering therapists with specialized skills. Our speech therapists hone their expertise by treating many people who have the same specific problem. For example, if you lose your voice after treatment for throat cancer, we can match you with a therapist who specializes in this.
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Speech Language Pathology
We treat adults and children with voice, speech, language, communication and swallowing disorders. We also treat children with feeding disorders, ADHD and autism.Specialized Help for Speech, Language, Voice, Swallowing and Thinking IssuesDifficulty swallowing doesn't just rob you of the pleasure of eating. It can pose serious risks, including choking. Problems speaking or communicating your thoughts to others can be frustrating and exhausting. Living day to day with these issues can lead to emotional distress, like anxiety.In kids, feeding disorders can slow normal growth. And a speech or language disorder can impair a child's ability to learn and succeed in school.Our speech-language pathologists can help you or your child manage a speech, voice or swallowing disorder. We deliver outpatient rehabilitation care that helps you or your loved one achieve life-changing results. No matter where you are in your experience or recovery process, we can help.
Speech Language Pathology
Speech Language Pathology
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Your Heart Is in Good Hands with Luminis Health LHAAMC is an American College of Cardiology Accredited Chest Pain Center We provide you and your loved ones with compassionate care and the most advanced heart treatments available. This includes the latest, most minimally invasive procedures for both diagnoses and treatment. We offer: Emergency life-saving heart attack care. The Maryland Institute of Emergency Medicine Services Systems designates Luminis Health a Certified Intervention Center for emergency heart attack care. This means we're the area's preferred hospital for heart attack care, and you'll get life-saving care within 90 minutes of calling 911. We exceed Maryland state standards for this care. Heart attack treatments recognized by the American Heart Association. The American Heart Association's Mission: Lifeline® program recognizes Luminis Health for outstanding performance and care when treating heart attack patients. We're one of only 25% of hospitals in the U.S. qualified to perform emergency cardiac catheterization. A dedicated heart center. Our Zazulia Heart and Vascular Center is an inpatient unit just for heart patients. It features cardiac catheterization labs, a critical care unit and a cardiac rehabilitation center. Nationally recognized care. The American College of Cardiology recognizes Luminis Health for our commitment to hospital care for heart patients. We're one of 212 hospitals in the nation to receive the Platinum Performance Achievement Award for chest pain and heart attack care. And we appear on the 2022 U.S. News & World Report list of “Best Hospitals."
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Heart Attack
Call 911 immediately if you think you might be having a heart attack. Eighty-five percent of heart damage occurs within the first two hours of a heart attack. Getting to the hospital at the earliest sign of an attack is key for a good outcome and quick recovery.Interested in learning your heart attack risk level? Take our Heart Health Profiler.What Is a Heart Attack?A heart attack is a medical emergency. It usually happens when plaque in an artery blocks blood flow to your heart. Without blood, your heart can't get oxygen and heart-muscle cells die quickly.Symptoms of a heart attack vary, but they often include chest pain or discomfort and shortness of breath.
Heart Attack
Heart Attack
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Why Choose Luminis HealthOur cancer rehabilitation team helps you live your best possible life during and after treatment. Reasons to choose Luminis Health Physical Therapy to support you throughout your cancer journey include:Our full range of specialists. We have experience supporting patients with many different types of cancer. As part of a larger team, we work closely with other cancer care providers, such as breast surgeons, radiation oncologists and nutritionists. We create a personalized rehabilitation plan that fits your needs and goals .Our dedicated coordinator. Having so many experts on your team, however, can be confusing. That's why our program has a dedicated coordinator with special training in cancer rehabilitation. This person works with all the different departments to organize your care.Our multiple locations. When you're coping with treatment side-effects like fatigue, you don't want to travel any farther than you must. With our many locations, you can get your care closer to home.
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Cancer Rehab Services
Whether you have surgery, chemotherapy, radiation or a combination, our cancer rehabilitation specialists can improve your life before, during and after treatment.Our rehab therapists can make your cancer journey easier.Top-Notch Cancer Rehab, Near YouSurgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy are life-saving treatments. Sometimes you might feel like the side effects from these cancer treatments rob you of energy. Side effects may include extreme tiredness, muscle weakness, sexual difficulties and memory issues.Our team of cancer rehabilitation specialists can help you cope with the challenges of treatment, recovery and life after cancer. We help you manage your pain and rebuild your strength after surgery or radiation.
Cancer Rehab Services
Cancer Rehab Services
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