Category: Uncategorized

By Scott Goss, BMI patient

For years, I was active, doing a job I loved that helped keep me at a healthy weight of about 180-185 pounds. That is, until I decided to open up a video store where I went from being very physically active at work to sitting on my rear-end all day playing games and watching videos. Looking back, that was my downfall.

I started gaining weight, and it just snowballed from there.

In December of 2016, I was 52-years-old and at my heaviest weight of 331 pounds. I had tried dieting and knew I needed to exercise, but it had gotten to the point to where I was almost too big to workout. Nothing worked. I couldn’t breathe, and I would literally get out of breath just taking a shower. That’s how out of shape I was. I just need something to jump start the weight loss for me.

My wife and I discussed me having gastric sleeve surgery, since she had just recently had it done herself. I decided to go for it and spoke with my primary care doctor. He said I was the perfect candidate since I didn’t have any major health issues other than being overweight, so he got me in touch with Dr. Long at Birmingham Minimally Invasive Surgery.  Dr. Long and I went over the different kinds of surgeries, and I ended up doing the gastric sleeve surgery on December 28, 2016.

Granted the first week after surgery was rough, but after that, it’s been easy street for me. I don’t have anything negative to say about the surgery. I haven’t had any problems at all, and since then, I’ve just been focusing on taking care of my body.

I even surpassed my goal weight that I thought was unattainable.

I set a goal weight of 170, but because I never thought I could really get there, I told myself that if I get close to that, maybe 180, 185, I’d be happy. Not only did I make it to 170, but I made it a little side goal of mine to make it to 165, which is half of what I use to weight. I actually even surpassed that goal. While I was wearing a size 44-46 waist, I’m now a size 30, and rather than needing a 4X shirt, I wear a medium.

While I made sure that I got my protein and liquid in, I never did record or track my food. I just let my body tell me what it needed, and if I wanted a little treat every now and then, I would have it. The way I looked at it, rather than deprive myself of something and binge on it later, I’d show some restraint and let myself have a little bit.

It’s really been a game changer for me.

I have so much energy now that I even went back to work doing what I’d loved 20 years ago, doing drywall. Every day I surprise myself of what I can do. I’m even the guy they come to when they need to get in a tight spot. One day, one of the guys said, “You know what you need to do? You need to gain some weight. That way they won’t put you up there in the tight spots!” I just grinned and said, “Nah, I’ll be alright.” I’m just glad to be able to do it.

We’re actually going to a birthday celebration in Costa Rica soon, and I’m going to get to go snorkeling and a bunch of other activities that I couldn’t have done at my previous weight. I also haven’t flown in an airplane since the surgery. I used to have to get the seat belt extender, and now I’m going to have tons of room, and I just can’t wait. As a matter of fact, I even took one of those seatbelt extenders home with me one time and still have it. When I go back to the airport, I’m going to give them their seatbelt extender and say, “I no longer need this. You can have it back!”

For anyone considering weight loss surgery, I would, without a doubt, tell them to do it.

If you’re thinking about it, and really want to change your life and get back the old you, do it. I wish I could go back and do it 20 years ago. You can’t keep hoping that everybody will fix you. You have to fix yourself and start taking care of your body. My advice is to listen to it; it will tell you what it needs.

I feel so blessed to have my life back.

Dr. Long and his team did a great job, and I would recommend them to anybody. I hope this helps someone make the decision to get the surgery done, so it can change their life like it has mine.

Birmingham Minimally Invasive Surgery is a caring group of professionals who specialize in all types of bariatric surgery.  Our surgeon Dr. Jay Long has highly specialized training in bariatric surgery, having completed a fellowship in minimally invasive and bariatric surgery at The Methodist Hospital in Houston, Texas, where he focused on taking care of patients that are morbidly obese.  And we are so proud of our pricing that we publish the costs right on the front page of our website!  Insurance won’t pay?  We have a variety of financing options we can offer you so that you are able to get the healthy body you’ve wanted for years.  Visit us today at http://www.bmisurgery.com/ or give us a call to set up a consultation at 205-833-6907. 

By Dr. Jay Long

If you’re reading this, I’m sure it’s not the first weight loss surgery article you’ve read.  If you’re like most of my patients, you’ve been out there scouring the internet, talking to your friends, and reading everything you can put your hands on about weight loss surgery.  

As a surgeon, I have the benefit of talking to patients all day long about their fears, their desired outcomes, but most importantly, the MISinformation they sometimes come across.  And that’s ok – one of my favorite parts of the job is getting to educate my patients on what their weight loss surgery experience is going to look like.

So, here are some examples of MISinformation I hear all the time, and my thoughts on the correct answers:

Weight loss surgeries have long recovery times and require big scars on my abdomen

I am pleased to say this is not the case at MY practice!  All of our weight loss surgeries are performed laparoscopically, which means scarring is minimal.  That also means that patients can go home the same day of surgery or the following day, and recover much more quickly in the comfort of their own homes.  

My weight loss surgery is going to easily fix all my life problems

I’m sorry my friend, but this just isn’t the case.  People come in all the time and assume that surgery is the end-all, be-all.  They don’t understand that there is still a lot of work that they have to put into the process.  First of all, they have to lower their calorie intake and EXERCISE. Unfortunately, I get a lot of patients that say “I just can’t exercise.”  And I get it – morbidly obese patients have reduced mobility and pain in their joints, so traditional exercise isn’t in the cards for them. But you can lay on the floor and swing your arms and legs up and down.  You can do simple things that will get you moving again.

Weight loss surgery certainly isn’t a miracle pill.  Once you’ve begun healing from the surgery, you absolutely have to entertain exercising as a major part of your long-term weight loss goals.  I try to redirect my patients and tell them – “think differently – change your mindset.” Work within your limitations – what CAN I do – not what CAN’T I do.  “My knees are bad” – well, can you swim at your local YMCA? Swimming and water activities like water aerobics are low impact and can help you get fit without making your joint issues worse.  “I have a bad back.” Then you can work out your arms. Lay on the floor and do leg lifts. There are endless things you can do as long as you WANT to do it.

I’ve heard some patients gain their weight back after a year

In fact, some percentage of patients do gain some portion of their weight back.  However, this is usually a result of not following the carefully crafted plan we have for you post-surgery.  We try to follow-up with patients after several months, but sometimes they don’t always follow up. The good news is, where we can reconnect with patients that have gained back some weight, we can re-evaluate them, encourage them, remind them of their cooking and eating and exercise protocols, and perhaps most importantly – get them involved in local support groups.

What will your appetite will be like?   That’s what all patients want to know. I tell my patients that you will definitely experience appetite suppression.  Some people are not hungry at all, but some patients are.  So I educate folks that it’s suppressed – not absent.

So in closing, hopefully my open, honest, frank advice gives you some clarity on some of the weight loss procedures you’ve been researching.  I always want my patients and friends to have ALL the information at their fingertips, so they can make the right decisions for themselves and for their families.    

Birmingham Minimally Invasive Surgery is a caring group of professionals who specialize in all types of bariatric surgery.  Our surgeon Dr. Jay Long has highly specialized training in bariatric surgery, having completed a fellowship in minimally invasive and bariatric surgery at The Methodist Hospital in Houston, Texas, where he focused on taking care of patients that are morbidly obese.  And we are so proud of our pricing that we publish the costs right on the front page of our website!  Insurance won’t pay?  We have a variety of financing options we can offer you so that you are able to get the healthy body you’ve wanted for years.  Visit us today at http://www.bmisurgery.com/ or give us a call to set up a consultation at 205-833-6907.   

A mountain of evidence shows that dieting doesn’t work for the vast majority of people who want to lose weight. In fact, many people who try to lose weight through diet and exercise end up gaining more weight in the long term.

Minimally invasive surgeries offer alternatives to diet and exercise fads that usually fail. If you want to lose weight, then you should consider these five surgical options.

LAP-BAND Surgery

LAP-BAND surgery uses an inflatable silicone band that reduces the size of your stomach. By reducing the size of your stomach, you can’t overeat without discomfort.  

Many patients like LAP-BAND surgery because their doctors can tighten or loosen their bands whenever they want. This makes it possible for you to control your stomach’s size throughout your life.

LAP-BAND is also considered one of the safest procedures because it only requires small incisions that heal quickly.

Sleeve Gastrectomy

Sleeve gastrectomy is a permanent procedure that’s often useful for severely obese people who cannot exercise. During the surgery, your doctor will remove a portion of your stomach and the upper part of your intestine.

Sleeve gastrectomy can benefit you in two ways. Reducing the size of your stomach prevents you from overeating. The procedure also limits the production of ghrelin, a hormone that makes you feel hungry.

Laparoscopic Gastric Bypass Surgery

Gastric bypass surgery is the most common bariatric procedure performed in the United States because it has such a high rate of success. Since the procedure requires minimal incisions, patients can recover quickly.

During laparoscopic gastric bypass surgery, your doctor will create a stomach pouch that holds about two ounces of food. The pouch gets connected to the intestine. By reducing the stomach’s size and connecting the pouch to the intestine, your body will absorb fewer calories when you eat.

Orbera Gastric Balloon Surgery

During Orbera gastric balloon surgery, a small balloon gets inserted in your stomach. Inflating the balloon with saline makes you feel full even when you eat less food.

Orbera gastric balloons are temporary. Most patients use them for up to six months. During this time, you can learn portion control. Since it’s temporary, many people prefer Orbera over other surgical options.

Revisional Weight Loss Surgery

Although gastric surgery is one of the most effective ways for people to lose weight, some patients experience weight gain several years after the procedure.

When diet and exercise cannot control weight gain, patients can return to their surgeons for revisional weight loss surgery.

The doctors at Birmingham Minimally Invasive Surgery have ample experience performing all five of these weight loss options. If you’re serious about meeting your health goals, you should contact the practice to learn more about your surgical options.

Obesity is one of the leading causes of sickness and death in the United States. In fact, obesity-related diseases cause more than 300,000 deaths every year. Taking care of your health by managing your weight is one of the best things you can do to maximize your opportunity to live a long, healthy and enjoyable life.

It’s worth noting that it isn’t necessarily the excess fat stored in an obese person’s body that causes so many deaths. Instead, it is the myriad diseases and conditions that frequently result from being so overweight.

Here are a few examples:

Gout

Gout is a disease that causes uric acid in the blood to rise to unsafe levels. This leads to painful flare-ups and pain in the joints.

Cancer

Everyone has some risk of cancer, but being obese can significantly increase the risks associated with cancer — and particularly specific types of cancer. Some of the cancers with the greatest increase in risk include kidney cancer, esophageal cancer, colon cancer and breast cancer. However, there is some evidence that other cancers can become more likely in some people who are chronically obese.

Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is a particularly unfortunate obesity-related disease. While some people are unfortunate enough to be genetically predisposed to diabetes, Type 2 diabetes is frequently linked to preventable causes, like obesity.

Type 2 diabetes can lead to a significant reduction in quality of life and can severely reduce life expectancy for those diagnosed.

Heart Disease

One of the better-known complications associated with obesity, heart disease continues to be one of the leading causes of death in the United States. Heart disease is a broad term used to describe conditions such as a heart attack, stroke, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and a number of other conditions. Individuals who are obese but take significant efforts to reduce their weight and improve their health can reduce the risk of heart disease.

Osteoarthritis

The additional weight and strain that an obese person puts on his or her joints can lead to a number of conditions, including osteoarthritis. This condition is defined by the wearing down of cartilage in the joints, leading to pain, reduced mobility and numbness throughout various parts of the body.

Obesity can lead to many negative health conditions. Take charge of your health today by managing your diet and getting your body to a healthy weight!

According to the CDC, more than 36 percent of adults in the United States struggle with obesity. Losing weight and getting healthy is a goal many people find difficult to achieve. Gastric sleeve is a procedure that can help you lose weight and eliminate a variety of weight-related health conditions.

Why Is Losing Weight so Difficult?

The diet industry will often tell you how easy it is to lose weight if you follow their plan or take their pills. You already know, however, there isn’t a simple fix. Taking off excess weight is hard because of several factors. In society, you are surrounded by poor food choices and often live a sedentary lifestyle. You may also struggle against a genetic predisposition to gain weight and a slow metabolism.

Many scientists also believe that set point theory may contribute to your inability to lose weight. According to MIT Medical, a set point is a system of controls similar to a thermostat that’s built into each person. This determines how much fat each person should carry. Changing a set point to achieve weight loss can be extremely difficult.

How Can Gastric Sleeve Help You Lose Weight?

Gastric sleeve is a procedure that can be far more effective in achieving and maintaining weight loss than exercise and diet alone. While you are under general anesthesia, a surgeon removes part of your stomach through a small incision. This procedure reduces the overall size of your stomach and allows you to only eat a small amount at one time.

You can expect to lose weight over the course of several months. While success rates will vary, you may reduce excess weight by approximately 70 percent. The Cleveland Clinic reports there are several health benefits that can be obtained through weight loss surgery. A few include improved cardiovascular functioning, remission of type 2 diabetes and joint pain relief.

What Are the Qualifications for Gastric Sleeve?

Gastric sleeve is a procedure that is usually reserved for individuals who are considered morbidly obese. Many patients will also have additional health conditions, such as sleep apnea or hypertension. Being able to handle the physical stress of surgery is also a requirement.

It’s important to remember that even though gastric sleeve can provide effective and dramatic weight loss, long-term success is maintained by incorporating good exercise and eating habits into your daily routine.

Many insurance plans now cover weight loss procedures including gastric sleeve. If you’ve been struggling with losing weight, now is the time to consider gastric sleeve to help you reach your weight loss goals. Gastric sleeve can be part of an effective and lasting weight loss plan.