Getting Healthier Before Bariatric Surgery
It may seem counterintuitive, but getting healthier and losing some weight before bariatric surgery can be very beneficial. One of the biggest roadblocks to a safe and effective surgery is generally poor health – a common byproduct of excess weight and poor dietary and exercise choices. In order to undergo the most successful surgery with the fewest possible complications, prospective weight loss surgery patients should try to ensure that they are in the best shape possible before undergoing the procedure.
Our New Corpus Christi Location!
It is with great pleasure that we inform you that on February 12, 2016 we will open our doors in more spacious and comfortable surroundings.
Dr. Chang and the Advanced Bariatric & Surgical Specialists team is excited to serve more patients with bariatric and minimally invasive surgical care.
Our new address is:
Advanced Bariatric & Surgical Specialists
5826 Esplanade Drive, Suite 202
Corpus Christi, TX 78414
To schedule an appointment in our Corpus Christi office, we invite you to contact us. Our phone number has not changed and you can reach us still at (361) 570-8585. The new location is in the SleepRite Sleep Center.
Since we started doing business in Corpus Christi, your loyal support has helped us grow, and now we need more space to serve you better. The previous cramped working space and limited parking were unacceptable. We are happy to announce that we have found a great place to have clinic.
Sleep Apnea – Diseases Associated With Obesity
There is no shortage of diseases associated with excess weight and obesity. While some are very obvious – such as reduced movement and joint pain – others are more commonly found during routine checkups and blood work ups – like high cholesterol, high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes. These silent diseases, with few outward or consistent symptoms can lead to serious follow-on disorders.
This Month’s Thought
Here’s what I am learning this morning…Pride can be very destructive for me (or anyone).
For those of you who subscribe to other belief systems other than Christianity, just try to take the message…
Naaman (2 Kings 5: 1-15) was a man of influence who had leprosy (at that time, it was considered an incurable disease). His pride initially kept him from following very simple instructions to be healed. Fortunately, he listened to the people around him who cared for him (relinquishing his pride) and he was healed.
How often do I get caught up in my status, power, work, influence? That’s a question I need to keep asking myself to avoid the isolation that pride brings. Am I resistant the counsel of trusted people who have greater insight into my life? Am I really willing to admit my powerlessness over life and let other help me?
I think the antidote is a recognition of pride tendencies and adopting a humble spirit. Admitting I am flawed and I need others to help me stay on track…this helps me keep my attitude in check.
~ Dr. Chang
New year resolutions
We all have made them. Most of us make our resolution and we might even put some thought into it. However, the vast majority of us don’t really follow through very well. Why is that? It’s human nature. We’re busy. Life is hectic. We have lots of other things that interfere with our new, improved way of life. After a couple months, we’re often back to the status quo (old way). How do we fix this? The answers are really quite simple.
- Have concrete resolutions…if my resolution is to be healthier in 2016, this is vague. Make a much more concrete resolution like “I’m going to the gym 3x per week”…this is my goal.
- Write it out and give it to someone who will check up on you…nothing beats accountability when it comes to lifestyle change. It’s kinda tough to hear “you need to get your butt moving” from your accountability friend (or person). When two people are focused on the goal, you don’t bear all the weight and responsibility.
- Be realistic. “I’m going have abdominoplasty, breast lift and thigh plasty in 2016”…maybe too much and unobtainable.
- Schedule…put it on your calendar like it’s a really important appointment. If it really needs to be changed in your life, doesn’t it deserve some ongoing dedicated appointment times to work on it?
Why We Believe in the Benefits of the Gastric Sleeve Procedure
Over the course of the past several decades, bariatric procedures of all kinds have blossomed and waned in popularity. One of the procedures that shows the most promise, now and in the future, for a wide spectrum of obese patients is the gastric sleeve, otherwise known as the sleeve gastrectomy.
We All Have Bad Days
The weight loss journey after bariatric surgery is an ongoing process—a process that will last the rest of your life. Losing weight and keeping it off is not easy, especially after the rapid weight loss immediately after surgery begins to taper off. Becoming obese takes many years, often decades, and reversing the problem requires difficult decisions and a great deal of dedication. Not the least of these hurdles is our own mind. So much of our success relies on our willingness and ability to implement the lifestyle changes that will make us happier and healthier. And like everything else we do, we sometimes make mistakes and trip up.
Getting Sufficient Protein in Your Diet
One of the most difficult dietary changes to make, post bariatric surgery, is getting enough protein. Protein is critical to healing during recovery after surgery. In fact you will be started on a protein supplemented liquid diet soon after you leave the hospital. Protein is also an essential part of weight loss and building muscle over the longer-term. In fact, consuming enough of protein and forgoing simple carbohydrates such as refined sugars can keep you fuller, longer and help you lose weight more easily.
Ghrelin, the Hunger Hormone:
Very few people will know what you’re talking about when you mention ghrelin, but as we learn more about this hunger hormone and its effect on our weight, it has become an ever more important part of weight loss research.
Ghrelin is produced in the fundus, a small gland located toward the top of the stomach pouch. When a person feels hunger, it is, at least in part due to this gland secreting ghrelin. The ghrelin sends hunger signals to the brain, prompting us to consume food. Once the body has received what it believes to be the appropriate amount of food, our hunger disappears.
Body Mass Index Considerations
The Body Mass Index, or BMI, has become the standard by which obesity and overweight is judged. Diets and exercise websites of all kinds use a BMI calculator to help their visitors understand if they have a problem with their weight. Even the FDA and bariatric surgeons use the BMI calculation as an estimation of a person’s surgical eligibility. It is important to remember however, that the BMI number is just a guide and it should not be taken as the final say on whether a person is suitable for weight loss surgery. In fact, the preoperative process to qualify someone for weight loss surgery is much deeper than just entering weight and height into a calculator.
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