ESA Central Jersey Bariatrics, LLC

Patient Case Studies

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Choosing to undergo bariatric surgery is a life-changing decision that requires a healthy dose of determination, tenacity and long-term committment to living a healthy lifestyle. What better way to highlight moving forward to a "new beginning" than to read some real-life patient stories, told by our own CJB patients?

To learn more about bariatric weight loss surgery at Central Jersey Bariatrics, please join us for a free information seminar held at hospitals in the central New Jersey area. Call (732) 761 – 1740 or visit our Information Seminars page for dates and times near you.

 

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January 6, 2012

The Best Christmas Present - A Christmas Eve Patient Letter of Thanks

December 24, 2011

(Reprinted with patient permission)

Dear Dr. Adeyeri,

I have to thank you for making it possible for me to attain real, sustainable weight loss. For more times than I can count, I lost a significant amount of weight only to gain back more than I lost. I know this is only the beginning of a total change of lifestyle for me and with the help of your continued care and support group, I will continue on the path to good health.

At my first visit with you in January of 2011, I was 344 pounds and suffering from multiple health issues (type 2 diabetes and severe sleep apnea) and the pain associated with those conditions. I was unable to stand or walk for any significant period of time. Stairs became a problem for me as well and I wore slip-on shoes only as I could no longer tie my own shoes.

Today, seven months after weight loss surgery, I have lost 104 pounds. I feel so much better, have less pain, sleep soundly (!) and no longer require most of the medications I was previously reliant upon. Because of you, I can look forward to a longer, more active life. I still want to lose another 25 pounds and I am confident, with continued exercise. I will achieve this goal.

I originally started on this health journey with Dr. Washington after attending his Information Seminar in 2010. When I was finally ready and came into the office at Central Jersey Bariatrics, I was surprised to learn he had relocated to another part of the country. In my profession as a systems and project engineer, I don't take on any important project without planning and research. But your wonderful caring and patient rapport won me over. I can't say enough good things about you. You spent a lot of time with me, explaining all the steps of the process. You took the time to respond to my questions and let me make my own decisions. I have never been to a more caring, conscientious doctor.

People who haven't seen me in a while are amazed and can't believe how good I look. I find myself stopping at mirrors in amazement myself! I tell everyone I know about the fantastic doctor that changed-no-saved my life.

Thank you again, and again, and again.

Thank you Dr. Adeyeri, Julie Parrott and Mara too!

Sincerely,

Michael R. Moscaritolo

 

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December 22, 2011

A quest for weight loss surgery leads to a treatable cancer diagnosis

James Langan, a 60-year-old retired maintenance supervisor, was looking forward to having his weight loss surgery performed by Dr. Seun Sowemimo. He initially attended Central Jersey Bariatrics’ Informational Seminar to learn more about the different surgical procedures available and ask questions about the process. James attended the seminar with his sister-in-law, Joanne, head nurse in the Surgery department of an orthopedic group, whom he refers to as the ‘family doctor’. “Even she was impressed with Dr. Seun and agreed with his assessment that the gastric sleeve procedure was the way to go in my situation,” James recalls.

An unexpected roadblock

Prior to surgery, the Sayreville resident underwent routine testing to ensure he was a suitable candidate for the sleeve procedure. But during a colonoscopy, a mass on right side of James’ colon was discovered. James says Dr. Seun took immediate control of the serious diagnosis and simply told him “we would resolve this issue first and then get back to the weight loss surgery.” Dr. Seun recommended James get a second opinion from another surgeon before even discussing what action to take. “That really earned my confidence,” James says.James did so and the second surgeon confirmed Dr. Seun’s diagnosis??stage one colon cancer. Fortunately, the cancer was in the early stages and had not penetrated any muscle. One week later, Dr. Seun laparoscopically removed all of the cancerous tumor in the colon at CentraState Medical Center.

Moving forward

“The incisions from my minimally invasive surgery were tiny—maybe two inches long. I previously had a knee replacement and surgery to remove an aneurism. But this time, I didn’t have to deal with weeks and weeks of recovery from general surgery.” James was only on pain medication for a day and a half after his colon surgery and says his scars are almost completely gone today. One month later, cancer free, James was finally ready to move forward with his bariatric sleeve surgery, which was performed without any complications.

Today, James has lost 76 pounds in less than three months and has alleviated the need for several medications for previous health conditions related to his obesity; He no longer needs any medication for high blood pressure. He found Dr. Seun’s calm and patient demeanor along with the non-stop support of Julie Parrott, MA, LD RD, his CJ Bariatrics nutritionist, pivotal to his rapid weight loss.  To prepare him for surgery, James underwent a liquid protein diet to eliminate meals and caloric intake prior to surgery and prepare him for the liquid diet he would consume for a few weeks after surgery. “This helped tremendously during my first week of recovery."

James laughs and says that, unfortunately, he deems himself an expert in the world of surgery, after undergoing three major procedures in additional to his bariatric surgery. “Dr. Seun is not a hit-and-run doctor. He is always there to answer your questions, very down to earth, and speaks to you on your level. I recommend him 100% to anyone who may be facing surgery.”

December 7, 2011 

Twenty-five-year-old loses half his body weight in one year 

Ron Engstrom was already familiar with weight loss surgery. His sister underwent gastric bypass when he was in   his early 20s. When he was 24-years-old, his weight has crept up to nearly 400 pounds but he had no intention of living the rest of his 20s so overweight.

Ron met with bariatric surgeon Dr. Ayotunde Adeyeri of Central Jersey Bariatrics and, together, they charted a path to get Ron back on the road to good health. In October 2011, Ron began private sessions with staff nutritionist, Julie Parrott, MS, RD, LD. Working with Julie, Ron lost 85 pounds even before his laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (gastric sleeve) surgery.

"Working with Julie, I realized that it was not that difficult to follow a basic plan and lose weight. I was amazed how much better I felt as the pounds came off. I had much more energy and confidence in my every day life," Ron says.

On April 18, 2011, Ron underwent weight loss surgery to ramp up his weight loss efforts. After following Dr. Adeyeri's weight loss protocol, Ron dropped a total of 207 pounds and weighed 188 pounds by November 2011. "The last time I weighed less than 200 pounds, I was in the fifth grade," Ron recalls. Losing more than 50 percent of his body weight changed his life dramatically. He left his birthplace of New Jersey and a career in marine construction and headed to San Diego, where he now works in a law firm. 

"Weight loss surgery for me has been so life-altering that I want to share my personal experience with as many people as possible. If you are very overweight, it is possible to turn your life around. And you can do it very, very quickly, if you follow the program." Ron has offered to act as a Central Jersey Bariatrics Patient Ambassador and talk with others who may be considering weight loss surgery.

November 12, 2011

CentraState Medical Center nurse chooses gastric sleeve weight loss surgery and drops 130+ pounds

Karen Fabiny, RN, has a great deal of exposure to the ins and outs of weight loss surgery. As a staff nurse at CentraState Medical Center in Freehold, she helps patients before and after various surgical procedures, including gastric bypass and the gastric sleeve procedure. At 51-years-old and with a family history of obesity, Karen knew the time had come for her to make a change. Weighing more than 300 pounds, she was taking three medications for high blood pressure and experiencing chronic joint pain in her knees and ankles.

“I watched Dr. Sowemimo (Dr. Seun) of Central Jersey Bariatrics interact with patients before and after surgery and was impressed by his care and concern for each of them,” Karen says. “Once I made the decision to have bariatric surgery, there was no question he was the surgeon for me.” Karen and Dr. Seun agreed that the minimally invasive gastric sleeve procedure (sleeve gastrectomy) would be the best surgical solution for her. Gastric sleeve is one of the safest bariatric operations offering shorter hospitalization, quicker recovery time and less pain.

 

Starting on the Road Back to Health

 

Karen began working with the nutritionists even before her surgery. She learned how to change her eating patterns throughout the weight loss surgical journey and even lost 10 pounds before surgery. She also attended CJB support group meetings with other patients who were undergoing bariatric surgery.

 

“After just 10 weeks, I lost 50 pounds. At that point, I was more motivated and comfortable to start walking outside and get my body moving again,” Karen recalls. At six months, she had lost 85 pounds and was exercising regularly, following her meal plan and enjoying non-stop compliments from family, friends and colleagues at the hospital. She attended an annual summer picnic with her husband and when they arrived, the group thought her husband had brought another woman to the event. “Our friends whom we don’t see very often did not recognize me until I started talking to them,” Karen recalls. “That was a very memorable day for me.”

 

From Size 28 to Size 12 in One Year

 

A year later, Karen has given away her clothing in sizes 26/28 and replaced them with size 12 clothing. She can no longer shop in plus-size clothing stores. She has lost 130 pounds and is not finished yet. “One of the nutritionists, Karen Scott, RN, BSN, helped me understand the importance of eating protein and how this helps keep you feeling full and energized throughout the day, “Karen says. Today, her meals are centered around protein drinks and bars, Greek yogurt, fruits and vegetables and appropriate portions of white protein.

 

  “My life has changed, that’s for sure. My only regret is that I didn’t do this sooner. At the same time, this experience has been worth the wait.”                                                                                                                                                      

 

October 7, 2011

Fighting back against high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes with gastric bypass weight loss surgery

  Forty-seven-year-old Aleksandr Strashnov of Parlin is a busy man-husband, father to two children and employed at  a nearby water treatment plant. Like many of us, at the end of the day, there wasn't much time for him to attend to his health. Five years ago, Alex consulted with Dr. Morris Washington from Central Jersey Bariatrics about gastric bypass surgery in order to lose the excess weight that eventually crept up to 260 pounds. But back in 2006, he didn't feel he could spare the time away from his young family and demanding job to undergo the procedure.

Serious Obesity-related Health Issues

But by 2011, Alex was experiencing serious health issues which were exacerbated by his weight-type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. When these chronic health issues flared up, he was forced to go on disability due to the severity of his condition. Alex learned that board certified, fellowship-trained, bariatric surgeon, Dr. Ayotunde Adeyeri had joined the practice he contacted five years before. "After my first meeting with Dr. Adeyeri, I feel so confident he was the doctor to perform my surgery that I never met with any other bariatric surgeons," Alex explains. "He took plenty of time to talk with me and answer my questions. He also invited me to attend a weight loss surgery Informational Seminar and monthly support group meetings. The meetings reinforced weight loss surgery was the right choice for me. I was ready to fight for my health."

After Surgery, Quick Results

Today, just a few months after his gastric bypass surgery was performed on July 20, 2011, Alex's health has undergone dramatic changes??

• After requiring four insulin injections/day, he no longer suffers from diabetes.
• After taking 12 pills/day to regulate his high blood pressure and high cholesterol, his primary care doctor advised him he no longer needs to take any medication.
• He now enjoys working out at the gym seven days/week, often twice per day. (His employer provides an on-site fitness center where Alex spends his lunch hour and he goes the local YMCA most evenings to lift weights and run on the treadmill).
• In 10 weeks, by following the program established by Dr. Adeyeri and his nutritional specialist, he has lost more than 50 pounds (weighing 209 at the time of this interview).

When asked what insight he can offer after his weight loss journey, he is quick to respond. "To anyone thinking about moving ahead and having weight loss surgery I can tell you this??don't let fear hold you back. Just think how rich your life can be. Think about your future and consider the people around you who care about you."

To Learn More

If you would like to learn more about bariatric weight loss surgery, click here to find the closest Central Jersey Bariatrics Information Session near you and call (732) 761 - 1740 to reserve a spot for you and any supportive friends or family members you wish to bring along.

      ALEX BEFORE AND AFTER HIS WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY 

October 3, 2011 

Life-changing decisions for a New Jersey woman--marriage, motherhood, weight loss surgery at Central Jersey Bariatrics 

Meet Allison, a 52-year-old wife and mother who is interviewed just a week after her gastric sleeve surgery. Here, she eloquently shares her hopes and dreams as she moves toward a healthy future.

September 21, 2011

Male patients share their personal weight challenges and why they chose Central Jersey Bariatrics to help forge a path back to good health

  More and more often, we are helping male patients achieve their weight loss goals with bariatric weight loss solutions. This summer, some of our male patients volunteered to help us create a short video depicting their lifelong obesity struggles and how they arrived at the decision to take action and forge a new path to health. Three Men Share Their Bariatric Weight Loss Stories.

 

 

 

September 6, 2011 

After gastric sleeve weight loss surgery, Toms River man says goodbye to sleep apnea, insulin for diabetes and blood pressure medications

“I have only one regret about undergoing bariatric surgery with Dr. Adeyeri—that I didn’t do it ten years ago!”

Before George Peters of Toms River chose to undergo a bariatric weight loss procedure called the gastric sleeve, he weighed 425 pounds and was using four insulin shots and 15 pills per day to control a long list of chronic diseases ranging from sleep apnea to heart disease and type 2 diabetes. The 44-year-old middle school science teacher coaches the girls’ intermediate school volleyball team and the high school boys’ lacrosse team. Despite being active, he has been living with diabetes for almost a decade and was on his way to needing an insulin pump, according to his primary care physician.

“All of my doctors advised me that my health conditions would be reversible if I lost weight,” he said. Originally, George thought he would undergo the lap band procedure, but Dr. Ayotunde Adeyeri recommended the sleeve procedure.

“Gastric sleeve resection, also referred to as a sleeve gastrectomy, vertical sleeve gastrectomy, tube gastrectomy or laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy, is one of the newest and safest types of bariatric surgery. It is often a recommended alternative to gastric banding for those who can’t make the frequent return visits necessary,” Dr. Ayotunde Adeyeri, Central Jersey Bariatrics, explains. “The sleeve” is performed laparoscopically, requiring only very small incisions. The benefits for the patient are less post-surgery scarring, less blood loss, reduced post-operative pain and pain medication, and a faster return to normal activities. “I’ve heard there are ways to cheat with the band, and knowing myself, I would have found a way to cheat,” said George. He also liked the fact that with the sleeve had a higher efficiency of reducing diabetic symptoms.

Dr. Adeyeri performed the surgery on January 20, 2011. George was on his feet a day after surgery and experienced no side effects. He attributes his speedy recovery and success to being a “good student” and following the pre-surgery dietary and exercise guidelines. Since his weight loss surgery, the middle school teacher’s life has taken a very different course:

• He is now getting a good night’s sleep and no longer has sleep apnea
• He is no longer a slave to the emotional highs and lows that come with diabetes (due to blood sugar changes).
• His wife and children notice that he is more even-keeled and more positive about the future.
• George has eliminated all insulin injeections.
• He no longer needs any blood pressure medications.
• He is able to lift weights frequently and walks at least three miles a day, five days a week.
• His greatly improved health and energy will allow him to spend more quality time with his daughter, who will be leaving for college next year.

“Since my knee joints don’t hurt anymore, I can do seated squats with about 395 pounds of resistance. All I think about is, ‘that was my weight less than a year ago.’ I think about lugging that weight around all the time, and it’s no wonder I was in pain every day.” Today, at 285 pounds, George is just 40 - 60 pounds from achieving his goal of weighing 245 – 225 pounds.

George’s advice to others considering bariatric surgery is to attend the Central Jersey Bariatrics Information Seminar first to get an overview of the program. Then start attending their support group meetings??before and after surgery.  He considers the education, emotional support and counseling he received from the staff to be invaluable. He continues to attend meetings and is always learning something new from the speakers and stories from other patients. “I have to say that I have one regret about undergoing the bariatric sleeve surgery with Dr. Adeyeri—that I didn’t do it ten years ago!”

 If you would like to learn more about bariatric weight loss surgery, click here to find the closest Information Session near you and call (732) 761 - 1740 to reserve a spot for you and any supportive friends or family members you wish to bring along.

 

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August 29, 2011 

CentraState Medical Center website features CJB patient, Stephen Naples 

Mr. Naples is featured on CentraState Medical Center’s website discussing his gastric sleeve bariatric surgical procedure http://www.centrastate.com/Weight-Loss/Stephen-Naples-Video.asp .

“Stephen's goal was to lose a substantial amount of weight,” Dr. Sowemimo (Dr. Seun) explains. “With my guidance, he chose the minimally invasive vertical sleeve gastrectomy as a solution because as a seaman, he could not attend frequent follow-up visits necessary for the gastric band procedure.Gastric sleeve surgery, a laparoscopic procedure also known as gastric sleeve resection or vertical sleeve gastrectomy, is a less invasive weight loss procedure that removes up to 80 percent of the stomach leaving only a small tube (called a sleeve) that will serve as the new and smaller stomach. This procedure promotes weight loss by limiting food intake and lessening the sensation of hunger, but does not involve more complex intestinal rerouting or food malabsorption (lack of absorbing nutrients from consumed food).

"The most important advice I can offer anyone considering weight loss surgery is not to worry about what other people think or say. Do what is right for you and don’t look back—look forward,” Stephen says with a smile.

August 21, 2011 

Tara B. shares her gastric bypass experience

Tara, age 22, before surgery