Backpacks stuffed with fresh school supplies sit by the door. A snazzy new lunchbox waits to be packed. A carefully selected outfit hangs in the closet.

Ready, set, go … the new school year is about to start.

The anticipation and excitement of a new year and, perhaps, a new school, carries some anxiety for students of all ages, and, let’s face it, parents, too.

Open communication with your children about their concerns will go a long way toward preparing them for the next step and easing their fears.

Give your kids confidence to start the new school year with these five tips from Bradley Gerber, a clinical psychologist at Sentara RMH Medical Center:

• Forge friendships. A common concern among students of all ages is whether they will fit in. Peers become more and more important as kids get older – and they also influence the decisions kids will make. Encourage children to gravitate toward a peer group you feel will create the best environment for them.

• Evaluate expectations. The transition to middle school or high school can be unnerving as students navigate new routines and expectations. Provide your student with as much information as you can about the school and be sure the student has toured it. The more information and accurate knowledge children have, the less anxious they will feel.

• Smooth teacher anxiety. When class lists come out and texts fly! Kids may be worried about their new teacher and whether he or she is the right fit. Find out from your child what about the teacher they are worried about. If you feel it’s a legitimate reason that the teacher may not be a good match for your child, schedule a time to talk to the teacher to get some perspective. Approach it as a collaboration and not an inquisition. The teacher will respond better.

• Ease “new kid” worries. Families who have moved to a new town over the summer face a fresh start in every aspect of their lives. Being the “new kid” isn’t easy. Find out as much as possible about the new school for your student. Look online at the school website and even social media channels for the school. Visit the school as soon as you can and be sure to attend back-to-school events so your children can meet classmates before they start school.

• Calm parent angst. Letting go of your child after a fun summer or starting a new stage, such as entering kindergarten or high school, can weigh heavily on a parent’s heart. This is normal! Every change has the potential to bring a sense of grief that a stage is over and a new phase is starting. Create a way to keep track of your thoughts and feelings. Devising a system to save pictures and accomplishment of your child at each stage can help the transition. Each new start offers exciting possibilities, too, for parents, as well as students.

This post is brought to you by Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center.

It is estimated that one in three Americans suffer from at least one mental health issue, but research shows that women are at a much higher risk to struggle with a mental health disorder throughout her lifetime than men. Here are a few ways to increase your mental wellness.

1. Talk to your physician

As a first step, talk to your primary care physician about your mental health goals and suggested screenings. He or she will be able to help you form an initial plan and refer you to any specialists as necessary.

2. Start exercising

Not only will exercise improve your overall health, but exercise also releases endorphins, the feel-good brain chemicals that instantly improve your mood. Talk to your physician before starting any new exercise routine.

3. Explore meditation

Meditation has the power to calm the mind, open the heart, and heal the soul. Sounds like it’s worth a shot, right? Start small. Set aside 3 minutes for meditation. Concentrate on your breath.

4. Up your sleep

The National Sleep Foundation recommends 7-9 hours of sleep for adults. Sleep is critical in maintaining mental wellness and can significantly impact your ability to regulate moods and process emotional information and experiences. If you are not getting the recommended amount of sleep, try going to bed 10 minutes earlier each night and gradually building up to the 7 to 9 hours of recommended sleep.

5. Practice gratitude

Did you know that expressing gratitude is related to your self-esteem and well-being? So, look at the bright side and thank the universe for the things that make you happy – everything from your dog to a good cup of coffee.
And, remember, if you may find yourself feeling persistently sad or anxious, unable to sleep, irritable or hopeless, talk to your doctor or a mental health professional.

Many men dealing with changes in urination, ejaculation and/or erections suffer in silence, but one urologist says it shouldn’t be that way.

Dr. Pratik Desai of Potomac Urology is a fellowship-trained urologist with Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center. He wants to change the misconceptions many people have about urologists.

“We treat multiple medical issues in people, from teenagers on. In our practice, we have several sub-specializations. The majority of my patients have prostate issues or they may have bladder or kidney cancer. We also have doctors who specialize in enlarged prostate, uro-gynecological or testosterone issues, sexual dysfunction and much more.”

Dr. Desai says urological health is part of a bigger picture in men’s health.

“The biggest question we get is, ‘When should I start getting checked and when should I come in?’ If there’s something that’s way out of line with your urination- blood in the urine, burning, frequency- those are times for a checkup. In young men, if they have decreased energy, decreased sexual desire, difficulty with sexual function- there may be some underlying issues that we want to look into.”

Prostate Cancer is one of the most common cancers in men with more than three-million cases reported each year. According to the American Cancer Society, several factors go into when you should begin prostate–specific antigen (PSA) testing to screen for the disease.

• Age 50: men who are at average risk
• Age 45: men who are high risk- African American men & men who have a 1^st degree relative with prostate cancer
• Age 40: men who at a higher risk- 1^st degree relative with prostate cancer at an earlier age*

(*as recommended by American Cancer Society)

“The earlier we evaluate things the more options we have. I tell patients a better understanding of problems in a non-acute setting always gives us the option to treat something, rather than waiting and getting to point where the aggressive option is the only option left,” explains Dr. Desai.

Dr. Desai says education and awareness are key. That’s why Potomac Urology is pleased to have partnered with ZERO for the ZERO Prostate Cancer Run/Walk on June 15. The team raised nearly $160,000 to end prostate cancer.

“Be proactive and involved in your health, whether it’s through screenings and care doctor visits, or there’s a concern and you want to see a specialist directly,” says Dr. Desai. “The most important thing is addressing these issues, which allow us to treat sooner rather than later.”

Are your health goals wreaking havoc on your grocery bill? Have you bought into the myth that eating healthy will break the bank?

There are many ways to achieve a balanced and nutritious diet without spending a fortune on groceries from week to week.

Here are some grocery shopping tips for buying healthy foods at healthy prices:

• Favor Frozen: Frozen fruits and vegetables often offer the same nutrients (or more, because they are frozen immediately after being picked) as their fresh counterparts while being much more cost-effective. They also offer the additional benefit of keeping longer when stored in the freezer, so you can purchase larger quantities without any going to waste! Be sure to choose frozen produce without added sugar/sauces.
• Select Seasonal: Produce that is currently being grown in your region is likely to be cheaper in the store due to lower transportation costs. For fruits/vegetables that are not in season, consider buying them frozen. Check out your local farmers markets as well for good buys on seasonal produce!
• Buy Bulk: Purchasing large quantities of non-perishable items can help to cut down on money spent and the frequency of your grocery trips. Look to the bulk foods aisle for items like whole grains, nuts and seeds, dried beans and even spices. Many of these foods can be stored in the freezer for several months!
• Pick Plant Proteins: Purchasing a lot of meat and poultry can quickly send the grocery bill into the danger zone. Consider introducing “Meatless Mondays” or simply swapping the meat in recipes for plant proteins like beans/legumes, lentils, nuts or whole grains such as quinoa. Plant sources of protein are often high in fiber and have been shown to benefit heart health!
• Go Generic: The store brands of many grocery items are nearly identical in nutritional value to the name brands. Opt for the generic or store brands for items like frozen fruits and vegetables, canned goods and pantry staples such as sugar, salt and spices.
• Do It Yourself: Many foods that are already prepared or “ready-to-cook” have a higher price tag because you are paying for the convenience. To cut back on cost, as well as added sugar and salt, avoid items like pre-marinated meats, boxed side dishes and frozen entrees.

*Signing up for rewards cards, using coupons and watching for sales on items you regularly use are other ways to save a buck (or several!) without sacrificing your health and nutrition goals.

Don’t let the higher price tag of foods labeled “organic” or “natural” convince you that a healthy diet is out of your price range. You don’t need to buy high priced “superfood” items to have a healthy diet. Keep the focus on eating whole grains, fruits and vegetables, and lean protein and, using these strategies, purchasing nutritious foods can be done with budgets of any size!

This post is written by Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center. 

After facing a high-risk pregnancy, Louise Fife gave birth to a baby boy who, like her, is now happy and healthy.

Louise and her husband Phillip were new to the area. Louise, 52, was pregnant with the couple’s first child. A friend recommended the OB/GYN practice About Women, and soon, Louise was seeing Dr. Baraty, a specialist in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

“In medical school, I was always drawn to professions which were surgically based. In obstetrics, it’s usually the only time a patient is excited about coming to the doctors’ office and really looking forward to seeing their doctor,” explains Dr. Baraty. “With gynecology, I am working with patients of all ages through the well-woman visits and making sure they are healthy and happy, or in problem visits getting them back to being healthy and happy with medical or surgical treatments.”

Louise dealt with high blood pressure issues throughout her pregnancy and was carefully monitored. Dr. Baraty worked with the perinatologist, a doctor who specializes in complicated, high-risk pregnancies, to make sure both the mother and baby were healthy.

As Dr. Baraty explains, high-risk pregnancies generally have one or more of the following four components:

• existing conditions such as hypertension, obesity, diabetes, and the like
• complications from a previous pregnancy
• multiple gestations (i.e. twins, triplets, etc.)
• fetal problems or birth defects

Louise’s high blood pressure led to several overnight stays at Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center.

“My wife was admitted to the hospital a couple of times for monitoring. Plus, we had several 24-hour screens to determine if there were any issues with pre-eclampsia,” remembers Phillip. “Blood work was continuously being done. The team was wonderful, assuring my wife that her organs, liver, and everything was performing very well for her age and for her being pregnant, but her blood pressure was the biggest issue.”

Louise was admitted at 28 weeks and then again at 32 weeks. Soon after that, she was admitted a third time, after her blood pressure increased. Doctors discovered signs of pre-eclampsia, a potentially dangerous pregnancy complication. The decision was made for early delivery.

On April 25, at 33 weeks and five days, Noah River was born by caesarian section. He weighed 4 pounds, 12 ounces. Both the mother and baby did well.

“She had a bit of anxiety with the spinal block, but the anesthesiologist, Amy, was wonderful. She was with us the whole time and did a great job of calming my wife. It was a very positive experience,” said Phillip.

The delivery team at the Women’s Health Center at Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center, along with a neonatologist from Children’s National who supports the NICU, was ready for Noah’s arrival.

For two weeks, Noah received expert, specialized care in the NICU – learning to eat on his own and growing more every day. The new family was able to head home before Mother’s Day, where Phillip and Noah made sure to celebrate the new mom in their family.

Nearly a month after his birth, Noah is thriving. Phillip reports that he’s eating constantly, and at his first pediatrician visit, he already weighed 5 pounds and 9 ounces. Louise is also doing great.

The family is thankful to the team at Sentara even presenting the nurses in Labor and Delivery, Postpartum and the NICU with flowers and card of appreciation.

“The care we received was wonderful. It was really nice knowing my wife and Noah were in good hands,” said Phillip.

It’s Nurses Week!

Here at Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center we value our nurses & appreciate everything they do to care for our patients.

Meet Kennedy Hill!

Kennedy is a RN on the Intensive Care Unit and been with us for 10 months.

• Why did you decide to become a nurse?
• I choose to become a nurse because I wanted to be beside people to help them through rough times. Also, you can never stop learning with nursing and I LOVE TO LEARN!
• What’s your favorite part about your job?
• My favorite part of my job is interacting with my patients to better understand them so I can help them strive.
• What do you wish people knew about your job/your team/your day?
• I wish people knew that I was very blessed to be taught by some genius nurse who still are a great support system. I love my coworkers!

Meet Nicole Ward!

Nicole is a RN, BSN in our NICU & has been with the hospital for three years.

• Why did you decide to become a nurse?
• I decided to become a nurse because I always had a heart for caring for people. I wanted a profession where I felt that I was making a difference every time I went to work.
• What’s your favorite part about your job?
• My favorite part about my job is that I get to work with babies all day, I work in the NICU so getting to care for these sweet bundles of joy is the best job anyone could have.
• What do you wish people knew about your job/your team/your day?
• What I wish people knew- how amazing the team that I work with is. The NICU is a high intensity environment at times but our team works together seamlessly and it makes the shift enjoyable.

Meet Francoise Ntiganzwa!
Francoise is a RN, BSN, who works in our Cardiac Telemetry unit. She’s been with us for 11 ½ years.

• Why did you decide to become a nurse?
• Back in my country Burundi, Central East Africa, I loved the nurse’s uniform when it was the white dress and white hat. I asked my family if I can become a nurse, but it was a no. As destiny settled in and found myself here in USA, where I can make my own decisions without family approval, I went to school to become a nurse. But this time, it was for a different reason. I feel like it’s a calling after everything I went through on my journey to here.
• What is your favorite part about your job?
• I have been blessed beyond expectations and being a nurse and taking care of God’s most precious creation is my way of giving back.
• What do you wish people knew about your job/your team/your day?
• I love my job and I love Sentara (the only hospital I have worked for after Potomac Hospital.) My working day starts with a prayer to do the right thing and do no harm. I also appreciate Sentara’s involvement in the community I live in.

Meet Joanne Healy!

Joanne is a RN who has worked on our surgery unit for 18 years.

• Why did you decide to become a nurse?
• My Gram always said, “See the need and take care of your own”… Nursing is a unique profession that gives you the opportunity to use emotional and intellectual intelligence along with caring to find the “need” -whether it is your patient, family member or co-worker. I love people and feel fulfilled when I connect and hopefully make them feel that they are one of my “own.”
• What is your favorite part about your job?
• The favorite part of my job is building trust with my patients and coworkers helping them reach their goals. Your day is complete when you see that connection has been made.
• What do you wish people knew about your job/your team/your day?
• Caring is the cornerstone of my job. I work with an incredible group of people who has many talents, but they are best at caring- it’s what makes our team special!

Meet Blessing Acquah!

Blessing is a RN II who has been with us for nearly a year and a half and works in our Cardiac Telemetry unit.

• Why did you decide to become a nurse?
• I decided to become a nurse because I love to help people. It makes me happy when I can change someone’s mood by sitting and listening, taking away their pain or by just touching their hand. I found I could get this fulfillment by watching my Aunty; she was a nurse, and she treated the whole neighborhood. She smiles all the time, and I realized her joy came from her work. When I became a CNA and started getting that joy from caring for the sick; I realized quickly this was my calling.
• What is your favorite part about your job?
• My favorite things about my job are the patients that appreciates me listening, my coworkers that support me and are ready to help, and my managers and educators that encourage and push me to reach my goals (ICU.)
• What do you wish people knew about your job/your team/your day?
• My team members and I love what we do every day. Sometimes the job is hard, and we get tired, but we wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world. I want to say, thank you to my co-workers for all your hard work. Cardiac Telemetry you are the best, and I appreciate everyone!

Meet Liz Hawkes!

Liz is a RN, BSN who has been with us for nearly a year and works in postpartum.

• Why did you decide to become a nurse?
• In 2005 I had a son who passed away shortly after birth. I had the most amazing nurse care for us and gently walk us through the hardest day of my life. She impacted me in such a way that I felt the need to pass this unconditional love onto my own patients, to help guide them, give them comfort, hope and to know they are not alone.
• What is your favorite part about your job?
• Every day I come to work is an opportunity to change someone’s life, to be a part of welcoming life earthside, to help families transition into parenthood. This is such a special time in their lives and I get to stand by their side through the first days, it is such a blessing and honor.
• What do you wish people knew about your job/your team/your day?
• Nurses choose this role because they love their patients, they love taking care of you and that passion doesn’t go away when we leave the floor. We think about our patients when we go home and we carry your memories with us always. Sometimes it can be a sad memory, other times it is a beautiful moment we shared that touched our lives. At the end of the day, we are grateful we got to be a part of your stay and we truly hope that you appreciate the heart we put into our work.

Meet Gabriella Gomez!

Gabriella is a RN, BSN and has been in the Sentara family since 2015. She joined Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center’s Labor & Delivery unit last year.

• Why did you decide to become a nurse?
• I decided I wanted to become a nurse shortly after I began volunteering in 2009. While touring another hospital, I was approached by the junior volunteer coordinator who encouraged me to sign up for the program. It didn’t take long for me to realize the superheroes that nurses are- so I started gearing all my curriculum towards nursing school.
• What’s your favorite part about your job?
• My favorite part of my job is the ability to share such special and intimate moments with my patients and families. I love encouraging my patients and helping them reach their goals. The moment they hold their newborn baby for the first time makes everything I do significant and meaningful.
• What do you wish people knew about your job/your team/your day?
• I wish those individuals not working in healthcare would understand the sacrifices and lifestyle change that it takes to work in our field. We often miss out on sentimental events and holidays with our families. This job makes it challenging to maintain a healthy social and personal life, however, being a nurse is a privilege and every shift is a new adventure.

Meet Vittoria Garris!

Vittoria is a RN, BSN-CEN in our Emergency Department. She’s been with Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center for three years.

• Why did you decide to become a nurse?
• I chose to be a nurse because it is a great career and I have always enjoyed taking care of others when they are unable to care for themselves. I have worked many places in my nursing career including long term care, Medical-Surgical nursing, Correctional nursing, and Emergency nursing
• What is your favorite part about your job?
• I love the fast pace, high energy, and excitement of the ER; along with the amazing staff that I work with.
• What do you wish people knew about your job/your team/your day?
• We work really hard in our ER to get patient’s seen and taken care of. At times it is very busy and chaotic, but we take great care of our patients and make sure they are safe. I have been a nurse for about 8 years and this has been the best team I have ever worked with.

Jim Murphy is used to being on the go.

The busy husband and father of two works in sales and always on the move. One night just after Thanksgiving 2018, his world came skidding to a halt.

“I had fallen asleep in my easy chair. Around midnight, I woke up and went to put my dishes in the sink. The next thing I knew I was looking at the kitchen ceiling. I couldn’t talk, couldn’t move, I was scrambling to get up, but nothing was working. I tried to yell, but nothing came out,” said Jim.

‘Luckily, Jim’s youngest daughter Olivia had heard her dad fall. When she found him on the floor, she woke her mom, Jim’s wife, Susan, who called 9-1-1.

Jim doesn’t remember much from this time, but he remembers how quickly the rescue squad arrived. First responders were able to begin administering “Stroke Protocol” even before they arrived at Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center’s Emergency Department.

“Your Emergency Department is amazing,” remembers Jim, “They were talking to me, but I couldn’t talk back. So they had me blinking yes or no.”

Jim was diagnosed with an Ischemic Stroke, which occurs when a vessel supplying blood to the brain is obstructed. According to the American Stroke Association, this accounts for 87% of all strokes.

Since doctors knew when Jim’s stroke had occurred, they were able to administer Alteplase IV r-tPA, also referred to simply as “t-PA.” If it’s administered within a small window of time after a stroke, it can help dissolve the clot, improving blood flow.

“They were able to get that into me within two hours of the onset- that was huge. They took an MRI of me, about a day later, things were looking good,” says Jim.

While Jim was beginning to talk again, doctors determined his arm and leg on his right side needed help and he would benefit from acute rehabilitation at an inpatient therapy center. After three weeks, Jim was released but still needed outpatient therapy. That’s when he met the team at Sentara Therapy Center.

“Physical Therapy gives you the tools to keep going, even after you’re finished with the actual therapy,” says Jim. “The team at Sentara Therapy Center was great. They would push me, but knew how far to push me to do something better, faster or more precise.”

Jim worked with a team comprised of both Physical and Occupational Therapists, along with a Speech-Language Pathologist.

“I didn’t have to travel all over Northern Virginia looking for these services, Sentara Therapy Center offers all three therapies under one roof: physical, occupational and speech. And, on top of that, the team is like no other,” says Jim.

Sentara Therapy Center Team Coordinator, Sarah Sidar, MS, OTR/L, agrees, “Sentara Therapy Center is the only therapy center offering comprehensive neurological rehabilitation, and the only center to offer all three disciplines under one roof in Woodbridge.

Sentara Therapy Center is dedicated to helping patients achieve their highest level of function possible after a stroke. These highly skilled services are essential to resuming daily activities at home, work and in the community.”

Jim was eager to return to work but realized very quickly the grueling, six-day work weeks he used to do, were too much for him right now.

He finds himself getting frustrated, “I can function. I can move. I can walk. Cognitively – I’m slower. I get twisted around quickly. It’s altogether different. I went from 150% all day long to some mornings I don’t know how I’m going to get up.”

Jim is now working on his new normal, trying to be more patient with himself, and maintaining his therapy regime.

“I had no idea this was coming. I mean I should have, I smoked for 40 years. 2018 was a stressful year for me, I buried my dad and my mother-in-law within three weeks of one another,” said Jim.

He was diagnosed with sleep apnea five years ago, but never got used to using a CPAP unit.

“They say my sleep apnea is so severe that was a contributing factor to my stroke. This experience has definitely been an eye-opener,” said Jim.

Would you be able to recognize the symptoms of a stroke? The American Stroke Association says by learning and sharing the F.A.S.T. warning signs, you just might save a life from stroke.

• Face Drooping. Does one side of the face droop or is it numb? Ask the person to smile.
• Arm Weakness. Is one arm weak or numb?
• Speech. Is speech slurred?
• Time to Call 9-1-1. If the person shows any of these symptoms, even if the symptoms go away, call 9-1-1 and get them to the hospital immediately.

To learn more about Sentara’s neuro and post-therapy services or to make an appointment with the Sentara Therapy Center, call 703-523-8750.

Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center is pleased to announce the introduction of the Loving Arms program.

Loving Arms brings volunteers and addicted babies together to help the healing process. The program was formed in response to the increasing number of Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) babies. NAS babies are often inconsolable and require extra time in loving arms.

“This is something I’ve been wanting to do for years,” explains organizer, Joanne McCoubrey, RNC, NICU Staff Nurse. “Sentara Obici began a program in response to the increased number of Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome babies which was quite successful. Nationwide, and here in the Commonwealth, NAS is a growing concern.”

NAS is a group of conditions caused when a baby withdraws from certain drugs he’s exposed to in the womb before birth. While signs and symptoms vary from baby to baby, they can include low birth weight, body shakes, seizures, fussiness, and poor feeding, just to name a few. Studies have shown swaddling a baby, constant contact and dim, quiet surroundings are just some ways to help NAS babies through withdrawals.

“Studies have shown that nurseries that have similar programs in place see a decrease in their treatment course and the amount of time babies spend in the NICU,” says McCoubrey.

That’s why Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center is recruiting volunteers to lend a hand. After undergoing a thorough screening, five volunteers were in the first training class to learn how to soothe and comfort the babies in the NICU.

“Our volunteers make such a difference to our patients, families, and guests day in and day out, it’s wonderful they’ll now be able to provide a little extra TLC to help these babies achieve the best outcomes,” says Beverly Brevard, Team Coordinator of Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center’s Volunteer Services.

The new program is looking for volunteers who can come in on the “as needed basis” for three-hour blocks. If you’re interested in volunteering or learning more about the program, contact Brevard at 703-523-1345.

Krystal’s height, weight, goals, and relatively good health all checked out.

Dr. Masoud Rezvani, MD, FACS, FASMBS, identified her as a candidate for Biliopancreatic Diversion with Duodenal Switch (BPD-DS) also known more commonly as a Duodenal Switch.

The Biliopancreatic Diversion with Duodenal Switch (BPD/DS) is a two-part procedure.

1. A portion of the stomach is removed to create a smaller stomach pouch, similar to the sleeve gastrectomy procedure.
2. The bottom part of the small intestine is brought up and connected to the new stomach pouch, bypassing a large portion of the small intestine.

“BPD-DS is a very unique procedure,” explains Rezvani. “First, it’s an extremely, technically difficult procedure. And number two, it requires patients who have a very high [body mass index], persistent obesity without any treatment or response to other treatments. It’s not for everyone, but bariatric surgery works if we choose the right procedure for the right patient.”

Dr. Rezvani is one of only a handful of doctors performing this operation not only in Virginia, but also the U.S. The procedure requires more maintenance for its patients, but the results are more significant and longer-term than other procedures out there.

Krystal, who likes to weigh her options, did her homework. She investigated the different procedures and decided the duodenal switch (DS) would not only be ideal for her, but also a good fit for her lifestyle.

“It’s something that you can maintain your weight loss and you can maintain your results better overall. And that’s what I wanted. I didn’t want to lose a whole lot of weight the first year and then you see me in five years and I’m back to 200 pounds, which is sometimes what you’ll see with a sleeve or with the gastric bypass.”

Rezvani performed Krystal’s surgery in May 2017 at a hospital outside the Sentara network. At that point, she weighed 387-pounds, but her road to recovery wasn’t an easy one.

On the day Krystal was to be released, Dr. Rezvani noticed she was breathing irregularly. A CT scan discovered she had blood clots in her lungs.

Krystal was eventually released but spent the summer dealing with that, and gastritis. That’s when she was brought to Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center.

There, doctors were able to get her clots and gastritis under control, and Krystal later returned to work. At first, she didn’t realize how much weight she had lost.

“I don’t weigh myself, I would only weigh in when I had a doctor’s appointment. So, when I got back to work everyone’s jaw dropped and I was like, ‘what? I haven’t even lost any weight yet!’ And they were like, ‘Are you kidding?’” said Krystal.

Her “ah-ha” moment came when she went to put on her favorite pair of jeans.

“I’m a girl that loves jeans. And I put on my favorite jeans and they fell right off me! My husband was like, ‘Yeah, it might be time to go shopping.’ And when my husband tells me to go shopping, he doesn’t have to tell me twice!” she said, laughing.

“I recommend Sentara because they were able to take care of me, from the time I got there in the ambulance –everyone was very kind and more importantly, kept me abreast of what was going on. That was important to me because I like to be informed, I’m the girl who does research on everything. They explained everything to me in a lot of detail,” she remembers.

Krystal has gone from size 24 to a 10 and-a-half. But, it’s not just the size of her clothing which has changed, it’s the quality of her life.

“I feel awesome, this was actually the best thing I’ve ever done,” she says smiling. “I had a vision of how I wanted my life to look,” she said. “I’ve always been someone who wanted to be active and get up and go, but I think even more so now, I have that drive. It makes family vacations better. I’m a girl that loves roller coasters and it would devastate me when I couldn’t ride when I was heavier, so now I’m like, ‘Let’s go to the amusement park!’ I’m outrunning the kids!”

Surgery isn’t for everyone. To learn more, ask questions of a board-certified surgeon and discover if weight loss surgery is right for you, join us for our free, in-person seminar at the Homewood Suites in Woodbridge on Saturday, May 4 at 10:30 am. – 11:30 a.m.