Betty Sammons had five feeding tubes in 14 years. Dehydration,
malnutrition and nausea felt never-ending. The 70-year-old woman ate
baby food for two years, until the day she could no longer hold down
the mashed fruit.Then, a friend from Jackson, Miss., mailed Betty
a newspaper
clipping about a new surgery designed to stimulate the movement of
the stomach as an aid for digestion. Darren B. Miter, D.O., a
general surgeon with Suncoast Surgical Associates, made this gastric
therapy a life-changing reality for Betty. “This surgery
introduces electrical stimulation to the stomach, enabling a patient
to eat without vomiting and retain adequate nutrition,” says Dr.
Miter, the only surgeon in Lee County performing the procedure.
“I surgically implant electrical leads into the stomach wall and
a
battery pack into the abdominal wall to stimulate the nerves and
muscles in the stomach,” he also says.
Betty, who had her gallbladder removed with the hope of ending
her gastrointestinal pain and had blisters on her stomach from acid
seeping out of her feeding tubes, now says she can eat anything she
wants. What was her first meal out after surgery? Cracker Barrel.
Fearful of eating too much, Betty ordered herself an egg, some
grits, a slice of toast and a cup of coffee. Her egg was scrambled,
and she ate every bit. “I sat there wondering if I would have to run
to the bathroom, but I didn’t,” Betty remembers. “My daughter said,
‘Oh Mama, it’s a miracle.’”
Betty says her “gastric pacemaker” does not move enough for her
to even know it’s there. After her May surgery, she bought herself a
Toyota Corolla and went on a road trip with her granddaughter to see
a new grandbaby in Georgia. “I can go and do anything I want,” Betty
says. “After 14 years, I feel good.”
As with any surgery, the gastric stimulator does not come without
risks, such as infection, and may require hospitalization for a day
or two. Dr. Miter stresses that the stimulator is not always a “100
percent” cure and is reserved for patients with refractory symptoms
that do not respond to medical management. “This procedure exists
for people with gastroparesis (paralyzed stomachs) or persistent
nausea and vomiting, which can be the end result of diabetes, kidney
disease, prior surgery or other processes,” he says. “It is
wonderful to be able to offer this service locally, rather than
having patients travel several hours away for the procedure and for
each follow up appointment.”
Darren Miter, D.O.
Suncoast Surgical Associates
8380
Riverwalk Park Blvd., #100
Fort
Myers, FL 33919
239-343-9960
To learn more about surgical services at LMHS,
click here. |
