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Tag: Premier Surgical Lawson Group in Johnson City

How to Avoid Summertime GERD Symptoms

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Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer… the days of soda and pretzels and beer… If you suffer from heartburn or GERD, you know what we mean. Summertime can be challenging, but skipping those weekend get-togethers or pool parties shouldn’t be your only option. Let’s explore how surgical treatments can significantly alleviate your symptoms and improve your quality of life.

Understanding GERD
summer bbq.

Heartburn, a milder form of GERD, strikes occasionally, but if it occurs frequently—several times a week—it may indicate GERD. Gastroesophageal reflux disease occurs when the valve at the end of your esophagus fails to close properly after food passes into the stomach. This malfunction allows stomach acids to flow back up into the esophagus, causing discomfort and potential complications.

The Impact of Untreated GERD

Ignoring GERD can eventually lead to serious complications such as esophagitis, esophageal stricture (narrowing), Barrett’s esophagus, and respiratory issues. Prompt diagnosis and treatment are crucial to prevent these conditions.

Surgical Treatment Options

While over-the-counter medications can provide relief, if medication no longer alleviates symptoms, surgical intervention can offer a more permanent solution for longtime GERD sufferers. Procedures like Nissen fundoplication involve wrapping the upper part of the stomach (fundus) around the lower esophagus to strengthen the valve and prevent acid reflux.

Acid Reflux Surgery

Managing GERD During Summer

While lifestyle changes like avoiding trigger foods (e.g., tomatoes, spicy and fried foods, citrus juices, caffeine, alcohol), eating smaller meals, maintaining a healthy weight, and not lying down right after eating can help manage symptoms, surgical treatments provide a more definitive solution.

Enjoying Summer Without GERD Worries

You can still indulge in summer fun without the discomfort of GERD symptoms. Surgical treatment can improve your quality of life by reducing or eliminating the need for medications and preventing potential complications. Take proactive steps to enjoy your summer to the fullest.

Seeking Treatment

If you’re ready to address your long-term GERD symptoms with a more permanent solution, contact Premier Surgical Lawson Group in Johnson CIty, TN, at (423) 975-5650. Our surgeons have extensive experience performing safe and effective GERD surgery, and are eager to help you, too. Request an appointment today through our secure online form.

Sources: Preventing heartburn at summer cookouts – Capital Digestive Care

Can the Heat Make Heartburn Worse? – Houston Heartburn and Reflux Center

Recognizing a Gallbladder Attack

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We’ve all experienced stomach pain, heartburn, and bad back pain after over-indulging in unhealthy, greasy foods.

Most of the time, this pain passes once the food has time to settle. But sometimes people become so concerned about their symptoms that they end up going to the ER. Often, the diagnosis is a gallbladder attack.

So what causes a gallbladder attack?gallbladder attack.

Having an unhealthy gallbladder from poor food choices can restrict the organ’s ability to aid in the digestive process. This can cause gallstones to form and block the bile duct, which leads to a painful inflammation from bile buildup. Because the symptoms can be mistaken for other medical conditions, such as a heart attack, the physicians at Premier Surgical Lawson Group in Johnson City, TN, feel it’s important to be able to recognize the symptoms of a gallbladder attack so you know the proper measures to take.

Recognizing the symptoms of a gallbladder attack

The symptoms of a gallbladder attack are similar to other digestive conditions, but the location and severity of the symptoms are what signal a gallbladder attack:

  1. Belly Pain. Belly pain that begins in the upper right portion of the stomach under the ribs is one of the most common symptoms of a gallbladder attack. The pain can be dull, sharp, or cause cramping.
  2. Indigestion. Most people suffering from a gallbladder attack often complain about nausea, gas, belching, and bloating, but it might be difficult to distinguish those symptoms. Gallbladder attacks can also cause a pain that radiates to the upper back and behind the breastbone, similar to a heart attack.
  3. Loss of appetite. As gallstone pain worsens, most people lose their appetite. Nausea and heartburn following meals might also cause a person to avoid eating altogether.
  4. Jaundice. The bile duct being blocked will cause bile to get trapped in your bloodstream, which can lead to your skin turning a yellowish hue.
  5. Changes in urine color. If bile pigment forms in the gallbladder, it can cause urine to turn a dark brown or bright yellow color.

What happens if I have gallbladder disease?

Gallbladder disease is a serious condition that requires medical attention. If you experience any of the symptoms above, it’s important to consult a physician. Gallbladder removal (cholecystectomy) is often recommended if your condition is serious enough.

The physicians at Premier Surgical Lawson Group have years of experience in removing diseased gallbladders. Cholecystectomy is one of the most common surgeries we perform.

If you believe you’re suffering from gallbladder disease, request a consultation with one of our surgeons by calling our Johnson City office at (423) 975-5650 today.

General Surgery: A Cutshall Family Affair

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During his five years of training of as a General Surgery Resident, Dr. Michael Cutshall encountered many difficult and nerve-wracking surgical cases, but none of those situations made him as nervous as performing a simple hernia repair with longtime General Surgeon Dr. Ken Cutshall.

“The first time I ever scrubbed in with him was the most nervous I’ve ever been while operating. My hands were shaking,” Michael remembers. ”I wanted Dad to be proud.”

Father and son enjoy teaming up on surgery cases.

Father That simple hernia repair marked the first time Michael and his father Kenneth shared an operating room together. It was the culmination of the young Dr. Cutshall’s dream.

“When I decided to become a general surgeon, my dream was to move back home and work with my father.”

Dr. Michael Cutshall recently returned to his hometown of Johnson City, TN, to join Premier Surgical Lawson Group, his father, Dr. Ken Cutshall’s medical practice.

While the senior Cutshall is delighted to have Michael follow in his footsteps, he didn’t want him to feel obligated to become a surgeon.

“When he said he was going into surgery, I said ‘Are you sure?”, explains Ken. “I told him, make sure you pick something that makes it fun going to work every day. Don’t pick a career for any other reason than you enjoy doing it.”

Michael says seeing his father’s love of medicine influenced his own decision to go into medicine.  “It was definitely a driving factor. I would visit my dad’s office as a kid and remember him genuinely enjoying his work.”

The father and son’s personal and professional lives share several parallels.

“We’ve had a similar path,” says Michael. “I went to the same medical school as my father, my wife is a nurse and worked at the same children’s hospital that my mother did while I was in medical school, and our two sons were born while I was in residency like my brother and I were when Dad was a resident.”

General Surgeons Drs. Ken and Michael Cutshall

The pair has enjoyed teaming up on cases and sharing surgical techniques. Michael says he’s also learned some important life skills from his dad.  “He raised me to treat everyone with respect, and now I’m seeing firsthand how he works with the OR team and how much they enjoy working with him.”

The senior Dr. Cutshall says he’s also learning new surgery methods from Michael. The  first time operating with his son was an exciting milestone. “It was awesome! It was the first time I’ve ever had anyone in the OR say, ‘Hey, Dad!’ That was pretty cool.”

Drs. Ken and Michael Cutshall are general surgeons with Premier Surgical Lawson Group in Johnson City, TN. To schedule an appointment with Drs. Cutshall or one of their partners, please call (423) 975-5650.

What’s the Difference Between Endoscopy and Colonoscopy?

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What’s the difference between endoscopy and colonoscopy? Number one, a colonoscopy is a type of endoscopy, but the similarity really stops there. There are many kinds of endoscopies to detect disease and for treatment purposes. A colonoscopy is just one. Continue reading “What’s the Difference Between Endoscopy and Colonoscopy?” →

How Much Pain Will I Be In After Hernia Surgery?

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How much pain will I be in after hernia surgery? Having any kind of surgery will cause different levels of pain afterward. At the same time, everyone feels pain differently. That’s why doctors usually ask us how the pain feels on a scale of 1 to 10. It gives them a sense of your pain. The team at Premier Surgical Lawson Group in Johnson City wants you to understand the kind of pain you may experience  after a hernia procedure and how to handle it. Continue reading “How Much Pain Will I Be In After Hernia Surgery?” →

Minimally Invasive Gallbladder Surgery

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gallbladder surgery incision siteYour gallbladder is an organ that stores bile to help you digest fat. Sometimes the gallbladder can become inflamed, infected or blocked. If these ailments occur, your physician may suggest minimally invasive gallbladder surgery, called Cholecystectomy. It’s one of the procedures most commonly performed by the physicians of Premier Surgical Lawson Group in Johnson City, TN, Kenneth Cutshall, MD, and John (Trey) F. Robertson, MD.

Process of Minimally Invasive Gallbladder Surgery

During minimally invasive gallbladder surgery, a surgeon removes the gallbladder with precision instruments through either a small incision in the belly button or a few small incisions. One of the instruments used has a small camera attached to it, which allows the surgeon to take pictures inside the body to guide the operation.

Benefits of a da Vinci Cholecystectomy

There are many benefits to da Vinci surgery, including:

  • Low rate of complications
  • Minimal, if any, scarring from the surgery
  • Minimal pain
  • Shorter hospital stay
  • Low rate of wound infection

Risks of Minimally Invasive Cholecystectomy

Every surgery comes with risk. If you are undergoing a minimally invasive Cholecystectomy, there are a few risks to keep in mind, such as:

  • Potential injury to small and large intestine
  • Urinary retention
  • Hernia at the incision site
  • Potential bile duct injury

If you’ve been recommended for gallbladder removal surgery, your Premier Surgical Lawson Group surgeon will discuss whether you are a candidate for a minimally invasive cholecystectomy.

Call our office at (423) 975-5650 to request a surgical consultation.

5 Myths About Breast Cancer Symptoms

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Many organizations have increased awareness about breast cancer in the last several decades. All this is good, but sometimes old wives tales or myths pop up and they are repeated and spread on the internet. Let’s give you the facts and 5 myths about breast cancer symptoms.

Continue reading “5 Myths About Breast Cancer Symptoms” →