In late 2023, Tasiana Harmon reached a crossroads in her health journey. As a working professional, mother of four, and esthetician-business owner, balancing her daily responsibilities and finding time to stay active were sometimes at odds with each other. After hearing great things about Dr. Nathaniel Lytle, a bariatric surgeon at Northside Hospital Atlanta, from friends and clients, she decided to investigate alternative options to traditional weight loss.
“A lot of people I know and have worked with knew Dr. Lytle and recommended him," Tasiana said. "I knew I would be in good hands because of the education he provided them.”
Dr. Lytle’s reputation gave Tasiana comfort in seeking his opinion, especially after she had undergone previous surgeries for other health conditions. He recommended a SADI-S procedure, a new treatment option that removes a portion of the stomach to create a sleeve and is then combined with a duodenal-ileal bypass of a large portion of the small intestine.
In November of 2023, Tasiana began preparing to undergo a SADI-S procedure. Tasiana recalls feeling empowered with the thorough patient education that walked her through the importance of maintaining a balanced diet, adhering to her medication regimen, and exercising regularly. She understood the importance of sticking to the protocol before her procedure and began making dietary changes in advance, to help her acclimate.
On the day of the SADI-S procedure, Tasiana felt mixed emotions.
“I was excited for the future, but nervous to undergo another medical procedure," Tasiana said. "My medical team’s expertise reassured me, even with the added risk of my heart murmur.”
Being aware of potential complications, Tasiana took proactive steps; these efforts proved to be effective and in her first week post-surgery, Tasiana lost nearly 30 pounds and saw no complications. With others in Tasiana’s life having undergone similar procedures, she realized the unique effectiveness of SADI-S and how the dual approach of SADI-S allowed her to recover quicker than those who underwent a traditional sleeve surgery and how her weight loss was happening quicker than she and others expected.
More than just a tool to lose weight, SADI-S helped ease Tasiana’s discomfort from recurring hernias, allowing her to enjoy her daily activities more comfortably and giving her a new mindset.
“My experience with Northside and the Bariatric team has been great – this has been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made for my health.”
Despite her busy schedule, Tasiana found time to dedicate to staying active, going on long walks with her children and her weight is now down over 100 pounds.
“I have a gym membership, but I don’t use it as often as I would like," she said. "Instead, I’ve gotten into the habit of going on walks around the neighborhood with my kids and just trying to find ways to keep moving.”
Throughout her patient experience, it has been her family and friends that have provided much-needed encouragement and support.
“My family has been so important throughout this process. My mom came to help me recover after the SADI-S procedure and my kids and husband are a great support system," Tasiana added. "My husband, who used to come home with fast food, has tried to work on his diet too to make it easier for me. It’s that kind of motivation that helps me stay on the right track.”
Her tips for others?
“Go ahead and seek out medical advice and if a SADI-S procedure is the right next step in your health journey, go ahead and do it. It can be life-changing. It changes the way you feel, your mindset, and it can improve other medical problems you have. If you felt like you couldn’t do certain things before, now you can! I want to keep moving towards a healthier weight and stay there. I want to keep doing what I’m doing and not let it slip away.”
Learn more about Northside Hospital’s Surgery & Weight Management Program.
*The health story shared here is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Patients should consult with their own physician before making medical decisions.
