Every day I go to work at the Medical Group of the Carolinas Weight Loss Services in Spartanburg, South Carolina, and see both the physical and mental toll of obesity on our patients. Almost 14 years ago, I was one of them.
Ever since I was a teenager, I suffered from obesity. I tried various diets over the years, but was unable to keep the weight off, ultimately gaining more than I had lost. I weighed 287 pounds by the time my daughter became a teenager.
I suffered from joint pain, shortness of breath, infertility, high blood pressure and diabetes. I used a disability placard because I was unable to walk long distances. My turning point came when I went to an orthopedic doctor, seeking relief from the pain in my joints and ankles — and instead was confronted with a harsh reality. “There’s nothing wrong with your ankles,” the doctor said, “that losing about 100 pounds can’t help.”
[See: How to Weigh Yourself the Right Way.]
After grappling with the harsh reality of those words, I underwent Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery in 2003, when I was 45 years old. Bariatric surgery is not an easy way out or a quick fix. While I no longer struggle with excessive weight gain, I must continue to work at keeping the weight off. I now walk 4 miles four to five days a week, and I always make sure I have proper food choices available.
I’ve lived such a different 13 years than I would have been able to without the surgery. I now only take one low-dose blood pressure medication, and my diabetes is still in complete remission. I would do it all over again in a heartbeat because of the health benefits it’s given me. It’s all about the health.
Now that I work at a bariatric surgery clinic, I’ve learned many of us simply cannot lose weight through diet and exercise alone. Below are five questions I asked myself when I began my own journey, along with brief answers:
1. What is bariatric surgery? Bariatric surgery is a weight-loss option for people with severe obesity (a body mass index of 35 and comorbidities or BMI of 40 or greater) who haven’t been able to lose weight through diet and exercise alone, or with medication. Losing weight can help people become healthier and live fuller and more active lives. As part of the bariatric surgery process, patients must stick to a strict diet and exercise plan. The surgery itself is a powerful tool to help people on their journey. But people can’t lose weight — and keep it off — unless they put in the work to change their habits and lifestyle permanently.
[See: The 12 Best Diets to Prevent and Manage Diabetes.]
2. Am I a candidate? A good first step is to understand your current weight status, and a good tool to do that is via their BMI, a weight-to-height ratio used to estimate body fat. It can give you an idea of whether you’re obese, overweight or at a healthy weight for your height. It can also help you and your doctor determine whether surgery is right for you. BMI qualifications for bariatric surgery typically include either a BMI equal to or greater than 40 or a BMI equal to or greater than 35 and an obesity-related health condition such as Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, respiratory disorders or heart disease.
3. How do I calculate my BMI? Your doctor can help you determine your BMI. There are also several online tools, such as this one, that can help you calculate your BMI.
4. What are the risks and benefits of surgery? The surgery comes with both risks and benefits. Risks and complications vary depending on the type of surgery and your commitment to following post-surgery guidelines. Talk with your doctor to get the facts. Advances in bariatric surgery over the years have reduced the rate of serious complications. Possible risks associated with the surgical procedure can include: bleeding, infection, blood clots, weight regain and leaks in your gastrointestinal system. Bariatric surgery is considered as safe as or safer than other commonly performed procedures. The National Institutes of Health has recognized bariatric surgery as the most effective treatment to tackle severe obesity and maintain long-term weight loss. Surgery may improve or even relieve weight-related conditions, such as Type 2 diabetes, sleep apnea, joint pain, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and more. Most people who undergo surgery experience a significant decrease in the number of obesity-related medications taken, as well as lowered health care costs.
[See: What Not to Say When Someone Loses Major Weight.]
5. Which type of surgery is right for me? There are several effective surgery treatments that can help you with your weight-loss journey. There are pros and cons with each treatment, so talk to your bariatric surgeon to help decide if, and which, bariatric surgery option is right for you. It may also help to speak with a bariatric surgeon about the pros and cons of different types of surgery. The two most widely performed surgeries for weight loss are gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy.
Marybeth Braja , of Drayton, South Carolina, had bariatric surgery in 2003 and has since maintained a healthier weight and lifestyle. Her work in the medical field eventually led her back to the weight-loss surgery practice where she had her surgery, now known as Medical Group of the Carolinas Weight Loss Services, and she helps others take the journey she began several years ago. To learn more about her story, click here.
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How Gastric Bypass Surgery Changed My Life originally appeared on usnews.com
