Procedure: Gastric Sleeve Surgery
Pounds lost: 180
Motivators: High blood pressure, high cholesterol, acid reflux, lack of energy for family activities
[The staff] made me feel very comfortable. And the minute you walk in the door, from the girl at the desk helping you to the girl that weighs you to the nurse practitioner and the doctor… Amazing. When I met with the staff, I was very comfortable with them. To me, that’s the most important thing because I have to be comfortable with the person, especially if they’re going to do a surgery for me. It’s important that you feel relaxed and a part of a family. And that’s how I felt whenever I went to Windber Hospital.
What was your weight loss journey like?I had previously visited Windber’s program and started it and backed out because I was scared. I had a coworker that her brother had the surgery done through Windber. I went on the website and looked at the testimonials and that’s what made me make my decision. After being hospitalized and redoing a lot of the researching [that I’d done before], that’s when I realized it was definitely a good thing for me. And it’s a great program. They are there with you the whole time, so it’s nothing to be afraid of.
I’ve struggled all my life. I’ve been on different programs, you know, I’ve, done Adkins, I’ve done keto, I’ve done Weight Watchers. I’ve always been successful, and then I’ve always gained it back. I was struggling walking from my living room to my kitchen without being out of breath. I would’ve never been able to walk up these steps.
I have my life back, absolutely. My daughter is now 16 and I can chase after her. To be able to get out there now and go down a water park slide, and never have to fear that I’m not gonna be able to get on the ride because I reached a maximum weight limit, it’s fulfilling. To be able to walk up the steps, it definitely makes a difference to you. And then I’m off my [three] blood pressure medicines, which is fabulous, the biggest thing. This [experience] has given me the abilities to realize what I need to do. I have the tool and have to take the steps to make it work. It’s a lifetime commitment.
Do your research. Don’t be afraid. Don’t listen to the, the background noise. If in your heart you think it’s something you would want to do, do the research and make the decision to do it. You won’t regret it. The only regret I have is that I didn’t do it many years ago.
If somebody would ask me, what would you do differently? I would’ve said, I would’ve gotten it a long time ago. I would’ve went back six, seven years. Whenever I was trying to decide if I wanted to do it, I would’ve done it then.
Procedure: Gastric Sleeve Surgery
Pounds lost: 115
Motivators: High blood pressure, obstructive sleep apnea, acid reflux, joint pain, lack of energy
My experience at Windber Hospital and in the office was great. I never had any bad experiences at all. Everyone is so friendly. I like that Windber is a smaller place; it just gives you kind of more of a little hometown feel. And the hospital itself wasn’t so busy and bustling, it was just like everything [like scheduling and appointments] was so fast. Even when I went for my EGD for the surgery itself, everything was organized, professional, and friendly. I recommend people to go to Windber for weight loss management all the time. And I even recommend for anything else they need done to consider going to Windber.
What was your weight loss journey like?I have been overweight or obese pretty much my whole life, and I was in this repetitive cycle of dieting and just trying everything and always gaining the weight back. So a few years ago, I kind of got in my head that surgery was maybe a last option, and I decided to try Weight Watchers one more time (which would’ve been like my fifth time on Weight Watchers). So I tried that one more time and I lost 40 pounds, and then I gained 20 pounds back and I was like, okay. I think now is the time where I really need to do something to help my health and just feel better.
One day I was at work and I just was feeling really bad about myself and I was like, ‘I have to do something.’ Windber Hospital had an excellent reputation as far as weight loss surgery goes, so I just randomly went on the website one day and I was reading testimonials and just looking at the criteria. It looked like I was gonna meet that criteria, and that day I filled out an online registration for someone to contact me. They actually contacted me I think that same day. And I really never looked back.
Since my surgery, I feel like my life has changed completely. I really feel like I did make a lifestyle change, which I think is probably the most important thing because at the beginning, the surgery really limits what you can eat, but you can’t just count on that forever. So, while you’re limited in what to eat, you have to learn how to eat and to eat more protein and less sugar and carbs and incorporate your veggies. Then we were highly encouraged to start exercising as well. I did that and now I just feel like I have no limits, where before I felt so limited by my weight. Now I feel like I can do anything. I go on hikes, I exercise regularly, I get on a plane without having to worry about it. I can go to an amusement park without having to worry about it. And I just feel more comfortable in general social situations.
Anyone who asks me about weight loss surgery, I always say what a great experience I had and that I highly recommend it. They see me and they’re like, “oh my gosh, you’re, you look so skinny.” But it’s so beyond that, just how I feel every day, how I’m able to function every day. Simple things like bending over and clipping my toenails or polishing my toes, stuff like that. It’s hard to describe to someone who hasn’t experienced that, how liberating it is now to just be able to do anything.
So anytime anybody asks me about it, I highly recommend just going forward with it. And people get scared about complications and things, but if you think about the complications from obesity, those complications actually outweigh potential complications that you could have from the surgery. So I feel like that’s a no-brainer.
Procedure: Gastric Bypass Surgery
Pounds lost: 140
Motivators: High blood pressure, pre-diabetic, lack of energy for family activities
My experience at Windber has been fantastic from day one. I’ve always felt welcome there. The staff is great, very friendly, very knowledgeable. Any question, any concern, anything that I wanted addressed, it was immediate. I appreciate that type of service.
[On the day of surgery] I was nervous, but I knew that I was in good hands. I was there really early in the morning and I was ready to go and it was still a very pleasant experience. I mean, even laying there in the OR prep, when you’re waiting to go in for your turn, the doctor comes out, talks to you for a while, makes you feel at ease. It was great experience. There was never a doubt that I was in the right place.
What was your weight loss journey like?There was a lot that I felt I couldn’t participate in. Particularly not being in good enough shape physically to do things, tiring out very easily. I always equate my extra weight. I lost 140 pounds, so I actually weigh less than I lost. And when I think about 140 pounds, it’s 28 bags of flour. So I think about carrying around 28 bags of flour every day, how tiring and exhausting that can be. So there was a lot I couldn’t do.
I wanted to have the surgery done because I just wanted a better quality of life. I wanted to be able to enjoy my grandchildren and my family more, and just to be able to be more active really.
I would say the moment for me that I decided that it was time was after multiple, multiple attempts on my own. Even after starting with Windber Medical Center through the weight loss clinic, because it’s not all surgical, I was willing to try other methods too. I always felt like I should be able to do this myself. And that was always the hangup. I had started looking into even the lap band surgery back in 2007 and never went through with it thinking I should be able to do this, I should be able to do this myself. And it was a matter of basically the CRNP explaining to me that it doesn’t always work that way. You can’t always do it yourself. So that was kind of like my, ‘I gotta do this moment.’
I feel great. I have energy. I can walk. I can exercise. I can get down on the floor and play with the grandkids. I can do things that I really could not do those last several years at least not comfortably.
I still go to the plus section though. Like, there’s like this true body dysmorphia thing that you don’t ever really see yourself as that much smaller. But it’s when sometimes you look in the mirror and you’re just like, well, so who’s that? You know? So that’s, different, but I’m thrilled. I feel great.
My health has changed significantly for the better. I have dealt with blood pressure issues since the age of 14. I’ve always been overweight my entire life, not to the extreme that I was in more recent years, but I was on blood pressure medication at age 14 and have been on it ever since. I was most recently on two medications. Those dosages were first dropped and then one of those medications was completely removed. Now the other medication has been dropped even further, and the next step will be to take that one away too. I’m like *this* close. I was also right on the borderline for diabetes. My A1C is now perfect. So, no more worries of diabetes.
To someone who’s considering weight loss surgery and has been putting it off and feeling like you’re not successful because you can’t do it on your own… Just stop and go talk to [the staff at Windber] and really consider this change. Because I wish I would’ve done it 15 years sooner.
Procedure: Gastric Sleeve Surgery
Pounds lost: 104
Motivators: Lack of energy, joint and muscle pain, family history of diabetes
I’ve always felt comfortable coming here, have never had an issue with scheduling. I’ve always had all my questions answered thoroughly. I can call the office at any time and get help. If they can’t help me on the phone I get a call back. I really enjoy working with them because I really feel like they are invested in you, as well. I would definitely say they are very well attended to the patients; that is their main priority. There wasn’t a time where I ever had to address a lack of care with them they were always there whenever you needed something, checking in even when you didn’t think you needed anything just to make sure that the recovery went along great.
I struggled with my weight my whole life. Even as a child I was always overweight. In my early 20s is whenever I probably peaked, I was close to 300 pounds. I had lost weight after that for a while and I had gotten down close to probably 200 pounds, and after that I gained back up to about 260 and no matter what I would yo-yo back and forth.
I’ve done just about every type of little fad diet or infomercial type thing you’ve seen I do it for a week or two and realize that I either physically couldn’t keep up with what it demanded from you or it just wasn’t something that wasn’t going to work for me. It just was always an obstacle in the way rather than helping me it just frustrated me more and would end up hurting me in the long run.
I knew I couldn’t do it on my own anymore and I wanted to be able to go play with my kids and run. I figured it was time to do something about it. I consulted with my own doctor’s office and had asked them if there was anything that they would suggest and they did say that there was a program here [at Chan Soon-Shiong Medical Center at Windber] that they felt that would definitely be a benefit to me.
I thought it through with the sleeve. I felt that it was a less invasive surgery, that long term when it came to absorption for vitamins and things like that there wouldn’t be as many issues with it. It was something that I thought would work better for me in my lifestyle.
The surgery that I chose, it does work great for me. It’s definitely a tool that you have to use to utilize. If you don’t work at it the right way it’s not gonna work for you, but it’s definitely been what I needed to get where I want to be. It really has changed so much in our lives. Instead of being close to home with no physical activity, we go camping all the time now, we bought kayaks, we’re out on the water; we just have a good time and we enjoy the outdoors with each other. This is the life I had always pictured but instead of picturing it, I’m actually living it.
Don’t wait. You’ll find every excuse not to do it but the big one is still there. Before I lost the weight that I did, in the back of my mind it legitimately always was a concern making it to a point in my kids’ lives where I’ll be able to enjoy them as adults and their kids. I always was afraid that something would happen involving my weight that would cause another disease or some sort of injury that would end up being the death of me. Losing the weight it gave me a new hope that I will be there for them, to see them and experience them and their kids.
Procedure: Gastric Bypass Surgery
Pounds lost: 85
Motivators: Lack of energy, depression, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, hiatal hernia & GERD (acid reflux), back pain, foot pain, and a family history of thyroid problems and diabetes
I felt comfortable from the time I walked in, the receptionist, all the nurses… everyone was very nice. Everyone was very supportive, from the time I started, just the very first month clear through to now, even 3 years later after surgery I come in and everyone’s still very supportive a lot of positive feedback, it’s very nice, it’s been a very positive experience. I would say it’s very much patient centered here, I have never walked in this office and felt like I was a number instead of a person. Every time I’ve ever seen Dr. Moon, he’s been very caring and very, just very caring and professional and considerate. The hospital was wonderful, the nurses were always very good to me and I always felt like it was very patient-centered.
What changes have you experienced since having surgery?Most people who haven’t seen me for a while have no idea who I am, people I went to school with. I went to my class reunion in October and no one knew me. It’s really, it’s shocking, I mean I have family who haven’t seen me in a while don’t recognize me. It is a big difference, I was looking the other day at pictures, before and after, and, I mean, I don’t recognize me. I don’t look the same, I’m not the same person at all, so it’s definitely a big change.
I no longer take any medications except for the vitamins that you need to take, I don’t take a heart pill, cholesterol pills, my cholesterol’s perfect, I don’t take the medication for heartburn for GERD anymore, it’s all better, I don’t take any kind of pain medication for back pain, my feet don’t hurt anymore, it’s wonderful, my medical doctor told me this is the best thing you’ve ever done for you, he said it’s the healthiest I’ve ever been in my life. So, it’s wonderful.
If you’re very serious about losing weight and it’s something that you really want to do, I would say definitely go for it cause it definitely makes a difference, it will change your life. You just have to be willing to stick to the plan. It isn’t when the surgery is over the process is over, once you take that weight off you have to continue to change your life and lead a healthy life. No one says it’s going to be easy, but it’s not easy when you’re overweight either. It’s not easy dealing with all the problems you have, the way you look and the way others see you. So it’s worth going through the process.
If you’re determined and you do what the doctors tell you to do, it’s very possible [to succeed]. I am very proud of what I’ve accomplished, I’m even prouder that it’s been 3 years and I haven’t gained any weight back, so it’s wonderful.
Procedure: Gastric Bypass Surgery
Pounds lost: 207
Motivators: High blood pressure, back pain, shortness of breath, difficulty with work tasks, lack of energy for family activities
I did a lot of research to find the best place to go and through talking to a lot of people I found that probably Windber was my best option. I’ve had a lot of my friends had it done and they came here and they had a lot of success with it.
Everybody treated me really well. First I went to a seminar and listened to Dr. Moon talk and then I scheduled an appointment. Everybody here was great, I have no complaints. Windber is probably the best hospital I’ve ever been in. They were very attentive to whatever I needed; they were always checking on me.
What changes have you experienced since having surgery?I’m no longer on medication for high blood pressure, and the back pain is gone, I have no more back pain. I can actually go for a walk with my wife and kids in the evening and there’s so much I can do, I mean as far as like my job I can do everything. I can climb up in the truck now, clean the bed out, climb underneath. I’m not limited to anything now.
Do your research, make sure… a lot of people think it’s an easy fix, you get surgery and that’s it. There’s nothing easy about it. I mean, it’s a lifestyle change and the surgery is a tool just to help you. It’s not the cure all. Just do your research. Windber is a very good facility. I had Dr. Moon and he’s terrific. I would recommend anybody coming to Windber.