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Bariatric Surgery Success Story
Mike Valdovinos struggled with his weight for years. He had tried every diet available in an effort to lose the weight. After moderate success, he would gain it all back and more, settling into an unhealthy cycle that left him tipping the scales at 450 pounds, with a 62-inch waist.
The extra weight took a toll on his health. “I was suffering from diabetes, high blood pressure and severe gastric reflux. I struggled to walk up just one flight of stairs and I took 28 medications each day,” says Valdovinos. Pre-existing respiratory problems were intensified by the excess weight and he ended up on oxygen.
Then, Valdovinos heard about Dean Health System’s Comprehensive Weight Management Program (CWMP). Armed with questions about cost, risks and success rates, he attended one of the free informational seminars. After going to the classes and support groups offered by the program and learning as much as he could from the physicians, staff and other patients, he chose to pursue bariatric surgery.
More than 170,000 bariatric, or weight loss, surgeries are performed annually in the United States. The surgery can improve health by providing consistent, long-term weight loss for people who aren’t able to lose weight through diet and exercise alone.
A Supportive Approach
“Obesity is a major problem in this country, one that causes serious illness and death,” says Susan N. Isensee, MD, Dean Family Medicine and Medical Director of Dean’s Comprehensive Weight Management Program. “Bariatric surgery, as part of a comprehensive, medical weight loss approach, can make people healthy.”
Dean’s CWMP follows the National Institutes of Health guidelines for bariatric surgery candidacy. Patients must have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 40 or a BMI of 35 with two co-morbidities, conditions including diabetes, high blood pressure and sleep apnea. BMI is a measure of the relationship between a person’s height and weight.
Once eligible for surgery, candidates begin six months of monitored weight loss and must eliminate unhealthy behaviors like smoking and drinking soft drinks. The goal is to learn the basics of nutrition and exercise, sometimes for the first time in their lives. Candidates receive significant psychological counseling and are required to attend at least one support group.
“This is a lifelong commitment and lifestyle changes are necessary for success. We teach people the tools they will need to achieve weight loss and better health,” says Dr. Isensee.
A Medical Approach
Dean’s CWMP offers two types of bariatric surgery. In lap band surgery, a silicone ring is placed around the upper part of the stomach to create a smaller stomach pouch, which can only hold a small amount of food. The weight loss is approximately two pounds a week with an eventual goal of 100 pounds lost in the first 18 months after surgery.
Gastric bypass surgery, the type Valdovinos had, involves changes to the stomach and the small intestine. Using a method called Roux-en-Y, the stomach is surgically stapled to create a small pouch, shrinking the volume of the stomach to about two ounces. A shorter section of the small intestine is attached to the new pouch so less food is digested and absorbed by the body. The usual outcome of this surgery is an approximate weight loss of 100 pounds in the first nine months.
Two surgeons work together during each surgery. “We are able to perform
the majority of bariatric surgeries laparoscopically, which in most cases results in less pain, a shorter hospital stay, quicker recovery and less risk of infection,” explains Dr. Isensee. The program has low complication rates due in part to the number of surgeries performed each year.
In addition to extensive surgical and medical follow-up, patients have ongoing access to social support following surgery, which is very important for those whose relationships with friends and family are affected by the weight loss.
Valdovinos still regularly participates in the support groups, where he shares his experiences with other post-operative patients and those considering weight loss surgery.
A Successful Approach
Valdovinos credits this support and the interdisciplinary approach for helping him succeed. “Everyone in the program worked together to support me and I really developed an interactive relationship with the team.”
Dr. Isensee agrees that a comprehensive program allows for the best outcomes.
“As a system, one of our greatest advantages is the availability of experts in all aspects of obesity and weight loss. We are able to address the whole range of issues involved and support patients in all facets of care.”
More than a year has passed since Valdovinos had his surgery. He has lost over 200 pounds and, most importantly, has achieved better health. He walks four miles a day, takes just one medication, and no longer suffers from diabetes, high blood pressure and other conditions.
“I have more energy and I’m able to do simple things I couldn’t have done before surgery – mow the lawn, go for walks, take the stairs. I have learned so much and gained confidence. It feels great to be healthy.”
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