Gastric Sleeve Surgery at NJBC: Linda's 102 lb Weight Loss Success
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Since high school, I’ve been overweight. The only time I recall not being overweight was as a child and in my early teens. I’ve tried various things over the years, such as mystery pills prescribed by a doctor, a liquid diet administered by a hospital, Weight Watchers®, and the Paleo diet. The most weight I recall losing was 30 lbs, but then I gained it back. Besides those attempts, I never really put much effort into losing weight because I always felt comfortable in my own skin. Then something happened that changed my perspective and led me to my decision to have gastric sleeve surgery.
My siblings passed away due to health reasons. Then I started noticing how heavy I had gotten when looking at photos. I realized I needed to do something about my weight and my health. I set a goal to lose 100 lbs and my doctor recommended reaching out to New Jersey Bariatric Center® to help me achieve it. After an appointment with Dr. Buwen I chose to have gastric sleeve surgery.
At my heaviest, I weighed 274 lbs. I lost 15 lbs before my gastric sleeve surgery due to a separate health issue, bringing me to 260 lbs on weight loss surgery day. Since my gastric sleeve, I've lost 102 lbs and now weigh 172 lbs.
My Reason for Having Weight Loss Surgery
After I first lost my sister and then my brother, it was a very difficult time for me. I was the youngest of 3, and now I was all alone. With my weight and overall health, I realized I was following in my sister’s footsteps.
Another moment that made me decide to have weight loss surgery was at my son’s birthday dinner. We took many photos together and I saw a particular photo of myself and I couldn’t believe that it was me! It was horrifying to see what I looked like in that photo. I never felt like a big person, but I sure was big and I’m only 5’2.
I knew that I needed to get healthy for my son and make my brother proud of me. He had wanted me to get healthy and I wanted to live. In assessing the risks of keeping the weight on and potentially gaining more versus having surgery to lose the weight, I concluded that it was more of a risk to be 5’2 and 274 lbs, than to have weight loss surgery. My decision was clear.
How Gastric Sleeve Surgery Helped Me Reach My Weight Loss Goals
It wouldn’t have been possible for me to have reached this point of my journey without the gastric sleeve. It jumpstarted my weight loss by removing a portion of my stomach and narrowing the remaining parts to the size of a banana or a thin vertical “sleeve”. With my smaller sized stomach, I eat less and feel fuller with smaller portions of food.
The surgery gave me the exact tool I needed to lose the weight in a manner that kept me motivated to eat healthy, and stay on track. I would have been on another yo-yo diet with no success and the ability to keep flip flopping between diets. With the gastric sleeve, there was no going back.
My Journey with New Jersey Bariatric Center®
From the moment I met the staff and Dr. Buwen, I felt comfortable. I was relieved I wasn’t asked to do anything crazy before the surgery, such as going on a several week long liquid diet and losing a significant amount of weight to qualify. Reasonable and attainable goals were set such as completing my consultations with my registered dietitian, Karen Kelly, and fulfilling the necessary pre-surgical requirements and I accomplished them.
Dr. Buwen is down to earth, honest, and kind. He felt like a friend more than anything. He is someone who is to the point about the benefits vs risks of surgery. I felt that he genuinely cared about me.
How My Life Has Changed Since Gastric Sleeve Surgery
In addition to losing 102 lbs with gastric sleeve surgery my health has improved. My blood sugar level is under control and my thyroid medications have dropped 2 doses. I no longer use a CPAP machine which is a positive airway pressure machine that uses mild air pressure to keep breathing airways open while I sleep.¹ I can move easily, don’t get winded, and just feel better overall. Even my feet have shrunk.
Since my weight loss, buying clothes has been mind blowing. I love that I can now buy clothes anywhere! I’m no longer wearing plus sizes. My new goal is to lose 22 more lbs to be more in line with my height, but I am very happy with exactly where I am now. Losing weight feels effortless now because my body simply can't take in much food anymore. Just a few bites in and I'm full, and the weight just comes off. I feel like my body will stop losing weight when it’s ready.
What I Recommend for Others Considering Weight Loss Surgery
Without hesitation, I would 100% recommend New Jersey Bariatric Center® to everyone interested in weight loss surgery and looking for nutritional support from a registered dietitian. Don’t put it off, just go for it! You will not be sorry. The NJBC team are top notch, and truly care about each individual.
I love my doctor! Dr. Buwen is the best. Thank you for helping me get healthy. Good luck to anyone starting their journey or are thinking about weight loss surgery!
Key Takeaways of Linda’s Weight Loss Success:
- Linda has been overweight since high school and she has tried pills and various diets to lose weight.
- After reaching her heaviest weight and seeing photos of herself during her son’s birthday dinner, she realized she needed to do something to get healthy.
- Her doctor recommended New Jersey Bariatric Center® where she decided to have gastric sleeve surgery.
- She lost 85 lbs since surgery and is one pound away from reaching her 100 lb weight loss goal!
FAQs about Gastric Sleeve Surgery
- What qualifies you for a gastric sleeve?
To qualify for a gastric sleeve a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or greater or a BMI of 35 with obesity-related conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure or sleep apnea should exist.
- How much does a gastric sleeve cost?
Gastric sleeve surgery ranges from $8,500 to $18,500 on average without insurance. The cost depends on each person's individual needs and the procedure. The self-pay costs in NJ typically include hospital or surgery center fees, anesthesia fees, pre-operative lab work, 1 year of post-operative visits, 1 year of nutrition counseling and exercise classes.
- What insurance covers gastric sleeve surgery?
Gastric sleeve surgery is widely covered by major health insurance plans as long as you meet the qualifications. At NJBC, we accept most insurance plans and our expert team will work with you to maximize your coverage and minimize out-of-pocket expenses. NJBC does not participate in Medicaid or NJ FamilyCare. For patients who do not have coverage, or if you face a high deductible, we offer flexible financing solutions through Cherry or CareCredit, making your journey to a healthier you achievable.
- How long is the recovery time after gastric sleeve surgery?
After gastric sleeve surgery, patients are encouraged to get up and walk around as soon as they are able to do so – usually within a few hours. Patients can expect to stay in the hospital for approximately one day. Before leaving the hospital our goal is to make sure you are comfortable walking around, drinking fluids and that your pain is controlled.
- Which is better: gastric bypass or sleeve?
Gastric bypass and gastric sleeve can both help you lose unwanted, excess weight so that you can live a longer, healthier life. More importantly, the benefits of them go beyond weight loss. The metabolic changes associated with gastric bypass and sleeve can support improvement in cardiovascular health and/or even lead to remission in type 2 diabetes and sleep apnea. They are both different procedures and with different results. With gastric bypass, you can experience a total loss of 60-80% of excess weight. While with a gastric sleeve, you can experience a total loss of 40-70% of excess weight. Everyone is different and the type of weight loss procedure you choose is up to you.
Sources
- "CPAP." National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute , National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute , 24 Mar. 2022, www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/cpap#What-is-CPAP?.
