Jeanne had a sleeve gastrectomy at NWWC in August 2016.
What is the best part about this journey?
Getting healthy is the best part. I find that I can do so much more in my life. I’m more social. I get out and I meet more people. I’m doing more projects at home. I don’t have heartburn anymore. I have bursitis in my hip and occasionally it flares up but not like before. I exercise, which felt very difficult to do before because I got winded. We just got back from Disney World. For 7 days, I walked the park and didn’t struggle with it at all. It was so hot and muggy and I was pushing my son in the wheelchair up the hills. If I would have gone 3 years ago, there’s no way I would have survived. I wouldn’t have done anything.
Shopping is amazing now. Before, I couldn’t find anything. I wouldn’t shop because I would get depressed that the clothes wouldn’t fit. Now I can shop on clearance and find clothes that fit.
My main reason for having surgery was not just to lose the weight but to prevent diabetes. My grandmother had 9 children and all but 1 had diabetes. My brother and sister have diabetes. My mother passed away from diabetes. I didn’t want that. I was told surgery could prevent diabetes. So far, I don’t have it.
It helps you enjoy your life and puts into perspective what’s important and what’s not. Before, food was important and now it’s not. I have a whole different relationship with food.
What has been the hardest part?
In the beginning, the protein shakes were really hard for me. I didn’t like the taste and I really struggled with drinking them. Over time, I’ve learned to love them. Now every morning I have a protein shake and take my vitamins.
The other hard part was that I was never hungry so I had to remind myself to eat. When I went back to work, I had to prepare things like meats or cheeses to have on hand because I would forget to eat. It was hard for me to remember. I would keep snacks in my purse so I could munch on something when I needed to eat.
Outside of that, I really didn’t struggle with anything. It was the simplest surgery I ever had. Everything just kind of came natural for me after surgery. Mentally, physically, it came easy.
What goals did you set for yourself? Have you made progress towards those goals?
My goal was to lose weight and I lost 20 pounds more than my goal.
I wanted to be able to get out more and start exercising. I’ve been out a lot more – walking and doing things. For my exercise routine, I use the treadmill for 30 minutes and lift weights at the gym.
I wanted to just be healthier. I do believe that I eat healthier now. Before, I would eat because the food was there. I used to overeat and feel so miserable. Now, food is like fuel for my body. I eat because I need to feed my body. I don’t overeat. I don’t eat a lot of sugar. I try to plan my meals out. When I’m hungry, I eat meat or cheese and vegetables.
What advice would you give those who want to pursue weight loss surgery?
I would highly recommend it to anyone with weight issues. I’ve been there. You become like a hermit because you’re embarrassed and you don’t feel good. Think long-term about your health and how much happier you will be to be able to go out and do things. You’re going to feel so much better. People tell me, “But I love to eat and I won’t be able to eat.” You can eat. You just eat small amounts. You’re not going to feel as hungry so it allows you to make better choices.
I wish I would have done it years ago when I was raising my kids because I could have done so much more with them. If I were speaking to a younger person, I would say, “Do it now to be able to enjoy time with your children.” Now I can enjoy time with my grandkids. I kick the soccer ball and run with them.
I don’t try to push anybody into it. It’s an individual decision. Look into it. Talk to people. You have to be ready. That was something Dr. Michaelson told me the very first time I met him. He said, “This is a tool. If you think you’re going to come in and have this surgery and it will do it for you, don’t bother doing it. You have to be ready to do the work.” I was ready to do the work and I continue to do the work.
Personal Life: April was born in Yakima and grew up on the Eastside suburbs of Seattle before settling in the Snohomish area. She has two children: her artistic adult daughter, Tessa, and her recent high school graduate son, Talon. Her 2 sisters and 4 brothers are spread throughout Oregon, Idaho, and Washington and she just welcomed her newest niece, Maizie, on July 28th.
Life Before NWWC: April has had many roles in the service industry including medical records management, childcare, restaurant hostess, and supporting an ophthalmologist. She became a certified medical assistant (CMA) in 2002 and was the lead CMA in a pediatric office in Mill Creek for 9 years. She joined our team as a CMA and transitioned into the PCC role in March 2018.
A Day in Her Job: As a PCC, April primarily supports Dr. Chock and Dr. Montgomery’s patients in navigating their preoperative journey. She attends information seminars to greet new patients, meets with patients during their surgical consults, schedules their appointments, ensures they are completing the insurance and program requirements, and works closely with the insurance team for submission. She acknowledges that the pre-op process can be overwhelming for patients. “I tell patients that anytime they get scared, I’m a phone call away. No question is silly.”
She compares her job to gardening. “You take a seed and tend to it, water it, and pluck weeds, such as anxious or negative thoughts patients might be having. Sometimes it’s painful and messy but it grows into something beautiful and adds to this garden. I love seeing my patients after surgery as they start blossoming.”
What Else to Know about April:
She overcame a major phobia of needles to become a CMA. When she looked at needles, her ears would ring and she’d have tunnel vision. She and her friend Kim joined a CMA program together and Kim supported her to overcome her fear. “I wouldn’t have been able to do it without her.” When she was faced with doing her first blood draw, she almost passed out, but she did it! It took 8 weeks of practice before she stopped having bodily reactions. In overcoming her fear, April was inspired to improve her phlebotomy skills to put other people with needle phobias at ease. “I wanted to be so soft-handed that you wouldn’t feel the needle.”
In preparation to become an empty nester, she decided to pursue some hobbies. She had started learning to play guitar from her dad before he passed away. In June, she started professional lessons and is learning to play “Shallow” and “Broken Halos”. She has also thought about putting her medical skills to use in travel abroad missions. “I have not been brave enough to take the jump yet.”
She loves hiking and camping in the Cascades and would spend even more time in the wilderness if she found an experienced backpacking buddy. “I love exploring new areas and saying, ‘Look where we get to stay tonight!’” If you want to be April’s backpacking buddy, let her know! She’ll bring the guitar to serenade you around the campfire. 🙂
Chad had a sleeve gastrectomy in November 2016 at NWWC.
What is the best part about this journey?
It was getting back to the normal active lifestyle that I had when I was younger. I used to do a lot of outdoors stuff like camping, fishing, hiking, and softball. For the 5 years before surgery, I couldn’t physically do any of those things. Sports was one of my biggest joys and I couldn’t do that. I was trapped in my own body.
My health had deteriorated so badly. I had to take medication on a daily basis for blood pressure. I was getting fatty liver. I had pre-diabetes. My kidneys weren’t functioning properly. I was a walking pharmacy. I had to go to doctor every 3 months for my blood tests. Now I’m on the once a year plan. All of that stuff is gone.
What has been the hardest part?
The hardest part for me was completely restructuring my life. My whole life revolved around food – family dinners, BBQs, going to the beach. I didn’t realize how much of my life was lived as a slave to food.
Like everyone says, it’s a tool, not a fix. You have to use the tool correctly. I can still gain weight so I really watch what I put in my body. My head still craves junk food and then, when I eat it, I feel horrible. It doesn’t satisfy me. I don’t eat out as often. When I do go out to eat with my wife, we split one plate or put half of our food in a box before we even start to eat. It was really difficult for me to re-learn portion sizes. I always bought the bulk stuff. I haven’t had a Costco card for 3 years now.
What goals did you set for yourself? Have you made progress towards those goals?
Chad running on the beach in Hawaii. “I could have never done that before surgery.”
The first goal I made was that I wanted to be 175 pounds. I made it but I wasn’t comfortable doing what it took to stay at 175 pounds. Since then, I gained about 15 pounds and I’m really comfortable at my current weight. I lost 12 inches off my waist and my pant size hasn’t increased from my lowest weight.
I wanted to be able to hike at least 3 miles without having to rest. I did that and I can still do that.
I wanted to play softball again. I’ve played the past 2 years. I’ve done men’s league, co-ed league, and coached.
My other goal was to get off all of the medications I was taking. I’m so glad to not have to take medications all the time. I’m not a slave to that stuff. I didn’t want to be walking pharmacy.
I still want to jump out of an airplane. It’s on the bucket list.
What advice would you give those who want to pursue weight loss surgery?
I think it’s the best thing I ever did. I wish I wouldn’t have waited 10 years to do it. There was always something holding me back, usually money and fear of the surgery itself. Whatever’s holding you back, let it go. There’s a life out there waiting for you that’s beyond your imagination. I was cash pay. I sold all of my prize possessions – my car, my tools. I sold everything I had to pay for it. If I could have imagined how good I was going to feel, the opportunities that came my way just by being physically active and capable, I would have done it 10 years sooner.
You don’t even know what’s waiting for you. I’m a new man. I’m strong and happy, joyous and free. Whatever’s holding you back, it’s just not worth the life you could have. There’s nothing that compares with the freedom I have from being trapped in the overweight body.
Role: Registered Nurse in Sound Surgeons Surgery Center
Joined NWWC: October 2018
Personal Life: Kristi is married and has two teenagers and two dogs. She has worked her way across the country over the years. She was born in Tennessee, moved to Iowa in junior high, moved to Minnesota with her high school sweetheart & husband, moved to southern California, moved back to Tennessee, and arrived in Washington one year ago. “I am ready to stay put for a while.”
Life Before NWWC: Kristi has been a nurse for 24 years and has always worked in acute care hospitals before joining NWWC. She has worked in intensive care, step down (the transition between intensive and general care), post-anesthesia care, and cardiac catheterization (cath) lab. Her cath lab role was the most intense. When on call, Kristi slept with a pager and had to be in within 30 minutes of being paged to provide CPR and stabilize patients who were on the edge of death. She has worked her fair share of nights, weekends, and holidays and is enjoying the calmer setting of the surgery center.
A Day in Her Job: Once patients have checked in for surgery, Kristi greets them in the waiting room and takes them to the surgery center. She prepares them for surgery by starting their IV, completing a medical assessment, reviewing the preoperative surgical questions, and providing them with medications. After surgery, Kristi takes care of patients in recovery. The first full hour is one-on-one time with a nurse. “We don’t leave their side.” She comforts patients as they come out of anesthesia, manages their pain and nausea, and encourages them to take their first sips of water. As their recovery continues, Kristi helps them to get dressed, supports them as they take their first laps around the nursing station, and continues to manage pain, nausea, and hydration.
What Else to Know about Kristi:
Kristi has known she wanted to be a nurse since she was a child. She had surgery when she was 6 years old and really liked the nurse who took care of her. “I thought, ‘She helps people feel better. I like that. I want to be a nurse.’” And the rest is history! She enjoys the autonomy of nursing and being able to help patients on a daily basis.
Kristi’s most memorable patients are an entire family who have had bariatric surgery. She has helped 3 of the 4 family members. “They are a super cool family. It’s been great to see them all go through the positive experience together. They all help to support one another.”
Kristi and her family enjoy the outdoors. They hike in the summer, including the dogs, and have explored many of the trails in the Cascades. They are hoping to tackle more hikes in the Olympics this year. They usually visit northern Minnesota each summer and Kristi hopes to own a cabin there someday for retirement. In the winter, Kristi cross-country skis while the rest of her family enjoys the downhill version.
Kristi’s children are gearing up for exciting life transitions. Her daughter starts her senior year of high school this fall and is considering colleges in California, Washington, and Minnesota. Her son is becoming an Eagle Scout this summer following a 2-week backpacking and camping trip in Canada.
Dulce had a sleeve gastrectomy in October 2016 at NWWC.
What is the best part about this journey?
Being able to live life with no additional complications. I’m in my 20’s. There were many activities that I wanted to do with friends. When I would try to do these things, it was harder. I would get tired. Just living is the best part of this journey. I did this because I wanted to live my life.
What has been the hardest part?
The hardest part has been making changes that have actually become a lifestyle. Many times, I catch myself going back to old habits and I have to correct that again. It’s definitely a challenge. Since you want to make this a lifestyle change, you cannot consider it a diet. Before surgery, I spent a lot of time dieting. I spent a lot of time being miserable. Now, I’m not following a certain diet like low-carb or high-fat. For me, it’s more about having balance and being able to live. I track all of my food on MyFitnessPal. I plan ahead if I know I’m going to go out to eat.
What goals did you set for yourself? Have you made progress towards those goals?
One of the goals that I set for myself was to be able to maintain my weight and I’ve been successful at that. I stay in a weight range of about 10 pounds and I don’t go over that. I do that by living an active lifestyle and eating right.
My fitness goals are to build more muscle and stay lean.
I wanted to be able to be active with my friends, like hiking or playing volleyball. I was not able to do that at all before. I would get extremely exhausted. It’s definitely become easier.
What advice would you give those who want to pursue weight loss surgery?
Take it day by day. If you feel like you failed one day, try to do better the next day. We start off the week saying, “On Monday, I’m going to start being healthy. On Tuesday, I didn’t do it so I’ve already failed.” Just forgive yourself and continue. Don’t give up.
Follow your team’s instructions. The surgeon told me, “We are literally trying to brainwash you to have healthy habits.” I took that to heart. My first year, I really did try my very best to follow the instructions. You literally do have to change your lifestyle. You have to make the effort to eat healthier, to pick your groceries more carefully.
It truly is a lifestyle adjustment and it’s all about having a balance. Since I have a desk job, I really do try to get my steps in. During my lunch, I walk one mile. When I get home, I go to the gym but I park my car a mile away so I walk three miles a day. Everyone needs to adjust to their own lifestyle.
When I first got surgery, I didn’t know anyone else who had surgery. I found an Instagram support community that has really helped me to be successful. Join a support group. Find one that works for you. Everyone is different with what works for them. I found people I could communicate with and we cheer each other on.
