Dropping Dress Sizes, Picking Up Years

“I was always a chunky child,” says Kristy Gamble, a weight-loss surgery patient at St. Mary’s. “But as I became an adult, the weight got out of control. I didn’t feel good. I didn’t look good. My family had a history of colon cancer and diabetes and I knew I would be at risk for both.”

Gamble came to realize that if she didn’t take action soon, it could be too late.

Not much later, her mother, Sylvia McDonald, followed suit, wanting to gain control of her own weight-struggle.

“I would lose my breath reaching over to tie my shoes,” McDonald says. “I had no self-discipline before the surgery. But soon the weight began to fall off and I found that when I behaved, I got results faster. My blood pressure and blood sugar went down. I had no diabetes anymore, and today, I am on no medication whatsoever. It has made a profound difference in my health and my energy.”

A chance to gain control

Roux-en-Y gastric bypass is the type of weight-loss surgery these women underwent late in 2006 at St. Mary’s. It not only limits how much food you can eat, but also limits food absorption by the body. A portion of the stomach is closed off, leaving a small pouch to hold food, and a segment of the small intestine is bypassed, reducing absorption of calories.

“The most I weighed was about 305 pounds. Now I am down to 180 pounds, so I have lost 125 pounds!” Gamble says.

Bariatric surgery offers patients a chance to gain control of their weight and their health. Leading St. Mary’s bariatric team is surgeon Sergio Mejias, M.D., who works personally with patients to assess their weight-loss plan and decide between gastric bypass or an alternative procedure, laparoscopic banding surgery.

“They are doing so well,” Mejias says of Gamble and McDonald. “They are on track to becoming happier and healthier women.”

“I want to feel better,” Gamble says. “I am happy at where I am now, but I have about 29 more pounds to go.”

McDonald and Gamble decided to have the surgery because of the reputations of Dr. Mejias and the St. Mary’s program. Although they had each other to get them through the surgery, St. Mary’s stepped up to be their ultimate support team.

“Having the surgery at St. Mary’s was a good decision,” McDonald says. “I have a lot of confidence in Dr. Mejias as a surgeon. He is very caring and wants me to do well.”

“He is a professional,” Gamble says. “He will answer any questions I have, and listens to everything I say. He is so easy to talk to and I can relate to him. He alleviated any nervousness.”

Reaching out to others

For Sonya Finlay, the decision to have bariatric surgery came for a different reason. A widow and mother of an 11-year-old daughter, Finlay knew that her excess weight was damaging her health. She could not afford the health risks that were beginning to pile up.

“I didn’t want my daughter to go through losing two parents,” Finlay says. She decided the banding surgery would be the best choice for her and her family.

Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding limits how much food you can eat at one time. An adjustable band is placed around the top part of the stomach to create a small pouch. The size of the band is adjusted using a port placed under the skin. Adjusting the band changes how quickly food leaves the new pouch.

Finlay was the first band-surgery patient at St. Mary’s and says her experience was great. The close relationship Mejias maintains with his patients comforted her and kept her in the know about her progress. Now, Finlay is reaching out to others through her involvement in St. Mary’s Weight-Loss Surgery Support Group.

“I am trying to help others now,” she says. “It’s good for them to be able to hear others’ advice and stories. I like hearing people’s stories, too, and seeing the groups’ before- and after photos. We share tips about grocery shopping and food ideas.”

The weight-loss surgery support group allows patients to talk about their progress and exchange stories. Each month’s meeting includes a guest speaker, time for questions and answers, and a chance for participants to encourage each other and gain perspective on their progress.

Finlay says her weight-loss journey has been successful, in part, because of what she learns from others at the support group. It has helped her to visualize her goal and continue to work toward it.

“I’ve adjusted the way I cook, increased my fluids, and am staying active with my daughter. We swim and play together outside on a regular basis,” she says.

Want to learn more?

For Gamble, McDonald, Finlay and their families, bariatric surgery has changed life for the better. Together, the three women have lost over 300 pounds, and are still going. They have taken control of their weight, lowered their body mass index, and decreased numerous health risks.

If you are morbidly obese and/or have health problems caused by obesity, bariatric surgery may be an option for you. However, bariatric surgery is not appropriate for everyone; a medical evaluation and counseling are included in every potential patient’s care plan.

To learn more, join Dr. Mejias for a free informational symposium each month at St. Mary’s. Call 706.389.2653 for information.