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www.RMAP.com
Rocky Mountain Associated Physicians
801-268-3800
1160 East 3900 South, Suite 4100
SLC, UT 84124
Learn more about weight loss surgery at Rocky Mountain Associated Physicians www.RMAP.com (801) 268-3800
The month of October doesn’t have to be the start of something scary! It is when the leaves start to change vibrant colors, cooler weather settling in, and daylight starts growing shorter. Instead of focusing on the temptation of candy and sweet treats that tends to come up around this time of year, remember that the holiday’s are supposed to be fun!
Here we have put together some Halloween tricks you can try for those sweet tempting treats!
*Based from MyFitnessPal
There are so many fun and healthy recipes you can prepare if you plan on throwing a Halloween party! It can be fun for the kids to see the spooky creations and make it fun for them to eat as well!
However you like to spend your spooky holiday, don’t scare yourself into focusing only on the abundant amount of candy. Remember to have fun, enjoy spending the time with your kids, family and friends. Just because it’s a holiday doesn’t mean you need to follow the same traditions. You can create your own! It’s completely up to you.
Links to related articles:
This is Halloween
Halloween Tips after Weight Loss Surgery
www.RMAP.com
Rocky Mountain Associated Physicians
801-268-3800
1160 East 3900 South, Suite 4100
SLC, UT 84124
Learn more about weight loss surgery at Rocky Mountain Associated Physicians www.RMAP.com (801) 268-3800
A study in patients who had bariatric surgery to treat diabetes, many of which had the Gastric Bypass Roux-en-Y, over 78% of those patients experienced remission in their Type 2 Diabetes, thus eliminating the need for treating medications.1 Not only do bariatric patients see improvements with diabetes, but also with obesity and many associated co-morbidities.
Type 2 Diabetes affects more than 34 million U.S. adults.2 It can lead to Cardiovascular Disease (CVD), which is the number one cause of death in people living with diabetes, resulting in 2/3 of deaths.3 It can also lead to Chronic Kidney Disease, hearing loss, high blood pressure, neuropathy, and stroke. Studies have shown that patients that have undergone bariatric surgery had fewer heart attacks, strokes, kidney failure, and heart failure.4
So What is Diabetes (Type 2)?
Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM), the most common form of diabetes, is when the body becomes resistant to insulin (a hormone that controls the blood sugar levels in the body). The cause of Type 2 Diabetes in 90% of those diagnosed has been attributed to obesity (medically defined as a body mass index (BMI) of 30 kg/m or more.) Excessive body fat has been identified as one of the largest causes of developing Type 2 Diabetes. This disease can unfortunately lead to many health problems and co-morbidities such as heart disease, stroke, blindness, kidney failure, amputations, high blood pressure, psychiatric disorders, and an increase in risk for certain forms of cancer.
Type 2 Diabetes can often worsen overtime, which is why it is considered to be a chronic and progressive disease, leading to even more medication or increases in dosage to keep blood sugar levels stable. It has become one of the most expensive chronic diseases in the US.5 In 2017, the cost was $327 billion dollars with 1 in 4 healthcare dollars attributed to diabetes averaging medical expenditures of about $9,600 per year, 2.3 times higher than non-diabetics.6 It is estimated by The Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that 34.2 million people of all ages had diabetes and 7.3 million adults aged 18 years or older were not aware of or did not report having diabetes (undiagnosed).7 The percentage of adults aged 18 years or older increased with age, reaching 26.8% among those aged 65 years or older.
How Bariatric Surgery Can Help
Weight loss is important in managing diabetes. Not only can bariatric surgery result in weight loss, but glycemic control is restored by a combination of enforced caloric restriction, enhanced insulin sensitivity, and increased insulin secretion.8 According to our own bariatric surgeon, Dr. Steven C. Simper, MD, FACS, we aren’t entirely certain why one procedure would better benefit than another, or have a concrete answer as to why it helps. “It is, however,” Dr. Simper says, “crystal clear that is does cause diabetes to go away in most patients with Type 2 Diabetes, and has significant benefits, even in patients whose diabetes doesn’t go away, including Type 1 Diabetes.”
Who is a Candidate for Bariatric Surgery?
If your health insurance plan does cover surgery, they will require certain steps and documentation in order to issue an authorization; we refer to these requirements as criteria. The criteria will vary from insurance company to insurance company and even sometimes from employer group to employer group. Your friend’s requirements and timeline to surgery may be very different from yours depending on those criteria.
All insurances will require you to have a diagnosis of morbid obesity. This is shown by a BMI (Body Mass Index) of ≥40, though if you have a co-morbid condition such as Type 2 Diabetes, Obstructive Sleep Apnea or High Blood Pressure, your BMI can be as low as 35.
Though all other criteria will vary, most commonly we see the insurances require a specific length supervised diet program, a one-time visit with a nutritionist for an evaluation and/or a psychological assessment. Additionally, you may be required to get some labs drawn, prove morbid obesity for a number of years or obtain a letter from your Primary Care Provider clearing you for surgery. The idea behind this criterion is to make sure you are prepared emotionally and physically for the changes that surgery will require and to help ease the transition to your new post-operative lifestyle.
If you are planning on paying cash for your surgery at St. Mark’s Hospital, instead of using insurance coverage, you will only have to complete a psychological evaluation. This is St. Mark’s Hospital policy as part of their Center of Excellence standing with MBSAQIP.
At RMAP, we believe that patients should choose their bariatric surgery after receiving quality education about the benefits and risks of each procedure. We strive to provide you with up-to-date and evidence-based information about each surgery to help you with that decision.
If you are interested in learning more about each of the procedures, the benefits and risks of each of them, and what procedure is best for you, we invite you to attend our free informational seminar.
Links to similar articles:
Weight Loss Surgery and Diabetes: How Does it Resolve?
Weight Loss Surgery and the Insurance Process
Bariatric Surgery as a Benefit of Diabetes
www.RMAP.com
Rocky Mountain Associated Physicians
801-268-3800
1160 East 3900 South, Suite 4100
SLC, UT 84124
Hi! My name is Kate and I am just over 1-year post-op Gastric Bypass with Dr. Nicholas Paulk. It is one of the best decisions I have made for myself. I started slowly gaining weight about 20 years ago, and after having my son 15 years ago, along with acid reflux and asthma, I wasn’t able to get the weight to come off. I have always been active, doing lots of bike riding, swimming, and fun runs with friends, but my diet really needed some changes.
About 4 years ago, I started to have breakthrough acid reflux in the middle of the night, causing me to wake up with bile in my throat, even though I was taking 40 mg of Omeprazole twice a day, and 20 mb of famotidine. I have had an Endoscopy (EGD) every few years due to Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), but after having the breakthrough symptoms I was diagnosed with Barrett’s esophagus, which can lead to esophageal cancer.
At this point I felt I needed to make a significant change. I met a friend for dinner and she was telling me about her recent experience with having Gastric Bypass. Her acid reflux had been resolved! I decided to look into the process and contacted Rocky Mountain Associated Physicians (RMAP) for more information. I attended the informational meeting in April 2021, and had my surgery September 13, 2021. What a difference my life has become after surgery. It is not without its challenges for sure, but so glad I made the decision to look into the process.
I have lost 120+ pounds, dropped 9 sizes and many inches, and no longer suffer with any acid reflux symptoms. I had a post-op EGD a few months ago and my Barrett’s esophagus is stable. I will still have to take 10 mg of Omeprazole for life, but I am hopeful to have continued improvement. I also joined an online women’s weight lifting group at Inspire Fitness, which has been amazing with helping me gain strong legs to tackle some long rides and hills on my road bike as well as some awesome definition in my arms and back.
I would highly recommend having a consult if you are thinking about weight loss surgery. It has been such a positive in my life! Thank you for the opportunity to share my story.
–Kate H.
Surgeon: Dr. Nicholas J. Paulk
Surgery Date: 9/13/21
SW: 248
CW: 124
TWL: 124
Read more patient stories here.
Interested in learning more about weight loss surgery? Learn more information here.
If you would like to share your weight loss surgery story with others and on Rocky Mountain Associated Physicians (RMAP) other social media outlets, contact Jessica at Jessica@rmapinc.com.
www.RMAP.com
Rocky Mountain Associated Physicians
801-268-3800
1160 East 3900 South, Suite 4100
SLC, UT 84124
Learn more about weight loss surgery at Rocky Mountain Associated Physicians www.RMAP.com (801) 268-3800
It is understandable why a bariatric patient might live in fear and dread of weight regain. Many patients have reported that at least a little bit of hunger creeps back into their lives a year or more out from surgery. Old cravings may pop up, undesired habits may try to sneak back into your daily routines. It is a critical time to re-commit to the healthy behaviors that brought on the success of your weight loss journey.
Many patients are highly motivated in the initial 2-year postoperative period due to how quickly the patient lost weight. When you reach a certain weight and maintenance is your goal, you may need to reassess your motivation to challenge the “obesogenic” environment in which you live.
Having the knowledge and understanding that it is natural for the body to regain some weight after bariatric surgery will help you understand and have realistic expectations that many individuals don’t lose 100% of their excess weight. It is common to see a 10-20% weight regain after you have reached maintenance, this may become a new “stable” weight.
However, the good news is that the weight loss you experience as a result of surgery CAN last a lifetime. But it is essential that your entire lifestyle changes, not just a few eating habits. There are several solutions and ways to help with weight regain and getting back on track!
Ways to Help with Weight Regain
You should be exercising 30-60 minutes a day depending on the type of exercise you are doing.
Fear can either drive you and motivate you, or it can cripple you and lead you to believe in your failure. It is your choice how to use it when weight regain comes to thought. You can use it for self-awareness instead of self-destruction by always remembering that you are a bariatric patient. You do not need to let that term define you by any means as a person, but use it to identify where you were, where you went, and where you want to be, physically and mentally healthy by your standards.
Keep in mind that it is important to have realistic goals and think of long-term success!
“Bariatric surgery procedures are merely tools and not the solution. They require a lifetime commitment to exercise and a good diet to keep the weight off,” Dr. Steven C. Simper, MD, FACS
Links to related articles:
Planning Your Meals
Understanding Portion Control
Changing Old Behaviors
Making Weight Loss Last a Lifetime
Weight Regain, and What You Can Do
Back to Nutrition Basics
www.RMAP.com
Rocky Mountain Associated Physicians
801-268-3800
1160 East 3900 South, Suite 4100
SLC, UT 84124
Learn more about weight loss surgery at Rocky Mountain Associated Physicians www.RMAP.com (801) 268-3800
It’s been studied and here it is, “Junk food is twice as distracting as healthy food.” According to a study at John Hopkins University, researches found when food is irrelevant or not even a part of the person’s task, and even when people are focused on their work, food can still sneak in and grab that person’s attention, distracting them. The study also shows that after a few bites of candy or chips, junk food is no more interesting than cabbage.1 It also goes to prove that food shopping while hungry can cause you to pick out less healthy options than if you’d eaten, even a little snack, beforehand.
First Geth and lead author Corbin A. Cunningham, Distinguished Science of Learning Fellow in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, created the study and shows that after divulging in junk food, those cravings aren’t always satisfied, leaving behind the guild feeling of having done something you shouldn’t have.
Cunningham states, “While it is hard to tell, I think some of the rewarding nature of high calorie foods might be that we know we should only occasionally indulge in them. Thus, they become more “rewarding” than foods that we could eat as much as we want.”
When foods are consumed in their natural and unprocessed form, it promotes healthy responses, supports digestive and immune systems, and minimizes inflammation of organs, capillaries and joints. When we eat processed foods, the taste hijacks our neurotransmitters and causes us to be unable to judge when we have consumed sufficient calories and nutrients, thus leading to overeat.2
Our body, brain, tongue and palate have formed an identification for these foods found in its natural form. Due to this, we have hardwired our brain to identify 3 different tastes from our food: fatty (a dense source of energy), sweet (a quick source of energy), and salty (facilitates conservation of body fluids).
It’s important to identify these food items that trick our brains into overeating and minimize them, if not to stop eating them altogether.
So, what is “junk food”? When you hear the words “junk food,” you might think of candy, chips, cookies, cake, sugary drinks, hamburgers, hot dogs, French fries, ice cream, and most items served at fast-food restaurants. “Junk food” are foods that are high in calories (or empty calories) with little to no nutritional value.
A study done by Joseph Schroeder, associate professor of psychology and director of the behavioral neuroscience program at Connecticut College, found that their theory of high-fat/high-sugar foods stimulate the brain in the same way that drugs do by doing an experiment with rats that formed an equally strong association between the pleasurable effects of eating Oreos and a specific environment as they did between cocaine or morphine and a specific environment. They also found that eating cookies activated more neurons in the brain’s “pleasure center” than exposure to drugs of abuse.3 “It may explain why some people can’t resist these foods,” Schroeder said, “despite the fact that they know they are bad for them.”
Over the years, healthier food choices, such as fruits and vegetables, have gotten a reputation of being more expensive, though the USDA says this is not always the case.4 Arguably, it can be said that “junk food” can end up being more expensive due to the negative impact on general health.
When you feel or think of the need to eat “junk food,” just for the pleasure of eating, remind yourself that you eat for nutritional purposes. Find ways to form new habits. When “Head Hunger” hits you, develop a strategy to avoid this behavior. The best way to help this is simply to drink more water.
If you have any food questions or concerns, please call our office at (801) 268-3800, or the Weight Treatment Center at St. Mark’s hospital (who we work with closely) at (801) 268-7479. If you need help with nutrition or help with overcoming old habits, don’t feel ashamed to ask for help. We can give you referrals to dieticians and psychologists who can help!
Links to similar articles:
Tips to Help with Hunger
Hunger Between Meals
The Lifestyle of a Bariatric Patient
www.RMAP.com
Rocky Mountain Associated Physicians
801-268-3800
1160 East 3900 South, Suite 4100
SLC, UT 84124
www.RMAP.com
Rocky Mountain Associated Physicians
801-268-3800
1160 East 3900 South, Suite 4100
SLC, UT 84124
Learn more about weight loss surgery at Rocky Mountain Associated Physicians www.RMAP.com (801) 268-3800
According to American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) diabetes affects 9.4% of the total US population (30.3 million people). There is a death from complications associated with diabetes every ten seconds, and because of this, it is one of the top ten leading causes of US deaths. Life expectancy is reduced by 12-14 years and an early death is increased by as much as 80%.
What is Diabetes (Type 2)?
Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) is the most common form of diabetes, which is when the body becomes resistant to insulin (a hormone that controls the blood sugar levels in the body). 90% of type 2 diabetes is an attribute to obesity (medically defined as a body mass index (BMI) of 30 kg/m or more) and excessive body fat, being one of the largest causes to developing type 2 diabetes. This disease can unfortunately lead to many health problems and co-morbidities such as heart disease, stroke, blindness, kidney failure, amputations, high blood pressure, psychiatric disorders, and put at risk for certain forms of cancer.
Type 2 diabetes can often worsen overtime, which is why it is considered to be a chronic and progressive disease, leading to even more medication or changes in dosage to keep the blood sugar levels stable. It has become one of the most expensive chronic diseases in the US1 . In 2017, the cost was $327 billion dollars with 1 in 4 healthcare dollars attributed to diabetes averaging medical expenditures of about $9,600 per year, 2.3 times higher than non-diabetics2. It is estimated by The Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that 34.2 million people of all ages had diabetes and 7.3 million adults aged 18 years or older were not aware of or did not report having diabetes (undiagnosed)3. The percentage of adults aged 18 years or older increased with age, reaching 26.8% among those aged 65 years or older.
Bariatric Surgery
Bariatric surgery or more commonly known as weight loss surgery (WLS) is currently the most effective treatment that we have for type two diabetes, and is recognizable as such by organizations such as the American Diabetes Association (ADA). More and more insurance companies are beginning to recognize this as well, allowing more and more patients to get approval from them to have weight loss surgery.
Here we have listed the most commonly utilized and approved operations performed in the US, and that our skilled surgeons here at Rocky Mountain Associated Physicians (RMAP) perform.
Gastric Bypass Roux-en-Y
Roux-en-y Gastric Bypass is one of the most frequently performed procedures for obesity in the US. It was developed to limit the amount of food consumed, but also induces metabolic changes to decrease hunger and increase metabolism. Roux-en-Y gastric bypass is a restrictive and metabolic procedure.
Almost all gastric bypass procedures performed today use a minimally invasive laparoscopic technique. The entire procedure is done through small incisions in the abdomen, an overnight stay is required, and most patients are discharged the day after surgery.
Sleeve Gastrectomy
Sleeve Gastrectomy is a restrictive and metabolic procedure, performed either as a primary surgery or as part of a staged procedure with the duodenal switch. The amount of food a patient consumes is reduced, and anatomy alterations result in metabolic changes. This leads to a decrease in hunger and an increase in metabolism. The sleeve gastrectomy is a primarily restrictive procedure, but does have a metabolic component.
Virtually all sleeve gastrectomy procedures are performed with a minimally invasive laparoscopic technique. Most patients leave the hospital the day after surgery.
Biliopancreatic Diversion with Duodenal Switch (DS)
Biliopancreatic Diversion with Duodenal Switch (DS) is a restrictive and powerful metabolic procedure. The amount of food a patient consumes is reduced, and anatomy alterations results in metabolic changes. This leads to a decrease in hunger and increase in metabolism.
The majority of DS procedures performed today use a minimally invasive laparoscopic technique, with 7-8 small abdominal incisions. Most patients are discharged the day after surgery, but some stay two nights depending on their recovery.
At RMAP, we believe that patients should choose their bariatric surgery after receiving quality education about the benefits and risks of each procedure. We strive to provide you with up-to-date and evidence-based information about each surgery to help you with that decision.
If you are interested in learning more about each of the procedures, the benefits and risks of each of them, and what procedure is best for you, we invite you to attend our free informational seminar.
Links to similar articles:
Weight Loss Surgery and Diabetes: How Does it Resolve?
Weight Loss Surgery and the Insurance Process
The Lifestyle of a Bariatric Patient
www.RMAP.com
Rocky Mountain Associated Physicians
801-268-3800
1160 East 3900 South, Suite 4100
SLC, UT 84124
I trained as a ballerina in my youth and through my early adulthood. Dance has always been a passion and a big part of my life until my late 20’s. A difficult pregnancy and childbirth changed my body in ways I never would have predicted, and I have struggled with my weight ever since. The stress of divorce and single parenthood shortly after my child’s birth added to my weight issues—something I have struggled with for the better part of the last 14 years.
Although I got back into dance 6 years ago, my joints were in constant pain thanks to my excess weight. Like many folks, I had tried a variety of diets and solid time at the gym with very disappointing results. The chronic joint pain was signaling the end of my dancing days, which was heartbreaking for me. The incomparable dancer Martha Graham once said, “A dancer dies twice—once when they stop dancing, and this first death is the more painful.” I wasn’t ready to give in to that first death. I knew if I wanted to keep dancing, I needed to take decisive action. My doctor and I decided together that Gastric Bypass surgery was the best solution for me.
At the time I went in for surgery in June of 2021, I weight 293 pounds. By the end of December, 2021, I weighed 185 pounds. My chronic joint pain has disappeared, and I dance every day with no trouble. As a dancer, I have been reborn. Surgery is not an “easy way out,” and requires dedication and work. I have been fortunate that I haven’t experienced any negative issues during my recovery. Although I made this decision for me, it has had a positive ripple effect on those around me—including my child. A human’s worth isn’t determined by a dress size or number on a scale, but being able to continue dancing means everything to me. Without the gastric bypass surgery, I would not be dancing today. It hasn’t been easy in the sense that it requires no effort, but anything worthwhile requires effort. And I’m definitely worth it!
— Kirsten C.
Surgeon: Dr. Rodrick D. McKinlay
Surgery Date: June 2nd, 2021
Surgery Performed: Gastric Bypass Roux-en-Y
SW: 293 lbs.
TWL: 108 lbs. (so far)
Read more patient stories here.
Interested in learning more about weight loss surgery? Learn more information here.
If you would like to share your weight loss surgery story with others and on Rocky Mountain Associated Physicians (RMAP) other social media outlets, contact Jessica at Jessica@rmapinc.com.
www.RMAP.com
Rocky Mountain Associated Physicians
801-268-3800
1160 East 3900 South, Suite 4100
SLC, UT 84124
My weight story starts back when I was 16, weighing close to 135 pounds, and got a job working at none other than Chick-Fil-A. Chick-Fil-A always offers a free meal each working shift and I pretty much worked 4-5 days a week, so I was having fried food (definitely more than a serving) that many times a week. It became a habit over the next two years I worked there that I ate dinner each night. At first, I wasn’t packing on much weight and all seemed fine, maybe a pound here and there, but it seemed by the end of my time there I gained nearly 50 pounds. I was aware of the gain but thought once I stopped working there it would come off. After all, I was still young and we can lose weight so much easier when we are young.
After that job I moved on to working at Super Target in the food court and got right back into the same habit except with Taco Bell instead of Chick-Fil-A. Paying no attention to my weight I just kept eating. I would eat when I was stressed, happy, sad, overwhelmed; you name a feeling and I found food to comfort it. It was about then I was starting to eat for comfort. I was unhappy because I had started to gain weight, I was not getting dates, I was lonely, and over all lost with the person I was so I just turned to food. Lucky for me the food was free so it didn’t even impact my income so I had no reason to stop doing what I was doing. By the end of my employment at the Super T I had packed on another 30 lbs. which pushed me over the 200 lb. mark for the first time ever. That was devastating! But it didn’t stop me because no matter how hard I tried to get back on the right track I just kept turning to the one thing that was always there for me…. Food.
I turned 21 by this time and decided it was time to move out with some friends and see what life is like living on my own. I decided to start drinking and smoking and really started making bad decision in general but with all the partying I was doing I didn’t have money for much food and I dropped a bunch of weight. Dropping the weight brought a lot of dates but I still had no self-esteem so I turned to men and more partying to make me feel better but of course that wasn’t working as I still felt crappy about myself but at least I had lost a good 40 lbs. and that’s all that mattered right.
Eventually I had to move back home because I just couldn’t keep living that lifestyle and that’s when the real food obsession started. I would eat dinner with my parents and then go out and have more food because I would tell myself I was hungry, mostly just to get out of the house that I thought I was so unhappy at. Really, I was still just unhappy with the person I was and food was again my go to.
Finally, I was lucky enough to meet the man of my dreams who loved me regardless of my size which was right around 200 lbs. We got married and 1 ½ years later had our first daughter. I lost weight when I was pregnant but at that point, I was close to 225 lbs. The first year of our daughter’s life was very rough with major colic that lasted months with non-stop crying. I was suffering major post-partum depression and food was my go-to. I would eat 2-foot-long subway sandwiches and then a few hours later get some tacos or cheeseburgers. The only thing that seemed to make my life happy was food. Soon after the colic calmed down, she got fierce ear infections that would not go away but we had to play the insurance game to get tubes so she was crying a lot once again. By the end of the first year, I had gained 20 lbs.
Once we got into the groove of life with a child and all her issues had calmed, I finally felt like she could be in day care and I could find a job which would maybe make me happy. I started working at HAFB and was really enjoying it there but I was still depressed and found food to be my only escape. I would got eat at a Mexican restaurant at least twice a week and then we would eat out most other days because I was too depressed to have the motivation to cook or do much of anything. I was busy trying to care for my daughter that was very serious and very hard to care for even though she had finally moved on from her issues during the first year. All in all, I would say I was just emotionally miserable, unhappy with the person I was.
I got pregnant with my second daughter and terrified to experience what I had with my first. This time I talked with the doctor about my 1st experience and we took precautions so it went much smoother but it was now 2 children and seemed overwhelming and once again turned to food.
Over the next 13 years I discovered my oldest has Asperger’s, my husband has had cancer twice, my mother-in-law was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, and I have had some chronic health issues that have left me with some major joint problems. Add that to just normal everyday life stresses and food is the only place I could turn. Throughout all those years I had packed on nearly 100 lbs. bringing my highest weight to 313 lbs. which Brings me to……
January 1st 2021…. 303 lbs.
I made the decision that day I was taking my life back. I had been to the doctor a few days earlier to get not great news regarding my health. My A1C was 10.7. My blood sugar was in the high 280s. My liver was in the beginning stages of fatty liver disease and my kidneys were starting to show proteins in them regularly. I was only 42 and I was starting to see all these organs effected by diabetes. I couldn’t believe at my age these things were already happening. I needed to get it under control. I also knew that in April of 2022 I was going on a school trip with my oldest daughter and with the weight I was at I was not going to be able to stay up with the tour group and I would be miserable.
On Jan 1 I spoke with my husband about having this life changing surgery and that I had tried everything and he knew it. We have been trying diet after diet since we got married. Weight watchers, jenny craig, nutri system, personal trainers, nutritionists, medifast/optavia, and any new fad diet. Nothing worked. I couldn’t stick with anything for longer than a month. Things would work for a bit then I would just quit.
The first day I could I called the insurance to find out what I needed to do to get the insurance to cover my surgery, after all I met the obesity criteria for surgery but I needed to check the boxes to get it paid for. It required 4 Dr. visits, a visit with a nutritionist, and a psychological evaluation and then I could finally get approved. I thought by May I’d be ready to go. I am so thankful for the mental evaluation because it discovered that I was ADHD and had been undiagnosed for my entire life. That made a lot of sense why I could not stick to anything including diets. This diagnosis also allowed for me to get into a therapist to help me with my depression and anxiety to help me be as successful as possible. It helped me realize I do deserve to have a better and happy life.
I finally got approved at the end of April and started my appts with the surgeon where my weight was around 290 lbs. but I had to wait because of Covid there was a long long list waiting for surgery. I was so frustrated because I had worked so hard to get ready and I didn’t want to lose the courage, after all I had lost it once before about 5 years earlier.
Over the next 4 months and after getting medicated for my ADHD I stayed on track and kept my surgery in mind. I finally got the call and got scheduled. I was ready! August 18th couldn’t come soon enough! I was scared but excited for my new life. It was going to be great! I was going to be happy and it was going to be the best change I had ever made. Surgery day came….Duodenal Switch was the surgery I chose… Surgery weight 279.
The doctor said my surgery went smooth as could be…. Almost boring! Ha ha. But then I woke up and I felt like hell. I kept throwing up and was in so much pain! Oh, the pain was almost unbearable. The nurses did their best to help me with the vomiting and pain but that just made me sleep. Day 2 after surgery was no better. I could get up and walk but I could not get anything down. I just thought what did I do! The heartburn was horrible! Water was making me breath fire so I couldn’t even think about trying broth or Jello. I could get up and walk around but that’s it. Day 3 and the hospital seemed like they couldn’t wait to get me out even though I was still in major pain and unable to even drink so off to home I went and it was horrible. I was in such bad shape. So much pain and barely consuming any water and nothing else. I was so worried about getting dehydrated and terrified to get constipated I refused to take any pain pills.
The first week I was in complete hell! I was weak, nauseous, in pain and scared that this was my life now. I was even scared to call the doctor’s office because I didn’t want to be a baby or bother them with something that was completely normal but my husband convinced me to call. Finally, I did and the nurse called in vitamins and an IV infusion which helped in such a huge way just to give me some energy. I still had a lot of nausea but at least I wasn’t so tired. Eating was still not going well but at least my mouth was finally not so dry.
For the next five weeks I was in and out of the IV therapy for more fluids because I just could not eat and there was still pain. Even drinking was hard on me. I was to the point where I hated trying to eat. I despised food. It just was not worth it anymore to try to eat. I couldn’t even tolerate any vitamins. It was finally time for my 6 week follow up and the doctor decided to do a scope and see if there was something going on that was causing so many issues for me. Turns out there was a stitch that never dissolved and tied my stomach together. That was a quick simple fix but still took time to recover and learn to eat again. I am still learning and it’s been 4 months total.
Over the last 4 months since surgery, it’s been a slow miserable recovery. I still hate to eat but I have also learned that I had to break up with food in a way similar to a break up with a boyfriend. One you still need to remain friends with because you have common interests but not obsessed with anymore. I had to learn new coping mechanisms to get me through these miserable months. Afterall, normally when I am miserable, I turned to food so what now? Well with the help of my therapist we discovered other ways to cope by journaling, coloring in adult coloring books, taking a walk, and just simply trying to mentally work through some the thoughts and feelings I am having regarding food. I am currently down 95 lbs. for the year and 73 lbs. since surgery. I still can’t quite wrap my brain around the physical person I am becoming but over time I will get there. Have I reached the point where I am happy, I made this decision? Not yet but am I getting there? Yes, I think I am. I am slowly eating better each day. I am learning what I can eat and what makes me feel good and not so good. I am still learning what happens when you eat too fast and that I need to SLOW DOWN. I am still learning that you can’t drink before you eat or you can’t eat. My motto since the beginning of the year has been I can do hard things and boy have I been doing HARD things!
I have loved experiencing non scale victories (NSV) like crossing my legs, not using a seatbelt extender and having extra seatbelt on the airplanes. I can actually see extra seat in stadiums when I sit down. I walked around New York City and Minneapolis for days without getting winded or completely drenched in sweat. I recently started wearing XL clothes which I was wearing 3XL and 24 pants. All these changes are amazing so I am working hard at focusing on all these new things and not the things that are still continuing to be rough for me.
That is my story to this point….. I look forward to what more is coming!
— Mindi L.
Surgeon: Dr. Nicholas J. Paulk
Surgery Date: August 18th, 2021
Surgery Performed: Duodenal Switch
SW: 279
TWL: 73 (so far)
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Rocky Mountain Associated Physicians
801-268-3800
1160 East 3900 South, Suite 4100
SLC, UT 84124
Address: 1160 E 3900 S Suite 4100
Office: + (801) 268‑3800 .
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Email: info@rmapinc.com
