Celebrate Every Day: Paulette’s Life-Changing Weight Loss Surgery

"I had an epiphany; I was going to die if I didn't do something."

Often, it's a wake-up call that leads to taking action. Paulette, who lost more than 100 pounds with Franciscan Health Weight Loss Surgery, knew what was coming if she didn't lose the weight and keep it off.

"I already had hypertension and a family history of diabetes," Paulette said. "In fact, my mother passed from complications of diabetes. I was not going to go down the road of finger sticks and glucose monitoring. No way. No how."

Struggling with obesity since childhood, Paulette had been on more diets than she could count. And after struggling through the pandemic with a lack of motivation and fear of being at high risk for COVID-19 due to her weight, all it took was the courage to step on the scale to see a number she'd never seen.

"I was horrified that it read 260 pounds," Paulette said. "This was the absolute heaviest I'd ever been. I felt like a beached whale and totally disgusted with myself. That's why I took charge of my health. After researching weight loss surgery, discovering my insurance would cover a majority of the costs, and encouraging my partner who was also struggling with obesity to begin the journey with me, I sealed the deal."

Weight Loss Surgery: What to Expect Pre-Surgery

Bariatric or weight loss surgery is typically recommended for patients with a BMI of 35 or more with two obesity-related health conditions, including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, hypertension, arthritis, etc.

Whether or not you qualify as a weight loss surgery candidate is dependent on your initial assessment and the preconditioning plan developed by an experienced bariatric surgeon, dietician and weight loss surgery care team.

"The number one thing is you must be in the right headspace to undergo this procedure. The first part of the process is meeting with a psychologist to assess if you're doing this for the right reasons. They want you to maintain your weight loss and stay healthy while making a real effort to change your lifestyle."

Weight Loss Surgery Is A Proven Tool, Effective Long Term

According to a recent study, researchers noted a significant death rate decrease among those who have had weight loss surgery. Reducing your risk for cardiovascular disease, certain cancers and diabetes, and decreasing your dependency on medications for obesity-related health conditions can be powerful motivators for sustainability. But what's the secret to keeping the weight off?

"As a weight loss surgery practice, we offer surgical solutions to decreasing weight," explains Sandra Wischmeyer, MD, a bariatric surgeon at Franciscan Health Weight Loss Surgery Center in Michigan City. "It is a deeply personal process."

"We work as a team to help patients achieve their goals," Dr. Wischmeyer said. "Most goals aren't weight based, but more about being able to enjoy the simple things in life, like going for a walk without being short of breath, riding a rollercoaster or chasing a child around the yard. We aim to provide patients with the tools they need to be successful long term,"

With the rise of weight loss injectables like Semaglutide (Ozempic) that offer fast-acting results, Dr. Wischmeyer warns others that you must "reprogram" your eating and activity habits to remain successful.

"Part of the reason weight loss surgery has been a proven and effective intervention for sustainable weight loss is because you're working on lifestyle changes with qualified professionals from the day you decide to pursue the surgery to years after," Dr. Wischmeyer said. "We see patients annually for life after surgery."

Paulette worked with Dr. Wischmeyer and her team six months prior to surgery to go over what to expect and how to begin making significant changes to her diet to prove she could lose weight and implement a new way of living.

"I was given a binder with so much information and what to expect after surgery, the food I was allowed to eat week by week until my body healed, etc," Paulette said. "The dietician on my team provided great tips on different types of protein-based foods to focus on–protein items I never knew existed! It all really opened up a whole new world for me."

What Should You Know About Weight Loss Surgery?

For patients considering weight loss surgery, Paulette offers her words of wisdom.

"Never think there is no solution and this is your fate," Paulette said. "Surgery does not mean you will never be able to eat again. It just means you will need to be conscious of what and how much you eat. This was the best decision for my health I've ever made."

Paulette has successfully maintained her goal weight for two years and she's never looked back.

"I celebrate every day. This is the new me and I know my healthiest days are ahead of me."