‘I am excited to see how the Bariatric Surgery Institute can help change my life!’

Join us as we follow Amy on her journey through the Bariatric Surgery Institute at McLaren Macomb.

Like so many people, Amy has struggled with her weight.

For as long as she can remember, she says, she has been overweight, and its impact on her overall health and life’s enjoyment has weighed on her mind.

She acted. Amy made an appointment and entered the program at the Bariatric Surgery Institute at McLaren Macomb.

She hopes to lose weight, of course. But her ultimate goal is to increase her overall health.

Do you have a surgery date yet? When did you first contact the Bariatric Surgery Institute at McLaren Macomb?

I don’t have a set date yet, but I have been in the pre-surgery process for about five months. I am required by my insurance to do six months’ worth of weigh-ins with my primary care doctor’s office to show progress. I started the process back in September, meeting with Christina from the bariatric institute on Nov. 12.

What made you take the first step to contact the Bariatric Surgery Institute at McLaren Macomb?

I have always been overweight, for as long as I can remember. I have tried diet after diet, lifestyle change after lifestyle change. I would see some of the weight come off, just for it to come right back after I stopped this diet or that diet. I felt like nothing was working for me.

When I reached my highest weight in the last year, I knew that I needed to step up and make a change not only for myself but for my family. I know many of the health conditions that come along with being obese, and I need to take the first step in saving myself.

My mom also had this type of surgery several years ago. I saw her entire life change before my eyes! She not only got healthier but was able to reverse some of the health issues that she faced (sleep apnea, diabetes, high blood pressure, just to name a few), and she was able to go off of some of her medications as this surgery changed her life!

Had weight impacted your life? And in what ways?

Yes, I feel like there are things that I cannot do because of my weight. I get tired easily, constantly feel drained, and can’t do some of the things I enjoy. I don’t feel healthy and I have aches and pains that a 35-year-old shouldn’t have.

I also don’t feel great about the way I look. Shopping for clothes, especially ones for work isn’t easy. I work in a professional environment and sometimes I feel like my weight will stop me from being able to do what I want to do there. My team at work loves to do off-sites and team building activities. I have the constant worry that they are going to pick an activity that I can’t do because of weight restrictions. This is on a personal level as well.

There are things that I would love to be able to do with friends or family that I can’t because of my weight. One example that stands out is that I have always loved roller coasters. We went with friends to Cedar Point a few years back and I wasn’t able to ride any of the rides due to my weight.

How has your family reacted to your decision to get the surgery?

My family is very supportive of my decision. My husband wants me to do what I need to do to be happy and healthy. We have seen how this surgery can change lives!

My parents are also supportive, especially my mom who had the surgery herself. They have all told me they will be there with me every step of the way. We also told some of my extended family about my decision over the holidays and everyone was very supportive!

What are you doing to prepare for the surgery?

Right now, I am focused on the pre-surgery requirements. I track all of my food, watching the amount of fats and sweets I eat. I just had a sleep study done and am working on getting the second one scheduled. I have meet with a psychiatrist who helped me understand some of the outcomes I could face with the surgery, as well as understanding what got me here. I meet with my primary care doctor once a month, and they are monitoring my weight loss and weigh ins.

What are your expectations after this whole process?

My expectations are that this is a tool to help me get healthier. It is going to be hard, probably the hardest thing I have ever done in my life. But I need to do it, for myself, for my family, for my life. I want to live a long healthy life, feeling good about myself, and improving my health. I am excited to see how the Bariatric Surgery Institute can help change my life!