Struggling with Weight Loss?
Spring 2004 “I’ve struggled with weight all
of my life. Up and down, like a yo-yo,” recalled
Rosalind Edwards, 40, of Sicklerville, New Jersey. “The
most I weighed was 298 lbs. -- even walking
became a problem,” she said. “I decided
that I needed to do something permanent to lose
it,” she said.
This decision led Mrs. Edwards, who is married
with three young daughters, to Pennsylvania Hospital
for laparoscopic gastric bypass surgery. Less
than one year later, Mrs. Edwards has lost 90
lbs. At 5’7”, she currently weighs
207 lbs. — dropping from a size 24 to a
size 14.
Alan Schuricht, MD,
a general surgeon who specializes in laparoscopic
surgery, performed the operation. “When
I met this doctor, he was very thorough, very
accommodating,” said Mrs. Edwards,
a former nurse. “One of the patients at
the hospital where I worked told me about this
good doctor. This patient had the same surgery
with excellent results.”
Gastric bypass surgery, also known as bariatric
surgery, has become a popular weight loss method
for people who are severely obese for several
reasons. Over the last few years, there has been
widespread media coverage of celebrity success
stories, including Al Roker, Carnie Wilson and
Randy Jackson. Other reasons include the well-documented
health benefits of losing weight — from
controlling diabetes and blood pressure to preventing
strokes, heart disease and cancer. In addition,
many insurance providers are paying for the surgery.
The approximate cost of the procedure, including
all hospital, physician, laboratory and other
fees is about $25,000.
Because of her weight, Mrs. Edwards said, “I
started to have other problems, like sleep apnea.” Although
she had not developed any symptoms related to
hypertension or diabetes, she was well aware
of the risks.
According to the American Society of Bariatric
Surgery, in 2003, over 103,000 Americans underwent
weight loss surgery — a figure that has
quadrupled in the past five years. About half
of the weight loss surgeries performed are achieved
through laparoscopic surgery, which
is less invasive. The Society estimates that
145,000 surgeries will be performed in 2004.
Mrs. Edwards turned out to be a good candidate
for the laparoscopic surgical method, which is
usually determined by a person’s size,
height, weight and past surgical history. “I
was very happy with the laparoscopic approach,” she
said. “I was in the hospital for about
three days and my recovery was minimal. I didn’t
need pain medications, although they were prescribed.”
As a Jehovah’s Witness, Mrs. Edwards also
received support before and after the surgery
from the Center for Bloodless Medicine and Surgery
(CBMS) at Pennsylvania Hospital. The CBMS staff
provided counseling and assisted her with the
required paperwork regarding blood transfusions.
Mrs. Edwards remembered receiving a call at
home from Patricia Ford, MD, the Center’s
director, shortly after the surgery. “They
(CBMS) were very reassuring. I was really impressed
by the individual concern they have for their
patients. I have recommended them to others.”
After the surgery, she quickly resumed her normal
activities. “I was able to shop, drive,
and do things around the house. The weight started
coming off easily,” she
said. “Since your stomach is much smaller,
you don’t have the same appetite.”
Mrs. Edwards said the biggest challenge has
been complying with the mandatory dietary restrictions,
especially the first six to seven weeks after
the surgery.
“The most difficult thing was not to eat
and drink at the same time. You must eat a certain
way in order to get the nutrients. In the beginning,
you can’t drink, for example, soda or carbonated
beverages,” she said. “After a few
months, you can start eating whatever you want
with the exception of sugar,” she said.
Immediately after the surgery, Mrs. Edwards
lost 20 lbs. Two months after the surgery, she
lost 60 lbs. “By the time I went on a cruise
in August, some of my family members didn’t
even recognize me!”
Mrs. Edwards’ said she is working to lose
20 more pounds to reach her goal weight of 180
lbs. “Your eating habits change,” she
said. “Even though you have a smaller stomach,
you must still watch things like carbohydrate
intake and eating enough protein. You must still
watch your weight,” she
added, “but I’m glad I went through
with it.”
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