Patient Stories
Christina’s Story
Christina has always had a very close relationship with her mother, whom she strongly resembles physically. As she watched her mother’s health problems worsen, she began to consider her own lifestyle.
“I was afraid of going down that health route,” Christina said. “It was never about ‘being fat;’ it was a health concern for me.”
After deciding to consider bariatric surgery, Christina did her research. She began digging up any information she could find on bariatric surgery, especially online. Plus, she had a cousin who had gastric bypass surgery, and she knew some coworkers who had experience with bariatric surgery, and she gathered valuable information from their experiences. She heard both good and bad testimonials, and the common denominator was always the surgeon.
Christina wanted to ensure she knew everything about the various surgeons, procedures and bariatrics programs before making a decision. She looked in to a few bariatric programs, but after she attended an OhioHealth Fresh Start Bariatrics seminar with Dr. Stephan Myers, she knew her decision was made.
She never lacked in support, through her entire process. Christina comes from a large family, and they were very encouraging of her decision to get surgery, especially her mother.
Luckily, Christina really didn’t have any major concerns going in to surgery. She had thoroughly researched the entire process, and felt confident about the situation- there were no unknowns.
“Having this surgery really is a lifestyle change. You can’t live the way you used to live.”
To maintain her weight and remain healthy, Christina has a few strategies to stay on track:
- When you eat out, order a box at the same time you order the food. Immediately put a portion in the to-go box.
- Eat smaller portions, six times a day.
- Use a smaller plate for meals.
- Eat slowly.
- Don’t think you have to follow the “clean plate” rule.
Christina shares that unlike a lot of bariatric candidates, she never considered herself “fat” before having surgery. She was always confident, and didn’t let her weight affect what she did or didn’t do. However, now, she appreciates the energy and health she has gained. To her, the real change physically, is the way other people, especially strangers, treat her.
“People treat you differently; I didn’t realize how invisible I was to other people before,” Christina said.
Christina says she’s more aware of how she treats herself now, and she tries to make better choices for herself. She encourages others to remember that being thin doesn’t solve all your problems.
“Fresh Start focuses on treating the whole person,” Christina said. “There are specific requirements with the Fresh Start program that other programs don’t have. For example, physical therapy, speaking with a nutritionist, post-surgery counseling and follow-up care are all included in the Fresh Start program.”
After attending the seminar, Christina’s decision to get the Lap-Band surgery was easy. She felt like it was the right procedure for her, personally, and she felt a connection with Dr. Myers and the Fresh Start staff.
“Dr. Myers is always there when I go for visits, and the entire Fresh Start team has always been supportive and more than willing to help,” Christina said. “I can’t say enough good things about the people at Fresh Start; they even give out their personal contact information in case you need something after office hours!”
Christina encourages people considering surgery to really do their research and talk to people who have done the surgery. She says that information from bariatric patients is honest and unbiased, and can be extremely helpful when making your personal decision.
“In life, in general, I try to be more in the moment. Be happy now, not when you lose those last pounds.”
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