In fall 2010, Richard Ochner, then 45, had reached a crossroad. Tipping the scale at 375 pounds, he relied on nine daily medications to control type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. “I’d had enough,” Richard recalls. “I wanted my life back.”
That’s when he started to look for the right weight-loss method for him. His search led him to The Institute for Bariatric and Minimally Invasive Surgery at St. Luke’s and Roosevelt Hospitals. Richard knew the surgery promised to help him shed the extra weight; he didn’t know it could free him of diabetes, high cholesterol and high blood pressure.
“Some bariatric surgery procedures are up to 95 percent successful at reversing diabetes,” says the Institute’s Director Julio Teixeira, MD. “In Richard’s case, we decided laparoscopic gastric bypass surgery was essential in order to cure a lot of his medical problems beyond the excess weight.”
Laparoscopic gastric bypass is a minimally invasive procedure where surgeons make a small pouch from the stomach, which they re-attach to the small intestine. This restricts the amount of food you can eat, and the body absorbs fewer calories from it. Find out if you’re a candidate.
“I began thinking of this procedure as an operation that would cure my diabetes. The side effect was that I would lose weight,” Richard recalls. Although he made up his mind to have surgery, the consultation with Dr. Teixeira was only the start.
Preparing for a new life
Richard’s next step was to make the long-term commitment to change his diet and lifestyle. No more trips to White Castle and no more overindulging in high-fat foods. “Bariatric surgery doesn’t work in a vacuum; it works by making a total lifestyle change,” says Dr. Teixeira.
To prepare, Richard attended group counseling and education sessions, underwent a psychological evaluation and diagnostic workup, and was quizzed on his knowledge and expectations for surgery. “Without the long-term commitment and education, even after surgery, I would just lose the same 30 pounds I had lost a hundred times before putting me back to square one,” Richard says.
The weight is lifted
A day and a half following surgery in November 2010, Richard returned home – and on the road to being free of diabetes. As the weight fell off, he began eliminating his medications one at a time. “I finally realized the fog I had been in for the last nine years by taking all of those medications,” Richard says. “After surgery, my attention span, my energy level and my confidence returned as the weight came off and the medications stopped.”
Now, close to a year later, Richard is 110 pounds lighter and on his way toward reaching his goal weight of 200 pounds through diet and regular exercise.
“This surgery is going to allow me to see my daughters get married and enjoy my grandchildren down the road,” Richard says. “The surgery has lifted more than just the weight burden off my shoulders.”
If you’re dealing with health complications caused by excessive weight, find out if you’re a candidate for bariatric surgery by attending a support group. Get the details at LiveWellNewYork.com or by calling 1-855-411-5969.
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