Patient Stories
Sutter Bariatric Services
Molly
Molly’s struggle with weight did not begin until she had her first baby. After her second child was born, she gained even more weight and took medication to deal with post-partum depression – medication which she later found out was a culprit in her battle with the bulge.
“I tried everything to lose the weight,” Molly said. “I exercised, fasted, took diet aids, tried weight-loss programs – the scale didn’t budge.” In 2006, weighing 280 pounds at age 40, Molly began having heart palpitations and went to the ER. Her cardiac problems were one symptom of her unhealthy weight. “I was too young for this,” she said. “I decided to do something about it.”
Molly remembered seeing ads in the newspaper about bariatric seminars offered by Sutter Health. She decided now was the time to attend one. “I felt at ease as soon as I heard Dr. Tom Hopkins speak,” Molly said. “He talked about bariatric medicine and non-surgical approaches to weight loss – it was informative and I was compelled to make an appointment with him.” Molly also listened to the next speaker, Dr. Steven Patching, a bariatric surgeon. “I was considering weight-loss surgery and was glad to hear about Dr. Patching’s experience with laparoscopic surgery. But I felt most comfortable going to Dr. Hopkins as my first step.”
After her appointment with Dr. Hopkins, Molly felt inspired to follow a healthier lifestyle. “Not only did he provide insightful information about what my body needed, he gave me options. He never gave orders – it was all up to me.” Molly worked with Dr. Hopkins’ nutritionist to revise her eating habits.
“That made a big difference in choosing this program,” she said. “I didn’t find any other bariatric programs that had a bariatric doctor, nutritionist and a surgeon. Most were all about surgery.”
As Molly began to turn her life around with a renewed commitment to a healthy lifestyle, she took the next step that she knew she needed: meeting with bariatric surgeon, Dr. Steven Patching. “He knew I was motivated because I changed my nutritional habits and had been losing weight,” Molly said. “He agreed that I would be a good candidate for gastric bypass.”
Over the next six months, Molly worked on fulfilling the requirements mandated by her insurance company to ensure she would be physically, mentally and emotionally fit to handle bariatric surgery. In April 2007, she underwent laparoscopic surgery at Sutter Medical Center in Sacramento with Dr. Patching. The surgery was a success and had no complications. “The hospital staff was wonderful,” Molly said. “I was discharged after three days.”
It took Molly about a month to fully recover from the major surgery. After that, she felt like herself again – but was ready for a new lifestyle. In a little over a year, Molly met her goal by losing 120 pounds. “I feel great!” she says. “It is such a relief to not have my extra weight and all the problems that went with it.”
Molly gives a lot of credit to the support that Sutter Health offered. “I took full advantage of both doctors, the nutritionist, and the support group,” Molly said. “And I feel confident that I’ll be able to maintain my weight and my health with their help.”
Today, Molly feels like she’s in the prime of her life. “I’m far healthier than I have been in a long time. I have more energy, too. Dr. Hopkins and Dr. Patching gave me the boost I needed, and I’ve made the most of it by taking advantage of all their resources and committing to a healthy lifestyle. It’s a lot of work, but it’s worth it.”