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Harlingen -- Dawn Rodriguez of Harlingen has seen some “amazing and life-changing” stories of Valley residents who have lost weight and improved their health and their outlook on life after having bariatric surgery at Valley Baptist Medical Center in Harlingen.
Ms. Rodriguez went through her own “powerful transformation” after undergoing gastric bypass surgery at Valley Baptist in 2006. A registered nurse, Ms. Rodriguez now works as the Program Director for Valley Baptist’s Surgical Weight Loss Program. She uses her own experience with weight-loss surgery in helping to personally guide patients through the entire process, from pre-surgery requirements, the surgery itself, lifestyle changes, and support groups.
"It’s like beginning your life again, after you have the surgery and you start losing weight,” Ms. Rodriguez says. "I lost 110 pounds in 10 months, after my surgery with Dr. (Ashraf) Hilmy. Before the surgery, I could not even play with my children without becoming tired. Now I feel better, enjoy life more, and enjoy my family more.”
In addition, Ms. Rodriguez’ overall health has dramatically improved. Before having her surgery, Ms. Rodriguez coped with high blood pressure, migraine headaches, high cholesterol, sleep problems and depression -- and even suffered a heart attack at the young age of 35.
“This is something I’m very passionate about -- but until you’re ready for it, it’s not your time,” she says. “I loved food -- but I also love my kids. My husband and I prayed about it and we felt the Lord was telling us that it was time.”
Ms. Rodriguez says many people don’t realize the serious clinical issues which come with being obese. She has seen patients with Type 2 diabetes whose sugar has gone back to normal after losing the weight.
“After the surgery, some patients may not have to take insulin any more -- they may revert back to just needing minimal oral medications or eventually no medications … it depends on how long they have been insulin-dependent,” she said.
For other patients, the pain in their joints diminishes after losing weight -- and for many it helps lower their cholesterol, Ms. Rodriguez said.
Before undergoing bariatric surgery, Ms. Rodriguez says it’s important to get accurate information and the educational, emotional, and spiritual support that is provided by Valley Baptist’s program.
“I’m here to literally hold the hand of our patients and help them get through this,” Dawn says. “I provide one-on-one consultations. I’m with them pre-operatively … I’m with them during surgery. I follow-up with them after surgery … I give them my cell phone number – and they call me.”
Without all the support of a program like Valley Baptist’s, Ms. Rodriguez says it’s too easy for people to fall back into their old eating habits -- even after bariatric surgery.
“Your stomach may be smaller, but the problem is still there … a lot of people have stress / anxiety or boredom eating,” Ms. Rodriguez says. “Obesity is a life-long disease -- and it takes a life-long solution, which is not only surgery, but also behavioral modification.”
The Valley Baptist Surgical Weight Loss Program offers several surgical options, including laparoscopic gastric sleeve, laparoscopic gastric bypass and Lap Band procedures. Surgeons who will be involved in the program include Dr.Ashraf Hilmy, Dr. Antonio Benavides, and Dr. Eldo Frezza.
The recovery time for surgery patients varies depending on many factors, including the type of surgery. Ms. Rodriguez said she went back to work about five days after having an open bypass -- but it often takes about six weeks before the patient feels that they can lift things.
“The recovery time for the Lap Band is shorter than the Laparoscopic Sleeve and Bypass because of the nature of the surgery,” she said.
“Depending on the amount of weight the patient needs to lose, it can take the Lap Band patient up to five years to achieve their goal whereas the Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy and Gastric Bypass patient may achieve their goal in as little as six to eighteen months,” Ms. Rodriguez added.
Valley Baptist holds a free “Introduction to Surgical Weight Loss Options” class on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month, from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Boggus Education Pavilion, located across the street from the Emergency Dept. at Valley Baptist in Harlingen. Upcoming class dates include November 10, Nov. 24, and Dec. 8. For more information, contact Dawn Rodriguez, RN, BSN, at (956) 389-6896 or at dawn.rodriguez@valleybaptist.net.
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