A family history of obesity, diabetes, and high blood pressure, plus a frightening experience with gestational diabetes, is enough to make anyone face facts. For Dr. Sasse’s employee-turned-patient, Daizy, it was the motivation she needed to to make a life-changing decision. “My biggest fear was the diabetes returning if I didn’t get my weight under control,” she remembers. “That’s what made me consider bariatric surgery.”
A Big Decision
Daizy’s situation as a team member at a bariatric surgical center gave her a unique advantage — she had access to all the information she needed. “Being an employee for Dr. Sasse, I attended multiple seminars and they were pretty informational,” she says. “Seeing patients every day and listening to what they had to say was also very helpful.” What’s more, her mother served as additional inspiration. “My mom had bariatric surgery ten years ago and she has been very successful.”
In 2018, she decided it was time to commit and in December of that year, she had the sleeve gastrectomy. She remembers feeling mild anxiety, but another emotion was stronger. “I was mainly excited to continue my weight loss journey that I’d been working on so long.” And as it is for the vast majority of patients, the impact was incredible. “Having the sleeve done was the best thing I could have done for myself,” Daizy shares. “I feel like I have more energy to be more active with my children and being able to do my job without feeling pain in my knees or having my feet hurt. I also reduced my chances of developing diabetes later in life. Overall I feel great and I have no regrets!”
Understanding the Role of Weight Loss Surgery
It’s imperative that patients understand the true value of bariatric or metabolic surgery. At its very best, it’s a tool designed to help people achieve their goals. This was something Daizy understood going in. “Bariatric is not just a quick fix,” she says. “You still have to do most of the work.” Her advice to others who are debating this kind of procedure emphasizes the importance of understanding and embracing this perspective. “The surgery is an amazing tool that can definitely help someone healthy weight loss goals,” she says, “but definitely take advantage of all the tools that come along with it, along with following the diets that are given during the first few months.”
Of course, she’s also happy to recommend Dr. Sasse. “I work for the man!” She laughs. “But all jokes aside, he is an amazing surgeon. I follow him all day when he is in the office doing clinic and he definitely takes his time listening to all his patients and any concern they may have.”
Her takeaway is simple. “Do it. But if you’re going to do it, commit to it!” For Daizy, like many of Dr. Sasse’s patients, life has only improved. “Two years later and I still feel like having weight loss surgery was the best thing I could have done,” she says. “I improved my overall quality of life and reduced my chances of developing diabetes or high blood pressure. I enjoy having the ability to be more active and having more energy.”
If you’re considering bariatric surgery, we hope you’ll contact the Sasse team today. We can answer all of your questions and make recommendations.
