Sleeve Gastrectomy Offers Fresh Start for Saginaw Patient
Father, Corrections Officer, Bariatric Surgery Patient
“Getting this surgery was definitely one of the best decisions I have ever made, and I have no regrets.”
William White, 39, was athletic in his youth and has been a regular at the gym his whole life. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he was unable to go to the gym and his eating got out of control. When he could finally take a step back, he realized his size was impacting his health and overall wellbeing. So, he consulted Bariatric Surgeon Vasanth Stalin at MyMichigan Medical Center Saginaw. Dr. Stalin performed sleeve gastronomy surgery, and White feels like he has a new lease on life.
“Initially, when I heard about bariatric surgery, I was on the fence, because I wasn’t really sure what the outcome would be,” White shared. “But once I realized that I had ballooned to 420 pounds during the pandemic, I had to take a step back and realize that in order to get my health and labs back to normal, I was going to need some help; there was no way around it.”
White, a correctional officer, recognized that he was stress-eating, which was causing high cholesterol and blood pressure numbers. He admitted that he wasn’t making smart food choices, and they were directly impacting his health. “I was strong as hell, but I had a lot of excess body fat, which was preventing me from living a healthy life,” he said.
Sleeve gastrectomy is one of the bariatric surgery procedures available at MyMichigan’s bariatric program. White and Dr. Stalin agreed it would be a good choice for him. The procedure uses staples to divide the stomach into two sections, removing the largest section and keeping a long, narrow section resembling the shape of a sleeve. Patients who undergo sleeve gastrectomy feel full quickly and consume less food at each meal. On average, patients lose about half of their excess body weight in 12 months. The procedure is performed laparoscopically through a small incision for quicker healing.
Since undergoing surgery, White has lost 186 pounds. He is moving much better and feeling more energetic. His labs are looking good, and he continues to weigh portions and make healthy meal choices.
“The process of this was kind of weird in that I couldn’t really see it for myself until I compared before and after photos,” White said. “Getting this surgery was definitely one of the best decisions I have ever made, and I have no regrets.”
White has said he would recommend the surgery to anyone who was motivated to embrace a healthy lifestyle and improve their overall wellbeing. He credits his surgeon and the MyMichigan bariatric program for providing the expertise and care to get him on the right path.
“If you are thinking about getting bariatric surgery, do it. Be mindful and ready to weigh your food every day. Getting into the gym isn’t hard at all; it’s actually really fun. Forming a healthy lifestyle and healthy eating habits will have you feeling as good as I do.”
MyMichigan Health offers bariatric surgery in Saginaw, Alma, Midland and Sault Ste. Marie. Those who would like to learn more or take a free weight loss assessment may visit www.mymichigan.org/weightloss.
