Tamara knew things had to change. Having been raised in a family where problems with weight and diabetes were common, she saw some of those obesity comorbidities presenting in herself.

After gradually gaining weight as a stay-at-home mom of two boys — excess snacking was her downfall — Tamara started having severe problems with heartburn. She began to dread meals because of the discomfort she knew would follow. Barely into her 40s, she was taking prescription medicine for arthritis and fibromyalgia.

Things got so bad that she had to have surgery to repair her esophagus and stomach, which had been eaten away by digestive acids. But that failed less than three years later, and she turned to the experienced doctors and staff at the Weight Loss Institute of Columbus Regional Health for help.

“At first I didn’t qualify for gastric bypass since I wasn’t heavy enough,” said Tamara, who weighed about 230 pounds at the time. But the medical team at the Weight Loss Institute continued to work with Tamara, monitoring her condition and consulting with her health insurance provider.

Eventually it was determined that an open gastric bypass procedure was the best way to go, so as to repair her previous damage while also addressing her weight issues.

“I knew going into it that it would be scary. Any surgery is scary, but especially when they have to open you back up,” she said.

Tamara says the gastric bypass surgery was the right choice for her.

“Dr. Lee says I was the miracle patient, especially as active as I am now,” she said.
Four years later, Tamara maintains a slim and healthy weight of 135 pounds at age 45. Now working as pre-K teacher, she has more energy than she’d ever dreamed.

“I’m so energetic, I do more than I ever did before,” she said. “Now I’m the teacher on the playground playing tag, I do cartwheels with the kids, I teach them to jump rope. Everyone says I’m the Energizer Bunny at the school!”

Her family life has become more active with Chris, her husband of 20 years, and their teenage sons. They go hiking regularly, including trekking through the Rocky Mountains twice. They play basketball together and go on 20-mile bike rides.

“Since the surgery, our whole family has adapted to a new, active lifestyle. Everyone is exercising more and riding bikes. And I always push them to go further.”