Back to Being an Athlete after Bariatric Surgery: Kelly’s Story

Kelly’s Story

Active. Competitive. Full of energy. That was Kelly as a youth athlete and later, a member of her college swimming team.

When the Harrisburg woman was prescribed a medication for a health condition, she gained weight rapidly and her life took an unexpected and unwanted turn.

“It caught me off guard,” recalls Kelly. “The next thing I knew, I was 21-years-old and 300 pounds.”

Failed Attempts at Weight Loss

Never a person to just sit back and let life happen, Kelly took action. She worked hard to lose the weight she gained, trying various diet plans and programs. While she saw success for a short periods of time, the weight always came back.

Increasing Health Concerns

Soon her weight was causing a number of health problems, including asthma. 

“I had a hard time getting up stairs without getting significantly winded,” she says.

Kelly’s daily medication list was growing to manage her health issues. Her doctors agreed that losing weight could help alleviate many of these issues.

Bariatric Surgery and After

Kelly began researching bariatric surgery options and chose the Healthy Weight Management & Bariatric Surgery program at Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health. In July 2020, she had vertical gastric sleeve surgery, a minimally invasive procedure that reduces the size of the stomach by three to four ounces, limiting the amount of food a person can eat.

Vertical sleeve gastrectomy also removes an area of the stomach that produces a hormone that creates the feeling of hunger. So in addition to eating less, Kelly felt full longer.

Enjoying Success after Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy

Two years after her bariatric surgery, Kelly was free of daily medications and back to being the active, goal-setting athlete she once was.

She has become an avid cyclist and distance runner, completing many run distances including a marathon.

She credits ongoing support from the Healthy Weight Management & Bariatric Surgery team for helping her stay on track.

“If I have any concerns or doubts, I know I can reach out to the team there at any time,
 says Kelly. “This makes me confident that I can be successful in my journey for the rest of my life.”

About LG Health Hub

The LG Health Hub features breaking medical news and straightforward advice to help individuals of all ages make healthy choices and reach their wellness goals. The blog puts articles by trusted Lancaster General Health clinical experts, good 'n healthy recipes, videos, patient stories, and health risk assessments at your fingertips.

 

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