Health

Flourishing Beyond Bariatric Surgery

A trip to Disney World in 2023 was an eye-opener for Katie Crow. It wasn’t the rides, parades or immersive activities that caught her attention but that she struggled to have the energy to go to the amusement park every day. “It wasn’t the experience I wanted it to be. That’s when I knew I […]

The post Thriving, not just surviving, after bariatric surgery appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

Flourishing Beyond Bariatric Surgery

### Katie Crow’s Journey: From Struggling to Thriving After Bariatric Surgery

![Katie Crow](https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/n7-mcnn/7bcc9724adf7b803/uploads/2024/06/katie-crow16x9.jpg)

A 2023 trip to Disney World was a turning point for Katie Crow. The rides and parades weren’t what caught her attention; it was her struggle to muster the energy to enjoy the amusement park daily.

“It wasn’t the experience I wanted it to be. That’s when I knew I finally needed to do something about my weight,” says Katie, an endoscopy nurse at Mayo Clinic Health System in [La Crosse](https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/locations/la-crosse), Wisconsin.

That summer, Katie, then 36, saw her weight peak at 296 pounds. She suffered from leg and back pain, severe [sleep apnea](https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/do-i-have-sleep-apnea), and chronic fatigue. Additionally, she worried about developing diabetes and heart disease, both prevalent in her family. Since 2019, she had also been battling anxiety and depression.

“The worst part was I couldn’t keep up with my kids,” says Katie, mother to three children aged 15, 13, and 3. “I was just surviving.”

#### Exploring the Options

Katie was no stranger to weight-loss attempts, having tried numerous diets without success. In spring 2023, her primary care provider referred her to the [Bariatric Surgery Department](https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/locations/la-crosse/services-and-treatments/bariatric-surgery) at Mayo Clinic Health System in La Crosse. There, she learned about various options, including [weight-loss drugs](https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/whats-the-skinny-on-weight-loss-drugs) and [bariatric surgery](https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/thinking-about-weight-loss-surgery).

“I considered the weight-loss drugs, but at the time, some hadn’t been approved yet, and given the side effects, they didn’t seem like an option for me,” says Katie. “But the statistics showing the success of bariatric surgery sounded promising.”

The Disney World trip solidified her decision to proceed with surgery, despite her nervousness about its permanent nature.

#### Choosing Weight-Loss Surgery

Once decided, Katie embarked on her bariatric surgery journey, which included consultations, a psychological examination, and a two-week pre-op diet. She also met with [Kathriena Greenwell, M.D.](https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/providers/kathriena-greenwell-md), who would perform the surgery.

“Dr. Greenwell took the time to answer all my questions and thoroughly explain the risks and benefits,” says Katie.

“Katie was an excellent candidate for surgery. Since the surgery, she’s been very motivated in her weight-loss goals, dedicated to the weight-management program, and is taking her lifestyle changes seriously,” says Dr. Greenwell.

In December 2023, Katie underwent surgery. During her recovery, she adhered to a restricted diet for six weeks.

“I thought I’d never eat real food again,” says Katie. “But I’d made the commitment and was determined to make it work.”

![Katie Crow Before and After](https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/n7-mcnn/7bcc9724adf7b803/uploads/2024/06/katie-crow-before-and-after.jpg)

#### Making Lifestyle Changes

Katie knew this was a lifelong commitment. She decided to document her journey on social media, sharing the ups and downs of her weight loss and lifestyle changes. In five months, she lost 109 pounds and 84 inches off her body, dropping from size 3X to large.

Other changes followed. Dr. Greenwell notes that Katie’s [body mass index (BMI)](https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/obesity/symptoms-causes/syc-20375742) decreased from 49.26 to 31, removing her from the morbidly obese category. Katie also stopped experiencing gastric reflux and is expected to eventually discontinue using a CPAP machine for sleep apnea.

“Hopefully, by losing weight now while she’s young, it will prevent her from developing complications like diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension,” says Dr. Greenwell.

Katie has also experienced personal victories beyond the scale. Her leg and back pain are gone, she no longer worries about chairs supporting her weight, and she enjoys shopping for clothes freely. Her anxiety and depression have also lessened.

“I have more energy than before,”Flourishing Beyond Bariatric Surgery

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