“My family is happy I’ll be around longer. Now, my future is bright.”
Weight loss surgery gave an Iselin woman her future back.
Being overweight wasn’t a midlife issue for Robin Dehmer; it was a whole-life battle. “I was heavy from a young age,” says the 62-year-old Iselin resident. “By midlife, I had become morbidly obese.”
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“Morbid obesity” is defined as being 100 or more pounds overweight, with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 40, or a BMI of 35 with obesity-related health issues. It can cause or contribute to a variety of physical problems. In Robin’s case, her medical problems became so serious that she credits weight loss surgery at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (RWJUH) Rahway with staving off premature death.
One of Robin’s problems was Type 2 diabetes, which occurs when the body has difficulty using the hormone insulin. Another was obstructive sleep apnea, in which fleshy tissue in the throat interferes with breathing during slumber.
Yet another painful complication lay in the limits obesity had imposed on Robin’s mobility. Excess body weight had caused her knees to degenerate over the years. “I had basically destroyed them,” she says. She had her right knee replaced in 2002, but the overtaxed artificial joint failed two years later. “I was very heavy at that point,” says Robin. “About 350 pounds.”
Worse yet, surgery to revise the knee replacement left her with a serious infection. “I was in and out of the hospital fighting that for years,” says Robin.
“Eventually, I lost the joint.” A rod installed from hip to ankle allowed her to stand, but walking was difficult and her left knee became worse under the added strain. She was forced to use a wheelchair or motorized mobility scooter.
“I knew I was looking at an early death,” says Robin. “I looked into weight loss surgery, but several doctors turned me away because my lack of mobility limited my ability to exercise and they felt the risk of complications was too high. I didn’t know what to do.”
A Life-Changing Decision
Then she consulted Anish Nihalani, MD, Medical Director at the Surgical Weight Loss Program at RWJUH Rahway. “Robin’s case was challenging,” says Dr. Nihalani. “But she was so motivated that I told her I’d give it a shot.”
“Dr. Nihalani gave me a second chance at life,” says Robin, her voice catching. “I get emotional about it.” The team of specialists at the Surgical Weight Loss Program made sure Robin understood that she was about to engage in an entirely new lifestyle. “Surgical weight loss is a comprehensive process,” says Dianne Errichetti, RN, Bariatric Coordinator. “Surgery is just one part of it.” Candidates undergo medical screening and attend monthly sessions with a nurse and dietitian for three to six months prior to the procedure.
In February 2017, when Robin began the process, she weighed 325 pounds. Dr. Nihalani asked that she lose about 30 pounds on her own prior to surgery. “Patients who lose weight before surgery have better outcomes post-op and over the long term,” Dr. Nihalani says. “It’s a way to gauge a patient’s commitment.”
Robin dropped about 35 pounds and also quit smoking. “I had concerns about having surgery, but I was excited,” she says. “I wanted to walk again so badly.”
In June 2017, Dr. Nihalani performed laparoscopic gastric sleeve surgery, removing about 70 percent of Robin’s stomach through small incisions. “This procedure reduces the physical capacity of the stomach to hold food, but also changes the hormonal biology of the body to reduce appetite and cravings,” Dr. Nihalani explains. “Obesity is a biological disease, and weight loss surgery makes people better.”
Exceeding Expectations
Within a year, Robin’s weight had stabilized at about 165 pounds. She continued to put her healthy, pre-operation food habits into practice. Her blood sugar dropped to normal and she stopped taking diabetes medication. Her obstructive sleep apnea disappeared. Her blood pressure fell and her antihypertensive drug dosage is a fifth of what it was. “Robin’s health has drastically improved since her surgery,” says Lynn Colombo, MD, her primary care doctor. “Her quality of life is so much better.”
Robin had her left knee replaced in August 2018. “The knee surgeon said they would not have done that knee before I lost the weight,” she says. “I’m walking again and it feels so good.” She has regular follow-ups with a dietitian and physical therapist. “She met and exceeded my expectations,” says Dr. Nihalani.
“My family is happy I’ll be around longer,” Robin says. “Now, my future is bright.”
Learn more about the Surgical Weight Loss Program at RWJUH Rahway, or call 732.499.6300.