Xiomara Orozco Rodriguez was 28 years old when she said, “I’ve tried almost everything, and I’ve had enough.” Overweight since childhood, she couldn’t remember a time when she wasn’t fighting to lose weight. Dedicating herself to regular exercise and healthy eating yielded little results, and at 280 pounds she felt frustrated and insecure. “I was also really worried about potential health problems associated with being overweight. My uncle died at age 30 from heart disease and my grandfather also died at a young age. I have other family members with high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes, and it scared me,” she shared.
After seeing an aunt’s success with weight loss after bariatric surgery, the two women talked about the possibility for Xiomara. “My aunt regained her confidence and felt good, and that’s what I wanted, to look and feel better, and to be healthier to prolong my life,” she recalled. She called her insurance company to inquire about procedure coverage and locations in the DC region that were in her insurance network. From there, Xiomara called the Bariatrics and Weight Management Program at MedStar Washington Hospital Center and was scheduled for an appointment with Dr. Ivanesa Pardo, board-certified general and bariatric surgeon and director of the bariatric surgery program at MedStar Washington.
“Dr. Pardo walked me through my options for bariatric surgery, walked me through the process, and made me feel really comfortable,” shared Xiomara. Dr. Pardo recommended a laparoscopic surgical procedure for Xiomara called sleeve gastrectomy, which involves removing about 80% of the stomach, leaving a tube-shaped stomach. What remains is a stomach about the size and shape of a banana that restricts the amount of food you can consume due to its smaller size, which can help patients lose excess weight and reduce the risk of potentially life-threatening weight-related health problems, such as high blood pressure and heart disease.
Prior to the procedure, patients have lab work, appointments with the surgeon, appointments with a registered dietician and behavioral health specialist, and either three or six months of monthly online classes, depending on what is required by their insurance. “The classes were online, so they were easy to fit into my schedule, but more importantly, they were informative and straightforward,” recalled Xiomara. “They helped me prepare both physically and mentally for bariatric surgery and the weight loss journey I’d be on following the procedure, and the dietician guided me through post-surgery meal planning.”
Xiomara’s procedure was scheduled for January 2024. Her weight at the time was 260 pounds, down from 280 from the prep work for surgery. “I was ready to take the next step and see my life change the way my aunt’s had,” said Xiomara. “When I arrived for surgery, the team was so organized, and I felt like I was in really good hands. I was more excited than I was nervous.” After 90 minutes the procedure was complete and Xiomara woke up in a recovery room with a slight case of nausea, which the team assured her was normal. “After the nausea subsided, I didn’t have any issues and the care team talked me through everything, including next steps, which made me feel good,” she recalled. “I went home the next day.”
Two weeks later she had a follow up appointment with Dr. Pardo who examined Xiomara and reported that everything looked good. “After a week or so of only liquids, I started incorporating small amounts of soups and oatmeal into my diet, and I noticed that it didn’t take much for me to feel full. It reminded me of what I learned in the classes, that a big part of the journey is being mentally prepared for how different your eating habits will be after surgery,” she shared.
It's been more than a year now since Xiomara’s procedure and she’s more energized that she has ever been, which makes a big difference at her job working with kindergartners. “I can keep up with the kids at school without losing my breath, and outside of work I’m more confident than I’ve ever been and ready to try new things that I never would have done when I was overweight,” shared Xiomara. “I’m down to 160 pounds and I know the surgery was the right choice for me. It’s been lifechanging and I can see the reward every time I look in the mirror. If someone struggling with weight loss asked me if they should do it, I’ll tell them to go for it!”