Mike Hession
Before |
After |
Mike Hession walked into Walmart and bought a pair of jeans. For most people this would be an ordinary occurrence, but for Mike it was no less than a miracle. In 2002, Mike weighed 446 pounds and every day was a struggle.
“I felt like I didn’t belong on this planet,” says Mike, a 38-year-old resident of Plainfield.
He remembers a time, not so long ago, when just getting out of bed in the morning and taking a shower was a major effort; when standing in place was excruciatingly painful; when going to restaurants meant peeking through the windows in advance to make sure tables were available instead of booths; when people would stare at him.
“It was humiliating and degrading,” says Mike.
The excess weight was beginning to affect Mike’s health. His knee problems worsened and he needed a breathing machine at night to cope with sleep apnea. Mentally it was taking its toll as well. A successful business owner for more than 10 years, Mike’s confidence was slipping away.
“My life was just miserable. I felt so out of place,” says Mike. “Just imagine going through life like that. The average person doesn’t realize how horrible it is to be obese.”
Overweight since childhood, Mike remembers wearing size 38 pants for his 8th grade Confirmation. Through the years he tried many weight loss strategies only to gain back more weight.
In 2002, Mike’s family physician, advised him to make an appointment with Dr. Christopher Joyce.
“I was at the point where I had two choices. I could either have the surgery and attempt to live a healthier life or I could die,” says Mike. “Dr. Joyce said he would take care of me, and when I looked that man in the eyes, I knew he would. So I put my life in his hands.”
According to Dr. Joyce, Mike’s weight alone qualified him for bariatric surgery. Patients who have a Body Mass Index (BMI) over 40Ñwhich equates to 100 pounds or more of excess body weightÑare prime candidates because of the health problems associated with obesity.
After an initial consultation with Dr. Joyce, Mike underwent a thorough medical evaluation by a cardiologist, pulmonologist and psychologist. After successfully completing all pre-surgical requirements, Mike was ready for surgery.
The surgery Dr. Joyce performed on Mike is known as a vertical banded Roux-en Y gastric bypass procedure.
Like all bariatric surgery patients, Mike has made changes in the way he eats and lives. “I can eat almost anything, but it’s important to eat smaller amounts of the right foods, especially those high in protein,” says Mike. “I also eat more slowly because my stomach is smaller. It’s been pretty easy for me. I don’t crave foods the way I used to or use them as a quick cure for a bad day. It doesn’t even enter my mind any more. That’s a miracle in itself.”
A year after Mike underwent gastric bypass surgery he weighed 260 pounds.
In more ways than one, Mike is a new person. He married, built a home and continues to run a successful business.
“Life is good and I’m excited about the future,” says Mike. “I enjoy my work and I have a lot more confidence with clients. I even notice people smile at me more now. When you’re obese people don’t ever acknowledge you. Today, I’m part of the population. I fit right in.” He says he would advise others in similar circumstances to his to consider gastric bypass surgery “It’s a big step and a big commitment, but why live life in misery when you have a choice to do something about it?”