"I've always been active and loved going to the gym. I was also committed to eating health—steamed vegetables, lean chicken and turkey were staples in my diet. I rarely overindulged and kept my portions small," said Crystal LaPole.
While Crystal was dedicated to her health, she was also suffering from nearly debilitating stomach pain. She recalls visiting doctor after doctor, starting in her childhood.
"I used to be doubled over with stomach pain after eating," Crystal recalls. "My mom took me to several different doctors but all they ever told me was, 'It's your diet.' No one ever seemed to think there was something else going on."
As Crystal searched for answers to her ongoing stomach pain, she also began gaining weight, a development that was both surprising and frustrating. Despite eating nutritious, small-portioned meals, she couldn't understand why her weight continued to increase, To make matters worse, Crystals also suffered from gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), which eventually became so severe that it disrupted her sleep. Night after night, she found herself restless and she woke up groggy the next morning.
Crystal also has fibromyalgia, which caused chronic nerve pain, particularly in her back. The pain was exacerbated by her weight. making her flare-ups more intense and frequent.
It finally reached a point where Crystal had had enough. She visited her gastroenterologist, who recommended she see a surgeon for a procedure called fundoplication to treat her reflux. Fundoplication involves wrapping the top of the stomach around the lower esophagus to prevent acid reflux. Crystal made an appointment with Shelley Scerbo, MD, a bariatric and general surgeon affiliated with Memorial Hermann Cypress Hospital.
Crystal never planed for what would happen next.
An Unexpected Solution
When Crystal arrived at Dr. Scerbo's office, she was eager to discuss the fundoplication procedure. Dr. Scerbo listened closely, but the more she learned about Crystal's condition, the more she realized that it might not be the best option for her.
"As we went through Crystal's workup and considered all the individual factors unique to her case, we discussed how gastric bypass would not only treat her reflux but also provide other significant health benefits," Dr. Scerbo explained.
Gastric bypass is a surgery for the treatment of obesity that involves creating a small pouch from the stomach and connecting it directly to the small intestine. It significantly reduces the size of the stomach, limiting the amount of food a person can eat, which alters the digestive process so that fewer calories and nutrients are absorbed, and it modifies the release of gastrointestinal hormones to decrease hunger. Gastric bypass is not only effective for weight loss, but it can also help resolve other health issues such as GERD, type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure.
"After spending nearly two hours discussing my diet and exercise, Dr. Scerbo realized that, although I was eating all the right foods, my body wasn’t processing them as it should," Crystal explained. "Dr. Scerbo suggested we could kill three birds with one stone through gastric bypass surgery. She said the surgery would treat my GERD, improve gastrointestinal hormone signaling and ultimately help me lose weight."
At first, Crystal was opposed to gastric bypass surgery. She was concerned about the stigma associated with weight loss surgery.
“I wasn’t there to have weight loss surgery. I didn’t want people to think I was taking the easy way out. I just wanted to fix my GERD, not be judged for wanting to lose weight,” said Crystal.
After her conversation continued with Dr. Scerbo, Crystal quickly realized that surgery was far from an easy way out; it demanded significant sacrifices. Preparing for surgery, undergoing the procedure and committing to the daily discipline required afterward all took immense effort. In fact, she came to see that the real “easy way out” would have been to do nothing at all, but she was determined to make a lasting change for both her physical and mental health.
A Transformative Journey to Health and Healing
Crystal had gastric bypass surgery in September of 2023. She weighed 260 lbs. In just three months, she lost 100 lbs.
"It wasn’t the easy way out, as I once thought. It’s been a complete lifestyle overhaul. It’s a long-term commitment to my health. The benefits have far exceeded anything I could have imagined. My energy and my quality of life have improved significantly. I’m so thankful I made the choice to go through with it,” said Crystal.
"Crystal’s progress after surgery has been truly remarkable. Seeing her transform not only physically but also in terms of her overall well-being has been incredibly rewarding,” said Dr. Scerbo.
Not only has Crystal lost weight, but the stomach pains and GERD are gone. She’s also no longer at risk of having high blood pressure, and her fibromyalgia has dramatically improved. Crystal maintains a healthy lifestyle, working out regularly and enjoying nutritious meals. As for anyone considering weight loss surgery, she has some advice.
“Your quality of life improves in ways you can’t even imagine. You just feel better, physically and mentally. I’d tell anyone considering it to talk to their doctor, do their research and put their health first. You won’t regret it,” said Crystal.
Take the first step toward relief from reflux.
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