Choosing Herself: A Bariatric Surgery Journey Toward a More Livable Life

For Carin, the decision to have bariatric surgery wasn’t simply about losing weight. It was about reducing the barriers that pain was creating in her daily life.

Severe pain in her lower back, hips and legs had made everyday activities increasingly difficult. Walking for more than 20 minutes was painful. Standing for extended periods was challenging. And she felt caught in a cycle she couldn’t break on her own.

“I knew that I needed to change and that I needed help to do so,” she says. “I wanted to be pain-free and have the ability to do more with my life because life should be livable.”

She hoped bariatric surgery could help decrease her pain, improve her energy and allow her to participate more fully in the activities that mattered to her.

Finding care without judgment

Seeking bariatric care also came with some uncertainty. Carin worried she might become another number on a medical chart, or that her weight would define how her healthcare team saw and treated her.

Her experience with the bariatric surgery team at Adventist Health Portland was different from the beginning.

Nurse practitioner Jill Welshans took time to talk with her about the complexity of obesity and the many factors that influence weight and health. Dietitian Kelly Corrigan worked around her food sensitivities while helping her understand nutrition in a way that made her excited to explore new ways of cooking.

Then she met bariatric surgeon Ryland Stucke, MD.

“Dr. Stucke took the time to listen to me and explain the procedures, what would fit best for me and what my goal was,” Carin says. “I was treated with so much respect during every interaction, and that isn’t always the case when you are a bigger person.”

That feeling of respect became one of the most meaningful parts of her experience.

“The team never once dehumanized me for my weight, and I am so grateful for that,” she says.

An opportunity to try a new approach

During conversations about her surgical options, Dr. Stucke also introduced Carin to a newer magnetic approach to bariatric surgery being offered at Adventist Health Portland.

He walked her through how the procedure worked, potential risks and complications and what she could expect from surgery and recovery. He also explained how the magnetic technique could create the needed connection with less cutting than some traditional bariatric procedures.

She knew the approach was newer, but she felt confident in the information she received and in the team caring for her.

“His knowledge and enthusiasm made me want to go ahead with the procedure,” she says. “I knew I was in great and capable hands, and I wanted to be a part of something that felt important and exciting.”

Just as importantly, the support didn’t end when the surgery did.

“The team never rushed me into or through appointments. They took the time to know me and work with me,” she says. “I wasn’t cast aside once the procedure was complete. It felt amazing to be seen as human and not a box to check as complete.”

Recovery, patience and progress

Recovery required patience.

Immediately after surgery, Carin remembers feeling tired and uncomfortable and having to remind herself that healing would take time.

“There is no fast-forward button with recovery,” she says.

Gradually, though, she began noticing changes.

“One day I woke up and I saw the difference,” she says.

Today, she can walk for longer periods and is finding joy in movement again. She listens when her body tells her to slow down and rest, but she also has more freedom to do things that once felt difficult.

Some of those changes are significant. Others are wonderfully ordinary.

She can enjoy car rides without struggling to get comfortable. She has found new comfort and confidence expressing her personal style and enjoys exploring different clothing options.

But the most meaningful change may be less visible.

“I chose something hard, and I don’t regret it,” she says. “I chose myself, and I chose to push against every barrier that stood in my way.”

“You deserve to have an amazingly livable life”

For someone considering bariatric surgery and feeling uncertain about what comes next, Carin understands the fear.

She also knows what can be waiting on the other side of that first step.

“Being afraid is absolutely normal; just don’t dwell in the fear of change,” she says. “Change and transitions are meant to be messy, uncertain or challenging. But you have to show up for yourself and choose yourself because life must be livable — and you deserve to have an amazingly livable life.”