Sartell Woman Transforms with Bariatric Surgery and a Career Change

Jessie Daniels began to see her weight increase with each of her four pregnancies. "With each one, it got harder and harder to lose weight," she said. "Then I injured my back and was not able to move for two years, that's when my weight spiraled out of control, until I eventually reached about 272 pounds."

Between the weight and back pain, Jessie began to miss out on some of the joys of parenthood. She wasn't able to keep up with her children and enjoy every day interactions. When shopping with her girls, she could only tolerate an hour or two. She was not able to attend her children's many sporting events either.

Jessie had multiple failed back surgeries that resulted in a spinal fusion. Her surgeon emphasized the importance of weight reduction for better surgical outcomes and long-term health.

Initial Attempts to Help Herself

Jessie tried numerous self-help methods to reduce her weight. These included:

• Multiple attempts with commercial weight loss programs.
• Intensive workout programs combined with keto diets.
• Very low-calorie diets, consuming only 800 calories a day.
• Local gym challenges.

Despite her persistent efforts, Jessie found these methods to be ineffective in achieving lasting weight loss, leading to frustration and the realization that she needed a long-term solution. "Eventually I began to think it must be a medical issue because I couldn't lose weight on my own," said Jessie, "and a medical problem would need a medical solution. At that point I decided to go a different way. Instead of my eating needing fixing, my health needed fixing. It opened my eyes. I no longer blamed myself or my choices. Going forward, I would find a weight management provider who would benefit my health rather than sell me something."

CentraCare Weight Management

Jessie's primary doctor referred her to CentraCare Weight Management, where she initially focused on meal replacements without much success. She said, "Feeling hungry and living on shakes was very, very hard." It was during this period that she considered bariatric surgery after hearing positive feedback about its effectiveness. She wanted a long-term solution that would keep her mentally and physically in check. "I no longer wanted to struggle with portion control, food noise and all the yucky stuff that comes with dieting," she said.

Bariatric Surgery

Jessie decided to undergo sleeve gastrectomy in December of 2018, a type of bariatric surgery that reduces the size of the stomach. This decision came after overcoming initial hesitations related to the stigma associated with bariatric surgery and other people's thoughts about taking the easy way out. With the support of her medical team, she felt reassured and well-prepared for the journey ahead.

Jessie's surgery at CentraCare - St. Cloud Hospital was straightforward, requiring just a one-night hospital stay. The immediate and long-term benefits of the surgery were significant, transforming her health and lifestyle.

Post-Surgery Transformation

Post-surgery, Jessie had to adopt several lifelong dietary changes, such as not eating and drinking simultaneously and avoiding certain foods. Despite these challenges, she found that the benefits far outweighed the restrictions, shifting her mindset from living to eat to eating to live.

"There are definitely some days where I'm eating a favorite food, and I really want to continue eating," said Jessie. "But my stomach is full, and I must stop. Before I would have pushed through it. But now I think, 'I am living my life with my family and my friends and doing anything I want.' That's way more enjoyable than any favorite foods."

Jessie lost 142 pounds, and her health improved dramatically, eliminating pain, enhancing energy levels, bettering sleep quality and stabilizing blood sugar levels. She regained the ability to participate in activities with her children and no longer felt winded or exhausted from everyday tasks.

With her newfound mobility, Jessie now actively participates in her sons' travel hockey and baseball games and enjoys shopping days and lunches with her daughters. Travel, once a source of anxiety, became a joy without concerns about fitting in airplane seats or seatbelt sizes.

Jessie's New Career Path

After completing a nurse practitioner degree, Jessie applied for a position at CentraCare Weight Management, where she now supports patients through their weight loss journeys, both emotionally and physically. "Having gone through this experience myself makes me very relatable. I know what it's like to try hundreds of diets, fear judgement or to feel unheard and dismissed due to an increased BMI. And after surgery, I know what it's like to be in a body you don't recognize and to re-find your place in the world because people look at you and talk to you differently."

Erica Crook, PA-C, is Jessie's colleague at CentraCare Weight Management and also her provider. She says, "Jessie was of course, a model patient! I absolutely feel her experience as both patient and provider is invaluable. Jessie's empathy and compassion for others encountering similar circumstances are unmatched."

Jessie loves her job, finding it highly rewarding. She sees herself as a cheerleader for her patients, providing them with the tools and support they need to succeed. She especially enjoys providing ongoing, nonjudgmental encouragement and celebrating non-scale victories such as easily putting on shoes, eliminating a medication or taking a bath. She says, "My biggest advice to patients is that weight is just a number and to give yourself grace. Weight loss takes time and patience. You didn't put all the weight on in six months. Allow yourself the time to improve your health in the same timeframe."