Scott Nielsen: before and after

Significant decisions are often the result of simple motivations. When Sonja Nielsen of Old Orchard Beach watched her older brother, Scott, running around and playing with his young daughter, she decided that her life had to change. Sonja weighed 367 pounds, ate poorly, and smoked incessantly. She too wanted to share simple joys, like running, but a lifelong battle with obesity had left her skeptical of diets and frustrated. Scott was her inspiration.

Two years before Sonja’s decision to change, Scott’s doctor told him that if he didn’t lose weight, he wouldn’t live to see 40. At 34 he weighed 480 pounds and his joints were failing. After five knee surgeries in four years, Scott knew he had to try something other than the diets that just never worked. He turned to the team at Southern Maine Medical Center’s Weight Loss Surgery Program.

• Related: SMMC Weight Loss Surgery and Weight Loss Management Program

Weight-loss surgeries (referred to as bariatric surgeries) change your digestive system, limiting the amount of food you can eat, helping patients lose weight while lowering the risk of medical problems associated with obesity. Gastric bypass, in which a surgeon creates a smaller stomach pouch that holds about an ounce of food, is the most frequently performed bariatric surgery in the United States. Many surgeons prefer gastric bypass surgery because it generally has fewer complications than other weight-loss surgeries. Gastric bypass surgery can provide long-term, consistent weight loss if you exercise and eat a healthy diet.

Scott knew that bariatric surgery was his only alternative. He found out that SMMC is one of the few hospitals in Maine that offer the procedure.

“People would say ‘Why don’t you just exercise?’” says Scott, who was unable to do just that since a childhood accident caused a severe leg injury. “From the outside, it looked simple. They just didn’t understand.”

Morbid obesity – a disease in which individuals are usually 100 pounds over their ideal weight – can lead to many other medical issues such as high blood pressure, diabetes and coronary artery disease; problems that can shorten life expectancy. Gastric bypass surgery is a potential alternative for the morbidly obese but it is only considered after conservative measures to control weight have been tried.

According to the National Institutes of Health, the number of bariatric procedures in the U.S., like gastric bypass, have continually increased since 1995. This is due to the growth of obesity in the country and to the availability of newer less invasive laparoscopic procedures. SMMC offers laparoscopic roux-en-y gastric bypass and laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding surgery, which is also called LAP BAND™ surgery, the least invasive bariatric procedure available.

“People come here after trying every imaginable weight loss plan,” said Jessica O’Donnell, RD, LD, SMMC’s gastric bypass dietitian. “Surgery is their last resort.”

But entry into the program isn’t a given.

“All candidates have to meet with a team of weight loss professionals, including a surgeon, nurses, dietitians, physical therapists and psychotherapists to determine if they would be committed and motivated patients,” noted Jessica. “Once they are accepted into the program, there’s a lot of work to be done, including diet changes, counseling and support groups.”

"While the surgery is not risk free, the procedure is really quite safe compared to the significant risks of being overweight,” said Michael Carroll, MD, SMMC’s bariatric surgeon who performed the laparoscopic gastric bypass procedure on Scott, his mother Ellen and then Sonja. “Gastric bypass has a high rate of curing many serious medical illnesses in the morbidly obese such as diabetes, hypertension and high cholesterol. Our multi-disciplinary approach provides our patients with many tools that help maintain weight loss and ensure a healthy lifestyle.”

Gastric bypass surgery has been offered at SMMC for more than 20 years, changing the lives of hundreds of patients and putting them on the road to a healthy lifestyle.

Scott lost more than 270 pounds. What he gained was a new lease on life. He also inspired his sister and his mother, both of whom struggled with extreme weight problems.

Ellen entered the program after seeing Scott’s results. Struggling with diabetes and high blood pressure, both the result of lifelong issues with weight, Ellen underwent gastric bypass surgery in February of 2009. She has lost more than 140 pounds.

“Dr. Carroll saved my life,” she says, with a broad smile. “On Monday I had the surgery, by the following Friday I didn’t need my diabetes medications anymore. Two weeks later I was able to stop taking my high blood pressure medicine. I recommend SMMC to everyone who asks. The staff is fabulous!”

Watching Scott play energetically with his daughter on that summer day two years ago, Sonja sensed that she too could succeed at losing weight. She entered SMMC’s program in the fall of 2008 and had gastric bypass surgery in April of 2009. She has since lost 150 pounds and eight pant sizes, and is experiencing a lifestyle she never thought possible.

“I can’t describe the feeling of energy,” she says. “I feel awesome. I am so grateful to the whole Weight Loss team and the nurses at SMMC. They were so supportive. I wouldn’t hesitate to do it all again tomorrow.”

“My boss told me that I was the bravest person she ever met,” adds Ellen. “People have even commented on how thin I look. In my entire life I never imagined anyone making such a nice comment about me. It’s wonderful.”

If you struggle with morbid obesity (100 pounds over the ideal weight for your size), SMMC can help you. SMMC offers free Weight Loss Surgery sessions at the hospital on the second Wednesday of each month at 6pm. All are welcome. Call 207-283-7987.