Lorena’s Story: Finding a New Lease on Life
9/9/2022
From the time she was in the second grade, Lorena Solis began having weight problems. Despite trying just about every diet available over the years, she continued to gain weight and the quality of her life began to decline as she entered her twenties.
“I couldn’t last five minutes on a treadmill and going up the stairs was very difficult. I was always out of breath,” says Solis. Additionally, Solis was suffering from sleep apnea, painful headaches, osteoarthritis, heartburn and other comorbidities.
In 2020, Solis decided to seek a new lease on life by joining the Laredo Medical Center Weight Loss Program to learn if bariatric surgery was right for her.
As part of the program’s requirements, she obtained a letter of medical necessity with cardio and pulmonary clearances, as well as psychology and nutrition clearances. She also participated in support group meetings and a pre-operation class with the bariatric surgeon to review the risks and benefits of this type of surgery.
In April 2021, Solis underwent laparoscopic gastric sleeve surgery. She was one of the first patients at Laredo Medical Center to have the procedure with robotic-assisted technology performed by Michael Morris, M.D., FACS, FASMBS.
The modern surgical system provides surgeons with greater precision and control, often allowing complex operations to be performed through just a few small incisions with less scarring and less blood loss. Solis was discharged from the hospital the next day after her surgery.
Before surgery, Solis weighed 290 lb. A year after having surgery, Solis no longer has any comorbidities and has lost 104 lb, weighing in at 186 lb. She continues to lose weight and improve her health through healthy eating and exercise.
“It’s an amazing feeling. Now I can be on the treadmill jogging and running. I recently came back from a trip to Los Cabos where there are a lot of hills and mountains and you climb a lot of stairs. I didn’t have a single problem and that was very rewarding,” says Solis.
“Life is great now,” adds the 21-year-old Solis.
Solis recommends others who may be experiencing similar issues with morbid obesity to explore the possibility of having bariatric surgery.
“It’s not going to be easy. It’s a very big commitment you have to make for the rest of your life,” says Solis. But, it’s very life changing and rewarding. You feel so much better about yourself. You can do a lot more things without having setbacks.”
For more information about bariatric weight loss services, register for a free seminar, take an online assessment or call the LMC bariatric department at (956) 796-2662.
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