Learn more about MercyOne Bariatric Surgery Is bariatric surgery right for me?
After 30 years struggling with her weight, Heather Malek had a heart-to-heart conversation with her primary care physician.
At her highest weight of 266 pounds, she had high blood pressure, sleep apnea and knee pain that limited her physical activity. She also struggled with depression and anxiety. The turning point for her came when her doctor suggested weight loss surgery.
“I decided to pursue weight loss surgery after talking to my primary care physician and having her tell me this surgery would be my best option for sustained, long-lasting results and weight loss,” said Heather of Waterloo, Iowa. “My doctor was an integral part of the decision-making process because I trusted her so much with my care and knowing what was best for me.”
Heather began her weight loss journey at MercyOne Cedar Falls Weight Loss Center & Bariatric Surgery in Cedar Falls, Iowa. On June 29, 2021, Heather had bariatric surgery, a laparoscopic vertical sleeve gastrectomy procedure, performed by surgeon Moiz Dawood, MD, FACS.
Since then, she has lost over 100 pounds and transformed her health. Today, she weighs 165 pounds, is off all medication for high blood pressure and anxiety, and no longer uses her sleep apnea machine. Her knee pain is practically gone.
“Bariatric surgery provides a very unique opportunity to help treat and manage chronic diseases. Our health care system spends an enormous amount of resources managing chronic illnesses, such as high blood pressure and diabetes,” Dr. Dawood said. “Bariatric surgery has the power to help lessen the burden these diseases place on patients, and in some cases, even cure these diseases altogether.”
Today, Heather is able to enjoy kayaking, and without knee pain, she can be much more active. “Never before would I have felt confident or comfortable getting in a kayak and paddling for hours,” said Heather. “I’m also able to play with my grandkids on the floor better and for longer periods of time.”
Heather wishes she had sought weight loss surgery sooner. “I know everything happens for a reason,” she said. “Most of my children are older now and self-sufficient, so it was a better time to concentrate on myself and make the commitment for the long haul.”
Weight loss surgery is a life-long commitment, and participants must embrace the journey and prepare themselves for some physical, as well as mental struggles, Heather said. “Even after three years, if someone calls me small or little, I have a hard time accepting it because oftentimes I still see my fat self when I’m looking in the mirror or picturing myself in my head.”
Other transitions in life, like the onset of menopause, can make maintaining her weight a challenge but she is working to manage her symptoms without hormone replacement therapy.
“You need to make sure you have plenty of support,” Heather said. “I would not have gotten through these past years without the unwavering support of my husband, children and my close family,” Heather concluded. “You also have to have a great surgeon and team. Dr. Dawood and his team are the best. To quote him, he said, ‘We are surgically married now.’ I will continue to see the team yearly for my lifetime.”
