NEENAH, Wis. — A De Pere woman is off to a healthy start following bariatric surgery.
She's on pace to run her first Fox Cities 5K this weekend.
Nicki Martin is a wife, mother of three and grandmother.
This time last year she was struggling with obesity and other associated medical conditions like diabetes and acid reflux.
"I was miserable," said Nicki Martin.
Tipping the scale at 264 pounds she made the brave decision to make a change.
She underwent bariatric surgery. She was best qualified for the Roux-en-y gastric bypass.
"Think of your stomach as the size of a football," said Dr. Ray Georgen, the Co-Director of the bariatric program at ThedaCare. "What we do is take the very top of the stomach, about the size of an egg, and we hook a piece of the small intestine to that area during the procedure."
After her surgery on October 2nd of 2018 Nicki started feeling better.
Inspired by her new outlook on life she decided to give running a try.
"My joints feel better. I can run. I can do things I couldn't do before," said Martin.
Nicki has lost 80 pounds so far.
Running the Fox Cities 5K is just one example of how the surgery has changed her life.
"I'm not thinking about my next meal constantly," said Martin.
Doctors say bariatric surgery is a tool and that it will take lifestyle changes after the surgery for patients to achieve their goals.
ThedaCare offers a follow up program to bariatric patients that is essential to their success.
They give support for nutrition, exercise and emotional side-effects.
"Food for many has been their best friend," said Dr. Georgen. "In a way we are taking away their best friend."
For Nicki, life is good.
Her diabetes is gone. She's off all medications and she's on the fast track to living a healthier life.
If you'd like more information about bariatric weight loss ThedaCare offers informational sessions.
The sessions will be held through the month of December in the Fox Valley and Green Bay.
To sign up, click here.
