10/31/2024
Learn how a Danbury, Connecticut mom lost 129 pounds and reversed her diabetes and hypertension with Nuvance Health Danbury Hospital. “I am loving my new lifestyle and great health habits. Every day is better than the one before.”
Melinda Hernandez has always been a confident person. She is married and has two children with her loving husband of 24 years. Melinda has experienced great success in her career throughout her life. But her confidence was really shaken following multiple health issues in 2021 that began to develop after she lost her job during the pandemic.
Learn more about the comprehensive weight management program at Nuvance Health
“I have been overweight my entire life but after I lost my job during the pandemic, I ballooned,” Melinda said.
Serious health issues develop at 400 pounds
When she was around 405 pounds, Melinda started experiencing serious health issues.
“I was having irregular menstrual cycles, so doctors began performing rounds of tests and biopsies to rule out any types of cancer,” Melinda said.
Thankfully, no cancer was found and doctors told Melinda the main cause of her irregular menstrual cycles were related to her weight.
Learn more about gynecologic cancer care at Nuvance Health
In fact, her weight was even beginning to negatively affect her sleep. She was diagnosed with severe sleep apnea, and during her sleep study, Melinda said she stopped breathing 51 times.
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“When you’re 400 pounds there’s a lot of everyday things that you just can’t physically do. I wasn’t even able to give myself a pedicure,” she said, which is something that used to bring her joy.
Diabetes diagnosis and unsuccessful attempts to lose weight
It was not like Melinda had not tried to lose weight before. She continuously attempted to manage her it throughout her entire life, but Melinda said no matter what exercise routine or diet she tried, nothing seemed to ever work.
“Whether I fasted, ate several small meals, exercised or even used medications, my weight kept going up and up and I was getting more and more frustrated,” Melinda said.
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In 2022, Melinda got more bad health news when she was diagnosed with type-2 diabetes and hypertension. Again, doctors told her that her new diagnoses were a direct result of her weight.
Still, a year had passed, and nothing had changed. In 2023, Melinda heard about a new drug called semaglutide, an injectable that could help manage her type-2 diabetes and even help her to lose weight. Not the type of person to sit idly by, Melinda soon began injecting the new medication into her body and although she was seeing some weight come off, she began to worry about becoming dependent on the medication.
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“I really thought deeply about how I was relying on diabetes and weight loss medications to control my weight and I continued to ask myself, ‘what am I doing?’ ” Melinda said.
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Deciding to get weight loss surgery
Melinda knew she needed to act if she was going to find a long-term solution for managing her weight. The proud 49-year-old Danbury native never once considered weight loss surgery as an option, but that outlook changed one night while scrolling social media. Melinda said she came upon a recent picture of herself that someone had posted and that one picture changed her life forever.
“That picture just kind of jolted me. On top of all my recent health issues related to being overweight, seeing how much weight I had gained in the picture made me realize I just really needed to do something about it,” Melinda said.
Always assuming her weight was her problem to solve and no one else’s, Melinda knew it was now time for a different approach. Just a month after she saw that picture of herself online, she began working with the Nuvance Health Comprehensive Weight Management team at Danbury Hospital to better help herself. And after almost a year of preparation, and 60 pounds lost even before surgery, Melinda underwent a vertical sleeve procedure at Danbury Hospital in 2024 and hasn’t looked back since.
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Lifechanging weight loss surgery and a renewed sense of hope
“I want to live. I want to be here for my kids. I want to have a long life and not feel like I’m in pain all the time. I want to be able to do simple things for myself. I can give myself a pedicure now. I know it sounds so silly, but it makes me so happy,” she said.
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Melinda said the team at Danbury Hospital was amazing, especially Dr. Craig Floch, a board-certified bariatric surgeon with over 25 years of experience.
“I have been given back so much because of this surgery. Dr. Floch’s passion and oversight are unmatched. Every time that I see him, I tell him, ‘You are my favorite doctor!’ ”
Melinda credits Dr. Floch and the Nuvance Health Comprehensive Weight Management team at Danbury Hospital for helping guide her along the path of her weight loss journey.
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“By taking the first step in very capable hands, you can soar,” she said.
At almost 50-years-old, Melinda said getting the surgery was a lifechanging moment.
“My weight was never a problem until it was a health problem and when you don’t have your health, you have nothing,” Melinda said, “I wish I had gotten the surgery a lot sooner!”
Melinda now weighs 275 pounds and has lost 129 pounds since deciding to get weight-loss surgery in 2023. She no longer has diabetes or hypertension and said she feels amazing.
“I am loving my new lifestyle and great health habits. Every day is better than the one before.”
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Disclaimer: Outcomes from bariatric surgery vary from person to person. No individual results should be seen as typical.