UH Nurse Loses 110 Pounds in Less Than One Year after Gastric Bypass Surgery

At age 25, Katie Miskulin of Kirtland, Ohio, weighed 281 pounds. Heavy most of her life, Katie had tried many of the popular diets and had even hired a personal trainer to lose weight, unfortunately without long term success. She was able to lose weight with various diet and exercise plans, but would regain all the pounds she had lost -- and would be faced with starting over on her weight loss journey.

“I lost about 80 pounds at age 18 but gained it right back again in nursing school,” Katie admitted. “Then I started having health problems such as acid reflux and knee pain. Around the same time, my grandmother passed away at age 68 from diabetes. I wanted to avoid that at all costs.”

Weight Loss Solutions at University Hospitals’ Nutritional Health & Bariatric Surgery Center

In 2012, Katie attended a weight loss surgery information session at University Hospitals Digestive Health Institute’s Nutritional Health & Bariatric Surgery Center. After talking to several participants and doctors, she believed that weight loss surgery was the answer she had been searching for.

When Katie spoke to former patients, she was overwhelmed with how often she heard weight loss surgery had changed their lives. Many people told her that they are now more active than ever and are truly able to enjoy life to its fullest.

For years, Katie had dreamed of being physically active — exercising daily, running a 5k race and dancing the Polka with her family and friends. After discussing her weight loss options with different doctors at University Hospitals, Katie opted for the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass.

“I had the surgery in July 2012 and was in the hospital for two nights. I went home for my recovery and in less than one year, I lost 110 pounds,” Katie said.

Commitment to Active Lifestyle for Healthy Living

The same day Katie had her weight loss surgery, she made a commitment to run a 5k race. Just a few months later on March 17, 2013, Katie did just that: She ran the entire 5k in less than 30 minutes.

As a registered nurse, Katie passionately believes that weight loss surgery saved her life. So when a nurse coordinator position opened up at University Hospitals Nutritional Health & Bariatric Surgery Center, Katie jumped right in.

“I love that I can help others in their weight loss transition,” she said. “I can completely relate to how our patients feel every day. I’ve been there and want to share as much as I can to help each patient be successful in their weight loss journey.”

Bariatric surgery is a tool, but lifestyle habits such as following a healthy diet and exercising daily are necessary to lose the weight and keep it off for a lifetime.

Today, Katie loves her more active life and enjoys running three miles on most days after work. She no longer suffers from the knee pain she had before losing the weight, and her problems with acid reflux have also disappeared. She continues to set goals for her weight loss and continues to practice new, healthy lifestyle habits to keep the weight off. Most importantly, Katie has become healthier and happier with her dramatic weight loss.

As for dancing, now Katie can dance the Polka until the sun comes up.

“I couldn’t do it before, but now I can!” she said.