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Jaynae's Story
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Unable to take her son out for the simplest of outings, Jaynae was
discouraged and angry. She had been heavy most of her life, but when her weight
peaked at 385, she decided something had to be done. She found the courage to change.
For Jaynae, life just keeps getting better. The upturn began in January 2006 when
Jaynae, 29, a resident of Paramount, was referred to Dr. Liu. She had always been
heavy, however Jaynae’s weight had recently peaked at 385 pounds. She was discouraged
that the various weight-loss programs she had tried had not produced the desired
results, was chronically short of energy, and was unable to take her young son on
even the simplest outings. Something had to be done. “I had tried exercising and
other programs, but nothing worked,” said Jaynae, a billing supervisor for TelePacific
Communications. “I couldn’t go out much because I was so heavy. I think my weight
kept me kind of angry, too.” Finally, her regular physician referred Jaynae to the
Center for Surgical Weight Control at the Grove, where Dr. Carson Liu, the medical
director, inserted an adjustable silicone band around the upper portion of her stomach
in a laparoscopic procedure. The band, which may be inflated or deflated to achieve
a perfect custom fit, slows the passage of food from the stomach into the intestines.
As a result, patients feel full longer and their food intake is ultimately reduced.
The benefits of a minimally invasive procedure such as banding are myriad. Neither
the stomach nor the intestines are surgically altered in any way, and the procedure
is completely reversible. The risks are minimal, and only a one-day hospital stay
is required. Patients are under anesthesia only a short time. For Jaynae, the banding
procedure was a perfect option. She was unwilling to undergo the more invasive gastric
bypass surgery, which has long been the standard, and instead opted for the simpler
procedure. In the months since the 30-minute operation Jaynae has seen dramatic
results, losing 76 pounds and dropping down to 308. She is happier than she has
been in many years, feels better about herself, has more energy, and has begun taking
her son on outings to a local park. She hopes to eventually get down to 175 pounds.
“My life has changed a lot,” she said. “I’ve lost eight dress sizes, and I received
a promotion at work two or three weeks after my surgery. I can do a lot of things
that I couldn’t do before, and I want to begin doing more. This procedure has really
set me free.” It’s a freedom Jaynae doesn’t plan to give up. “I’d really like to
share what I’ve accomplished with everyone, to let others know that they can do
what I did,” Jaynae said. “Now, I see people who are overweight and I feel like
telling them to check out the Center for Surgical Weight Control at the Grove and
Dr. Carson Liu.” Indeed, Garden Grove Hospital and Medical Center has changed Jaynae’s
life. “Dr. Liu and the Garden Grove team have been great,” she said. “I’m very appreciative
that I had a surgeon and a hospital that took care of me the right way. If they
hadn’t come along I think I’d still be miserable. I’m very grateful.”
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