As a bariatric surgery nurse at Gundersen Health System, Abbey Roberts knows the patients she cares for have made a life-altering decision. She knows each person does it for very personal – and different – reasons. She knows that the procedure’s success isn’t guaranteed simply by going through with it.
She knows because she’s been there.
Roberts, who is Gundersen’s first nurse dedicated specifically to bariatric surgery and obesity medicine, was on the other side of the equation when she walked into the bariatric surgery department in 2019 weighing 380 pounds. At the time, she was 25 years old and had a young child who was difficult to keep up with.
“I just wanted to enjoy life again and not constantly worry about if there’s an elevator in the building,” she says. “I just felt like my size ruled every aspect of my life. And I just wanted to be healthier. I wanted to not only be around to watch my son grow up, I wanted to be able to keep up with him.”
Yet despite knowing bariatric surgery could improve her life, Roberts was scared to make that first appointment to inquire about it. She was scared to accept the fact that she may need to have surgery, which, like any procedure, comes with risks. She was also scared for another foray into the healthcare system – something that isn’t always pleasant when you carry that much extra weight.
“It’s a really vulnerable moment to have to sit down and say, ‘I might need help. I might need surgery to treat the disease that I have,’” she says. “That can be very scary.”
But she was also scared of what might happen if she remained as heavy as she was, and that ultimately guided her decision to move forward with bariatric surgery – specifically, a sleeve gastrectomy, which is surgery that removes 75-80% of the stomach and is the most common bariatric procedure. After her first consultation, Roberts says she knew she made the right decision.
“The minute I walked into our office, I knew that this is where I wanted to be, and this was the team that was going to help me reach my goals,” she says.
And although her surgical team started the process, Roberts is the one who ultimately is responsible for seeing it through. Getting the surgery isn’t the first and final step, but rather, just the beginning. Healthy changes need to be implemented before surgery and continued for the rest of your life to keep the weight off.
Even mental change is necessary for surgery to be successful.
“Just thinking about things like how I’m going to make sure I’m walking every day and how I’m going to build that into my life,” she says. “Most people don’t realize how important the preparation is. The best indicator of success is being engaged and ready to make lifestyle changes before surgery ever occurs.”
Now Roberts, who lost 220 pounds after her surgery, is able to enjoy things that she never would’ve dreamt of before, including joining a volleyball league this summer.
“I would’ve viewed it that everyone would be looking at me when I was winded or worried that I couldn’t move fast enough. What if I fall and have a hard time getting back up?” she says. “That all seems very normal for people of normal weight, but for big people, that’s a challenge.”
Mostly, though, she’s happy to be able to play with her kids again – and teach them healthy habits because of what she learned through the bariatric process.
“I feel so empowered teaching my children about healthy eating and healthy recipes and showing them how to fuel your body properly,” Roberts says. “That’s directly from the information I learned going through this program.”
A passion through experience
Roberts began her career at Gundersen as an event planner for the Gundersen Medical Foundation. Eventually, she moved into a role in Patient Experience, and it was that move that rekindled her love of nursing, something she initially studied in school.
“When I started working directly with patients in patient experience, it reignited my passion for those interactions,” she says.
She decided to pursue her nursing degree to directly take care of patients. As luck – or fate – would have it, the bariatric nursing position was open while she was finishing up her schooling, and the team was looking for someone who would be the right fit for the position. Given Roberts’ personal experience, unique work history and strong desire to be a patient advocate in this niche field, she interviewed and accepted the position without hesitation. She couldn’t be happier – or a better advocate for the Obesity Medicine and Bariatric Surgery Department.
“I have a passion for this work from every angle,” she says.
Is bariatric surgery right for you?
Those interested in bariatric surgery can watch an online weight-loss seminar on the Gundersen Health System website; then Roberts encourages an in-person follow up appointment to discuss treatment options and if surgery is the right fit for you.
“I want patients to know that they’re safe here,” she says. “They go through a very comprehensive evaluation, and it’s a good place to be and a good team to work with.”
Roberts says her surgery was a catalyst to a new life, and it led her to where she is today.
“It’s the coolest thing in the world to be able to come back and be on the other side of it,” she says. “I want patients to see themselves in me and see what can potentially be for them. I would not work here and put my name behind bariatric surgery if it wasn’t the best thing to ever happen to me.”