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Couple Loses Weight, Gains A Daughter Through Bariatric Surgery

Posted on: Thursday, 25 August 2005, 12:00 CDT

PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 25 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Most people understand the benefits of weight loss -- more energy, increased self- confidence, not to mention the bliss of fitting into smaller sizes and shopping in trendier stores.

But for Claudia and Bill Miller, perhaps the most thrilling side effect of their dramatic weight loss following bariatric surgery was what they gained: her name is Rachel Ellen Miller.

The Ocean View, N.J. couple, who had their bariatric procedures at Temple University Hospital, welcomed into the world their 6- pound, 2-ounce daughter in February -- about 18 months after Claudia underwent her surgery and two weeks before Bill was to follow in her footsteps.

Claudia, 38, said she had "written off" the possibility of having a baby, thinking it would never happen because of her weight. A family health scare was what spurred her to take action.

"We had a situation where we thought my father was having a heart attack," she recalled. "All I could think afterward was that he was healthier than I was, and he was 74 years old."

At 5-foot-3, she weighed 341 pounds when Dr. John E. Meilahn performed the open bariatric surgery at Temple in November 2002. Today, she weighs 200 pounds and is continuing to make progress through portion control and plenty of exercise -- thanks in part to having a new baby in the house. Bill, 39, said he saw how much better his wife felt as her weight loss progressed and -- impressed with the Temple Bariatric Surgery Program -- decided to go for it.

Since Meilahn performed the laparoscopic gastric bypass surgery in March, the weight on Bill's 5-foot-11 frame has dropped from 415 pounds to 315 pounds. He also is better able to manage his diabetes and asthma, his sleep apnea has greatly improved, his joint pain is nearly gone and his stamina is markedly improved, he said. Even common activities like getting out of a chair and walking up a flight of stairs have become easier to do.

"We just feel so lucky," Claudia Miller said. "We feel blessed."

It's not unheard of in couples where both people are obese to have one decide on bariatric surgery after seeing a good result in their partner, said Meilahn, who has performed well over 500 of the procedures since 2000.

"We do see husband and wife teams intermittently; other times one spouse will see the changes in their partner and make a decision based on that," he said.

A range of physical and psychological screening tests ensure that the patient is a good candidate for bariatric surgery and understands the risks and realities of what it entails.

Of the approximately 140,000 bariatric surgeries performed in 2004, the majority of patients were women of childbearing age. Women who thought they never could become pregnant because of their weight often find out otherwise, because weight loss can trigger a rise in fertility as well as increase sexual desire because of heightened self esteem.

No clear data exists on pregnancy rates following bariatric surgery but doctors typically suggest that women wait about 12 to 18 months after the procedure before getting pregnant. Claudia got pregnant with little Rachel Ellen nearly 18 months to the day after having her surgery.

For women who do become pregnant, Meilahn says they need to take supplements to ensure they get enough vitamins, minerals and other nutrients since their food intake is drastically reduced.

"We don't have people coming in saying they want the surgery so they can get pregnant," he said. "But we have had a number of women who have given birth after bariatric surgery with no problems."

The Millers say Meilahn and his team, from the surgery to the regular follow-up support and personalized care, have given them their lives back and helped them welcome a new life into the world. "When my daughter wants to play T-ball I'll be there, when she wants to run around and play soccer I'll be able to do it," Bill Miller said. "I'm going to be there for her when she gets older. I'm not going to have to worry about not making it to see her 10th or her 12th birthday."

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Source: U.S. Newswire

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