Life-Changing Impact of Bariatric Surgery & A Supportive Care Team

Julie had reached a point with her weight where she was feeling just uncomfortable. She'd given dieting a try, but she always gained the weight back.

She decided to talk about it with her primary care provider, Dr. Georgiana Boboc with EvergreenHealth Primary Care, Lakeshore Bothell. Dr. Boboc referred Julie to Dr. John Dockins with EvergreenHealth Weight Loss and Bariatric Care.

From the first appointment, Julie said Dr. Dockins made her feel better. "He helped me understand why I wasn't losing the weight," Julie said. "He took the time to discuss with me all of my options, which was very helpful."

And Julie had tried many options, even before meeting with Dr. Dockins. However, with help from her EvergreenHealth Registered Dietitian, Joanna Gilbert, Julie decided to move forward with bariatric surgery.

"When I first met Julie, I could tell that she was extremely motivated to improve her health and quality of life," said Dr. Dockins. "We developed a treatment plan at our initial consultation based on her expectations, and she was able to seamlessly integrate into our program. I had the utmost confidence that she was going to be successful in reaching her long-term health goals."

She underwent testing to ensure surgery was the right option, including making sure she was healthy enough for anesthesia. In March 2023, Julie had the Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy surgery (VSG), which is a minimally invasive procedure that involves removing most of the stomach to create a smaller "sleeve" that helps restrict food intake and reduce the release of hunger hormones. The positive impact has been nothing short of life-changing.

"I never felt like I had stamina to do things, and that has completely changed," Julie said. "Not only do I feel great, but everyone I've worked with at EvergreenHealth has been great. Dr. Dockins is incredibly responsive, and Joanna has answered all of my questions around nutrition."
In addition to improved stamina and a healthier diet, Julie has started exercising 5-6 days per week, including Pilates.

In 2024, she and her husband of 17 years took a trip to Philadelphia, walking 8-9 miles every day. "My husband needed to slow me down," Julie said. "I was never someone who exercised before my surgery. Now, I walk 3 miles a day. I am really happy with the care I received."

Read more EvergreenHealth Bariatric Surgery Patient Stories.