Patient Stories

My story begins as I was eating a cheeseburger, driving by the Medical Weight Loss Center. Seriously! It was April 2015. I saw the big sign and wrote down the number, then I shoveled in what remained of the fries in the bottom of the fast food bag. I was at the lowest point I could possibly be. I went home and researched this “Medical Weight Loss Program.” I convinced myself that I would just fail so I stopped there, but I kept driving past this big sign all the time, mostly while chugging my daily meals of coffee loaded with cream and sugar.

I am going to rewind to 2013, when I was diagnosed with hip dysplasia. I was told I would need to have my hips replaced within two to five years. I walked out of that office without really giving what the doctor had said another thought. I was young, happy, and active. Why would I need a hip replacement? I ignored what I had heard until the pain set in. I wasn’t prepared for it. I wasn’t prepared to hear it and I wasn’t prepared to comprehend it.

In April 2014, I had surgery on my left hip and femur to delay the hip replacement. By now, the pain was affecting my life. The recovery was even harder and longer than I expected. I was either lying flat or reclined for the better part of six months. When I wasn’t in bed, I was on crutches. I packed on the pounds.

I became a master at having only my head showing in pictures or strategically positioning my kids in front of me. I did everything I could to avoid seeing people because I was so embarrassed of this weight gain.

This is where Dr. Scinta’s program comes in. I woke up one morning and could not bear weight on my left side. I had excruciating pain shooting into my left hip. I was back on crutches, unexpectedly, which is not easy with two toddlers. Back to the surgeon I went. He told me it was probably time to schedule the surgery. He also said something else that got my attention – for every ten pounds you lose, there are thirty pounds of pressure off your hips. A light went on in my head.  I remembered the cheeseburger that I ate, driving past the Medical Weight Loss Center.

The surgery date was set, but in my head, I thought “there is no way I am doing this surgery.” I wanted to run around with my kids, not recover from another surgery.  I wanted to be free from crutches (and the occasional wheelchair).  I made the call to Dr. Scinta that day.

The day of my first appointment, I sat in the parking lot crying. I almost left three times. I was embarrassed to go inside. I was afraid of failure.  I had failed at so many other diets before. I had a surgery deadline to beat and I was just plain sick of feeling unhealthy. I put on my best fake smile and walked in. I was really wanting to crawl into a hole.

I was met by smiling, supportive faces that immediately put me at ease. I was on my way.  I walked in a tight size 12 and in September, walked out a size 2-4.  I feel healthier at forty than I did at thirty. Oh, and that self-esteem thing resolves as soon as you see you can do it and it does work.

I cannot say enough about the staff. I have laughed with them, insisted their scale was broken, cried with them, and hugged them. My husband and the staff pushed me the whole way. I haven’t needed crutches since I lost my first twenty pounds and my surgery was cancelled. I know I will need it in the future, but instead of months away, it is years away.  Success!  Thank you so much Dr. Scinta and staff.