Mom Grateful to Have More Energy for Kids After Gastric Sleeve Surgery


As a busy wife, mom and an avid softball player, Mistica enjoyed an active and fulfilling lifestyle. But her weight made her favorite activities difficult, and she desired to regain the confidence she had lost over the years.

After seeing her husband’s success with gastric sleeve surgery at the Bariatric & Metabolic Institute at Arkansas Heart Hospital, Mistica decided to regain confidence and improve her lifestyle through bariatric surgery.

She made the first step by making an appointment with Dr. Samuel Bledsoe, bariatric and general surgeon, who performed a gastric sleeve operation.

“From the first visit with Dr. Bledsoe, I knew my life was going to change for the better,” she said. “Everyone in the clinic was friendly and helpful. The staff on the day of surgery was phenomenal!”

Since surgery, Mistica has gained back her confidence plus so much more. She lost 80 pounds in the first eight months, and has more energy for her family, to work out and play softball.

“I can play with my kids – ages 9 and 6 – after a full day of work and working out,” she said. “Before, that would never have happened.”

A DXA scan shows that Mistica’s body fat has decreased significantly after bariatric surgery.

Surgery has improved her arthritis, too, making it easier to do the activities she loves.

“I did not have any diagnosis prior to surgery, but I do have extremely bad joints/arthritis,” she said. “While arthritis never goes away, I can tell a huge difference in my joint pain; it’s not nearly as prominent as before.”

Bariatric surgery is not the easy way out. It’s a life-altering decision that requires lifetime support from an experienced team including a bariatric surgeon, dietitian, physiologist and physical trainer.

Both Mistica and her husband underwent surgery at the Bariatric & Metabolic Institute.

“I feel like when you get to the point of considering surgery you have exhausted all other avenues and you truly are ready for a tool to help with a life-changing method,” she said. “I won’t lie and say it is easy because it’s not, but what I will say is that it is 100 percent worth it! For me, it was the best decision I have ever made. My only regret is not having it sooner.”

Surgery doesn’t need to be your last resort. Bariatric surgery is considered the gold standard for weight loss and reverses or resolves obesity-related diseases like diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea and more. Learn more about the benefits you too could experience at bmi.arheart.com.