Weight-Loss Surgery at Silver Cross 4

Man’s Life & BodyTransformed by Weight-Loss Surgery at Silver Cross

For the most part, Chris Ratuszny was dealing with his morbid obesity. But he admits there was a lot of red flags when it came to his health.

“I had to lose some weight before it would even register on the scale,” said Ratuszny, 38, who lives in Chicago’s far south suburbs. “When it did, I weighed 527 pounds. And I’m 5 feet 9 inches.”

Oh, there were some signs: extremely high blood pressure; borderline diabetes; and even skin disorders, such as rashes and scaling from his skin being stretched so much by his weight.

“I also run a property management company, and I like to do things myself. So, it was tough climbing ladders to check roofs and stairs to view apartments, but I did it,” said Ratuszny.

But in 2016, he had a wake-up call – the worst kind.

“My cousin, who was my best friend, died of congestive heart failure due to being morbidly obese. I said, ‘That’s enough.’”

THE RIGHT PROGRAM

He already knew diet pills weren’t for him, so Ratuszny surfed the internet for options. He came upon the BMI Surgery program at Silver Cross Hospital in New Lenox.

“I don’t know what it was, but something told me this was the program for me.”

He attended a Weight Loss Seminar hosted by Dr. Brian Lahmann, who co-founded and developed BMI Surgery at Silver Cross Hospital, which has the only program in Will County that has been named a MBSAQIP accredited center – Comprehensive and Blue Distinction Center for Bariatric Surgery.

So, he set up an appointment with Dr. Lahmann, who suggested he attend one of the hospital’s BMI support groups.

Ratuszny was moved by the stories related during the group, so much so that he not only scheduled a gastric sleeve procedure with Dr. Lahmann, he continued to attend the support groups, and still does.

Before the gastric sleeve surgery – which changes the shape and size of your stomach, reducing the amount of food you eat at one-time – Ratuszny had to go through preop testing, including cardiac, pulmonary and psychological exams. Then, there was the preop diet, which not only helps shrink the liver before surgery, but prepares the person mentally for the lifestyle changes they will need to adopt for the rest of their lives.

DETERMINED TO BE A SUCCESS

Ratuszny took the changes to heart immediately. When told he would need to do the high-protein/liquid diet for two weeks before surgery, he set his mind on four weeks. No more cheesecakes and his favorite sugary sodas.

“When he heard that, Dr. Lahmann said he wished all his patients would do that,” Ratuszny explained. “I told him, ‘I am going to be your success story.’ He said, ‘Prove it to me.’”

And Ratuszny has. At one point, he got down to 188 pounds. But he always knew there was a body builder under all that flab. So, he put on some 35 pounds of muscle and won his first competition recently.

In addition to working for a railroad and with his property management companies, he also now serves as a personal trainer and certified nutritionist. But not for the extra money.

“If I can help one person not go through what I did with obesity, it will be worth it,” he said.

LIKE FAMILY

Ratuszny admits being “afraid of food” for a while after surgery, not wanting to jump back into his previous habits. He slowly reintroduced healthy foods – nuts, chicken, fish and other high-protein offerings.

He rarely drinks alcoholic beverages, and never has carbonated drinks – even diet drinks – opting for protein shakes, a lot of water, and Quest chips and bars.

Ratuszny knows the gastric sleeve surgery was only a tool to give him the foothold needed to change his life. The rest was up to him.

He gets a lot of support from his fiancé, and, of course, from his Silver Cross family.

“Other places treat you like just another patient. Silver Cross treats you like one of their family. They care,” he said.

For more information about Weight Loss Surgery at Silver Cross Hospital, visit silvercross.org/bmi.

UNIQUE INDIVIDUALS WHO PROVIDE SPECIALIZED MEDICAL SERVICES

Syed Bokhari, M.D.

Nita Lee, M.D.

Laura Ragauskaite, M.D. Erik Borncamp, M.D.

Nahla Merhi, M.D.

Judy Sun, M.D. Reza Gamagami, M.D.

Thai Nguyen, M.D.

Thomas Vasdekas, M.D. Nicole Gress, M.D. Thomas Kazmierczak, D.O.

Gamilah Pierre, M.D. Anuj Puppala, M.D.

Peter Vienne, D.O. Shishin Yamada, M.D.

There’s Safety in (Our) Numbers: Midwest Institute for Robotic Surgery at Silver Cross

The Midwest Institute for Robotic Surgery at Silver Cross Hospital is home to some of the most experienced robotic surgeons in the region and the nation. In fact, several are pioneers in their field, mentoring other surgeons across all 50 states and around the world in advanced colorectal, gynecological, and hernia repair and gallbladder removal robotic techniques.

With four (4) da Vinci® XI® surgical robots – we perform the most robotic surgical procedures in the Chicago-metropolitan area. And, we are one of the Top 3 robotic surgery centers in the Midwest with more than 12,000 procedures to date!

What’s more, the Midwest Institute for Robotic Surgery at Silver Cross Hospital was the first and only facility in Will County to offer Mako™ robotic-arm assisted surgery for partial knee and total hip replacement for adults living with early to mid-stage osteoarthritis. This breakthrough technology helps provide more accurate placement and alignment of a patient’s implant.

And in 2022, we introduced the Ion robotic bronchoscopy system that’s able to diagnose lung cancer sooner and with greater accuracy than ever before.

Better Outcomes for Patients.

Our vast experience means better patient outcomes such as less pain and risk of complications, a shorter hospital stay, and virtually scar-less results. Surgeons with the Midwest Institute for Robotic Surgery even perform complex procedures such as Single-Site® hysterectomy and cholecystectomy (gallbladder removal) through one tiny incision in the belly button for virtually scar-less results.

Our outcomes mean lower complication rates, lower conversions to open surgeries, and less surgical site infection rates that put us among the nation’s best. What’s more, our patients consistently rate us in the Top 10% in the nation for patient satisfaction.

Specialties include: • Colorectal Surgery • Ear, Nose, Throat and Head and Neck Surgery • General Surgery • Gynecological Surgery • Orthopedic Surgery • Urological Surgery • Urogynecological Surgery

For more information, visit midwestroboticsurgery.org