Jenny McClain has a lot of places to see and things to do. That’s because Jenny absolutely loves to travel, and when her spare time as a mother, wife, and teacher allow it, you’ll likely find Jenny traveling the nation or even the world, as she and her husband trek their way on a new adventure.
Yet just a couple of years ago, Jenny was starting to question her globetrotting ways – as her weight was starting to make even her favorite hobby a headache.
“I started having anxiety, worrying about whether I would fit in the seats on the plane comfortably, whether I could handle all the walking involved, and just how people would treat me,” said Jenny, who’d battled weight issues throughout her life but saw them increase significantly through her 30s. “Before I knew it, I was 125 pounds overweight. And I had lots of other problems because of the weight, like really bad acid reflux, sleep apnea, and problems just walking. I had really bad knee pain, back pain. Everything hurt.”
Before the thought of travel became too stressful, however, Jenny made a fateful decision to visit Longstreet Clinic’s Center for Weight Management. And what she and the team at the Center for Weight Management decided changed her life forever – and ultimately sent Jenny roaring back out on the road.
Working closely with Dr. Robert Richard, FACS, Jenny opted gain control of her health by undergoing bariatric surgery, specifically a Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, in March 2023.
“We chose gastric bypass because it’s specifically a great operation for treating gastro/esophageal reflux,” Dr. Richard said. “Once we do the gastric bypass – just by the mechanical disconnection of the lower stomach, the reflux is improved immediately. Most patients that have been suffering from reflux for years wake up after surgery and it is gone.”
That’s certainly been the case for Jenny, who no longer suffers from reflux. Even more impressive is that Jenny has lost 140 pounds since her gastric bypass, meaning that she no longer walks in pain or fears a narrow airplane seat. And, if you know Jenny, you know what that means.
In her time since surgery, she’s been to Italy, the Caribbean, and Las Vegas, and she has plans for so many more destinations. Beyond that, she’s even taken up running, completing the Chi-town half marathon in Chicago just about two years removed from surgery.
“Dr. Richard saved my life – he and his team. I wholeheartedly believe he helped me get my life back,” said Jenny.
Learn more about Jenny’s journey and how the Center for Weight Management helps patients to gain back control of their lives – and enjoy the things they once loved again.
