Westford firefighter Shawn Ricard had weight loss surgery at Emerson Hospital's Center for Weight Loss in 2014.
Shawn Ricard has been a Westford firefighter for 30 years, but he began to struggle on the job because of his weight.
For Ricard, obesity was a life-long problem, describes himself as a "husky kid" whose weight eventually peaked a few years ago at 300 pounds.
"I was a big guy. I maybe didnt show I was actually as heavy as I was," Ricard said. "My frame hid it well, its not like I had a giant belly."
Ricard grew up in Westford and first volunteered with the Westford Fire Department when he was 16 years old because he wanted to help people.
"I guess its the old story," Ricard said. "You like helping people. Basically the biggest reason is to help people when theyre in need."
However, Ricard struggled to lose weight and once it started to have a significant impact on his work and his health, he began exploring other options.
This led him to Emerson Hospitals Center for Weight Loss where Ricard had weight loss surgery in 2014. Now hes 205 pounds.
Making the decision
Ricard tried dieting multiple times losing weight and then gaining more again. He knew a few people who had good experiences with the weight loss surgery and started looking into it, he said.
"I had basically struggled with it my whole life at that point," Ricard said of his weight. "It was a constant battle."
Ricard and his wife attended a seminar at Emerson Hospital to learn more about the procedure. By the time they left, he had made up his mind.
"That night, after we walked out, I decided it was something I wanted to do," said Ricard.
The biggest reason for the decision: Myriad health problems stemming from obesity such as hypertension, sleep apnea, high cholesterol, and risk of diabetes.
His weight affected him as a firefighter too a job he wanted to work at as long as he could, he said.
"I didnt see that happening with the weight I was at, with the problems I was having," Ricard said. "It would really wear on my joints and muscles. I would get tired out within a half an hour or so."
"Wed come back from a call and Id be exhausted," said Ricard. "You carry on cause thats what you got to do."
Firefighters have to carry about 130 pounds of gear, including air packs, leather boots, coats, gloves and helmets, according to Ricard, and thats not counting hoses or hand tools.
"Its a lot of extra weight on you," he said. "Add on 130 pounds of extra fat you dont even need, that wears on you more."
Emerson Hospital has a set of criteria people need to meet when considering weight loss surgery, according to Emerson Hospitals Center for Weight Loss Director Dr. David Lautz.
"We have criteria thats based on body mass index a way of adjusting weight for height," Lautz said. "And if they have signs of medical problems."
Post-surgery and recovery
After the surgery, most of Ricards medical problems went away. Hes no longer on heart medications, has no high cholesterol, and his blood sugar is perfect. He doesnt have to sleep while attached to a machine anymore for his apnea either.
"One issue I have had, and theres no real way around it, is loose skin," said Ricard. "Im kind of self-conscious about it."
Since any surgery to remove the loose skin wouldnt be covered by insurance because its classified as cosmetic surgery, Ricard decided to start lifting weights a year and a half ago to put muscle on and fill out. Now he works out five to six days a week.
"You start feeling a lot lighter," Ricard said. "After the surgery, its just so much easier. I always feel good. No pains. No exhaustion. You feel like a new person. Almost like you have a second shot at things."
Recovery after weight loss surgery generally includes two days in the hospital and about two weeks out of work, according to Lautz.
Patients cant be too active at first and have a slow diet advancing from liquids to solids.
However, once fully recovered, exercise can often become an important part of patients lives, added Lautz.
"Exercise can really become a significant part of their life, even if it wasnt in their past," Lautz said.
Gastric bypass surgeries have become more popular since the 1990s and have helped people move away from many of the health issues associated with obesity, according to Lautz.
"Weight loss surgery has really shown that if youre able to significantly address the obesity that most of the other medical problems will be alleviated or completely resolved," said Lautz.
However, obesity is still a problem all over the country as well as the stigma often attached to it, added Lautz.
"I think if youve never been heavy, its really hard to know what patients struggle with and how hard it is for them to get the weight off," Lautz said. "I think so much of how we deal with it as a society is to blame the subject. I think surgery is one of the ways we can really turn it and drive it back. The reality is that they have a disease and that its a disease that kills people."
Follow reporter Alexander Silva on Twitter @IndieEagleWL.
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Westford firefighter has weight loss surgery - Westford Eagle
