Original subtitles

Pauline: [ Voice breaking ] I'M PRAYING

FOR SOMETHING TO SAVE MY LIFE

BECAUSE I'LL PROBABLY DIE IN MY BED ONE DAY.

Man: I AM LIVING A NIGHTMARE.

I WOULDN'T WISH THIS ON MY WORST ENEMY.

Woman: I HATE THIS LIFE THAT I HAVE.

DON'T YOU DARE PUT IT ALL ON ME.

SHE IS GOING TO DIE.

BOTH OF Y'ALL, STOP!

Dr. Nowzaradan: WE GOT TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM.

OTHERWISE, SURGERY WOULD NOT BE USEFUL FOR YOU.

[ Voice breaking ] I CAN'T DO THIS

WITHOUT SOMEBODY TO HELP ME SAY "NO."

YOU SAID YOU LOST 30 POUNDS SINCE LAST TIME I SAW YOU.

THIS IS BULL[BLEEP]

-- Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

IT'S HARD WHEN YOU SEE HOW YOU'RE HURTING PEOPLE YOU LOVE.

BUT YOU CAN'T STOP MAKING THE CHOICES THAT HURT THEM.

[ BED CREAKS ]

I AM ABSOLUTELY TRAPPED IN THIS BODY.

I LET MYSELF GET WAY OUT OF CONTROL.

OHH.

AND I FEEL LIKE I'M DYING EVERY DAY.

I CAN'T EVEN MOVE WITHOUT HELP.

I CAN FEED MYSELF AND I CAN WIPE MYSELF,

BUT ANYTHING ELSE AFTER THAT, I NEED HELP.

MY NIECE COMES OVER A COUPLE TIMES A WEEK

AND HELPS ME IN THE BATHROOM.

PAULINE IS VERY LIMITED ON WHAT SHE CAN DO.

SO I COME HERE TO HELP HER.

I NORMALLY WILL COME IN AND WASH HER HAIR

AND GIVE HER A BED BATH.

Pauline: WHAT I WISH FOR EVERY DAY

IS THAT I CAN JUST GET UP,

HOP IN THE SHOWER, GET DRESSED, AND WALK OUT THE FRONT DOOR.

[ Voice breaking ] I JUST WONDER IF I'LL EVER HAVE A NORMAL LIFE.

Megan: DIL, CAN YOU BRING ME A TOWEL?

DILLON IS HER ONLY CHILD.

HE'S ALWAYS TAKING CARE OF PAULINE SINCE I CAN REMEMBER.

Pauline: HAVING MY SON TAKE CARE OF ME IS

ONE OF THE WORST THINGS EVER.

DILLON IS 21,

AND HIS FULL-TIME JOB IS TAKING CARE OF ME.

HE HAS TO HELP ME PUT MY PANTS ON MY LEGS

'CAUSE I CAN'T BEND OVER TO DO IT.

MY LEGS ARE TOO BIG.

I DO FEEL BAD FOR DILLON,

JUST BECAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE HE HASN'T HAD MUCH OF A LIFE.

EVEN WITH ME, HE'S VERY CLOSED OFF

AND DOESN'T REALLY SPEAK HIS MIND VERY MUCH.

IT'S NOT A HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP

BECAUSE IT'S NOT A MOTHER/SON RELATIONSHIP.

IT'S MORE LIKE A CLIENT AND A CAREGIVER.

HEY, DIL?

GO GRAB SOME BREAKFAST, HONEY.

I TOTALLY FEEL LIKE HE'S THE PARENT AND I'M THE KID.

THANKS, BABE. APPRECIATE IT.

Dillon: I LOVE MY MOM, BUT SINCE SHE'S THIS HEAVY,

WHATEVER I'M DOING, I HAVE TO STOP

AND JUST TAKE CARE OF HER AND HELP HER.

Pauline: ALL HE HAS EVER KNOWN

IS A MOTHER THAT WEIGHED AT LEAST 500 AND THEN 600

AND THEN 700.

I REALLY DO FEEL LIKE I AM A BURDEN.

Dillon: I JUST WISH THAT SHE COULD WALK LONGER

AND STAND UP LONGER

SO I WOULDN'T HAVE TO HELP HER WITH EVERYTHING.

Pauline: THERE IS NOT ONE GOOD THING ABOUT BEING IN BED.

THE ONLY GOOD THING THAT I GET OUT OF IT IS WHEN I'M EATING.

THE BIGGEST HIGHLIGHT OF MY DAY IS EATING.

HOW IS THAT POWERFUL ENOUGH

TO KEEP ME THIS WAY FOR YEARS AND YEARS?

I HAVE STRUGGLED WITH MY WEIGHT SINCE STARTING AT ABOUT AGE 6.

MY MOM AND DAD, THEY GOT A DIVORCE.

MY MOM WAS A HOMEMAKER, SO WHEN THEY SPLIT UP,

SHE HAD TO GO LIVE ON HER OWN,

AND THERE WAS NO WELFARE OR ANYTHING BACK THEN,

SO WE STARVED.

WE WENT HUNGRY A LOT.

THE FEELINGS THAT CAME WITH BEING HUNGRY

WAS A HELPLESS FEELING,

LIKE THERE WAS NOWHERE YOU CAN GET FOOD.

LIKE, YOU CAN SEARCH EVERY CUPBOARD,

AND THEY WERE ALL EMPTY.

BECAUSE OF THAT, AS AN ADULT, I STILL WANT TO EAT.

WHEN MY PARENTS GOT BACK TOGETHER

AND FOOD WAS PLENTIFUL AGAIN,

THAT'S THE POINT WHERE I STARTED OVERDOING IT

AND SNEAKING INTO THE KITCHEN TO GET FOOD AT NIGHT.

AND I WAS GETTING CHUBBY AROUND AT AGE 8,

AND IT JUST KIND OF PROGRESSED A LITTLE BIT MORE EACH YEAR.

WHEN I WAS 17 AND I WAS A SENIOR IN HIGH SCHOOL,

I WEIGHED ALMOST 300 POUNDS.

AND WHEN I WAS 29 AND I GAVE BIRTH TO DILLON,

I WAS 400 POUNDS.

AND THEN BY THE TIME HE WAS 2 YEARS OLD, I WAS 500.

NOW MY WEIGHT IS JUST OUT OF CONTROL.

I KNOW THAT I'M OVER 600 POUNDS, AND I STILL CAN'T STOP EATING.

BECAUSE I HAVE SUCH LIMITED ACTIVITIES IN MY LIFE,

FOOD IS ONE OF MY ACTIVITIES,

SO I LOOK FORWARD TO IT AS AN EVENT.

Dillon: WE'RE GOING TO OUR GROCERY STORE.

BECAUSE SHE CAN'T FIT IN THE CAR THAT GOOD,

IT'S JUST EASIER FOR HER TO GET IN THE CHAIR

AND FOR ME TO JUST GO IN THE CAR.

COME ON, DILLY.

DO YOU HAVE TAMALES TODAY?

YES. OKAY, GOOD.

FOUR PORK, PLEASE.

I ENJOY EVERYTHING ABOUT FOOD.

SEE THESE TONGS, HONEY?

WHAT I WANT YOU TO DO IS I WANT YOU TO USE THE TONGS

AND TAKE THE TOP ONE OFF

AND GET ME THE BOTTOM UNDERNEATH,

'CAUSE IT'LL BE FRESHER.

THE SMELL, THE TASTE, THE TEXTURE --

THERE IS JUST SOMETHING ABOUT IT THAT EXCITES ME.

ALL RIGHT, LET'S GO GET A DRINKY.

I LOVE FOOD SO MUCH THAT I WANT TO EAT IT ALL.

THE ONLY THING I'M GETTING IS THE JOY AND SATISFACTION

OF THE FOOD FOR THOSE 10 MINUTES.

I'M LIVING TO EAT INSTEAD OF EATING TO LIVE.

I SAID I DON'T KNOW WHAT KIND OF DRINKS THEY HAVE.

I AM VERY AWARE OF THE DAMAGE I AM DOING TO MY SON

THROUGH OVEREATING.

THESE LAST SIX YEARS

HAVE PROBABLY BEEN PRETTY MISERABLE FOR HIM.

I JUST CAN'T WAIT FOR THE DAY

THAT I DON'T HAVE TO HELP HER EVERY DAY.

PLEASE DON'T LET ME WRECK. OH, GOD.

[ INHALES SHARPLY ]

[ WHIMPERS ]

YOU'RE GETTING TOO CLOSE TO THE EDGE.

[ SIGHS ]

OKAY, NOW I JUST HAD A HEART ATTACK.

THANK YOU, HONEY.

I COULD GET ON WITH MY OWN LIFE AND LIVE ON MY OWN.

I FEEL LIKE I POSSIBLY COULD RUIN MY SON'S LIFE.

I GOT TO GET THIS UNDER CONTROL.

[ Voice breaking ] I THINK THAT...

BY ME GETTING RESCUED, IT'S GONNA RESCUE HIM, TOO.

I'VE SAT HERE AND PRAYED FOR SOMETHING TO SAVE MY LIFE,

AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT WILL

[ SNIFFLES ]

BECAUSE [SNIFFLES] I'LL PROBABLY DIE IN MY BED ONE DAY.

AND I DON'T WANT MY SON TO FIND ME.

I FEEL LIKE I'VE DONE ENOUGH DAMAGE TO HIM THAT

THAT WOULD BE THE FINAL STRAW.

WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO REACH OVER ME

AND GET THESE BOXES, OR DO I HAVE TO TRY TO GET UP?

THERE'S A DOCTOR IN HOUSTON

THAT DOES WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY ON PEOPLE MY SIZE.

HE'S MY LAST HOPE.

READY.

YEAH. GOOD JOB.

OH, GOOD JOB, BABY.

BUT HE DEFINITELY WON'T DO SURGERY

IF HE CAN'T DO FOLLOW-UPS,

SO WE ARE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND MOVE TO HOUSTON.

[ GROANS ]

OHH.

WILL YOU BE ABLE TO SQUEEZE ME THROUGH THE VAN?

LET ME SIT DOWN FOR A MINUTE.

OHH.

I'M NEVER GONNA BE ABLE TO GET IN AND OUT OF THIS VAN.

YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT IT TOO MUCH.

JUST DO IT.

[ GRUNTS ]

I'VE NEVER DONE ANYTHING LIKE THIS, BUT I KNOW I HAVE TO.

OUCH.

[ GRUNTS ]

ONE AT A TIME.

OKAY, NOW THE OTHER ONE.

THIS IS A GAMBLE BECAUSE WE'VE NEVER MET

AND I HAVE NO IDEA IF HE'LL HELP ME OR NOT.

BUT WE HAVE TO DO IT IF I'M GONNA LOSE THE WEIGHT.

HE IS MY LAST HOPE.

Pauline: I AM READY FOR THIS TRIP TO BE OVER.

DILLON, YOU WANT SOME BEEF JERKY, BABY?

NO.

[ DOG BARKS ]

I WANT TO EAT SOME, TOO.

THERE AREN'T A LOT OF HEALTHY OPTIONS ON THE ROAD.

AND I CAN'T REALLY GET IN AND OUT OF THE VAN,

SO WE HAVE TO GO WITH FAST FOOD.

AND NOW I'M REALLY HUNGRY.

UM, I THINK I WANT CHILI CHEESE FRIES AND A DRINK.

I GUESS A DELUXE DOG WITH A PRETZEL BUN, OKAY?

CAN I GET A DELUXE DOG...

AND CHILI CHEESE FRIES.

...AND CHILI CHEESE FRIES?

I JUST WANT TO GET TO HOUSTON AND MEET THE DOCTOR

SO I CAN TRY TO GET SURGERY.

WE ARE FINALLY HERE.

I HAD A MEDICAL BED DELIVERED AND SET UP,

AND I JUST WANT TO GET IN AND LAY DOWN.

I WOULDN'T BE DOING THIS IF THERE WERE OTHER OPTIONS.

THIS IS MY LAST OPTION.

[ GRUNTS ] THANK YOU.

I SEE THE DOCTOR TOMORROW,

AND I AM REALLY ANXIOUS AND EXCITED

BECAUSE HE CAN HELP ME.

BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT HE'S GONNA TELL ME.

I HOPE IT'S NOT GONNA BREAK.

[ GRUNTS ]

OH, GOODNESS SAKE.

WHEW. SUCH A RELIEF TO BE HERE AND JUST BE...

I AM GOING FULL FORCE AHEAD, AND I WILL DO THIS.

SO, TODAY I GET TO MEET DR. NOW.

HOPEFULLY HE WILL FIND ME HEALTHY ENOUGH

THAT I CAN HAVE SURGERY.

OH, BOY.

IF THIS APPOINTMENT DOESN'T GO WELL,

I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANYONE ELSE OUT THERE THAT CAN HELP ME.

Woman: MS. POTTER?

I'M NOT EVEN SURE WHAT I WEIGH RIGHT NOW.

OH, GOSH.

[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]

I DON'T KNOW IF I'VE GAINED OR LOST OVER THE LAST YEAR.

OH, MY GOODNESS.

[ EXHALES SHARPLY ]

OH, GOD.

OH, GOD.

I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT I WEIGH ALMOST 700 POUNDS.

OH, GOD.

I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE DOCTOR'S GONNA THINK

OF MY CURRENT WEIGHT.

I JUST HOPE HE CAN DO MY SURGERY.

[ KNOCK ON DOOR ]

HELLO. HI.

I'M DR. NOWZARADAN. I'M PAULINE.

SO, I SEE THAT YOU'RE 670 POUND.

TELL ME ABOUT YOUR EATING HABIT.

EVEN WHEN I'M NOT HUNGRY,

I'M STILL WANTING TO REACH FOR SOMETHING.

COULD BE CHIPS OR IT COULD BE COOKIES

OR IT COULD BE ICE CREAM.

EVEN IF I'M PHYSICALLY FULL,

I'M STILL WANTING TO SNACK ON, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING.

COOKIE, CHIPS, ICE CREAM.

THE NEXT QUESTION IS, WHO BUYS THOSE?

I'LL SEND MY SON, BUT I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GONNA SAY,

AND IT'S REALLY NOT HIS FAULT.

I KNOW HE'S PROBABLY CONSIDERED AN ENABLER,

BUT I ABUSE MY POSITION AS HIS MOTHER,

AND I TELL HIM, "GO GET MY FOOD,"

AND I FORCE HIM TO DO IT.

YOU KNOW THE SOLUTION IS NOT TO BUY IT.

RIGHT. OKAY.

SO, YOU ALREADY KNOW THE SOLUTION.

YOU ALREADY KNOW THE ANSWER.

YOU ALREADY KNOW THE PROBLEM.

BUT YOU HAVE NO CONTROL OVER IT.

PAULINE DOESN'T SEE HER RESPONSIBILITY

IN HER CURRENT SITUATION.

SO, THE QUESTION IS IF SHE EVEN WANT TO CHANGE RIGHT NOW.

UNLESS WE GET A HANDLE ON THE COMPULSIVE EATING,

WE'RE NOT GONNA BENEFIT FROM SURGERY

BECAUSE WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY IS ONLY GONNA LIMIT

WHAT YOU'RE GONNA EAT IN ONE SITTING.

THIS IS GONNA BE VERY HARD TO TREAT.

FOR YOUR CONDITION,

YOU SHOULD GO TO A ZERO-CARB DIET,

AND I WANT YOU TO LOSE 50 POUNDS

OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS.

Dr. Nowzaradan: IF SHE HASN'T LOST ANY WEIGHT

WHEN I SEE HER NEXT,

WE MAY HAVE TO TAKE MORE DRASTIC STEPS

BECAUSE SHE CANNOT SURVIVE MUCH LONGER LIKE THIS.

HOW OLD ARE YOU?

I'M 50.

DO YOU THINK YOU'RE GONNA MAKE IT TO 60?

THAT'S WHAT I'M WORRIED ABOUT.

EVERY DAY I'M WORRIED THAT I WON'T WAKE UP THE NEXT DAY.

Dr. Nowzaradan: IT'S ALL HER CHOICE,

AND I DON'T THINK SHE GETS THAT.

THIS IS TOTALLY ON YOUR SHOULDER

TO BREAK THE EATING HABIT, OKAY?

WE DISCUSSED IT BEFORE WE CAME, AND HE'S ON BOARD, TOO.

WE'RE BOTH GONNA DO THIS.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

SURE.

[ SOBS ]

I WAS SO SCARED HE WAS GONNA SEND ME AWAY,

BUT HE DIDN'T.

ARE YOU IN?

YEAH.

GOOD. I'M IN.

I'M NOT HAPPY THAT HE DIDN'T SAY THAT I'M APPROVED.

BUT I AM HAPPY THAT HE'S WILLING TO GIVE ME A CHANCE.

[ DOG YIPPING ]

OUCH.

PUSH IT. OW.

I'M GONNA LOSE THE WEIGHT I NEED TO GET THE SURGERY.

AND I MAY NOT HAVE A LOT OF TIME LEFT.

IT'S BEEN A HARD MONTH.

MY DAYS ARE SO BORING

'CAUSE I FEEL LIKE I'M NOT ESTABLISHED HERE

LIKE I WAS IN CALIFORNIA.

SO, I AM DOING NOTHING ALL DAY.

IT'S BORING AS HECK.

MY ONLY PHYSICAL ACTIVITY IS

WALKING TO THE BATHROOM FROM MY BED.

I'VE MOSTLY BEEN STUCK IN THIS CHAIR.

HOW ABOUT SOME CHICKEN SALAD?

WITH RANCH AND A COKE, PLEASE.

I'VE BEEN TRYING TO EAT BETTER,

BUT THERE STILL IS MOSTLY JUST FAST FOOD AROUND,

SO THAT MAKES IT TOUGH.

Dillon: IT WORRIES ME A LITTLE BIT

THAT SHE'S JUST GONNA FALL BACK

INTO HER OLD EATING HABITS AGAIN.

SHE GETS MAD WHEN I TELL HER NO,

LIKE, IF SHE EVER DOES HAVE ANY CRAVINGS OR ANYTHING.

THANK YOU.

BUT I JUST HOPE THAT SHE'LL KNOW THAT WE CAME HERE FOR A REASON,

AND IF SHE MESSES IT UP,

THEN ALL OF THIS WILL BE FOR NOTHING.

THANKS, HONEY.

Pauline: I SEE THE DOCTOR NEXT MONTH.

AND I'M GONNA TRY AND DO WHAT I CAN TO LOSE THE WEIGHT I NEED.

BUT IT'S HARD.

WE'RE HEADED BACK TO THE DOCTOR'S OFFICE

TO SEE HOW I'VE DONE IN THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS.

I'VE BEEN REALLY ANXIOUS TO GET APPROVED.

PUSH IT, BABY.

OKAY.

I REALLY FEEL LIKE I'M GONNA PASS OUT ALREADY.

IT'S GONNA BE BAD HAVING TO WALK TO THE SCALE.

I'VE BEEN TRYING TO DO WHAT I NEED TO LOSE THE WEIGHT.

LET ME HOLD YOUR HAND.

I JUST WANT TO...

[ WHIMPERING ]

OKAY.

UH, YOU WENT UP.

I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT I GAINED A COUPLE OF POUNDS.

I'VE HAD A FEW THINGS NOT GOOD FOR YOUR DIET,

BUT I CERTAINLY DON'T FEEL LIKE I'VE OVEREATEN.

[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]

[ KNOCK ON DOOR ]

ALL RIGHT, HOW IS EVERYTHING GOING?

JUST BEEN FEELING KIND OF NAUSEOUS AND DIZZY.

HOW IS EVERYTHING GOING WITH YOUR ACTIVITY?

I HAVEN'T DONE A LOT OF ACTIVITY IN THE LAST WEEK

BECAUSE MY STOMACH HURTS.

I DON'T THINK YOU'RE GETTING HOW SERIOUS THIS SITUATION IS.

WELL, I DO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH WATER RETENTION.

IT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN WATER WEIGHT.

PAULINE, YOU GAINED WEIGHT.

YOU'RE GETTING TO BE 700 POUND.

THINGS NEED TO BE CHANGED NOW.

YEAH.

Dr. Nowzaradan: I'M REALLY CONCERNED FOR PAULINE RIGHT NOW.

OVER THE LAST COUPLE MONTHS,

SHE SHOULD'VE LOST OVER 50 POUNDS.

SHE CANNOT GO MUCH LONGER LIKE THIS.

IT SEEMS LIKE YOU ARE NOT GOING TO

FIGURE THIS OUT ON YOUR OWN.

SO I AM ADMITTING YOU TO THE HOSPITAL RIGHT NOW.

I'M GONNA PUT YOU ON A MONITORED DIET.

OKAY.

Dr. Nowzaradan: SHE'S NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING DIFFERENT

UNLESS THERE IS SOME SORT OF MEDICAL INTERVENTION.

[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]

SOMETHING DRASTIC HAS TO BE DONE.

IF SHE DOESN'T LOSE ANY WEIGHT IN THE HOSPITAL,

THERE IS NOTHING MORE WE CAN DO FOR PAULINE.

Pauline: I DIDN'T THINK I'D BE GOING TO THE HOSPITAL

TODAY AT ALL.

OHH.

I WAS NOT EXPECTING THIS.

I STILL THINK I CAN DO IT ON MY OWN

ONCE I GET SETTLED INTO THINGS A LITTLE BETTER.

IT FEELS WEIRD TO VOLUNTARILY GO THERE SINCE I DON'T WANT TO.

I THINK HE MAY BE OVERREACTING A LITTLE BIT.

Pauline: I'M REALLY HUNGRY.

I'VE BEEN IN THE HOSPITAL FOR A WHILE NOW.

AND THEY'VE HAD ME ON A RESTRICTED DIET.

[ SIGHS ]

SOMETIMES, THE FOOD ISN'T THAT GREAT.

BUT I'M DEALING WITH IT.

I DON'T THINK I REALLY NEEDED TO BE IN THE HOSPITAL TO DO THIS.

I KNOW I CAN DO THIS ON MY OWN.

AND THERE ARE TIMES I FEEL LIKE

I'M BEING PUSHED A LITTLE TOO HARD.

THAT'S PRETTY GOOD.

I HAVEN'T HAD BAKED CHICKEN FOR A WHILE.

I AM JUST READY TO BE HOME.

[ KNOCK ON DOOR ]

HELLO.

HI, DOCTOR.

HOW ARE YOU? I'M OKAY.

AND HOW IS YOUR DIET COMING ALONG?

GOOD. I'M DOING SO GOOD.

I'VE BEEN EATING ONLY SALADS AND MEAT

AND NO SNACKS IN BETWEEN.

LIKE, I'M DOING REALLY GOOD ON THAT.

OKAY. SUPER.

WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD AND WEIGH YOU NOW.

IF YOU LOST AT LEAST 40 POUNDS,

WE CAN GO FORWARD WITH THE SURGERY.

THANK YOU, DOCTOR.

ALL RIGHT. SEE YOU LATER.

YOU GOT TO PUT THE LEG RESTS ON THE WHEELCHAIR.

I DON'T KNOW MY CURRENT WEIGHT

AND I AM ANXIOUS TO SEE WHERE I'M AT.

DO YOU THINK IT WILL HOLD -- LIKE, I WON'T BREAK IT, RIGHT?

NO.

AWESOME. THANK YOU.

I APPRECIATE YOU BEING SO NICE.

OKAY, WE'RE GONNA PRESS IT ON.

OKAY, SO, MINUS FROM 678.

THAT'S NOT BAD.

60 WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER, BUT I'LL BE HAPPY WITH 44.

YEAH.

PAULINE IS LOSING WEIGHT BECAUSE OF HER CONTROLLED DIET.

NOW THAT WE HAVE HER WEIGHT GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION,

WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD AND DO A BYPASS ON HER.

BUT SHE STILL HAS TO MAKE DECISION

TO BE HEALTHY ON HER OWN.

IF SHE DOESN'T, THE SURGERY WILL BE A WASTE.

THIS IS HER LAST CHANCE.

I HOPE SHE TAKES IT.

Man: ALL RIGHT, MISS PAULINE, ARE YOU READY?

Pauline: YES.

OH, OUCH.

HELLO.

SO, ARE YOU READY FOR YOUR SURGERY?

I AM SCARED TO DEATH.

COULD YOU MAKE SURE I WAKE UP?

YOU WILL WAKE UP. I'M SO SCARED.

YOU HAVE THE BOOK I GAVE YOU TO READ AND --

I BROUGHT IT WITH ME, YES.

THIS IS GONNA BE VERY IMPORTANT,

BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T FOLLOW THAT,

YOU'RE GONNA BE HAVING SERIOUS COMPLICATIONS.

I'M GONNA FOLLOW EVERYTHING.

OKAY? OKAY.

THANK YOU. MM-HMM.

RIGHT BEHIND ME.

Pauline: I WOULDN'T BE DOING THIS

IF THERE WERE OTHER OPTIONS.

DILLON IS THE REASON WHY I'M DOING THIS.

I'M SO TIRED OF BURDENING HIM TO HELP ME.

WHAT THIS SURGERY IS GONNA DO FOR DILLON

IS MAYBE GIVE HIM HIS OWN LIFE BACK.

THIS IS MY LAST OPTION.

Man: TAKE A BIG, DEEP BREATH.

Dr. Nowzaradan: PAULINE IS HAVING GASTRIC BYPASS TODAY.

WE GOT HER TO LOSE SOME WEIGHT,

BUT SHE WILL NOT CONTINUE TO BE SUCCESSFUL

WITHOUT WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY.

WE'RE MAKING THE FIRST INCISION.

THESE MORBIDLY OBESE PATIENTS --

THEIR STOMACH MAY BE AS BIG AS A LARGE WATERMELON.

AND WE GOT TO REDUCE IT TO THE SIZE OF A SMALL ORANGE.

GO AHEAD AND TURN THE ROOM LIGHTS OFF.

FROM THIS POINT ON,

PAULINE SHOULD EAT JUST ONE MODERATE MEAL,

AND SHE'LL BE FULL.

THAT'S GONNA BE A TREMENDOUS REDUCTION

ON CALORIE INTAKE FOR HER.

THIS IS PAULINE'S LAST OPPORTUNITY

TO TURN HER LIFE AROUND.

I'M HOPING THE SURGERY GIVE HER MOTIVATION

TO START TAKING OPPORTUNITY FOR HERSELF.

ALL RIGHT, ROOM LIGHT ON, PLEASE.

EVERYTHING LOOK GOOD.

PAULINE'S BYPASS SURGERY WENT VERY WELL.

DID ANYONE TELL MY SON I'M OKAY?

Dr. Nowzaradan: AS SOON AS SHE GETS STABLE,

WE'RE GONNA START TO GET HER UP

AND MOVE AROUND A LITTLE BIT...

WE ARE GOING TO WATCH HER

TO MAKE SURE SHE'S DOING WHAT SHE NEED TO DO.

I DON'T FEEL GOOD, HONEY.

WE MUST GET HER TO KEEP MAKING PROGRESS.

GOOD MORNING.

GOOD MORNING.

HOW YOU DOING THIS MORNING?

OKAY, I GUESS.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN OKAY, YOU GUESS?

WELL, I'M STILL HAVING SOME PAINS.

WELL, PAIN AFTER SURGERY IS NORMAL, OKAY?

YOU NEED TO BE UP AND WALKING.

IF PAULINE DOESN'T MOVE AROUND, A BLOOD CLOT CAN FORM,

AND THAT CAN BE FATAL.

SHE HAS TO GET UP AND MOVE.

IF YOU DON'T WALK,

YOU'RE GONNA DEVELOP A BLOOD CLOT IN THE LEG,

AND WE'RE GONNA HAVE A PROBLEM WITH IT.

WELL, I PULLED A MUSCLE IN MY STOMACH.

EH, NO EXCUSES.

I KNOW -- YOU ALWAYS THINK IT'S EXCUSE,

BUT IF IT'S HURTING ME, IT'S THERE.

BUT IT'S HURTING YOU

DOESN'T MEAN THAT YOU SHOULD STAY IN THE BED.

I'M ONLY ON DAY 5 OF A REALLY BIG SURGERY.

EVERYBODY GOES HOME ON DAY 2.

YOU'RE MAKING EXCUSES THAT ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE.

I WANT TO SEE YOU WALKING OUTSIDE OF THIS ROOM

AND WALK BACK, OKAY?

I CAN'T DO IT THAT FAST.

OKAY. WE GOT TO BE SLOW WITH YOU.

IT'S GONNA TAKE A WHILE. ALL RIGHT.

HERE COMES THE TEAR AGAIN, OKAY?

I KNOW, BECAUSE YOU CAN'T EXPECT IT THAT FAST OUT OF ME.

YOU'RE GONNA BE MOBILE AND YOU'RE GONNA GET UP AND MOVE.

[ GROANS ]

LATER, OKAY? LATER.

HER LIFE AND FUTURE ARE IN HER HAND.

I'LL BE BACK.

SHE CAN CHOOSE TO GET UP AND DO WHAT SHE NEED TO DO NOW

OR SHE CAN GIVE UP AND DIE.

[ EXHALES DEEPLY ]

OKAY.

PAULINE IS USED TO BEING IN CONTROL

OF EVERYONE AND HER SITUATION.

STAY CLOSE, HONEY. OKAY. WE ARE.

SHE'S NOT RESPONDING VERY WELL TO CHANGES IN THIS DYNAMIC.

YOU GOT IT.

GIVE IT.

[ GROANING ]

THANK YOU.

Dr. Nowzaradan: THIS IS NOT A GOOD SITUATION RIGHT NOW.

SHE NEED TO DO MUCH MORE.

IF SHE WON'T GET UP AND WALK,

I WILL HAVE TO TAKE PREVENTIVE MEASURES.

I'M ABOUT TO PASS OUT.

OH, GOD.

SHE'S PUTTING HER LIFE IN JEOPARDY BY REFUSING TO MOVE.

[ GROANS ]

PAULINE REFUSE TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR HERSELF.

THIS IS REALLY DISAPPOINTING.

SHE ONLY HAS GOTTEN UP TO WALK ONCE.

SO SHE'S PRONE TO DEVELOP BLOOD CLOT,

WHICH CAN MIGRATE TO HER LUNG,

AND THAT CAN BE A FATAL CONDITION.

SO I HAVE TO PUT THE AIR FILTER IN THE LEG TO PREVENT THIS.

ALL RIGHT, PAULINE.

NOW WE'RE GOING TO PUT THAT FILTER IN, OKAY?

OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

Man: SLOW, DEEP BREATHS, PAULINE.

Dr. Nowzaradan: WE HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL

BECAUSE THIS IS A HIGH-RISK SURGERY.

LET ME HAVE A SYRINGE.

HOLD IT RIGHT THERE.

OKAY.

...WHICH IS THE MAIN VEIN THAT TAKE THE BLOOD INTO THE HEART.

MAYBE A LITTLE BIT TOO LOW, HUH?

ONE MORE TIME.

ALL RIGHT, HOLD IT RIGHT THERE.

ALL RIGHT, WE'LL GET IT.

IT'S A LITTLE BIT CHALLENGING

TO PUT THE FILTER IN THE RIGHT PLACE

WITH THIS SIZE PATIENT, BUT EVERYTHING WENT VERY WELL.

Man: 1, 2, 3...

SO FAR, PAULINE IS A VERY SELF-DESTRUCTIVE PERSON

AND SHE DOESN'T SEEM TO WANT TO CHANGE THAT.

ULTIMATELY, YOU CANNOT MAKE THE CHOICE FOR HER.

NO MATTER HOW MUCH WE HELP,

TURNING AROUND HER LIFE IS UP TO HER.

GOOD MORNING.

GOOD MORNING.

HOW ARE YOU TODAY?

OKAY. HOW ARE YOU?

ALL RIGHT. YOU READY TO GO HOME TODAY?

I GUESS SO.

I NEED TO SEE WHAT YOU WEIGH BEFORE YOU GO HOME.

I WILL. NOT RIGHT NOW, NOT THIS MINUTE.

WHY NOT?

BECAUSE I'M NOT DRESSED.

THIS IS NOT FASHION SHOW, OKAY?

NO, NO. DOCTOR, NO.

YOU'RE NOT HEARING ME. I'M NOT DOING IT RIGHT NOW.

I'M NOT DOING IT RIGHT NOW. I CAN GET YOU OUT.

NO. I'M NOT DOING IT RIGHT NOW.

THIS IS NOT A PICKING-AND-CHOOSING THING.

PAULINE HAS BEEN IN THE HOSPITAL FOR A COUPLE MONTHS,

BUT SHE STILL IS A VERY DIFFICULT PATIENT.

AND HER ATTITUDE IS THE BIGGEST PROBLEM RIGHT NOW.

ARE YOU READY?

OUCH.

I HURT MY TOE.

OUCHIE.

OOH.

Dr. Nowzaradan: ALL RIGHT.

SO, YOU'RE GONNA FOLLOW YOUR DIET,

AND IF YOU FOLLOW YOUR DIET,

YOU'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO LOSE 10, 15 POUND A WEEK, OKAY?

YEAH.

WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MAKE A LOT OF PROGRESS

WITH PAULINE'S WEIGHT LOSS.

SO I'M GONNA DISCHARGE HER NOW.

WE HAVE HELPED HER AS LONG AS WE CAN HERE.

I'M VERY CONCERNED

THAT SHE'S GOING TO END UP UNDOING HER SURGERY.

PUSH IT UP.

[ GROANS ]

IF SHE STAYS THIS WAY,

THEN SHE'S NOT GONNA LOSE ANY MORE WEIGHT.

SHE'S GOING TO HAVE TO LEARN TO DO THINGS ON HER OWN.

Pauline: WE ARE GOING TO THE WARM-WATER REHABILITATION POOL,

WHERE I CAN DO SOME WATER-WALKING

AND INCREASE THE STRENGTH IN MY LEGS.

I THINK I'M GOING AT A GOOD PACE.

I'M MAKING THE PROGRESS I WANT.

AND THE DOCTOR CAN'T TELL ME WHAT'S GOOD FOR ME,

'CAUSE I KNOW MY BODY.

THE POOL IS MUCH SAFER THAN THE PHYSICAL THERAPIST

PUSHING ME TO DO MORE THAN I SHOULD.

IF I FALL, IT WOULD BE A DANGEROUS SITUATION,

AND THEY DON'T GET THAT.

SWIMMING IS ONE OF THE BEST EXERCISES.

YOU USE EVERY MUSCLE WHEN YOU'RE SWIMMING.

SO THIS WILL HELP ME MAKE GOOD PROGRESS.

THEY WANT ME TO MOVE PAST THE PAIN.

I THINK THE POOL IS A GOOD SOLUTION

SO I CAN DO THINGS THE WAY THEY NEED TO BE DONE.

Woman: MISS POTTER.

THIS IS MY FIRST CHECKUP AFTER LEAVING THE HOSPITAL.

SO I'M ANXIOUS TO KNOW HOW MUCH I'VE LOST.

I KNOW I WILL HAVE A LOSS OF SOME TYPE.

I JUST DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH.

OH, GOSH.

THAT'S PRETTY AWESOME.

OH, GOSH.

OKAY.

I'M FEELING GOOD ABOUT SEEING DR. NOWZARADAN.

I AM ANXIOUS TO SEE IF HE'LL BE HAPPY.

[ KNOCK ON DOOR ]

HI.

HOW Y'ALL DOING? GOOD. HOW ARE YOU?

ALL RIGHT.

HOW IS YOUR DIET COMING ALONG?

GOOD.

I HAVEN'T BEEN IN THE LOW 5s IN A LONG TIME.

PAULINE, IN POUND LOSS,

MEAN THAT YOU'RE STILL EATING WHAT YOU WANT.

I'VE DONE GOOD. YOU COULD SEE BY THE SCALE.

YOU TOLD ME, "ONLY BELIEVE THE SCALE."

THAT'S BECAUSE YOU HAD WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY.

I KNOW, BUT I'M EATING GOOD, TOO.

THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT YOU'RE EATING HEALTHY.

YOU SHOULD HAVE LOST AT LEAST 60 TO 80 POUNDS.

Dr. Nowzaradan: PAULINE'S PLAYING DUMB.

THIS LACK OF PROGRESS MEANS

THAT SHE'S STILL OVEREATING AND DOING NOTHING.

NO CARB MEANS NO CARB.

OKAY, I'LL DO NO CARBS.

YOU NEED TO GET RID OF BREAD, RICE, AND PASTA.

HOW IS YOUR WALKING?

I WALK BACK AND FORTH IN MY LIVING ROOM.

I DO THAT SEVERAL TIMES.

YOU DON'T GO OUTSIDE TO WALK?

NOT YET.

I DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE ENOUGH.

I FEEL LIKE I'M GONNA FALL DOWN IF I GO TOO FAR.

Dr. Nowzaradan: WE NEED TO GET PAULINE UP

AND MOVING AROUND MORE.

SHE SKIPPED HER PHYSICAL-THERAPY APPOINTMENT.

SO I'M GOING TO SEND THEM TO HER APARTMENT

TO MAKE SURE SHE'S ACTIVE.

FIRST STEP OF BEING INDEPENDENT IS WALKING.

SO I WANT YOU TO INCREASE YOUR WALKING DISTANCE

AND WALK WITH WALKER AT LEAST THREE TIMES A DAY.

OKAY.

ALL RIGHT.

Dr. Nowzaradan: IF, NEXT TIME SHE COME IN,

SHE HAS NOT MADE ANY PROGRESS,

THEN THERE IS NO REASON TO CONTINUE THIS PROCESS

WITH PAULINE.

Pauline: I'M FEELING GOOD ABOUT MY PROGRESS,

AND IT'S DISAPPOINTING THAT HE DOES NOT.

THANK YOU. SURE.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT HE EXPECTS FROM ME.

[ GRUNTS ]

I'M WORKING HARD AND DOING WHAT I SHOULD,

AND I DON'T FEEL LIKE HE'S BEING VERY FAIR RIGHT NOW.

HEY, DIL, HONEY, COULD YOU BRING ME MY LUNCH, PLEASE?

'CAUSE IT'S BEEN SO LONG SINCE I ATE,

I'M FEELING A LITTLE BIT NAUSEOUS.

IT'S BEEN A HARD MONTH.

I'M STILL TRYING TO BALANCE THE CRAVINGS.

I'M EATING SOME THINGS I'M NOT SUPPOSED TO,

BUT I'VE DRASTICALLY CUT DOWN ON THE AMOUNT.

YOU KNOW, DR. NOWZARADAN REALLY DISCOURAGES EATING CARBS.

BUT I'M REALLY NOT WORRIED ABOUT HOW MUCH CARBS IS IN THE RICE.

IT'S NOT GONNA HURT ME.

THE KEY IS TO EAT SMALLER PORTIONS.

I HAVEN'T MOVED AROUND VERY MUCH

BECAUSE OF THE PAIN STILL BEING THERE,

BUT I'M DEFINITELY FINDING MY OWN PACE.

I'M DONE. CAN YOU TAKE THIS?

I KNOW I HAVE ANOTHER DOCTOR'S VISIT COMING UP NEXT MONTH.

NO MATTER THE NEGATIVITY, A SMALLER NUMBER IS PROGRESS.

BUT I DON'T KNOW IF THE DOCTORS WILL AGREE WITH THAT.

I'M A LITTLE NERVOUS ABOUT SEEING THE DOCTOR TODAY.

AND I'M HOPING I MADE ENOUGH PROGRESS FOR HIM THIS TIME.

I FEEL PRETTY GOOD.

I FEEL LIKE I'M SURE I'LL HAVE A WEIGHT LOSS.

I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S GONNA FIT OR NOT.

WE'LL SEE.

[ LAUGHS ] WHAT'S THE MATTER?

THE WAY THAT YOU'RE SITTING HERE AFTER SURGERY,

AND YOU WANT TO ROLL WITH THIS THING INSTEAD OF WALKING?

THE ONLY REASON I HAVE THIS CHAIR

IS BECAUSE I CAN'T WALK THAT FAR WITHOUT GETTING DIZZY.

Dr. Nowzaradan: PAULINE IS FULLY CAPABLE OF WALKING,

BUT SHE JUST DOESN'T WANT TO DO IT.

OKAY.

THAT'S NOT BAD, I GUESS.

THAT'S WHAT YOU SAY, AND THAT'S NOT WHAT I SAY.

WHAT DO YOU SAY?

I DON'T THINK YOU REALIZE THE ONLY WEIGHT YOU HAVE LOST

HAS BEEN WHEN WE PUT YOU IN THE HOSPITAL.

YOU SHOULD HAVE LOST 30 POUNDS SINCE LAST TIME I SAW YOU.

YOU'RE NOT LOSING ANY MEANINGFUL WEIGHT.

BUT THIS IS NOT WORKING FOR ME.

THIS IS BULL[BLEEP]

Dr. Nowzaradan: TELL ME ABOUT YOUR EATING HABIT.

WHAT DO YOU EAT FOR A TYPICAL DAY?

I HAVE TO EAT LIKE EVERY THREE HOURS OR I GET NAUSEOUS.

I WANT TO GET AWAY FROM THIS EATING THREE HOURS, OKAY?

YOU ONLY EAT BREAKFAST, LUNCH, AND DINNER.

RIGHT, BUT I'M JUST EATING SOMETHING LITTLE,

LIKE A LITTLE CUP OF YOGURT.

THAT'S BINGE EATING. THAT'S GONNA ESCALATE.

YOU HAVE THE SURGERY TO CHANGE YOUR EATING HABIT,

AND YOU'RE NOT GONNA DO WHAT WE TELL YOU,

YOU'RE GONNA BE EXACTLY WHERE YOU STARTED.

I'M NOT EATING ENOUGH TO GAIN WEIGHT.

WELL, THAT'S YOUR PERCEPTION,

BUT, YOU KNOW, THE SCALE DOESN'T WEIGH IN PERCEPTION.

HOW IS YOUR PHYSICAL THERAPY COMING ALONG?

THEY HAVEN'T CALLED ME YET.

WELL, I GOT A MESSAGE THEY CALLED,

AND YOU WERE NOT READY FOR THEM.

THEY NEVER CALLED.

LET ME CHECK ON THE PHYSICAL-THERAPY SETUP.

[ Ringing ]

I WAS CALLING ABOUT PAULINE POTTER.

SHE SAID THAT NOBODY CALLED HER.

MAN: Well, we did, sir.

We called her three times, and she said she didn't need us

and she had someone else helping her.

She turned us away each time we called.

OKAY.

I WANT YOU TO CALL HER BACK AGAIN AND SET IT UP THIS TIME.

MAKE SURE THAT SHE'S NOT GONNA REFUSE IT, OKAY?

Dr. Nowzaradan: PAULINE IS LYING TO ME.

SHE WANT THE MAGIC PILL TO SOLVE HER PROBLEM

WITHOUT HER DOING ANY WORK.

PAULINE, I GOT THE MESSAGE FROM PHYSICAL THERAPY.

THEY SAID THAT THEY CALLED YOU,

AND YOU TOLD THEM YOU HAVE SOMEBODY ELSE COMING IN,

THAT YOU DON'T NEED HIM.

THAT WAS THEM?

I THOUGHT IT WAS ABOUT SOMETHING ELSE.

THEY SPECIFICALLY TOLD YOU

THAT THEY WERE GOING TO DO THIS PHYSICAL THERAPY.

THEY DID NOT SAY THE WORDS "PHYSICAL THERAPY,"

'CAUSE AFTER YOU TOLD ME THAT,

I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR THEIR CALL.

YOU ALWAYS HAVE CERTAIN EXCUSES,

BUT NONE OF THEM MAKE ANY SENSE.

BECAUSE IT'S TRUE. IT'S NOT AN EXCUSE.

I'M NOT TRYING TO SKIP THE PROGRAM

OR, YOU KNOW, NOT LISTEN TO YOUR RULES.

I'M NOT.

I DON'T KNOW HOW ELSE WE'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO HELP YOU.

THERE'S NOT MUCH I CAN DO FOR YOU

UNLESS YOU START TAKING RESPONSIBILITY

FOR YOUR SITUATION.

SO LET'S TRY TO EAT EFFICIENTLY,

THREE TIME A DAY, HIGH PROTEIN,

AND GET ON WITH YOUR PHYSICAL THERAPY

AND SEE IF WE CAN MAKE SOME HEADWAY.

OKAY.

PAULINE WANT TO MANIPULATE EVERYBODY AROUND HER

TO THINK THAT SHE'S RIGHT.

SHE HAS NO INTENTION TO CHANGE RIGHT NOW.

Pauline: I DON'T LIKE HOW HE RESPONDED

AND I DON'T THINK IT WAS FAIR.

IT MADE ME SHUT DOWN

AND IT MADE ME NOT TO EVER WANT TO TALK TO HIM AGAIN.

I THINK HE'S TOO HARD ON ME.

AT THIS TIME, THERE IS NOT MUCH MORE I CAN DO FOR PAULINE.

SHE'S NOT WALKING WHEN SHE SHOULD BE.

PAULINE GOES OUT, BUT SHE STAYS IN THE MOTORIZED WHEELCHAIR.

THAT'S NOT BEING ACTIVE.

Pauline: I DON'T AGREE WITH ALL THE DOCTOR SAYS,

BECAUSE I'M DOING MORE AND I AM GOING OUT AND DOING THINGS.

Dr. Nowzaradan: PAULINE SAYS SHE'S EATING HEALTHY,

BUT SHE'S NOT.

SHE'S EATING WHATEVER SHE LIKES

AND TELLING HERSELF SHE IS DOING BETTER.

SHE'S PUSHED HER BODY TO THE LIMIT SO LONG THAT

I AM CONCERNED SHE MAY NOT BE ABLE

TO LIVE ANOTHER YEAR LIKE THIS.

YOU WANT EVERY PATIENT TO BE A SUCCESS,

BUT THAT'S NOT REALITY.

Dillon: I STILL HAVE TO DO A LOT FOR MY MOM,

BUT WE'RE BOTH HOPING THAT WE CAN BOTH BE MORE INDEPENDENT

AND SHE WON'T HAVE TO RELY ON ME SO MUCH.

HOPEFULLY DILLON WON'T END UP BURYING HIS MOTHER SOON.

Pauline: I FEEL LIKE I'M MAKING THE PROGRESS I WANT,

AND I DO HAVE TO TAKE IT AT MY OWN PACE.

I KNOW THAT I WILL GET THERE THAT WAY.