Procedure: LAP-BAND (Adjustable Gastric Band)
Surgeon: Myur Srikanth, MD
Date of surgery: January, 2005
Height: 5’ 6”
Weight before surgery: 243 lbs.
Total weight loss: 106 lbs

Why she did it: Mary had severe joint pain, heartburn, high blood pressure and sleep apnea. She had tried many diets, only to gain back more weight each time.

Her biggest post-procedure challenge: “My biggest challenge has been overcoming the compulsion to eat. The LAP-BAND restricts the amount of food I can eat and helps me to eat less.”

How life has changed: “I’m no longer ashamed of the way I look. I’m proud, have more self-confidence and my overall health has improved dramatically.” Mary says she’s also more physically active now. She exercises daily, walks, recently hiked up Mount Si and is looking forward to wearing her new swim suite in Hawaii this year.

Advice for others considering surgery: “Just do it.”

Sean

Procedure: Distal RNY Gastric Bypass
Surgeon: Ki Oh, MD
Date of surgery: March, 2003
Height: 6’ 5”
Weight before surgery: 474 lbs.
Total weight loss: 275 lbs

Why he did it: "At the age of 25 I was told that I had less than a year to live… I had several co-morbidities such as sleep apnea, hypertension, type two diabetes, and cardiomyopathy. My liver function was horrible and my kidneys were beginning to shut down. It was only a matter of time before my body 'gave out' due to my extreme obesity."

His biggest post-procedure challenge: "My biggest post-surgery challenge has been adjusting to eating smaller quantities of food, and not relying on food as a 'reward.' I used to eat excessively when I was happy, or sad, so finding a new avenue for emotional venting has been something new for me to learn."

How life has changed: "Life is GREAT now! I love being able to do anything, and everything that I’ve missed out on while I was overweight. All of my co-morbidities have disappeared and I now have a normal life span."

Advice for others considering surgery: "Be sure to do your research when selecting a surgeon. Definitely get into a support group for bypass patients before and after surgery, and most importantly take all of your vitamins and protein supplements that your surgeon recommends."

Tessa

Procedure: LAP-BAND (Adjustable Gastric Band)
Surgeon: Myur Srikanth, MD
Date of surgery: July 2005
Height: 5’ 8”
Weight before surgery: 303 lbs.
Total weight loss: 123 lbs

Why she did it: "My weight scared me. I was starting to have health problems and was afraid of my future being obese. I wanted to be healthier and more active for my daughter. I was sad and depressed because of my health and it effected my family life."

Her biggest post-procedure challenge: "It may sound strange but I was not used to receiving compliments about my weight and my appearance and did not know how to respond. Also, it has been difficult to stay away from carbs and it is something I still have to concentrate on every day."

How life has changed: "My life is so much better now and I am happy again! My family life is much better because I am happy with myself and much more active. My husband is very proud of me which helps tremendously."

Advice for others considering surgery: "Research, research, research! Make sure you know everything there is to know. I researched for 1 1/2 years before I decided to go ahead with my surgery. The surgery requires life long changes to be successful so be sure you are willing to commit to it. This is no quick fix and even though I paid for the surgery myself (not covered by insurance) it is still the best decision I ever made. Remember - you ARE worth it!"

Teheresa

Procedure: Distal Gastric Bypass
Surgeon: Dr. Ki Oh
Date of surgery: November 2004
Height: 5’ 6”
Weight before surgery: 282 lbs.
Total weight loss: 147 lbs

Why she did it: "I was always the chubby child growing up. I was not motivated and was your typical couch potato. I tried all of the popular diets and tried to go it alone. I suffered from fatigue and had a lot of aching joints from my extra weight."

Her biggest post procedure challenge: "I have a young daughter and in addition take care of some other children so being laid up after surgery was difficult. The protein shakes took some getting used to but now I am used to them. It is all part of a new life that is so much better."

How life has changed: "The biggest change for me has been the amount of energy I have. Previously I was just a couch potato and was always tired. Now I run circles around others - including my daughter. She tells me - "You're a princess mommy!" I always wanted to be the princess - not the chubby kid in the corner."

Advice for other considering surgery: "You really have to plan out how you are going to handle your new life. It is possible to gain the weight back if you think you can just wing it. Of course, learn all you can. A great way to do this is to attend the support groups. I still go to the group that meets at St. Francis."

Vicki

Procedure: LAP-BAND (Adjustable Gastric Band)
Surgeon: Myur Srikanth, MD
Date of surgery: January 2003
Height: 5’ 4”
Weight before surgery: 240 lbs.
Total weight loss: 107 lbs

Why she did it: "Before surgery, I was not active. I did not exercise (I couldn’t) - even walking upstairs was a problem and I had constant knee and back pain. I didn’t feel attractive and didn't date. I had even had gallstones from the weight gain."

Her biggest post-procedure challenge: "I had previously dieted, lost weight and always gained it back. I lost weight on Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig, Phen Fen, to name a few. I used liquid diets, soup diets, so many diets, I can’t remember them all. While each was effective in the short-term, I always gained the weight back. I knew the weight was affecting my health and that I needed to make a drastic change to improve my future."

How life has changed: "I am dating and have found the love of my life. I was promoted at work and even participated in a live internal television panel. I truly enjoy my life now."

Advice for others considering surgery: "Research, research, research! Make sure you are comfortable with your decision, whether to have the surgery or not. If you choose surgery, make sure you are selecting the right surgery for you. Make sure you are aware of the short-term and long-term effects. And, if you select surgery, the most important thing is to make sure you have your support system in place prior to the surgery."

Sallie

Procedure: Medial Gastric Bypass
Surgeon: Dr. Ki Oh
Date of surgery: August 2004
Height: 5’ 9”
Weight before surgery: 363 lbs.
Total weight loss: 204lbs

Why she did it: "I just didn’t have much of a life. I just worked and slept 10-12 hours a night. Being morbidly obese—a lot of it is emotional. I would drive around forever to find the closest spot so I didn’t have to walk. If my friends wanted to sit outside to eat in those little plastic chairs, the whole time I would worry that the chair might break. There are so many limitations. Little, teeny things that a normal sized person would never even think of. "

Her biggest post procedure challenge: "Making sure I exercise and take all my vitamins. That’s a LOT of vitamins. The weight just comes off, but after about a year—you HAVE to make good exercise choices, you HAVE to make good food choices."

How life has changed: "The surgery and weight loss give you more control of your life. It allows you to set boundaries. It gives you confidence—in relationships, in activities, everything. You realize, if you can do this, you can do anything you set your mind to."

Advice for other considering surgery: "The most important thing is: don’t think surgery will change your life on its own. It will at first but you have to take control. Understand all the rules, and stick to them. Don’t try to see what you can get away with. I’ve seen a counselor throughout and I find it helpful. You still don’t want to get up in the morning to go exercise. It IS easier as a thinner person than as an obese person, but it’s still hard."

Edna

Procedure: Proximal Gastric Bypass - Laporoscopic
Surgeon: Myur Srikanth, MD
Date of surgery: April 2005
Height: 5’ 4”
Weight before surgery: 275 lbs.
Total weight loss: 130 lbs

Why she did it: "My health and my life were miserable I was hypertensive (high blood pressure) and would be short of breath after walking a brief distance. My ankles were always swollen. It was hard to travel on an airplane – I required a seat belt extender. My father had a quad heart bypass and was diagnosed with diabetes. My grandfather died of a heart attack. I did not want to go down that path."

Her biggest post-procedure challenge: "I was a choc-o-holic. I ate big bags of peanut M&M’s and called them my power pills. But I have learned that life does go on without chocolate."

How life has changed: "I can walk down the street with my head held high and know people are not laughing at me. I am so much healthier - I can walk and not have shortness of breath. People treat you much differently – they are more willing to help you and they are nicer to you. I get to shop in the petites section of stores and have a much better selection of clothes. I am NOT afraid to wear a bathing suit and lay on the beach."

Advice for others considering surgery: "Talk to different people that have had the surgery. Different people have had different experiences. Get as much information as you can. Read, surf the web. Also get your family involved. Have them come to the seminars with you so they understand what is going on and what is going to happen."
 

Latzy

Procedure: Proximal Laparoscopic Gastric Bypass
Surgeon: Myur Srikanth, MD
Date of surgery: August, 2004
Height: 5’ 4”
Weight before surgery: 315 lbs.
Total weight loss: 165 lbs

Why she did it: "My health was getting worse – I had sleep apnea, asthma, hypertension, diabetes and severe back pain. I had weight loss surgery so I could live my life without restrictions."

Her biggest post-procedure challenge: "My biggest challenge has been learning to socialize around food and I have had to become a creative baker, learning how to make things sugar free."

How life has changed: "I feel so free now. I no longer have to worry about fitting into chairs, booths or airplane seatbelts. I can run, ride bikes and hike with my family. I enjoy shopping for cute clothes now as well!"

Advice for others considering surgery: "Make sure your surgeon has performed a lot of bariatric surgeries. Remember, weight loss surgery is a tool and not a magical cure. You have to be committed to improving your health."

Rochelle

Procedure: Gastric Bypass
Surgeon: Dr. Ki Oh
Date of surgery: August 2003
Height: 5’ 5”
Weight before surgery: 242 lbs.
Total weight loss: 113 lbs

Why she did it: "I was focused on eating all of the time. I would get rashes in the heat and got tired from walking just short distances. I hated to shop for clothes. My family is obese. My weight was constantly increasing as I got older. My blood pressure was rising as well. I had issues with stroke, diabetes and blood pressure. My father’s health scared me and I knew I had to make a life change."

Her biggest post procedure challenge: "It is difficult to get in all of the protein shakes on a regular basis as well as the vitamins. I have had a hard time with anemia."

How life has changed: "Wow! People are so much nicer to me now. I love to shop for clothes and have so many more options. I can wear summer clothes comfortably."

Advice for other considering surgery: "Do your homework. Be as informed as you can be. Make sure that it is your decision and not anybody else’s. Utilize your resources. Obesityhelp.com has a wealth of information. Married couples need to seek out counseling and therapy. The non affected spouse can have their own issues and it can cause a lot of strife that may lead to divorce. Confronting these issues before surgery is critical to the relationship."

Dan

Procedure: Duodenal Switch
Surgeon: Myur Srikanth, MD
Date of surgery: April, 2004
Height: 5’10”
Weight before surgery: 397
Total weight loss: 229 lbs.

Why he did it: “My obesity was causing several health and quality of life concerns, such as sleep apnea, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, pre-diabetes and others. Most of these issues have been cured or improved by my successful weight loss.”

His biggest post-procedure challenge: “My biggest challenge has been learning what I can and cannot comfortably eat, and how much. With time, I have found I can enjoy most of the foods I have always enjoyed, however, in smaller proportions."

How life has changed: “I now have increased energy, the ability to perform basic home improvement jobs without becoming tired and I enjoy being more active.”

Advice for others considering surgery: “Talk to as many people as you can. Learn the pros and cons and risks so you and your surgeon can pick the best procedure for your successful weight loss and quality of life.”

Wendy

Procedure: Proximal Gastric Bypass
Surgeon: Myur Srikanth, MD
Date of surgery: June, 2003
Height: 5’ 2”
Weight before surgery: 287
Total weight loss: 140 lbs

Why she did it: Wendy started having health problems including chronic asthma. She wanted to be there for her son to see him grow up, so she decided to make some drastic changes in her lifestyle.

Her biggest post-procedure challenge: Wendy was conditioned to eating larger quantities of food and says the biggest change for her was learning that it was ok not to eat so much; that she can still get nourished on smaller quantities of food when the right food choices are made.

How life has changed: Wendy is much more active now. She enjoys a more social life including dancing, walking and riding bikes with her son.

Advice for others considering surgery: “Go for it and prepare yourself for a major life change both emotionally and physically. It’s a journey.”