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A GASTRIC BYPASS SUCCESS STORY:

My roux-en-y gastric bypass was the beginning of the "rest of my life". On the morning of my procedure I weighed 278 lbs. I took 400 units by injection of three different types of insulin seven times a day. I have …congestive heart failure, sleep apnea, Type II diabetes, osteoarthritis, borderline kidney failure, and fatty liver disease. I could not stand from a sitting or prone position without assistance, I could not walk from one end of my house to the other without stopping to catch my breath. Tomorrow morning will mark the end of the ninth month of my new life. I will get up out of bed, by myself, go to the bathroom, step on the scales and be able to look down, without seeing my gut, and see the numbers "172" or less. I'll go into the kitchen pour my coffee, check my blood glucose, take my chewable multi-vitamin, my calcium, B-12, iron tablets and an 81 mg baby aspirin. Then I will head out the door for the first of two daily 2 1/2 mile walks. After that I'll have my breakfast, catch up on reading my e-mail, check the news headlines then spend the rest of the day doing things around the yard and house that I haven't been able to do for 20 years.

PS You may have noticed that there wasn't a word mentioned about the meds that I'm taking now....that's because there aren't any! My endocrinologist says that my "lab's are nauseatingly good," and my BMI is 23.6. My sleep apnea is gone, my arthritis is gone, and my kidneys and liver are recovering nicely. Not bad, eh?

ANOTHER GASTRIC BYPASS SUCCESS STORY:

I just had my 6 mos post op check up and have great news. All of the problems that led to my decision to have RNY (gastric bypass) are improving dramatically since the surgery. I have not had to take any diabetes meds since the day of the surgery. My liver is now shrinking back to normal size and the enzymes are all normal (I have fatty-liver disease--something many obese people have and don't even know it until it is too late). I know that I will always struggle with food. The surgery is a tool. I will always have to be careful of my food choices, portions and exercise. It is easier to eat right after the surgery because you really don't feel as hungry. I also know that as time goes by, it is easier to eat a little more than you should. Over time this will lead to the same problems that got us all fat in the first place. I know I am still new to this, but I am glad I did the surgery and hope never to be fat again. I don't want to die from my fat.

A LAP BAND SUCCESS STORY:

Before I had Lapband surgery my highest weight was 252. It's fifteen months later, and now I weigh between 140-143. I haven't been tested to see if my sleep apnea is gone, but I believe it is (not using the CPAP). I no longer take any cholesterol meds (was on 2), reflux med, and am down to one blood pressure med from 2. My knees feel great (have arthritis) and I went from a women's size 22 to misses size 10, and from 2x to small pants and small to medium tops. I walk mostly for exercise, and in this nice weather I do that pretty much every day, about 3.5 miles. I would do this again too. It gave me what I needed to succeed: portion control.

ANOTHER LAP BAND SUCCESS STORY:

Hi to all wondering about surgery, don't do it unless you are ready to be committed to it. Surgery is just a tool to get you jump started, but believe me, this is the only diet that worked for me. Down 106lbs. I feel like a real human again. And I could wear regular nice clothes, it feels great!!! I have more energy and stamina now that I am not carrying around that extra person. It is a life-time commitment and you have to stay on the program and do some form of exercising or walking, riding, whatever, but it works. I would do it again in a minute. Also, if you go off the high protein diet and load up on carbs, and go back to your old eating habits, you will gain weight back. So stick with it, it works!!! I feel like I got back 20 years of my life that I lost.

ARE YOU A DR SHINA PATIENT AND WOULD YOU LIKE TO SHARE YOUR SUCCESS STORY WITH OTHERS? If so, e-mail your story to info@rightweigh.com. Include the date of your surgery. Include in the story your before and current weight, and any health conditions that were improved or resolved as a result of the surgery. If you would like, send before and after pics, too!

DISCLAIMER: Please note that the above stories are actual stories written by patients who had gastric bypass or lap band. We have not verified any of the claims in the stories, and their posting on this website does not indicate that the claims are true or representative of every person having gastric bypass, lap band, or any bariatric surgery.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the webmaster at info@rightweigh.com.