Procedure: Gastric Sleeve Surgery
Pounds lost: 180
Motivators: High blood pressure, high cholesterol, acid reflux, lack of energy for family activities
[The staff] made me feel very comfortable. And the minute you walk in the door, from the girl at the desk helping you to the girl that weighs you to the nurse practitioner and the doctor… Amazing. When I met with the staff, I was very comfortable with them. To me, that’s the most important thing because I have to be comfortable with the person, especially if they’re going to do a surgery for me. It’s important that you feel relaxed and a part of a family. And that’s how I felt whenever I went to Windber Hospital.
I had previously visited Windber’s program and started it and backed out because I was scared. I had a coworker that her brother had the surgery done through Windber. I went on the website and looked at the testimonials and that’s what made me make my decision. After being hospitalized and redoing a lot of the researching [that I’d done before], that’s when I realized it was definitely a good thing for me. And it’s a great program. They are there with you the whole time, so it’s nothing to be afraid of.
I’ve struggled all my life. I’ve been on different programs, you know, I’ve, done Adkins, I’ve done keto, I’ve done Weight Watchers. I’ve always been successful, and then I’ve always gained it back. I was struggling walking from my living room to my kitchen without being out of breath. I would’ve never been able to walk up these steps.
I have my life back, absolutely. My daughter is now 16 and I can chase after her. To be able to get out there now and go down a water park slide, and never have to fear that I’m not gonna be able to get on the ride because I reached a maximum weight limit, it’s fulfilling. To be able to walk up the steps, it definitely makes a difference to you. And then I’m off my [three] blood pressure medicines, which is fabulous, the biggest thing. This [experience] has given me the abilities to realize what I need to do. I have the tool and have to take the steps to make it work. It’s a lifetime commitment.
Do your research. Don’t be afraid. Don’t listen to the, the background noise. If in your heart you think it’s something you would want to do, do the research and make the decision to do it. You won’t regret it. The only regret I have is that I didn’t do it many years ago.
If somebody would ask me, what would you do differently? I would’ve said, I would’ve gotten it a long time ago. I would’ve went back six, seven years. Whenever I was trying to decide if I wanted to do it, I would’ve done it then.