A personal experience :
My gastric bypass story has been years in the making, at my largest I was a staggering 464lbs at 5 foot 8. It has been a long process but well worth the effort. I could barely walk up the stairs in my own home, I could barely breath, I couldnt do basic tasks, it was even hard for me to get in and out of the shower. My knees were shot, my back ached all the time, I was cranky everyday, all day. When I would go shopping small children would point at me, I know they are just kids, but it still hurt bad. I hated my life, I hated everything about it, I couldnt stand how huge I had become. One day when I was heading out the door to pick up my kids from school I fell off the back porch, I fell flat on my face, that pain was unbearable. I sat motionless on the ground, trying to laugh it off even though it hurt so bad. Then when I tried to prop myself up off the ground I couldnt. I couldnt even get my fat self off the ground I was so weak. It took me almost 20 minutes to muster up the strength to get up, it was horrible. At that day, and at 464lbs, I decided that I needed a change. I called around to several doctors, and decided I wanted to do a mini gastric bypass surgery. I wanted my insurance to cover it, and after much fits and foul language I still got the same answer...no. They wouldnt cover a dime of it, so I decided to sell my car. I bought an old chevy s10 that I could barely fit into and that would be my new vehicle from now on, and I would lose the weight to better fit into it. The whole procedure cost me just over $20,000, and it was WELL WORTH it. The first 3 days sucked, they sucked really really bad. I drank water, thats about it. I puked all the time, and I had to get medicine so that I wouldnt rupture anything. After that things steadily got better, and the pounds started to drop off like crazy. I lost 142 lbs, in year one, and 98lbs in year two. As I type this I am now 209lbs, it has been about 2 and a half years since the surgery, and I feel AMAZING. The cost was well worth it. I can actually breathe now, my knees dont hurt, my back is fine, my life is so wonderful, and I can fit into my s10! My knees still act up a bit, and I am still trying to lose some more weight, my goal weight is 175lbs, and I think that is a very real goal. Life is great.
James Johnson,
Newark, NJ.
This was an email sent to me from a friend, it is not me personally. It was an inspirational story for me, and for James it was the perfect gastric bypass story.:)
And the next story, while short, is still straight to the point:
my gastric bypass story would take me ages to type out, but I will give u a brief story. i am a single mom and 29 years old, and when i was 25 i weighed 455lbs, i tried everything and none of it worked. i talked to my dad and he agreed to pay for half of the surgery and i got it soon after that. i now weigh 197lbs, i gained a bit back, but i am going on a diet and i plan to lose the rest of it asap. i just wanted to show everyone that it can work if u do it right.
amy smith, san diego cali