Hello, my name is Wendy and I am a grateful Weight Loss Surgery recipient! I am 48 years old, married, with one 12 year old son.

Weight has always been an issue for me. I went on my first diet when I was in 6th grade. In 12th grade my family doctor prescribed Dexedrine to help me lose and maintain weight. After college I tried: 1) thyroid pills even though there was nothing wrong with my thyroid, 2) a hypnotist, 3) Weight Watchers (multiple times), 4) Nutri-System (several times), 5) Jenny Craig (twice), 6) a liquid diet program, 7) the phen/fen drug combination, 8) the Richard Simmons Deal-A-Meal program, and 9) the Weigh Down Workshop (twice, and boy did I feel like a bad Christian when I failed this program!!).

After all these weight loss attempts my weight was up to an all time high of approximately 315 pounds. I realized that nothing I had ever tried was going to give me a permanent weight loss. That is, until my sister-in-law told me about Carnie Wilson and her weight loss surgery. I started investigating weight loss surgery seriously in January of 2001. I filled out my paperwork the first week in February and was approved by insurance in May. In that time between February and my surgery date, I ate like an out of control eating machine. By my pre-op appointment, my weight had climbed to 333.5 pounds. I had my lap RNY on 9/25/01 with Dr. Wittgrove in San Diego and have not looked back since. I am now almost 2 years out and have lost 203 pounds!!

As far as how I feel – I feel better than I have since I was a teenager! I have so much energy now it is amazing. And I eat a normal amount of calories so my body is not starving or feeling deprived in any way. Losing weight does not magically change your life. If emotional or other problems exist now, they still have to be dealt with after weight loss surgery. However, life does not seem to be so hard anymore. My outlook on life has really improved!

I just had plastic surgery to remove excess skin and so I am feeling better about myself than I have in many years. Several people have asked me if I am glad I had the surgery and I always answer with an emphatic “YES”!!!!!!! I would do it again in a heartbeat.

Wendy

Lap RNY 9/25/01
Dr. Wittgrove, Alvarado Hospital
Minus 203 pounds
http://www.wworw.com