Tom W.’s Gastric Bypass Story

Weight loss surgery is a personal thing, much like an addict needs to choose to quit, weight loss surgery needs to be considered and the choice made by the person who is overweight. If you don’t make the choice for yourself, you may find it being made for you, as was my case.

Even though I didn’t and still don’t like the word obese, I was obese. I weighed 405 pounds before my Gastric Bypass Surgery, and was taking prescription medicine almost like candy. I also used 350+ united of insulin daily via an insulin pump and 6 liters of oxygen 24/7.

Then on Sunday, October 9, 2011, I left church and went to the ER because I was having yet another heart attack. As it turned out, I was NOT having a heart attack this time, but I was suffering from advanced Barrett’s Esophagus. The doctor explained that the symptoms were exactly the same as a heart attack because the same nerve that received the signals from the heart was used by the esophagus. My doctor explained that the only solution to the problem was to lose some weight.

I have had COPD for 12 years and have to take a pulmonary function test every year. In August 2011, they upgraded my COPD from critical to terminal and gave me 4-6 months to live. So, I now had my pulmonologist, primary care physician, back doctor, urologist and endocrinologist all telling me I needed to lose weight.

I started looking into weight loss surgery. I talked to others who have had bariatric surgery and found that most who had weight loss surgery were successful but virtually all who didn’t have a support system after surgery regained the weight. All of my doctors had very highly recommended Rocky Mountain Associated Physicians (RMAP), so I attended the free information class and started the journey. I must say that the surgeons and staff at RMAP order phentermine from canada have been among the most professional and caring of any physicians group I have ever encountered. They have always taken the time to answer any and all of my questions and concerns. But, without a doubt the most impressive feature of RMAP is the support before, during and after.

They are there EVERY step of the way to make sure you know exactly what to expect and that everything goes smoothly. Without the support groups on Wednesday evenings combined with Facebook, I would NOT be here today but would be at home in my recliner and wondering why I didn’t lose much weight and why it had all come back.

What can I say about life since my gastric bypass surgery? About 3 weeks before surgery people very close to me were telling me that I literally looked like a living corpse. I felt like I would not live the month out. Now, I have people telling me that I look younger, that I look healthier and have an energetic glow about me. I know that I feel better than I have in 30+ years.

All in all I would have to say that the biggest problem with weight loss surgery is that even though I didn’t want to admit it, I should have done this years ago.

–Tom W

Read more patient stories here.
Interested in learning more about weight loss surgery? Learn more information here.
If you would like to share your weight loss surgery story with others and on Rocky Mountain Associated Physicians (RMAP) other social media outlets, contact Jessica at Jessica@rmapinc.com.

 

www.RMAP.com
Rocky Mountain Associated Physicians
801-268-3800
1160 East 3900 South, Suite 4100
SLC, UT 84124