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Dave
April 28, 2005 April 28, 2007
Weight: 334 lbs. 205 lbs
Waist: 50 in 38 in
Shirt Size: XXL L
BMI: 45.3 27.8
Type 2 Diabetes Odds: 99.9% Minimal
High Blood Pressure Yes Yes, but ½ the medicine for control
COST
For the cost of the procedure, which is approximately $15,000.00, I have gained 7 years of life since most studies state that you can subtract 7 years from longevity because of obesity. The cost of each of those 7 years is $2,100.00. I cannot begin to put a price tag on the quality of life I now enjoy which is beyond anything I ever expected. In terms of cost, I no longer spend as much at restaurants-$6 for soup and salad at my favorite restaurant compared to $13 for the pasta that I would eat before the procedure. Prescriptions do not cost as much because I take less medicine. Gasoline costs less because you save 13 gallons of gas per year for every 100 pounds you lose. Clothes cost less because there are more choices and, therefore, more selection when clothing is on sale.
BENEFITS
I can sit comfortably in chairs in theaters and airplanes. Seat belts fit. I have to introduce myself to people I have know for years but don't see on a regular basis. I have more energy, especially when walking and climbing stairs. Food is no longer of major importance, and I can easily leave food on my plate.
PROBLEMS
I had some minor pain for a few days after the procedure. I learned that you have to exercise because the lap band will not work without regular exercise. I swim laps 5 days a week and in addition take part in water aerobics 4 days a week. You can overeat with ice cream and sugary liquids. The good news is that the lap band keeps you from overeating unless you really want to live on ice cream and sugary liquids.
FINAL THOUGHT
Go to a grocery store and pick up 13 ten-pound bags of potatoes. Then put them back. That is how much better I feel by not carrying around 129 extra pounds. You may think you can't do it, but you can! It is a whole lot better feeling than a new car and lasts a lot longer.
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When I look at old pictures of myself from 2 years ago, I am horrified at how fat and sick I was. In addition to all of the other side effects of obesity, I have rheumatoid arthritis and was barely mobile. Now, with a weight loss of 113#, I am riding a bicycle for the first time in 25 years, hiking in the mountains again and have just learned how to sea kayake. I can fit in a regular seat in the movie theater and on an airplane. I don’t have to watch what furniture I sit on and I can actually climb the stairs at work instead of waiting for an elevator to take me up one floor. I’ve gone from a size 52 pants to a size 40 that are starting to sag!
It wasn’t just having the lapband procedure that saved (yes…literally saved!) my life. Having Dr. Smith perform the procedure was the best possible way to go. My wife and I did the surgery on the same day and were able to support each other through the entire journey. Dr. Smith and his staff were just outstanding in their caring compassion for both of us. We always knew what to expect and had detailed explanations of how to move forward in our weight loss. I have been taken off most of my previous medications and my rheumatoid arthritis has not flared in the past two years since surgery.
After many years of being overweight and suffering from the complications of obesity, I made an appointment to talk to Dr. Smith about the lapband surgery. Being a nurse, Dr. Smith was very informative in presenting the technical aspects of the surgery to me. This was very reassuring! Dr. Smith doesn’t just look at a patient as another body on the table. He sees the whole person and is able to explain the procedure and subsequent expectations at a level tailored to that individual. He never minimizes the procedure itself nor does he overstate what the patient can expect for results.
The surgery itself was fairly easy and I returned to work after a couple of days. But the change was dramatic! As I began to lose weight, Dr. Smith and his staff reminded me to watch for things that had happened to other patients (like trying to swallow a whole handful of pills at once) and not to drink during meals. The post-op care was wonderful and I always felt that the entire staff had my best interests at heart.