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'My only regret is that I didn’t do it sooner.'

My name is Carrie and I have been overweight most of my adult life. Over the years I have tried several different “diets” to try and lose weight; from Diet Center to Weight Watchers to weight loss pills. I did have some success with Weight Watchers and was able to lose 100 pounds but was unable to keep the weight off. I ended up gaining it all back plus more.

 

Over the past 10 years I had gone from being overweight and in general good

health to taking prescription medication for high cholesterol, high blood pressure and taking 3 different medications for my Type 2 Diabetes. In addition, I was seeing my primary care physician every 3 months for a diabetic check-up. I also needed a custom made ankle foot orthotic for an increasingly unstable ankle.

 

In 2011 I reached my highest weight of 409 pounds. I managed to lose about 50 pounds over 3 years by giving Weight Watchers another try. This brought my weight down to about 357 pounds. At 53 years of  age my health would not sustain 

losing weight at such a slow rate. I needed to find an alternative while I still could. I knew of someone who was also obese and was diagnosed with  serious condition. She was unable to have the procedure that was recommended due to her size. I realized I didn’t want to become that patient.

 

 

I  highly recommend Dr. Gatschet to anyone considering bariatric surgery. Her knowledge of the body’s metabolics as it pertains to weight issues and her compassion for her patients is outstanding.

Over the years, whenever any mention of weight loss surgery was brought up I avoided the subject. I was afraid and most important I was not mentally ready. 

 

In September 2014, with the support of my family and best friend, I made the decision to attend a Bariatric Weight Loss forum. It was at this forum where I first met Dr. Gatschet. The information she provided was very thorough and was presented in a way that made me realize that if I was to get healthy and lose the

weight for good then I needed to have weight loss surgery. After doing extensive research and discussing the different surgical options with Dr. Gatschet, I decided that Gastric Bypass was the right choice for me. I realized that the benefits of surgery outweighed the risks.

 

After completing all the pre surgical requirements: lab work, x-ray’s, EKG’s, and upper GI, a psychiatric evaluation, and receiving clearance from my primary care physician I was approved for surgery. I had Laparoscopic Gastric Bypass surgery on Monday January 19, 2015. After an overnight stay I was released the following day with instructions to discontinue all my prescription medications. I took a preventative dose of pain medication that evening before bedtime and needed none after. I had 5 very small incisions in my abdomen that were covered with sterile strips that eventually fell off. During the first 7-10 days after surgery I can honestly say I had no appetite which for me was a very strange feeling. Every day I got stronger and each week I was able to slowly incorporate solid foods back into my diet. Being someone who used to love eating big portions of food I never thought I would be full and satisfied with eating a quarter to ¾ cup of food per meal…but I was.

 

Through my weight loss journey I have had very few issues when trying new foods. As long as I eat slow (which is sometimes hard to remember), chew my food thoroughly, and avoid drinking fluids for 30 minutes after a meal then I have no problems.

I eat 60-95 grams of protein and 48-60 ounces of water daily. My portion size per meal is 1 cup or less. If I eat more than a cup per meal then I get uncomfortably full, therefore as soon as I feel full I put the utensils down and walk away.

 

Having weight loss surgery has reopened many doors for me:

  • I have gone from a size 4-5 XL t-shirt to an XL

  • My pant size has shrunk from a 34W to a 20-W

  • I can buy my clothes in ANY department store 

  • I can sit comfortably in ANY restaurant booth

  • I can ride roller coasters again!!

  • I have plenty of room when driving my car as my stomach no longer touches the steering wheel

  • My ankle and knee pains are gone

  • I no longer need to use the large restroom stall

  • In May I completed a 5k walk (only suffered from a blister)

  • I will soon take my first horseback ride

 

One of the best results of having gastric bypass surgery is that I continue to no longer take ANY prescription medications. My blood pressure and cholesterol continue to be in the normal range and my Diabetes is no longer present. The only “pills” I take now are vitamins and supplements.

 

When I started my journey with Dr. Gatschet I was 357 pounds. Now, I weigh 247 pounds. I have lost 110 pounds in the 7 months since my surgery. I hope to lose another 65 pounds.  My only regret is that I didn’t do it sooner; however, sooner I wasn’t mentally ready.

 

I knew after the forum with Dr. Gatschet that she was the right physician for me. She was compassionate and caring. Dr. Gatschet reassured me that she would take care of me and that I would be successful this time losing the weight for good while getting healthier along the way. I  highly recommend Dr. Gatschet to anyone considering bariatric surgery. Her knowledge of the body’s metabolics as it pertains to weight issues and her compassion for her patients is outstanding.  At every appointment I felt like she truly cared about my health and well-being.

 

Thank you Dr. Gatshet. You have given me the tool that I needed to regain my healthier, thinner body.

 

Carrie M.

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