Select a treatment to read about our patient's experiences: Lap Band
 
     
     
   
     
  BRAMLEY MONROE: MORE CONNECTED TO HER PATIENTS THAN EVER  
     
 

Bramley Monroe, RN has lost 30 pounds in just 3 months. With a clothing size change from XL to Medium, she says she is the smallest she has been in the past 15-20 years. The main motivator for having this done? "Definitely for health reasons," says Bramley. "I was on 3 medications for high blood pressure and was told earlier this year I needed to start treatment for diabetes. Now my blood sugars are much better and I'm nearly off all blood pressure medications. I didn't expect how easy this would be-the weight has seemed to melt off!" The greatest part of all is the new connection she feels with her patients. Even after 1500 cases and 4 years supervising the bariatric unit, this has brought her closer to her patients than ever before she explains.

Keys to success? "Eat slowly and chew your food. My biggest problem comes when I eat too fast and don't chew my food enough, it just doesn't work. I've learned to recognize 'normal' fullness, so I don't overeat and make myself uncomfortable. I've noticed the importance of getting enough protein in order to feel good and have energy. I even journal my protein intake so I can be sure to be selective in my food choices. When I get an urge to eat, or get 'head hunger,' or feel like stress eating, I go get a drink, walk around, and make myself busy. I ask myself, 'Am I really hungry?' and refocus my mind on other things. You still have to make the behavioral change."

Bramley says she can't believe how much easier exercising is-she can now go a mile on the treadmill without breaking a sweat. "It's all about making the right choices. You know you're going to be in tempting places, and everyone falls off the wagon once in awhile, but you just have to remember why you did this in the first place, and keep working at it," says Bramley.

  
       
       
       
 
   
DAISY RUSSELL: BACK TO HER HIGH SCHOOL WEIGHT  
   

Daisy Russell, LVN has also lost 30 pounds in 3 months and gone from a size 16 to 13. "I'm very, very pleased with my results. It's been relatively easy, as long as I stay within the guidelines-drink my fluids, get my protein, and STOP when I'm full," says Daisy.

"I've learned I cannot overeat, or I will be in pain. I just stop at the first feeling of fullness and wait 15 minutes, and then I feel very full." Daisy says she does not feel the cravings she had before, the feeling of satiety comes quickly and lasts longer.

"I've amazed myself at how disciplined I've been able to be in eating smaller portions-I just needed a little something extra to be my guide. Now I prepare ahead, drink a protein drink for breakfast, bring my lunch, and even throw out leftover food on my plate!

Exercise is another big part of it. I can't believe how much better I feel-my back doesn't hurt all the time, and I can stand without my legs hurting," explains Daisy. Most girls would be thrilled to weigh what they did when they graduated from high school, and Daisy is now one of those!

  
   
 
 
 
     
     
   
     
 

SUSAN EDWARDS: EMPOWERED AND AMAZED WITH GOD'S HELP!

"I thought I had a pretty face, great personality, ambition, drive, obsessive compulsive tendencies, and yet I felt an overwhelming desire to be something other than what the mirror showed me every morning. At 343 pounds it was difficult to move, work all day and tend to my family. I had no life. After a heart attack in 2003, my crippling companions 24 hours a day, 7 days a week became 19 prescription medications, diabetes, hypertension, degenerative joint disease in my upper back and knees, sleep apnea, umbilical hernia, and gastroesophageal reflux disease. The second floor of my home was off limits, as I could not climb the stairs. I did not scrub my new bathroom shower or visit friends or take trips. The one thing I wanted more than anything in this world was to lose weight.

Finally, after several emergency room visits, my family doctor told me that I would most likely die within five years if I didn't lose the weight. She recommended Gastric Bypass surgery. On August 25, 2004, after 45 minutes in the operating room, my life was transformed.

The past two years have been a whirlwind of Curves workouts, swimming, pilates, ballet, free weights, protein shakes, vitamins and learning how to be thin for life. I can wear a dress size 12 and pant size 14, walk all day at Six Flags over Texas, swim 16 laps at the pool, dance a hip hop/jazz/ballet 20 minute routine, sit in any booth in town, fly without a seat belt extender, clean my house from top to bottom with energy to spare and amaze my friends and family continually - all this and more has been graciously given to me.

It is a process. It works when you work it. Determination, perseverance in the dark times, stamina to walk the walk, be all you can be, put your trust in God and He will give you the desires of your heart. Dare to dream. See a vision of yourself thin and happy. If you are at maintenance, take a moment to Rejoice! My husband and I lead the Bariatrics of Texas Support Group for the Killeen/Ft. Hood area. We are here to help all who decide to start this marvelous adventure. Remember, you are not alone! Pull strength from the companions all around your everyday life. Ask for help. Don't give up and don't give in - keep on keeping on.

Thank you to all of the people in my life that have made the journey with me. Be empowered, amaze yourself and see a miracle happen!" Down from 343 pounds to 168 pounds, Susan has lost a total of 175 pounds and 126 inches.

 

DOUG EDWARDS: MAKING THE OLD ARMY SERGEANT YOUNG ONCE AGAIN

"Throughout my 20-year Army career, I struggled to stay under the maximum weight standards. The mere rumor of a periodic weigh-in would cause anxiety and fasting in preparation for the 'big event' that would decide my future military status. Fortunately, I always managed to shed the extra pounds necessary to be found 'not-guilty' by the scales of judgment. When I retired from the Army in September of 1996, I was already 30 pounds over the weight limit. Freedom had come at last! Freedom to become as big as I darn well chose and as lazy as I always wanted to be.

As I settled into my new career of computer programming, full-time student and teaching computer science, life behind a desk took its toll. Within two years I hit my heaviest weight of 330 pounds standing at six feet. Over a short period of time I developed diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea and acid reflux. I started having chest pain from a heart murmur. The extra weight began taking its toll on my back and knees. I was sick of feeling tired all day from not sleeping properly due to the sleep apnea. I knew that something drastic had to happen. After living on the Atkins diet for three years, I knew that traditional diets were not going to satisfy my health needs nor solve my health problems.

In December 2004, Dr Warnock replaced the aging old man with a young vibrant athlete. As soon as the surgery was over, the young Army sergeant in me took over. I was determined to use this new tool to discover just how young I could get. First, there was the walking. The problem was, the more I did, the better I felt, and I became more determined to increase my walking! I was on the road to recovery and refused to take any detours.

Once I achieved the goal of walking two miles a day set for me by Dr. Warnock, the young Army sergeant inside would not let me rest on my laurels. I determined to push on, set new goals and find out just what 'be all you can be' truly meant for me. First, I set a goal to complete a local 5K race in less than 30 minutes-which I met. Then, I wanted to see how I would do in a local 10K race-I completed it in less than 60 minutes. In July of 2005 (only seven months after surgery), I completed my first triathlon at Marble Falls, TX. It was quite a struggle for me to complete a 1K swim, a 23 mile bike ride and a 4.4 mile run, all in the same race, but I did it! My time was not the greatest and I, indeed, did not win any awards, but I was not last either. I had arrived!

I completed the White Rock Marathon at one year after my surgery in just under five hours. But guess what, come January 2006, the marathon was ancient history in my mind. I began to seriously train for the upcoming triathlon year with a vengeance. In July of 2006, 18 months after surgery, I actually won the 2nd place medal in my age group for an Olympic distance triathlon race (1500 meter swim, 28 mile bike, 10K run). As of October 2006, I am the lead age-group contender in the CenTex Series, consisting of ten 5K and 10K races throughout the year. I just keep winning first place in my age group these days. I feel 20 years younger and plan to keep reversing the aging process! I'm going to keep fighting age and keep the young sergeant alive and well for an eternity (or as long as possible)! A life time of goals awaits me and my future looks younger every day."

Down from 330 pounds to 180 and 12.8 percent body fat, ironman Doug and his enthusiastic wife Susan have found a new addiction to life-what a difference 300 pounds makes!

  
     
 
 
     
  You may be one of our patients whose life has been greatly affected by bariatric surgery. Everyone has their own story to tell. We encourage you to write yours and send it to us with your most recent glamour shot!