Are you sick and tired of being sick and tired?  I was in September 2007 while laying in a hospital room in New Jersey - this was not the first time nor did it appear to be the last time.  Diabetes was taking its toll and causing a slew of problems: liver disease; kidney problems; sleep apnea; swelling of my feet, legs, and hands; high blood pressure; reflux disease and so on.  At 50 years old it did not appear 60 was going to be possible.  I screwed up by not giving every effort to control my diabetes, so it seemed unlikely that I could turn my health around.  
 
After getting back home, I discussed my options with my endocrinologist, Dr. Michael May.  We decided that gastric bypass (RNY) was my best option.  Weight loss surgery is a journey that if compared to a track meet it would be a cross country event.  The process of getting insurance approval can be frustrating, but in hindsight it allowed me to gather more information and get better prepared for all the changes I would have to make in order to be successful long term.

On April Fools Day of 2008, Dr. William O. Richards performed a truly life changing surgery – an honest to goodness second chance at a healthy life.  Within two months after surgery, I was completely off all medications and was no longer using my CPAP machine!  My diabetes was in remission and my blood work was completely normal in every category.

I promised myself that I wasn’t going to throw away this second chance.  In May, I started bike riding and exercising regularly.  I now actually have a passion for staying healthy.  Weight loss surgery is not a magic wand, but it does give you the ability to lose weight rapidly in the beginning – giving you the results that make you put forth the effort that dieting never did for me.  It has been said that weight loss surgery gives you twelve to eighteen months to change your lifestyle.  Please take this time to aggressively change life long eating habits, by following Vanderbilt’s diet guidelines, and you will see a rebirth in your health that you never thought was possible.  

Being involved with weight loss patients from around the country via online support groups, I have come to appreciate what the surgical weight loss program at Vanderbilt has to offer.  The Vanderbilt Center for Surgical Weight loss teaches you how to be successful every step of the way.  Vanderbilt is recognized worldwide as a leading research and teaching medical facility with the resources that keep it on the cutting edge as well as pioneering modern procedures.  At Vanderbilt they will not just perform surgery and send you on your way – they offer you the tools and resources to make you successful long term.  

In conclusion, I reached my goal weight within four months after my surgery.  I am presently 151 pounds and have never felt better.  The only regret I have is not doing this sooner.  Enjoy the journey, learn along the way, and be successful.  Best of luck and here’s to seeing your dreams become reality.