Let the people we’ve helped inspire you with stories of strength, healing and hope. Across our healthcare system, we've helped thousands. These are just a few. Know that wherever you are located, we have the expertise to help you.
When the going gets hard, it’s easy to lose sight of the goals we set for ourselves. Sometimes the best motivation can come from those who’ve gone before us.
Getting bariatric surgery has been the best decision I have made for my body and my health! I am no longer prediabetic and have a lot more energy! I no longer lay in bed dreaming of the food in the kitchen. I still get to enjoy junk food on occasion, but it no longer controls my every waking moment. I actually don’t even like a lot of it anymore- it's almost like the surgery changed my taste buds! I just love life now!
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I began this life transformation in 2017. My heaviest weight that year was 357 pounds. I suffered from sleep apnea, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, pre-diabetes and pain in my back, knees and ankles. I felt I had gotten to a point of no return, but I needed to get healthy for myself and my son.
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Like so many others, I have struggled with weight loss for a very long time. The constant roller coaster was not only taxing on my body- it was extremely difficult for me emotionally!
I remember having a routine check-up with my primary care doctor. We discussed my weight, as we always did. I told him that bariatric surgery was not an option for me at that time. In my mind, that was way too extreme even though I had developed other health conditions related to my weight. He didn't lecture me, he simply asked me why I felt that way. In my mind, I just didn't think I was at that point. About a month or so later and after doing research, I finally asked a friend of mine if she would go to one of the introductory classes offered by the St. Mary's. The biggest takeaway from my experience with the class was you definitely need to have a good support system. Bariatric surgery is a life-long commitment that you have to be accountable to- you definitely don't want to enter into it alone! The classes help you prepare for a new way of life post-surgery. The groups offer an amazing support system. The information they give you to prepare for your new way of life is invaluable, and I attribute my success in part to embracing this process! I had made up my mind to commit to having a gastric bypass, I was finally ready.
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What is my life like after surgery? I have a much more confident outlook of myself! I now enjoy things I never would have dreamed of doing before. I joined a recreational soccer team and am loving it, even though I had never played before! I don't dread taking the kids to the swimming pool, and don't feel self conscious when I walk into the gym. I feel so much healthier and happier. It's hands down the best decision I have ever made for myself!
My advice? You are worth it!
