The most impressive gastric bypass success stories are ones where formerly obese patients not only lost significant weight but also improved their overall health. A patient from Englewood, N.J. was obese and had type 2 diabetes. His doctors suggested gastric bypass. He lost 100 pounds and was essentially cured of his diabetes. The success of his surgery was more than he ever expected. Helen from California had severe pain in her back and knees, high blood pressure and uncontrolled cholesterol in addition to obesity. She now wears a size 8, has reduced her blood pressure medication, her cholesterol is at an all time low and her knees and back feel much better. Mark from California didn’t know how much he weighed before gastric bypass surgery as he topped out the scale he had at home and at his doctor’s office. Within 6 months, he lost 86 pounds and was eating regularly, except for smaller portions. He could fit into an airplane seat without a belt extension. A year after the surgery he no longer had to take any medication that was previously necessary for high blood pressure and a pre-diabetic blood sugar problem. He feels healthier now than he had in more than twenty years. Dee had been overweight her whole life, shopping for Easter dresses as a child in the “chubby” section. After hearing about the successful surgery of Al Roker on television, she looked into gastric bypass surgery for herself. Within months she was off her high blood pressure and cholesterol medication. Dee participated in an exercise program and went from a size 22 to a size 8! Three and a half years post-operative, she is healthy with more energy than ever and spends her free time with her new passion, ballroom dancing! While these and other gastric bypass success stories are inspirational, success comes from following the medical advice, taking your vitamins, eating properly and exercise. Gastric bypass can seem like a miracle, but it also takes hard-work and perseverance.
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