Bariatric Patient Testimonials

I was always bigger than my friends when I was a little kid and very self-conscious about it. In high school I thinned out and learned to be confident and comfortable in my appearance. I was happy and didn’t stress over my weight for several years. In my mid twenties I accepted a job that had very long hours and often I was called in to work in the middle of the night. I started eating a lot of fast food and was using soda to keep going during the day to make up for the lack of sleep. It resulted in almost a 100-pound weight gain in one year. As my career changed my eating habits did not. I continued to gain weight into my thirties. Eventually, I developed hypertension then polycystic ovaries. Significant depression followed.

I tried to lose weight. I did every fad diet that was popular, and even some that were normally successful for long term weight loss. I could lose 30 pounds max. No matter what I did I could not break that 30-pound barrier. I was so frustrated I went to my doctor and was started on medications to help get the weight off. One year, multiple drugs, and a new diagnosis of prediabetes later, I was at my heaviest of 272 pounds.

I did very well at hiding exactly how depressed I had become. Only those closest to me knew I was depressed, but I don’t think they even knew how bad it had become. It seemed like I had lost control of my life and just didn’t care anymore.

I realized one day that I needed more help than diets and medications. I was 38 years old, morbidly obese, and taking 6 medications to control my chronic medical conditions. I was no longer willing to accept this for my life. One Monday morning I called the Weight Loss & Metabolic Center at Baylor St. Luke’s and made an appointment. They had an opening that week and they invited me to attend one of their bariatric information seminars that were scheduled for the next day. I left the information seminar knowing I was making the best decision of my life. I was going to take my life back.

The information session was on October 2, 2018. I had gastric bypass on February 5, 2019, at 268 pounds. One year after surgery I was 165 pounds with a 37-inch waist. That is 103 pounds lighter and 16 inches off my waist. I had gone from a size 22 to a 12. I can’t even put into words how I felt that day when I added up my losses. Another huge achievement is my A1C went from 6.2 to 4.9. My blood pressure is controlled without any medications. My hormones leveled out. My depression is gone.

I’m proud of myself, but I cannot begin to express how thankful I am for my surgeon.

When I came to Dr. Holder-Haynes, I was in the worst possible condition. I was not able to talk without hearing me huffing and puffing as if I just ran a marathon. I would fall asleep when talking to people. I decided that this is my life and I have to give myself a second chance.

After my gastric sleeve procedure, the hardest part was during the beginning. I did everything the doctor’s instructed and have lost a lot of weight. In fact, I wasn’t expecting to lose this much in such a short amount of time. I started at 383 pounds and I’m now down to 241.

My mentality has changed drastically. I see another perspective of life, with other colors. I go the extra mile every day and am enjoying every step and change during this process.