I am Wendy Moore and started my journey to weight lose in 2007.  I have battled being over weight for most of my life.  After having children it got worse.  In 2008 I went to a seminar on lap band surgery and was completely blown away by the benefits and also by the non-invasiveness of the surgery.  After contacting my insurance company and an initial appointment my journey officially started.

Because of my insurance I had to complete a one year weight program by my general physician.  During this time I tried to lose weight with no luck.  During my long year I continued to search for a highly recommended surgeon to perform the lap band.  With luck and a friend I found Dr. Bagnato and his wonderful staff.  Appointments were made, approval from insurance company came through and I was seeing the light at the end of my next tunnel.

My surgery was performed on Friday May 29, 2009.  I have had various surgeries over the years and I can say that this one was not bad at all.  Don’t get me wrong I was a little sore but was up the next day doing about what I wanted to within the limitations that I had been instructed.  Recovery was quick and back to work on Monday after surgery.

I have found that the mental has been harder to over come than the physical.  I still catch myself saying that I am fat or to big to wear certain clothes or to do certain things.  This part of my journey will take some time but I will get there too.

At my heaviest I was 250 lbs I can say very proudly I am now at 154 lbs.  My goal weight is 150 lbs and I am almost there.  Everything in my life has changed. Things that I had gotten to where I hated to do because of my weight I now do with easy and even pleasure.  The littlest of things to doing big things are so much better.  I have energy to burn!  It was and still is the best decision for me.  This is not to mention that I have been able to come off some meds and cut the doses on others because of the weight lose.

Life for me is very good.  Thanks Dr. Bagnato and your staff!!

I always considered myself to be an average size as a child growing up and never thought that I would become an overweight adult. That all changed after the birth of my first child. My weight began to fluctuate. I would gain weight, go on a diet to lose weight and end up gaining even more. It seemed too hard to stick with anything more than a couple of months.

By 1999, my weight had reached over 200 pounds and the health problems began. I was diagnosed with diabetes, peripheral neuropathy, back problems, acid reflux and shortness of breath to name a few. Many medications were added to my daily routine for the very first time. As time progressed, so did my weight and the severity of my medical problems. By 2009, I had had many surgeries and seen many specialists. My diabetes was so out of control that I had to take 55 units of insulin and 1000mg of oral medications twice a day.

My highest weight reached around 255. I never wanted to look in the mirror because I didn’t like what I would see. Trips with the family seemed more of a burden than a fun adventure. I would periodically have to sit down and rest causing them to have to wait on me. Secretly, I would sometimes cry myself to sleep at night. Other times, I would be depressed and mad with myself for not being able to beat the cycle I constantly repeated. When my daughter graduated from high school, my eyes were opened. My son was still in middle school and I would someday have grandchildren. I could hardly stand the thought that I may not see my son graduate or my grandchildren born if I continued down the same road.

The first lap band seminar I attended was in 2008. I was very interested but couldn’t afford the surgery and my insurance did not cover it. In 2009, my insurance company changed their policy and set guidelines for patients to complete a six month process before approval. I could hardly wait to jump on board. Dr. Bagnato had performed the Esophyx surgery on me in November of 2008 for acid reflux and I was thrilled to hear he was going to be approved as a “bariatric center of excellence”. The year 2010 was going to be my year to take care of me.

December 30, 2009, I walked in the hospital weighing 241 pounds and wearing a size 24 or 3x clothes. During the first six weeks after surgery, I lost 27 pounds and was taken off all my medications except an oral medication for my diabetes. I had not been there for 10 years. I knew my choices were making a difference. Dr. Bagnato and his staff made sure I would get the information needed for my step by step success and support. Going to the gym became part of my everyday routine. March 20, 2010 was the first 5k I would participate in. my completion time was 50:04. I did finish! By April 2010, I was able to control my diabetes by diet and exercise and no longer needed any medications. June 26, 2010, I finished my second 5k with a time of 38:42. Plans have been made to participate in two more 5k’s in August.

My family, friends and co-workers are amazed with my new look and new outlook on life. People hardly recognize me when I walk by. My self-confidence has returned and I like what I see when I look in the mirror. I now wear a size 12/14 or medium clothes. What a difference in just six months.

I thank God for giving me the strength to make it through and the guidance to find the right path and to see that all things are possible through him. I thank my family for being my rock and support as well as the others that have offered words of encouragement.

To Dr. Bagnato and all the bariatric staff, “THANK YOU!” I could only hope that through all the guidance that you have provided to me, I will be an inspiration to someone else making the choice to get on the right path.

To anyone thinking or wondering if this is the right choice for you, do your research and you will find that “It will be the best thing you have ever done for yourself.”

I called Dr. Bagnato’s office, and from the moment they answered the phone they were so friendly and informative. They really made me feel at ease and gave me so much encouragement. Thus my journey began to a “new me”.

It’s been almost two years now since my lap band surgery.  What am amazing difference it has made in my life! I am no longer on what seemed like an endless amount of medications.  I no longer have to take neither pills nor insulin for my diabetes, or blood pressure medicine. That alone has been a miracle for me!

Oh, and did I mention…..the largest size I wore in clothes was a size “26″?  I can now wear a size “12″ jeans! I am almost to my goal which is a size “10″!

Dr. Bagnato is a wonderful surgeon, and I can not thank him enough for giving me my life back! Thank you, Dr. Bagnato, and you also have an awesome staff!

I was a diabetic, had high blood pressure & was around 400lbs. I knew that I wasn’t getting any younger & needed to lose the weight. Being over weight I had a lot of problems with my knees & had no energy. I looked into the lap band surgery with Dr. Bagnato.

I decided that this was the best thing for me to do. I had the surgery in May 2009. Since the surgery I am no longer taking any of my diabetic medications & have went from taking one blood pressure pill during the day & three at night to only taking two at night. Also I don’t have problems with my knees anymore & I feel good enough now & have the energy that I am working a full time job & also a part time job. I have lost a total of 169 lbs during this process & feel great about my accomplishments.

Video Transcript

Dr. B:   So when did you have your surgery?

Sandy:  August the 14^th 2008

Dr. B:   And of course the main question is, how much weight have you lost.

Sandy:  Since lap band, 150.

Dr. B:   Really, to be honest with you. 150 pounds.

Sandy:  Truthfully.

Dr. B:   Wow, congratulations.

Sandy:  Thank you.

Dr. B:   So how does it feel?

Sandy:  It feels really good. What would you like to know what feels good?

Dr. B:   Well what’s the best part of it?

Sandy:  The best part is that I can buy clothes.

Dr. B:   You can shop?

Sandy:  I can shop, and I can run and play with my kids. I can remember in August, we went to the mountains. And we went up to Klemen’s Dome and the whole time my kids were saying, momma my legs hurt, momma I’m tired. And I could go, I could do the whole time and it was wonderful. And it was sad that my kids couldn’t.

Dr. B:   Yeah but great that you could out do them. Right?

Sandy:  That’s right.

Dr. B:   Well that is good. So how was the surgery itself? It was outpatient?

Sandy:  It was outpatient. I came in at six, and I was back in Tifften at the house by one.

Dr. B:   That is sweet.

Sandy:  That was real nice. I was begging them to let me out, and I wasn’t even out of surgery a whole hour yet.

Dr. B: You were good. Great, and how often do you get your fills? The adjustment?

Sandy:  I get my fills every four to six weeks. Sometimes, one time there was a three month span I didn’t get an adjustment, but I have stayed on top of it because I wanted to lose.

Dr. B:   Yeah right. The adjustments are the secret.

Sandy:  That is definitely the secret. It’s coming back and getting your adjustments. That boasts you to your next step each time each time.

Dr. B:   And just because people may not know, what does it take to have an adjustment?

Sandy:  A little sweet needle stick. Not bad.

Dr. B:   A little fluid added to it.

Sandy:  Right.

Dr. B:   Right. And it ports up in your shoulder.

Sandy:  Right.

Dr. B:   Ok. How about you’re eating, do you have to eat special foods? Or can you pretty much eat whatever you want, just not as much.

Sandy:  That’s a tricky question. Are you supposed to eat what you want or no? But, no you can pretty much eat what you want, within reason. I haven’t been able to eat bread that much. Which is a good thing, because that is something that I always really enjoyed. But now I don’t so much enjoy it, and its fine. But I can eat any kind of meat, and vegetables, and of course I try to get my protein in first, and do all the little rules. But if you want something sweet, you can still have it. But you can only have a little bit.

Dr. B:  Of course

Sandy: And that’s what’s nice.

Dr. B:   Yeah.

Sandy: And where we didn’t have control, it controls us.

Dr. B:   And that’s what makes it such a good thing.

Sandy:  That’s right.

Dr. B:   Ok. Congratulations again, you look fabulous.

Sandy:  Thank you. I feel wonderful.

Dr. B:   You really do look good. 

Let me tell you what the lap band has meant to me. I was a mess. I felt completely out of control concerning my weight (and other things in life too) I knew that if I didn’t do something I would die an unnecessarily early death. I have two children that need me!  They also need a mother that can keep up with them. 

 Thanks to my lap band surgery two years ago I have lost well over a hundred pounds. It has been a learning experience.  I now have the control to eat in a healthy way.  I have become more active. I have begun an exercise program with my daughter and we are having a ball! I can’t wait to see what I can achieve next…

LAP-BAND Surgery date:     May, 2008

Total Weight Loss to date:  115 lbs.

Lap-Band Patient:  Jane
Surgery date:     9/24/08
Start weight:     323lbs      BMI:  54
Current weight:  223lbs      BMI:  37
Total weight loss:   100 lbs

Hi, my name is Jane and I began my journey at 323 lbs before having my lap band surgery on August 14, 2009. At the age of 59 I knew if I was ever going to lose weight it had to be now, and I wanted to do it before my health was so bad that there would be no turning back.

It has been seven months since my surgery and I’ve lost 100 pounds which is about equal to the weight of three of my six grandchildren. I no longer take medication for diabetes or cholesterol. My blood pressure is under control with medication which I should be coming off of soon. I feel better, walk much faster and fit into regular chairs. Although I do have some hanging chads in several places on my body, I look forward to having that taken care of one day. I am thankful to GOD for giving doctors the wisdom to perform a surgery that will help so many people.

As I continue my journey of weight loss I often see other people in public and want to tell them that there is hope, I want to be an inspiration to others. At the age of 60 I am healthier and look better now than I have in many years and I hope that is an encouragement to others, that it isn’t too late to make a change in their life.

Video Transcript

Dr. B: So you are about 8 to 9 months after Lap Band.  How much weight have you lost?

Kim: 62 pounds.

Dr. B:  And the surgery was as outpatient surgery

Kim:  Yes Sir.

Dr. B: And how was that?

Kim: It was great.  I was your first patient for the one-hole procedure, the single incision.

Dr. B:  There are a lot of people asking about that, would you do that again?  What would you say about it?

Kim:  It was great.  I had it Thursday and went back to work on Tuesday, though I could have gone back to work on Monday.

Dr. B: Do you think that the single incision is worth it?  Because I’m not sure myself, and I would like to know what you think.

Kim: I think it is.  I did not have much pain. It was really easy to just get back into life.  Great! Wonderful!

Dr. B:  Are you happy with it?

Kim: Yes.  I thought I could not eat some things for the rest of my life… But I can eat anything. 

Dr. B: Well you know that is a very important point.  A lot of people don’t really understand that.  So you don’t have to limit your diet per-say.

Kim: But now since I had the Lap Band when I eat sweets… it’s kind of turned off my sweet tooth.. So now when I eat something sweet, I just don’t want that.

Dr. B:  So it helps you control that. 

Kim:  Yes.

Dr. B: That’s really good.

Kim: I hear people say that it does not help them.  But it helps me.

Dr B: Yes, there is a lot of variation from patient to patient.  That’s why I think is so important that patients hear other patients talk.  What about activities?  Can you do anything that you could not do before?

Kim:  Reading story books to my girls and I don’t get out of breath. Playing with them.  We play and run.  They like to be my trainers, doing exercise.  We exercise together.

Dr B:  So you have an exercise routine.

Kim: Yes, we exercise together.  I am teaching them to exercise too. 

Dr. B: So what kind of work do you do?

Kim: Dental Hygienist.

Dr. B: Has it changed anything at work?  Does it help you at work much, do you think?

Kim:  I think so.  Right after lunch after I eat something and I would be cleaning my first patient, I would be breathing heavy. And now I don’t breath heavy.

Dr B: Can you sense there how people interact with you?

Kim: I do. I do. 

Dr. B: That’s one of the things we don’t like to talk about.  People don’t really like to talk about this but since you are in the medical field.   Do you think that people regard you differently?

Kim: I had a patient before, an older gentleman that told me once, “you  just keep getting bigger and bigger and bigger”.  I think people are more friendly and outgoing with you when you are smaller than when you are bigger. 

Dr. B:  It’s a shame but it I think it is true.

Kim:  It is true. It is true.

Dr. B: So that’s an important part of what you are doing because you are dealing with the public everyday.

Kim:  I even mentioned to my husband, I will probably get a lot more patients now that I am slimmer and he said you think so? That is something.

Dr. B: I hate to admit it but I think it’s true.  And I think that most people don’t like to talk about it but it is an important part. Ah, I mean, big folks are discriminated against

Kim:  Yeah… Yeah… Even if you do a good job cleaning teeth, you know, if you look good, I want her to clean my teeth. 

Dr. B:  Yeah… That’s right.   How about the Lap Band fills? How often do you get the fills?

Kim: I get them about every 3 to 4 weeks. And, doing great..  I just got a fill last week and every one said, you are going to get a fill just before Thanksgiving? And I said yeah!

Dr. B: So, you go over to the Bariatric Center to get your fills?  Is it Amy or Michelle?

Kim: Michelle last time, but Amy does it too. They are all friendly.

Dr. B: How long does it take for you to get a fill?

Kim: Maybe you are in and out it takes about 15 minutes.

Dr. B: Your port is up here in the shoulder.

Kim: Mine is down here (pointing to the mid section)

Dr. B: Oh, that is right, I forgot that. And is it easy to get to?

Kim: Yes.  They just have to lay me down to do it instead of sitting up. And it doesn’t hurt to get the fill.  They don’t ever hurt me.

Dr. B: Pretty easy to do.

Kim: Oh Yeah. Real easy

Dr. B: Alright then, congratulations. 

Kim: If I had to do it again, I would say I’d do it right now. Don’t take my lap band away.

Video Transcript

Dr. B: When did you have your surgery?

Jody: December 19^th 2009

Dr. B: So December 19^th you had your outpatient surgery?

Jody: Yes sir

Dr. B: Ok. How much did you weight at that time?

Jody: At that time I weighed 497

Dr. B: Wow, that’s a lot. How much weight have you lost?

Jody: In total since the surgery about 105 and I lost 50 before that.

Dr. B: So you lost about 150 pounds getting ready for the surgery and after having the surgery. Well good - that’s good, do you want to lose more?

Jody: Yeah

Dr. B: So you think LAP-BAND can help you do that?

Jody: Yeah

Dr. B: So you haven’t reached the end point yet?

Jody: No I haven’t reached anywhere near the endpoint yet.

Dr. B: That’s good. So high blood pressure and diabetes, where are you now with those two?

Jody: I’ve cut my blood pressure medicine in half, and I’ve cut my glucophage in half for my diabetes. I am completely off my anti-depressants now, and I’ve cut my cholesterol medicine in half.

Dr. B: Wow that’s really good. So you can see where the future is if you keep going in this direction?

Jody: I actually cut my thyroid medicine in half too.

Dr. B: Good. So you’re really making good progress, and tell me again when did you have your surgery?

Jody: December 19^th 2009

Dr. B: So not even a year. You know, you get our newsletter and so you see a lot of people who have lost a lot of weight everybody thinks that is successful.  See you’re a success even though you;ve got more weight to lose. And that is what people need to understand its more about your health than it is about the way you look although the way you look helps let me tell you. What kind of work do you do?

Jody:  I’m a corrections counselor, and I would say and don’t tell Charley out there but the best analogy I can come up with is like it’s a prison you can’t escape from. Except when you finally decide to do something about it that’s when you make your escape and everybody can understand that. When you say it like that people say oh I can see that. When you use that kind of analogy people can understand that. It’s something no matter how hard you try unless you decide to do something about it you can’t escape from it.

Dr. B: That’s a good point, and I’m glad you made that for me because I’ll tell you right now I get more pleasure out of hearing people say that then seeing girls walking in those tight jeans and stuff, I do. Again thank you I appreciate it.

Surgery date: March 13, 2009
Before Surgery: 249lbs BMI - 43
Current Weight: 174lbs  BMI – 30
Total Weight Lost: 75lbs

Since high school, my weight has been like a yo-yo. Eventually, I stopped losing weight altogether and just kept getting bigger and bigger. Before I came to Dr. Bagnato, I was taking medication for high blood pressure and depression and had just been diagnosed as pre-diabetic and having high cholesterol. I was also told that I was morbidly obese. That word, “morbidly,” was a wake-up call for me.

Before the surgery, I always knew what I was supposed to eat and how much I was supposed to exercise, but I couldn’t stick with any of the plans I made. After the surgery I wasn’t thinking about food all of the time and I wasn’t hungry, so I was able to make better food decisions. I no longer need to take any medication. I also started an exercise routine and I’m still enjoying it.  Friends and family noticed immediately that my whole outlook had improved and I was laughing and smiling more. I felt hopeful, energized, and ready for change.

I use to be horrified by what I saw in the mirrors, but now I actually stop to check out how my body has changed and I like what I see. The surgery isn’t magic it is a tool to combine with some hard work and sacrifices to get where I want to be. Now I’m ready for anything!