GASTRIC SLEEVE SURGERY

I was really apprehensive about having surgery for weight loss. But when I reached 300 pounds, I knew I had to do something. I felt helpless and useless. I had aches and pains, shortness of breath and found myself buying bigger clothes every other month. One day I looked in the mirror and began to cry because I did not recognize the person staring back at me.

As I met with the doctors and staff at New Jersey Bariatric Center, my fears started to fade away – definitely not all in one day, but over time. The staff was so supportive. At times I felt like they cared even when I didn't have the energy to. But still I was nervous right up to the day of the surgery, when Dr. Buwen came into the pre-op room and assured me that I was going to be fine. And he was right. I was more than fine! Post-op I had virtually no pain – just a little from the incisions, but not nearly what I had feared! I had managed to lose 35 pounds before surgery through my hard work and following the guidelines. The support continued after surgery. When I told the doctor that I couldn’t drink the milk-based protein shakes, I was scheduled to meet with the nutritionist, who told me about protein water. I was elated. It was like every problem I had, as long as I kept the office informed, they provided me with a solution. The doctors and entire staff made me feel like they cared just as much about my health and happiness as I did.

Now I am proud to say I lost a total of 160 pounds including the weight I lost both before and after surgery. I once felt helpless and didn’t know where to turn to take control of my life again. Thanks to New Jersey Bariatric Center, my purpose is back and I am now the healthy and happy woman I knew I could always be. Surgery with NJBC got me started on the path I wanted to be on. I now look in the mirror and love the person staring back at me.

*According to national studies, bariatric surgery results in an average weight loss of 55-80 percent of excess body weight. Excess weight is the amount of weight one needs to lose in order to have a “healthy” BMI of 25.