Success Stories
Regaining A Healthy Body - Weight Loss Surgery Success Stories
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Meet Rozanne My name is Rozanne, and at the age of 51 I decide it was time to do something about my obesity. In August 2009, I had laparoscopic gastric bypass surgery with Drs. Brian Quebbemann and Justin Braverman at The NEW Program Community Hospital of Long Beach. It wasn’t an easy decision to reach but I had been overweight my entire life and have tried and failed every diet. I was successful with the popular “liquid diet” but gained every pound back and more as soon as I could eat solid food. Since most of my adult life was spent on and off diets, I knew I couldn’t try and fail at another diet, not one more time! I also understood that at 5’1” and 240 pounds the excess weight was seriously impacting my health and mobility. I was diagnosed as pre-diabetic and had considerable knee and foot pain from carrying all the weight. I was also suffering with fatigue and depression. I knew it was just a matter of time before I began to get other health issues associated with obesity. My joints couldn’t continue to carry all my excess weight and I didn’t want my health to continue to decline, so I decided to do the most drastic thing to change my life and proceeded with this surgical weight loss procedure. Fortunately, I had two friends who had undergone surgical weight loss and they helped me through the decision making process. One of my friends had their procedure done at The NEW Program and encouraged me to speak with them about which procedure was best for me. I went for my consultation with Dr. Braverman with the lap band procedure in mind as I was fearful and wanted a “reversible” procedure. I wasn’t at that time aware that gastric bypass is reversible and after a thorough education on the pros and cons of both, I concluded that to achieve long-lasting weight loss results, a gastric bypass would be the best alternative. On August 10, 2009, I underwent the procedure at Community Hospital of Long Beach. I didn’t have any trouble with the actual laparoscopic procedure but had a reaction to the anesthesia. Everyone at the hospital was especially caring and attentive to my needs. After two days, I was discharged and returned home to light activities. With my very supportive husband, my friends and regular support groups, I began to learn how to eat food in a new way. I attend these regular support groups and have found them to be so important to share what I am going through while learning how to integrate the new me with the old me. It is a slow and sometimes difficult process to understand how your body will react to various foods post bariatric surgery but it is well worth it. Today (5 months later), I have lost 73 pounds! If you are seriously considering a surgical weight loss procedure I encourage you to learn as much as possible, do your research and make sure that you have someone to talk with who has undergone and is living with the physical and emotional changes that go along with this type of transformation. At Community Hospital of Long Beach, they have a support group that is willing and eager to help others considering this life changing procedure. I’m so excited to share my story and I’m well on my way to my goal weight of 120 pounds! Rozanne
Costa Mesa, CA
January 17, 2010