My Patients
Personal Stories
Claire D. - San Diego, CA
My name is Claire and I was morbidly obese all of my adult life from the time I was about 21 years old. I had been dieting since I was 11 but my weight got really out of control once I left home. I tried, unsuccessfully, for years to lose weight by every method out there. I would have some moderate success (read lose 30 or 40 lbs.) and then gain it all back and then some.
When I turned 45, my health started going down the tubes. All of a sudden I had high blood pressure, acid reflux disease and sleep apnea. I was on meds for the first two and had a CPAP machine to keep me breathing through the night while I was sleeping. When my pre-op labs for the surgery were done, I found out I was already diabetic and had no idea how long that had been going on. The more research I did on gastric by-pass surgery, the more I felt that not having the surgery would be irresponsible to myself.
I had my gastric by-pass on May 10, 2002 (2 months before my 50th birthday) and my life since then has been nothing short of a miracle. I am back to what I weighed in high school and I still can't believe it.
I am still getting used to being able to go into any store I want and buy clothes off the rack. Cute clothes in small sizes!
I have traveled and enjoyed vacations for the first time in my life. Last year (2005) I went on my first cruise I got to play in the water with dolphins and went snorkeling for the first time in my life. I was out in the world in a bathing suit and didn't think a thing of it. I am still amazed at going through a turnstile frontwards!
I can walk between racks of clothes in stores without having to go around because I won't fit. Airplane seats are roomy! Two different men that didn't know me before have commented on how "petite" I am!!!! Not a word I would have ever associated with myself before. I am still in awe of how comfortable I am in my new body.
My clothes size went from 26-28 to 10. My shoe size went down, I even had to have my rings sized smaller because they got too big on my fingers.
Friends that had known me for years didn't recognize me when they saw me after the weight loss, more than one!!
I can't begin to express how joyful and happy and healthy my life is today thanks to Dr. Ellner and her great staff. I have truly been re-born! I feel like I am in my second adolescence, however, I do get to know now what I didn't know then!!! It doesn't get any better than that!
Thank you Dr. Ellner!!!!! You are my hero!!!
Feel free to email me at akhands@gci.net
