My Patients
Personal Stories
Louise
I'm 63 years old. I have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. My "before" picture was in September of 2005, on Grandparent's Day. I was on oxygen during the day, CPAP (sleeping oxygen) at night, steroids, blood pressure medication and inhalers. I have always smiled for photos, but on that day in 2005, I was dying inside of my 243 pound body. My pulmonologist tried to help me and said "We could see if you could have gastric bypass surgery."
I jumped at the chance and contacted the Alvarado Bariatric Clinic to find Dr Julie Ellner. She operated on me November 21, 2005 and it was a MIRACLE!! No more oxygen, no more CPAP, no more medicine - I'm FREE!
"I can now travel (look at my London picture) and I swam with the dolphins in Baja (see other picture), which I would have never been able to do without the surgery, which saved my life! I've lost 120 pounds and Paris, here I come!!
