Success Story Bill
Bill Wanzer
Surgery Date November 4, 2002 (439 pounds)
10 Months Later, minus 160 Pounds
September 17, 2003 (281 pounds)
My
Story
Bill Wanzer
My
name is Bill. I have always been a person “of size” (I weighed 250 pounds
when I was in the 7th grade). Having been a big person all my life, I
learned to live with it and accept it as a normal part of my daily life. I had
always been fairly active, but the last 10 years found me getting larger and
much less active. I have been on blood pressure medicine for 15 years. I have
suffered from and been on medication for GERD (reflux) for the last 20 years. I
have had knee surgery on both knees, suffered from sleep apnea, and had early
onset arthritis, in addition to having heart trouble and diabetes on both sides
of my family. At the age of 47, I was a medical catastrophe waiting to happen!
On a visit to my family physician in February of 2002, my doctor insisted
that I go to the hospital to get weighed (I was much too heavy to weigh on any
conventional scales). Since it had been a very long time since I weighed, I was
shocked to discover I weighed 450 pounds! Upon a return visit to my family
doctor, she asked if I had ever considered gastric bypass surgery. I told her
yes. I had been researching for months trying to decide if surgery was the
answer. After many years of trying numerous diets to no avail, I decided the
time was right. With a wonderful wife and two great kids, I wanted to get
healthy to be around to enjoy my family for many years to come. My family doctor
referred me to Dr. Clarey and Dr. Bruce.
Long
story short - the day I hit the operating table, the day of my “rebirth”,
November 4, 2002, I weighed 439 pounds. Today, as I write this September 17th,
2003, I have lost almost 160 pounds in a little over 10 months. I am off all the
medications that I have been on for the last 20 years. I no longer have sleep
apnea or joint pain. I have so much energy I drive my family crazy trying to
keep up with me. I work out twice a week with a personal trainer and walk at
least a mile a day. Not bad for a former couch potato. I still have a way to go
to reach my personal goal of 225 pounds, but I am committed to achieving my
goal.
I would never attempt to talk anyone into having Gastric Bypass surgery.
That is a very personal decision that should only be made with the proper mind
set and level of commitment. However, I can relate my experience which has been
nothing but good. Dr. Clarey and Dr. Bruce have been very supportive and their
office staff is always very pleasant and caring. They have given me a second
chance to enjoy life and I intend to do just that. I just want to thank the good
doctors for saving my life with their skill and care.
Results will vary
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