Texas Weight Loss Surgery Patient Testimonials

Before	After

In 2000, at the age of 26 @ 5’4” and 189 pounds, I was diagnosed with high blood pressure, suffered regularly from severe migraines, and took medicine for anxiety/depression. Over the next 10 years of trying to lose the weight, I reached my highest weight of 260 pounds. Feeling frustrated, tired all the time, and unmotivated I knew that something else had to happen. In December of 2010, I was diagnosed with PCOS (Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome), Sleep Apnea, and a Growth Hormone Deficiency which only compounded my weight issues. At this point my endocrinologist stressed that I needed to consider Weight Loss Surgery if I hadn’t lost a significant amount of weight within 6 months and referred me to Dr. Duperier. On June 15, 2011, entering the hospital 8 pounds lighter than my heaviest weight of 260 pounds with a BMI of 44 with all my co-morbidities, I was anxious about finally receiving my new weight loss tool (roux-en-y-gastric bypass).Within two weeks of surgery, I was down 22 pounds and off my blood pressure medicine and C-Pap machine. By two months out I was down 50 and by three months 60 and off anxiety/depression medication. I will always have to take and monitor my growth hormone but was fully aware that was something that the surgery could not reverse. I have fewer migraines and the ones I do have are less severe. I am able to not just walk but jog on a treadmill now. I feel like doing things with my family and hanging out outdoors again. I gained my life back! This has been the best choice I have ever made for myself and my family. At 6 months out and 91.5 pounds less, and only 38.5 pounds from my goal weight I still have the majority of this journey ahead of me. I eagerly look forward to each and every day of it. Although my recovery and journey has been smooth and complication free that doesn’t mean it was without effort. I have been equipped with great tools but it has been up to me to listen to the dietician, doctors, my body, and to exercise regularly to have the progress I have had. I have been blessed with an amazing surgeon, Dr. Duperier, and his team at BMI of Texas. Thank you Duperier and BMI of TEXAS! Everything is bigger and better in Texas including WLS … instead of my size!

Before	After

"Leap of Faith" Sitting in a room when all you can hear is the TV so softly in the background. People sitting all around you while you wait to be called to see the doctor. This is the life of a doctor’s office. Have you ever been to so many doctors’ appointments for so many different reasons you cant keep track of which on is which? My whole life as long as I can remember has been about going to doctor’s appointments for all my medical problems. For my whole life I have held back from doing things that I loved to do. My weight and health issues kept me from doing the things I truly loved. People all these years, thought I was shy, I was really embarrassed because I couldn’t do the things I wanted to do, like sports etc. Finally it hit me that I should live my life the way I want to live it and no one should stop me from doing that. I didn’t want to waste my life holding back, I will only get to live life once, why not make it worth wild? On June the 8th of 2010 I had the Gastric Bypass surgery due to my health problems only getting worse and this was the only way to save my life. I cant even begin to tell you how many times I stopped and prayed just to ask God if this was really the right decision for me. This surgery was a huge deal for me. It comes with a lot of responsibility, it’s a life change I had to make and adjust too. I had to be prepared for the challenges ahead; I was going to have to over come. My diet changed dramatically, and I can only eat certain things and only so much. The Gastric Bypass surgery was the most challenging thing I have ever had to over come in my life. My Family, Friends, Doctor & God helped me get through the whole process, and I couldn’t have done it with out all of them. In the back of my head I could hear God speaking to me assuring me everything was going to be just fine and I needed to trust him. I ended up taking a leap of faith and It is by far one of the best decisions I could of ever made for myself. I couldn’t have done it with out the help of my friends and family as well as my faith I have in God. There have been lots of challenges since I had my surgery that I had to learn, it’s been a life learning process and I have to take it one step at a time. It has changed my life in the best way I could have ever imagined. I’m healthy and able to enjoy life like I always dream. Thanks to Dr. Seger and his staff along with my family and friends have made my journey a success. I couldn’t have asked for a better recovery. As a young adult I have chosen not to eat bread, rice, and pasta. I live off of fruit and vegetables as well as protein. Way too much time, money and effort has been invested into my surgery to ever want to gain any of my weight back. I have experienced some dumping syndrome when I eat too much. There are foods as well as drinks that my stomach cannot tolerate. This surgery has not only changed my life forever, but it has allowed me to start a new life, I truly always wanted. I’m happier and healthier person and everyone can see that in me. My life has never been easy, but I have learned that you need to live the way you want and don’t hold back or worry about what others think. Due to my medical issues I have had in the past, it has led me down the career I believe God has wanted me to take. I am looking forward to perusing the medical field and finding a way to give back to people who have gone through the same issues as I. “Leave nothing but footprints, take nothing but photographs, and kill nothing but time”.

Before	After

On April 16, 2010, I was diagnosed with kidney failure and my weight loss journey began. I weighed 348 lbs., had high blood pressure, thyroid issues, and various aches and pains due to the weight. Immediately, I had to follow a kidney friendly diet, cutting out as much Potassium and Phosphorus as I could as the kidney is not able to process these. In order to be eligible for a kidney transplant, I would have to lose at least 120 pounds. In the first eight months, I lost 60 lbs following the Renal diet and with the guidance of Jennifer, the nutritionist at BMI. I first came to BMI in July 2010 and in December 2010, Dr. Duperier performed my gastric bypass surgery. I have lost a total of 183 lbs since being diagnosed with the kidney disease. Unfortunately, at the time of my surgery, my kidney function declined and I had to begin dialysis treatment. Before weight loss surgery, I was taking eleven prescription medications, including one for high blood pressure. Today, I only take three. None related to weight issues. I no longer have high blood pressure. I'm not yet at my goal weight, but I am confident that I will reach it. My ultimate goal was to lose enough weight to be eligible for a kidney transplant and BMI has helped me to reach that goal quicker than I ever could on my own. Ironically, now my potential donors have to lose weight to be able to donate a kidney for me! I now live a much healthier and active lifestyle, working out with a trainer on a regular basis and feeling bad when I don't work out! Dr. Duperier and the staff at BMI have been very supportive all along my journey and I honestly couldn't have done this without them.

Before

I was always a thin child, and weighed 117 lbs when I graduated from high school. Over the years, I somehow lost control and found myself at 282.5 lbs at the age of 39. I couldn't believe it was me when I looked in the mirror. After a very stressful year at work (during which I packed on the last 40 lbs), I decided enough was enough. I was simply sick and tired of feeling sick and tired. I did not have a big event or encounter that decided this for me; it was more a determination to take control back of my life. I had already tried every diet on the market and understood I needed help to get back to some form of moderation with my eating, with my life. I attended a seminar during which Dr. Duperier and the speakers were so motivational - I told myself, "someday, I will be up there.....giving that gift to someone else". I was fortunate enough to still be relatively healthy (although I had terrible plantar fasciitis in both feet and was on my way to diabetes), and was able to choose my surgical method, so I chose the less invasive Lap-band. I had surgery 11/28/06, a date which is now as special to me as my birthday. I was in the OR at 8am and back home feeling fine at 12:30! I committed to myself that I would also exercise because I was not going to put myself at risk of anesthesia without partnering closely with Dr. D and the band. So, I started walking in my neighborhood, saw quick results, and a few weeks after surgery, I joined a gym. I lost 70 lbs in 7 months and was highly motivated to keep going. The plantar fasciitis disappeared with the first 40 lbs or so, and I was able to walk further and increase my activity, so I hired a personal trainer and kept going. I work at USAA and it was kinda fun to walk by people I've known for years and have them either stare in shock or not even recognize me. In January 2008 I celebrated 100 lbs lost with a big party, and by that Fall, I was at exactly half my starting weight, 141 lbs. All during this time, I faithfully saw Dr. D and had band fills if/when needed. That's a very important piece of using this as a tool for your success - keep your appointments and be honest with the doctors and their staff! Talk to them about the foods that are working and those that give you trouble. They have great suggestions. For me, having band surgery and learning to use it as a part of getting healthier was the best decision I've ever made and I would not change a thing. There is no magic pill, no silver bullet, and certainly no easy fix when it comes to losing weight. I've had to change my behaviors and it's a battle that doesn't end just because the weight comes off. It's been 5 years, and I still love food, love eating and socializing with friends. And, I still do those things - it's just in moderation and in conjunction with exercise. I've had the pleasure of speaking at several of the seminars with Dr. D, and it's such a great reminder of my journey and how grateful I am for the life I've re-claimed for myself.

Before	After

This letter is to thank all of the personnel at BMI of Texas, Dr. Michael Seger's office whom have helped me to achieve a much greater quality of health in the last 15 months then I ever thought possible. I am very appreciative for that. I have been gravely overweight throughout my entire life; for as long as I can remember. My mother died obese. My sister was obese and an insulin using diabetic which greatly attributed to her early passing. My blood pressure, since I started taking it years ago, was always border line high (130/135 over 80/85) and even though I never tested positive for diabetes, I always felt I was close as I had healing problems and other symptoms that go along with diabetes. I had been diagnosed with Sleep Apnea and had Carpal Tunnel syndrome in my right hand. I explained my health to some of your professionals and told them I wanted to have a gastric bypass accomplished and I felt it would not only benefit my health, but save my insurance company lots of costs in the future. I had my Gastric Bypass accomplished by Dr. Michael Seger, who was a terrific and explained the entire procedure to me and my wife and was absolutely accurate in all he told us. At that time I weighed 340 pounds. By July of this year I had lost 143 pounds and have been able to keep my weight between 197 to 201 pounds. My blood pressure now runs about 112 over 72, I feel great, my sleeping disorder has disappeared and most of my Carpal Tunnel symptoms are gone. I feel great and I have more confidence in myself as a person and in my job performance. In fact, I have volunteered for Civil Service duty in Afghanistan and am presently being considered for six month tour in the area. That is quite good I feel since I am no spring chicken. I am also sure it has lengthened my lifespan tremendously. My wife and I would both like to thank you for your understanding and assistance in achieving this goal. I could not have accomplished it without all of the support from everyone at Dr. Seger's office. Please pass on to your staff my gratitude for all of their efforts and advice. Please feel free to use this testimonial by me for promoting your company. In addition; the folks at Foundation Hospital were absolutely "Top of the Line" and I do not believe I will ever find another hospital that put forth so much effort to make a patient comfortable and feel like they were treating you one-on-one and had no other patients.

Before	After

Two years ago I was morbidly obese at 379 lbs., size 30. Today I am 216 lbs. lighter at 163 lbs. in a size 8. Oh my, has my life changed. When my journey started I was terrified of failure. After all, I had tried everything: Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig, LA Weight Loss, Xenical, Dexatrim, starvation and exercise. Oh sure, sometimes I would lose weight up to 50 lbs. at a time, but within a short time it came back plus some. Once I decided to explore weight loss surgery I had to research the processes. I went to seminars and researched my options. One of the last seminars I attended was conducted by BMI of Texas presented by Dr. Duperier. After hearing for the first time that WLS was only a tool which I would be responsible for managing, I knew BMI was the choice for me. I was screened physically, mentally, and tested to insure I was committed to actually lose weight. I passed the tests and prayed for God to help me on the journey. On my 52nd birthday, Oct. 12, 2009, my surgery was complete and the journey began. Sure I lost weight immediately, but I needed to learn my new physiology . First I was not hungry, but that did not mean my head did not want to take control on occasion. I began to understand why Dr. D. referred to WLS as a tool. It would have been easy to eat small amounts of food all day long (which some encourage). Sure I could have eaten soft mashed potatoes (which others from other clinics were told to do), or I could ignore everything and eat until I was sick. I elected to follow the rules, eat right, take vitamins, calcium, pay attention to the intake amounts of carbohydrates, sugar, protein and sodium. After six months I was down 100lbs. and went to BMI for follow-up. Dr. D. was pleased with my progress but requested I go to a sleep apnea test. This would have been my third and I begged not to have this test again. In a compromise, Dr. D. recommended at a minimum 1 month at the gym. I jumped on this as it would be easier than another overnight stay in a sleep lab. Foundation Fitness Center and Rolando Torres, my personal trainer since June 2011, have certainly made a difference and contributed to my success of the additional 116lbs. loss. When I started, I couldn't stand on one foot for 15 seconds. Today I can balance on one foot over 2 minutes, I lift weights, I have done push-ups, sit-ups, flutter kicks (which I still hate) and I can run. I will be in my first 5k on Oct. 29, 2011. I no longer require an extender seatbelt when travel, I can tie my shoes, I can run and play with my grandchildren, I have been kayaking, on sky lifts, and walked up Mt. Arabel overlooking the Sea of Galilee in Israel. I can look into my husband's eyes and see how proud he is of me. My children and grandchildren enjoy our adventures together even moreso, as we can do so much more, like climbing trees, which I did yesterday with my 6 year old grandson. BMI of Texas is not a weight loss clinic, it is a family of professionals with Dr. Duperier and Dr. Seger who genuinely care. They work with you to make sure you are informed via website, support group meetings, fitness center, dietician, labwork, and simply access via a phone call or e-mail so you are not just another surgery. You are real to them. I trust this team so wholeheartedly that I trusted this team with my blessed daughter in May. She is down 115lbs in less than 6 months. Thank you for recognizing obesity is a disease which needs medical assistance and care for those of us who once were trapped. You provided us the way to take control and fulfill our lives' destinies.

I had surgery 5 weeks ago today. 5 weeks ago, I was on two types of diabetes medication, and high blood pressure medication. Today, I have lost 43 pounds, and am now medication free!! Dr. Duperier and the entire staff at BMI literally saved my career as a truck driver, and most importanty MY LIFE!! The doctors and entire staff at BMI have supported me, guided me, and encouraged me throughout the entire process. I cannot recommend them enough for anyone who is looking to extend their lives and their quality of life. I haven't felt this good in 10 years, and I feel better every day. I highly recommend gastric bypass surgery for anyone who fits into the catagory, and I wouldn't allow anyone else but Dr. Duperier do the surgery. My sincere, heart felt thanks again to Dr. Duperier and the entire BMI Staff. You are all truely life savers!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My love affair with food started when I was young. Growing up in Texas, we have the very best of the food worlds. We have incredible southern food, awesome barbecue and glorious tex mex. I was raised on all these delectable foods, and quickly established an unhealthy relationship with food. Fast forward to 25. I wore a 5X shirt, and weighed 380 pounds. At 6' 1", it was easier to hide that weight than people who were shorter than I. But, buying clothes at 5X is hard, unless you are willing to pay an extremely high price for them. I was on my way to serious health issues. Both of my grandparents had diabetes, heart problems and my grandmother was severely obese. My father, who is obese too, takes multiple medications to help him with his health. This was my future, if I didn’t change. In April of 2010, I went to a seminar at BMI and listened to Dr. Duperier talk about the different options of weight loss surgery. I had tried multiple diets, but to no avail. I needed a tool to help me win the battle against food. By this point, my vision of normal eating was so skewed; surgery was my last hope. I decided to get the Gastric Sleeve with Dr. Seger. Before I could get surgery, though, I had to lose 15 pounds. So, I used the free membership to the gym you get from the free consultation about weight loss surgery. I had literally never stepped foot in a gym until that point, except for in high school. I was almost against the idea of going. But, I had no other option, and decided to kick it in to overdrive. Within 1 month, I had lost 30 pounds. Surgery was scheduled for June 2, 2010. Surgery went awesome. No complications, a couple days in the hospital, then I was out. But now, the fun would start. I had decided that in order to keep the weight off, I would have to get serious about weight loss and to never fall prey to this demon again. I got a membership to the BMI gym, and kicked on the boosters. I literally couldn’t do more than a pushup to start, or run for more than 15 seconds without nearly passing out. The weight fell off. I was losing 30 pounds a month for the first few months, Then, started slowing, and finally leveled off after about a year. Now, I go see a trainer three times a week there, and am currently training to be a police officer. I have lost over 200 pounds, and am at about 14% body fat. Freedom is the most important thing I got back from my 380 pound prison. Freedom to run, freedom to play, freedom to realize my dreams of being a police officer. It is almost impossible to imagine myself that size, and barely recognize myself when I see pictures of me. But, there is a light at the end of the tunnel, and I promise you, the first step might seem tough, but pretty soon you will be flying. I promise.

Before	After

I'm long over due for posting this testimonial so just need to make the time. I don't even know where to start. I was thinking about weight loss surgery for 2 years and finally decided. I chose one weight loss clinic and went through the six months of dieting and all the testing. I was diagnosed with sleep apnea and my resting heart rate was very fast so I was on blood pressure medicine to regulate my heart rate. I've battled weight since I was eight years old. I tried just about every diet imaginable but would always gain back the weight plus some. I'm sure many of you can relate. I was asked to lose five pounds before my surgery and lost six but also had to stop smoking so I used sunflower seeds to stop the cravings and ended up gaining seven pounds back. I went in for my pre op appointment and was basically chewed out for the weight gain, chewed out for not using my breathing machine when I tried the nose one, strap under the chin, and the full mask one without any success of even being able to fall asleep. My doctor also had a problem with performing the surgery at Baptist Hospital which is where my husbands insurance wanted me to go and very unprofessionally voiced her opinion of that. I left that appointment just devastated and talked with my mother in law. She had seen Dr. Seger and raved about his bedside manner. I called and talked with April and explained about the approval of my insurance and needing to get this surgery done before the end of 2009. Within an hour she called me back to say Dr. Seger was not available but could get me in with Dr. Duperier. I was a little hesitant just because of the devastation I felt from my pre op appointment at the other place and didn't know if I wanted to risk seeing a Dr. that I didn't know. I opted to take a chance and was seen within a few days. Dr. D just listed to me, went over all my testing and looked me and said he would be honored to do my surgery and would call a Dr. he worked with at Baptist Hospital and see if they could team up. My surgery was scheduled for a late evening; they just worked me in to accommodate what my insurance wanted. I was just amazed at Dr. D's beside manner; all of his staff was just so helpful, kind and truly made me feel like I was a patient that they cared about NOT just another number and a way to make money. I started out weighing 247 the day of my surgery and staying right around 130 lbs. and will be 1 1/2 years post op the end of this month. My sleep apnea was gone within a month after surgery, I was taken off my blood pressure medicine within 4 months of my surgery. I did faithfully walk 30 minutes in the morning and 30 minutes in the evening. I went to the gym associated with BMI of Texas and they put together stretches and weights that I could do at home in 15 minutes. Their gym is $15.00 a month so very reasonable priced. I wanted to try to keep things firm so I wouldn’t have much excess skin. I’ve changed my schedule to get up and 5am so I had this extra 30 minutes in the morning and put my treadmill inside the house so I could just jump on it for 30 minutes at night while watching my favorite TV shows. I had the RNY gastric bypass and it’s just a tool, you have to make the decision that your eating habits have to change. I was amazed my first meal of fat free beans and 95% ground beef mixed together and only a ¼ cup and I could finish it. The only problem I had after the surgery was a stricture where the opening to my stomach closed up. I made an appointment with Dr. D and they got me in within a day to scope me and the balloon opened up my stomach again and all has been fine since. I was wearing a size 26-28 pants, 3-4 X tops an now I’m down to a size 4 pants in women’s and XS pant if they are no button. I usually get a small blouse but sometimes medium. I’m just amazed with the results of this surgery as I can’t ever remember being in these sizes my entire adult life. I can’t tell you what this surgery has done for my self esteem, my energy level, my being here to raise my 8 year old son and enjoy my two grand children. I do have more excess skin than I wanted despite doing the exercise’s six days a week but I’m going to meet with a personal trainer to discuss what I could do to help build muscle to help firm things up a little. I’ve lost about 55 inches between my arms, hips, thighs, bust and waist. I really don’t mind my picture taken anymore. I would always hide and try not to be in the picture because the picture told the truth of how I really looked. Anyone considering any type of weight loss surgery, just do your research, find a wonderful doctor (like the one’s at BMI of Texas) and discuss all your options, then think positive on your journey to this wonderful tool that was given to you to change your life in a positive way forever. Best of luck to all and god bless. You’re in the best hands with Dr. Duperier, Dr. Seger and their wonderful staff.

Before	After

I retired in 2009 to a new home and a new life in Texas. Unfortunately, my dreams for fun and sun soon faded with the realization that my weight was a serious impediment to any possible future of health and enjoyment. To make matters worse, I realized that, I was no longer walking the many miles that I had on my job. As my weight ballooned and I became more inactive, I became even more morbidly obese and frightened by my physical decline and isolation. It was too hot to move and too uncomfortable to squeeze into a seatbelt or tie my sneakers. My cholesterol levels and high blood pressure required meds and I developed serious sleep apnea. In short, I was an unhappy, unhealthy mess. One of the best days of my life was when I went to a BMI seminar. I knew then that this was a special family. Even the chairs were designed to be welcoming. Though Dr. Duperier is a tough, no nonsense kind of guy, he and Dr. Seger and Melinda gave me a truly new lease on life. I said from the start that I needed to get ahead of the food issue and I could do the rest....well, even with many issues related to the surgery, the team was there for me and followed up so that I could take control of my life. And, the team consists of more than just the doctors and PA. It consists of Vanessa, helping me get my insurance and Teri who allowed me my my dignity when she weighed me or used the big sleeve to take my blood pressure. And it includes those who answered my questions and calmed me when I was frantic about any issue. Two weeks ago, I had my annual evaluation. I have lost 160 lbs. and 30% body mass. I have followed the advice to be active throughout the process and so my excess skin is more of a badge of honor than an ugly reminder. Today, I walked my usual 6 miles, played with my dog, sat in a restaurant booth (yes, I ate well). My life is my own, in great part, because of the efforts of the BMI team. My life, which, a year ago, centered on survival, now offers endless possibilities. Thank you for providing the chance to color my life with everything but sugar. I so appreciate the generosity of compassion and professionalism that has marked the past year and I am determined to make the most of the most precious gift of life that I have been given. No meds, no pains, no limitations, and absolutely no regrets!!!!!

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