Texas Weight Loss Surgery Patient Testimonials

Before

Diana Sanders, patient of BMI of Texas

Before	After

In 2006 during a routine visit to my family doctor, he told me that it was very likely that I would not live another 8 years unless something was done about my weight. I had been obese my entire life and had severe obstructive sleep apnea, hypertension, and joint issues. Combine my health issues with a familial history dating back to 5 generations of obese women; it was obvious I had to find a way to gain control of my health through controlling my weight. I researched several options and several surgeons and selected Dr. Duperier. To date, I have lost 140 pounds and am still losing. Of greater significance is the fact that I no longer suffer from severe obstructive sleep apnea, hypertension, and most of my joint issues have been resolved. I am testing for my First Degree Black belt in Taekwondo in 2009. I thank Dr. Duperier for giving me the gift of life through God’s blessings.

Before	After

I had a few years to ponder the thought of the surgery. My husband was very overweight and was told by numerous doctors that he would benefit from the surgery. In 2001 my older sister and younger brother had the gastric by-pass, they said they would be the “testers” for the family. My husband had weight loss surgery in the fall of 2002. Shortly after his I started the process for myself, I had high blood pressure, acid reflux, metabolic syndrome, (of which I was on diabetic medication for this) I was not very active, my son was now almost 13 and I wondered when I could stop saying the weight was from being pregnant! Just when we were ready to file with the insurance to get approval, my husband lost his job, which meant we lost our insurance. So the path was now gone. In the meantime, I had four more sisters that had the surgery. and five in-laws that went through the surgery for a total of 12 people. Upon seeing their success, it made me want the surgery even more. In the late fall of 2004, I contacted the Doctor’s office to let them know that we again had insurance and they did cover the procedure. They re-opened my file. I was declined by the insurance in February 2005 due to not enough paperwork being given. So we finished my paperwork, the psyche evaluation, my appointment with the doctor and such. Then we re-submitted to the insurance company and it was approved. The only surgery date that was available was one month away… I grabbed it! I was scared to death for the next month. I could not get it in my mind that it would be ME in the operating room instead of my husband. I drove to San Antonio , from the Houston area the night before my surgery date. Dr. Duperior told me from the get go that I would be staying in the hospital for an extra day due to the fact that I lived out of town. He wanted to know why I chose the full gastric by-pass instead of the lap band. I told him that I was the 13th in the family to have it and everyone had had the gastric by-pass, I did not want to be a guinea pig for the lap! He stated: enough said! I had the surgery on Wednesday June 22, 2005 weighing in at 245 lbs with a BMI 40, the heaviest I had ever been! The Doctor came to visit me the next morning and told me that everything went beautiful! On Friday he came to see me and told me that I could go home, he said that everything was going well. I was a bit surprised as he told me I would be in the hospital 4-5 days! He said I could stay longer if I wanted, but that he would let me go home. I called my Mom and I was gone by noon! J I hate hospitals! Weight loss surgery has changed my life for the better. I lost 105 lbs within the next seven months, it just melted away! It was hard to buy clothing, as when I finally reached a size 12 I figured that this was the smallest I would get, I bought new clothes for work, and then the next month NOTHING fit! I went from a size 20-22 to a 4-6! My health is much better; I am no longer on any prescription medication, only my vitamins & calcium. This past summer 2008 I did have to go through IV infusions for iron, and take large doses of calcium as my body was not absorbing either one. I did this for 3 months, and since have been doing just fine. People that I have met since having surgery do not believe me, I have to show them my before & after photos, of which I still carry them with me. I am able to eat just about anything that I want, just in small portions. I try very hard to stay away from sugar, as it makes me sick.. I also still follow the rule of not drinking for one hour after meals. (It is hard but worth it!) In March of 2008 my husband and I divorced, and through this process I found out that he felt I had lost too much weight and had gotten too skinny for him. Yes, my husband went through the same procedure, and actually has gained about 50% of his weight back. We are still friends. I am able to work a lot more, travel more and go the extra mile with my job. I love being able to do this! If I had to go back and make this decision again, I would most definitely do this surgery! I have had a few friends have the surgery after finding out that this is how I changed my life. I feel comfortable talking about it to anyone that wants to know more. I really would not do anything differently; I had a very good experience with this surgery. I love Dr. Duperior! The message that I would have for anyone looking into this surgery is “just do it for you!” It will be worth it!

Before	After

My Journey I had my Laparoscopic RNY on Aug 9, 2004 at Methodist Hospital by Dr. Terive Duperier. One of the greatest gifts & decisions I have made in my life. I am 5’2” & when I started this journey I weighed 249 lbs-BMI 45.5. Today 4 1/2 yrs later, I am maintaining about a 95 lb weight loss & a BMI of 29. I feel wonderful, have energy, & a healthy future. I have struggled all my life with weight. Growing up I was always active, playing tennis, softball, marching band & all ways outdoors-but heavy for my age. Even into adulthood I continued to play softball & do all my own yard work. As I got into my 60’s my health was beginning to show the effects of my weight. I was diagnosed with diabetes, hypertension, & Heart Disease. When I had to have two Heart Stents-that was a real wake up call. My husband had passed away in 1999 after a long illness & I did not want that for myself or for my two daughters to go thru what I had done with my husband. Time To Take Care Of Myself… This was not a decision I made lightly. I did a lot of research-read, talked with experts, & visited support meetings. I had already retired & had no idea that being 60 or over put you in another whole category, so I contacted my insurance-got all the information of what they would require. I knew what I had to do for myself & I was ready. I contacted NDWLS, went to a seminar and was paired with Dr. Terive Duperier-already knew Dr. Duperier, but that’s another story. Between the efficient staff helping with the paperwork & getting the necessary referrals, I was approved very quickly. My weight loss surgery was very uneventful. I was off my Diabetes meds before I left the hospital. I had no problems, came home & started learning to “listen to my pouch” and live day by day. My blood-pressure meds have been reduced & my heart problems will always be there, but they are very much in control and I can look forward to a long life. The few small bumps in this journey were usually fixed with a call or visit to Dr. Duperier. I would hope that my story is not unusual & that most people have as smooth journey as I have. I did not go into this journey in order to have make my life perfect. It will not make you more interesting or attractive to people or make all your dreams come true. It is a journey & you can improve yourself, but at the end of the day you are still the person you have always been inside. Support is very important-no matter if you get it from meetings, the internet, friends, family or from within yourself-just be sure it is the kind of support YOU need. Some of my WOW moments- * Cross my legs… * Put on a hospital gown & have it cover you…Hooray * Slide into a meeting late & no one notices you… * Walk down the aisle of an airplane & fit in the seat comfortably-not have people praying that you are not their seatmate. * Take a Cruise or travel & not have to worry about your accommodations or how far you will have to walk on this outing…..Just enjoy all of it… * Keep up with your daughters walking from the parking lot to the Spurs games… * Sit in your Plaza level Spurs seat comfortably…Go Spurs Go!

Before	After

My name is Amber Rader, I am 28 years of age. In August of 2007 I was ill due to my gall bladder. I went to see a surgeon and I weighed in at 294 pounds. I was very upset when I saw how much I weighed. My weight has been an issue for my entire life but somehow I had never seen it. But here I was 6 pounds away from being at 300!! I cried my eyes out and thought of every excuse in the book but I finally talked to my doctor and he recommended a surgery one of his family members had. I had contemplated for YEARS whether or not weight loss surgery at BMI of Texas was for me I really thought I shouldn't have surgery because I was young enough to do this on my own... However, At 28 and weighing 294 pounds something wasn't working! It was me! I thought long and hard about surgery was it right? Was I mentally ready for the changes it would bring? Was I ready to take care of me and exercise and not diet but eat right for the rest of my life? I was! I made the commitment to go to a seminar but I wasn't sure on the procedure yet. After listening to the presentation I knew almost instantly that the lap band was the best choice for me. I knew I would learn about my body and eating right and I liked that I had to do work to make it work. I had my surgery on May 19, 2008 and I weighed 260 pounds on that day. As of March 2009 I am two months away from my one year anniversary and I weigh 170 pounds. My goal is to reach the 150 pounds I hope to be by May. I must say that Dr. Duperier saved my life.. Although I was not sick I was definitely heading in that direction. I am so thankful I had this procedure. For 15+ years I hated the person I saw in the mirror. I love myself now, I am so healthy and happy I sometimes don't know how to hold back my joy. This is honestly the best decision I have ever made and I strongly suggest the surgery to anyone who has ever battled with being over weight. It is not a fast fix its a life style change and a learning process and the most wonderful one at that! I am now the person God intended for me to be and that is a blessing!

Before	After

I was overweight since I was a little boy. Suffering the taunts and abuse of elementary school, I developed a jovial "laugh-it-off" persona and was able to grow to adulthood with a fairly positive outlook on life. I played varsity sports through high school and was active in high school and college Army ROTC. I maintained a decent weight through my Junior year in college (fluctuated from 210 - 220) when I injured my knee on a military exercise and ballooned up to about 250. Crash diet at 23 enabled me to enter the Army at around 220 and finished basic training at 205. I gained weight during my time in the Army and battled with weight at the end...left service at about 230. I married soon after finishing my bachelor's degree in 1989 and started my civilian career. Long days doing physically demanding field work kept me from gaining too much weight, but career progression had me spending more time behind a desk and my weight creeped up to around 250....then to around 270. Numerous diets and programs (slim fast, atkins, lean-cuisine, etc.) kept me hovering between 250 and 270 for several years. My weight continued to creep up and by age 40, I was probably "stable" at around 275-285. I remained around this weight and have been lighter/heavier, but fairly stable. I started investigating WLS in about 2002 and just never pursued it. I scheduled to attend a WLS seminar in September 2006. I had always considered the Lap Band, but I came out of the seminar relatively convinced that a permanent solution was what I needed--I needed to commit mentally AND physically. I know it works great for a large number of people, but to me, the Band seemed like 1/2 a commitment. I scheduled my first visit with Dr. Duperier and went on December 28, 2006. My wife attended the appointment with me (she's a Physician Assistant) and we moved down the road toward a decision. At that appointment, Dr. Duperier first mentioned VSG as another surgery option. My wife and I were immediately intrigued by the idea of permanent restriction without the malabsorption. Part of me wanted dumping as a tool, but given the stats on RNY patients who don't dump (like 30%), I didn't think that I wanted to "rearrange my plumbing" without a high likelihood of having dumping as a tool. Further, many VSG folks report symptoms similar to dumping. For these reasons, I ultimately selected the VSG procedure. I was given some pre-surgery requirements: upper/lower endoscopy; sleep study; gall bladder ultrasound; and lose 15 pounds. I managed to accomplish all of these requirements and was scheduled for surgery. I had surgery at Northeast Baptist Hospital and began my "new life" on April 23, 2007. I'm now about 10 pounds under my goal weight. I'm now 28 months post-op and I've been maintaining at or below my goal weight without serious effort since about 9 months post-op. I’ve gone from size 44-46 pants to size 36. I’ve gone from size XXL (sometimes 3XL) shirts to size Medium or Large. Moving around is easy and even long airplane rides are no longer the uncomfortable trial they used to be. I’m now VERY physically active and my weight loss has allowed me to pursue my goal of refereeing high school football and lacrosse (among MANY other things). If it’s right for you, I highly recommend the VSG to anyone considering WLS. I am also happy to recommend Dr. Duperier and his organization. He is dedicated, accessible, knowledgeable and personable. He takes great interest in each individual patient and their problems/progress. I attribute much of my weight loss success to Dr. Duperier and his staff.

Before

Dr. Seger performed my Gastric Bypass surgery on June 15, 2009. Since then I have lost over 192 pounds. My name is Jerek Laughlin and I’m 18 years old. I knew I wanted to get the Gastric Bypass for a while. Not really sure why I went to all the parties. I was always the big kid in the back of the room by myself. I would stay for a little bit just to say I went but then I left early. My senior year I gained more weight. When I stopped playing football, I lost the few friends I had, then I knew I had to do something before I got any bigger. I was 390lbs. Six days after graduation, I had the surgery. I started losing 2 to 3 pounds a day, and sometimes, even more. After two months, I had lost 75 pounds. Now after 6 months, I have lost over 192 pounds. Although my recovery from the surgery was one of the most difficult things I have done, it was also the best thing I ever did. Dr. Seger got me going right away during my hospital stay. Through some hard times, Dr. Seger reassured me it would be alright. BMI of Texas has the best office, no matter what the question, there was always someone to answer it, at anytime. Words can’t do justice to how grateful I am to them. They gave me a new life! I am now comfortable traveling by air and going on amusement park rides. My thighs no longer rub together and I fit in the seat belts. When I visit my family for the holidays, it’s not about the food anymore. I was happy to see their faces and finally be able to socialize. They were happy for me and I was happy to be there. I am finally being part of the party, not just watching it from the corner. I have become more social and I feel at ease when I am in a crowd. And I don’t feel like everyone is watching me. I don’t deny myself a treat here and there, but who doesn’t? This surgery has turned my life around for the better, and I would never go back. It has not been easy but it has been more than worth it to me.

Before	After

In February, 2007, I found myself at 5'5", 256 lbs--a BMI of over 42. I was always tired, depressed, and feeling hopeless. I had high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obstructive sleep apnea, GERD, and stress incontinence. I was also prediabetic and on lots of medications for my various ailments. My primary doctor suggested that I go to a seminar to explore weight-loss surgery options. After the seminar, I made an appointment and spoke with Dr. Duperier. We decided that the gastric bypass was going to be the tool for me. I began to prepare for my surgery. I got all the tests done, but began to try to eat more slowly, exercise more, not drink liquids with eating solids, and other precautions discussed pre-surgery. I knew that the surgery was merely going to be the tool to help me jump start my lifestyle change. If I was going to put my body through this, I was going to make it work for me and the sooner I began, the better. I had my surgery on Oct. 22, 2007. Immediately after surgery, I no longer needed medication for my GERD. After 3 weeks, I was given the ok to work out. I went from Dr. D's office to the gym and signed up. I began with water aerobics (I have arthritis in my knees so low-impact exercise is best.) By Christmas, I had lost 45 lbs. By the spring of 2008, I was off most of the medications and no longer needed a C-PAP to sleep. To date, I've lost 100 lbs and am keeping it off. I have a BMI of 25. By using the surgery as a tool and changing my habits, I'm able to live again.

Before	After

my name is Pedro H. De La Cruz Sr. I am 62 yrs old. I use to be very obese weighing in at 374 pounds. My pcp Dr. Wanda Anguiera referred me to go to a seminar hosted by Dr. Segers talking about weight procedures like the lapband, the sleeve, and gastric bypass. I had alot of medical problems before my surgery. I was obese, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, diabetes, swelling of ankles, acid reflux, congestive heart failure, high cholestrol, too much iron in my blood, and retaining water. I was a walking pharmacy before surgery. Since May 15th 2009 i was no longer a diabetic. I had my Gastric bypass surgery on June 9th 2009. Now i take five medications split in half plus my viatamins. I have lost 20 inches off my waist and i have lost 132 pounds after 7 months since my surgery and now weigh 242 pounds. i feel good i never want to go back to being an obese man or person again. Surgery went just the way Dr. Segers told me it was going to be. All my Doctors have set my goal weight loss at 200 pounds due to my height and bone structure. up to this date Dr. Segers has change my life to the better being that all my doctors said at the rate i was going i would only live up to 3 yrs and now my life has be expanded. i was always tired had pain all over my body, Hard to get out of bed. Now i just jump up out of bed like a 20 yr old man. I belong to Spectrum gym. Dr Segers and his team have made a big impact on my life and i am thankful for them for giving me a new life. So you decide which surgery will work best for you.

Before	After

My name is Tracy and I started my weight loss journey March 23, 2009. I have always struggled with my weight and tried every diet I could think of. Some of them worked but did not last. On the day of my Lap Band Surgery I weighed 231 and today I am happy to say that I weigh 149. I have reached my goal and now my BMI is in the normal range and I can fit into a size 6. That is totally amazing to me. Before the surgery I thought “Well, if I get into a size 12, I will be so happy”. Well I went past that and some. My surgery went really well and I had no problems afterwards. The change in my life has been truly amazing, not only physically, but I have also changed mentally. Actually some people have come up to me and said “I did not even recognize you”, and that is really nice to hear. I have more confidence in my looks even to the point that I like what I see in the mirror. Buying new clothes is also fun and a new experience. Now I don’t have to go to the Women’s section, and I have so much more to choose from. I am also exercising almost everyday and really enjoy going to the gym. I have also had several people come up to me and ask who my Dr. was for my surgery. I am always happy to tell them about BMI of Texas and Dr. Duperier. It is really nice to think that I may be helping out someone else by the success that I have achieved in my weight loss journey. People often ask me “If you were able to do this again would you go through all that you have gone through to achieve what you have”. My answer is “A definite YES”!!! This surgery has completely changed my life and is the best thing I have ever done just for myself. I look forward to the summer when I can wear a cute swimsuit and not be ashamed of my body. Thank you to BMI of Texas and Dr. Duperier for helping me to achieve my weight loss goals and revealing the healthy body that was hidden for so long.

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