I considered wls for many, many years, but never seriously. When I was a new RN in 1997, it was fairly new and I saw people die from it, so I was always scared of it. I also never had insurance that concerned it, so I knew I'd have to pay out of pocket, and I was overall healthy, so I figured I could do it on my own. I had my son in 2010, and that's when I really started to gain a lot of weight. I had done WW before I got pregnant and had lost 45. I was down to 263. After he was born, the weight started piling on. I was sick all the time and got diagnosed with asthma. I was in pain all the time. My liver enzymes increased slowly year by year, until 2020 when my doctor decided I needed to see a liver specialist. That same January, I had my gallbladder removed and that surgeon offered to biopsy my liver and it showed Non-alcoholic Steatohepatitis, with hepatic fibrosis. As a nurse I had seen people die of liver failure and it is awful. This scared me to death. That surgeon recommended wls, and he was one of the only doctors who had ever acted compassionate and non-judgmental about my weight. He told me I had very little chance of losing it and keeping it off on my own. I took his advice and made an appt. That day with a bariatric surgeon. I saw him in March and he recommend gastric bypass. I started getting the required testing and had just had my EGD when the hospital decided to let a bunch of staff go due to COVID. That surgeon was one of them. I decided to go to a different hospital and surgeon and this one recommended Loop DS. I had not heard of it, but he said I was a perfect candidate with a BMI of 69.9 and since I was paying for it myself, as it was a newer procedure that insurance didn't usually cover. I researched it and decided to go with it.

My high weight was 393 pounds. I am 5'3". I was 368.8 on the day of my surgery, July 23, 2020. As of today I am 226.4. I never thought I'd be even close to this weight again. I am hoping to lose at least 200 pounds total. I am getting close.

I was close to borderline diabetic, had just been diagnosed with hypertension, and had liver disease. I could barely get around or keep up with my active 10 year old son. My hypertension is gone, my blood glucose is normal, and my liver enzymes are now normal, so I have reversed my fatty liver disease. I turn 50 on August 2nd and this will be the best birthday ever! I am so happy I had this surgery!

I can't get my befores to post right now but I'll put them here once I do. Here is me today.

I had the DS 6/1/21 and am so happy my surgeon recommended it! It has definitely improved my life and health! I’m still early in this journey but down over 50 lbs from preop ( 35 of those since surgery!) and it feels great! I too am a nurse and walking those hospital hallways carrying 50 lbs less (so far) is sooo much easier now! I already walk farther, faster and have a spring in my step I haven’t had for years, and I’m 63 years old! Congratulations on all you have achieved! You are doing an amazing job!

Congratulations on your success! You are doing amazing! It sure makes a difference weighing less walking those halls as a nurse!
I was also in the ICU back when I saw people die from wls. Since our insurance never covered it I had given up researching it until I decided to actually do it and then I saw complications were a lot fewer than back when I was a new nurse, so I was pleasantly surprised.
I'm also do happy I went with the DS.
I'm very happy it's working so well for you. Congratulations! [emoji4]

Amazing progress, keep up the good work!!

Wow! You look great!

One year anniversary down 50 lbs, continue weight lifting, gardening, etc. Feel so much healthier and every thing shrank and presently in size small.

Congratulations and well done! You look like a totally different person in the before and after photos

You’re brave and amazing and now healthier, too! <3

Great words from all
I am a nurse also and it took many years to get me to decide i needed wls. Mostly due to all the complications I had seen as a nurse. On august 31 2022 I had VGS. It was a rough go the first few days but I am feeling much better. Thanks for all your comments it helps alot to read about how they are progressing.