Michael R. - My Story
 | Gastric Bypass | 1999 My Life Before Bariatric Surgery I was just always the biggest thing. I ate from the time I got up until I went to bed. I would work 8 to 10 hours a day, come home and sit in my chair. I wouldn’t even get up to sit at the table for dinner. I’d make the kids bring it to me. |
During the week I’d go to a buffet 2 or 3 times. There, I would almost always throw up because I overate. Happy…sad…didn’t make any difference. I would just eat. I never wondered why I was heavy. I knew my habits were horrible. I overate with zero activity.
I’ve been on one diet or another since I was 25. I’ve done NutriSystem, Weight Watchers, and Slim Fast. I don’t know a single diet I haven’t been on. I have probably lost and gained over 1000 pounds in my life. I’d lose 60, gain 80. That was my whole life.
Making the Decision
I can remember saying, “I’ll never hit 250.” Then, “I’ll never hit 300.” I went in increments like that. Boom, boom, boom. It creeps up on you. The older I got, the easier it was to do that. And the scarier it was. The next step was 400. I gave up…until I heard a Barix commercial on my way to work. I immediately called for a consultation.
My wife did not want me to even consider it. She said, “That’s too dramatic. We can’t do that.” “We?” I said, “It’s me. Do you know what it’s like to get up every morning and wash this, and dress it, and carry it around all day?”
How My Life Changed
I call the surgery a miracle. It’s changed my life completely. I don’t even remember having an energy level this high when I was 20. It’s like I was reborn. People say I act 15 years younger. I am 100% more happy and satisfied with myself.
I’m just busy all the time. After work last night, I went shopping and had no problem whatsoever finding clothes that fit. I never got on a stepladder before surgery because they always had 225-pound weight limits. This year I climbed the ladder and hung Christmas lights. I got a watch I bought from a store and put it on without buying an extra-large band. My shoe size went down. My shirt went from a 4x to a large. Everything went down. It’s totally different.
To Those Considering Bariatric Surgery
On a 0 to 10 scale, 10 being the best, I give Barix an 11 to 15 across the board. The most positive impact was the care. My before, during, and after care was perfect. I definitely felt more comfortable being at a program dedicated to helping obese people instead of a general hospital. It’s comforting to know as a heavy person that no matter who you talk to—whether it’s the nurse or the dude that sweeps the floors—they are all compassionate toward you.
