My Patients
Personal Stories
Amanda
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| Marty & Amanda Before Bariatric Surgery |
I n July of 2010, I met Dr. Ellner. I had just turned 19 years old and that day I was 5'4 and weighed 292 lbs. Less than 3 months later, I was going in to have gastric bypass surgery. It was amazing how confident I was going into surgery. I alone had been researching the surgery for the greater part of a year, making sure that this was what I wanted.
I had struggled with my weight my entire life. I was always active with things like karate, softball, and cheerleading. I tried all different diets and saw nutritionists but nothing ever worked. I developed sleep apnea that was preventing me from sleeping at night and from staying awake during my college classes. I knew I had to do something-now, I couldn't wait. I wasn't going to wait until I was older, put on an additional hundred pounds, which I knew I would have, or get diabetes, which I was getting dangerously close to. I had found my solution. I wanted to get gastric bypass.
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| Amanda Before Gastric Bypass |
I hadn't told my parents, or anyone else for that matter. But the day I made the decision to tell them was the biggest turning point in my life. There has never been a more important decision I had to make and they supported me 100%. To ensure that I was making the right choice, I needed to make sure I had a great doctor to lead me through to a healthy new lifestyle. The instant I met Dr. Ellner, I knew I would be in good hands. She made me feel so comfortable, like I was telling my story to one of my girlfriends. She answered all of my questions before I asked them and she gave nothing but support for me and my decision.
I am now 22 years old and will be 3 years post surgery in a little over a month. My sleep apnea was gone almost immediately after surgery. At my lowest weight, I was 127, bringing my total weight loss to 165 lbs. I now maintain a healthy weight of about 135 lbs.
It's amazing how much life has changed but also how much really didn't change. The surgery changed my body. It didn't change my head. I had to do that myself by making good choices for me. Not just choices of what I put in my mouth, but life choices. Choices I wouldn't have made before because I thought I was too big or because I literally was too big.
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| Marty & Amanda After Bariatric Surgery |
I feel like so many more opportunities have opened up because I don't have to worry about if I'm going to make it all the way up the stairs or fit in a chair without breaking it. I can coach my cheer squad, leading them by example instead of just telling them to exercise. These things have all been big changes to my life.
I knew I was going to go through changes but I did not anticipate how it would change the people around me. Not long after my surgery, my dad made those same pre-op appointments with Dr. Ellner. It felt so good knowing that I helped inspire him to take care of his health as well. I feel so proud of myself and for my dad making good decisions for our health, for our lives, and for each other.
-Amanada
