I just want to tell my story to let everyone know how great this program is……My highest weight was 348 lbs. at the age of 25 years old. Looking back on photos as a child, I was always that chubby kid in all the family pics. Although I had tons of friends that was always telling me how beautiful I was and we had lots of fun growing up, there was always that obstacle….my weight! Growing up, I could never fit in rides at the fair or do a lot of physical activities that my friends did. But, I still kept pushing on hoping for a miracle. I just kept chugging on…always looking for that bigger chair at the movies or in college, the table. Having to take a nurse with me on my senior trip to monitor my blood pressure was an awful feeling.
I tried diet pills and Diet after diet…failed! My life was just passing me by getting unhealthy by the minute. Slowly becoming sicker and getting diagnosed with diabetes, thyroid issues, high blood pressure, female issues, bowel issues, exploratory surgery and only 24 years old. I eventually kept isolating myself because I was just so embarrassed to go out anywhere because of the way I looked. At one point, I was specifically told that I should just have a hysterectomy and that would be the healing factor in all of this. They also told me I would never be able to have children.
I finally started reading up on some surgery options. I knew it was going to be a long process but I wanted to get my life back and in a hurry! I made a call and talked to a very nice lady that gave me a tone of information! Oh how I was ready to do this! I finally got my first seminar scheduled and of course my mom was right by my side! My first seminar was online and that put the fuel to my fire! I thought this through and at my age, I felt that I could make a rash decision and it was my life and future that I put in front of it all.
The process took around a year of paperwork, seminars, insurance and several appointments and lots of video’s and education about the surgery. The whole
staff was great and there isn’t enough words to describe how caring, understanding and informational they ALL were. They are a team and they sure do hold up to that word. The seminars were so detailed and informing about the good and the bad that we would experience and they nailed every aspect of it as if they went through it with me. It was like clockwork, everything just fell into place just like they explained.
I started my liver shrinking diet in January, which wasn’t pleasant because again, it was a struggle, but I did it. February 6th was my surgery date and I was ready! I went in to surgery weighing 334 lbs. The surgery went well and I was out and awake just as they expected. I left the hospital weighing in at 319 and I never looked back.
Just one month after surgery, my blood pressure was normal, my sugars were normal, and my stomach and bowel issues were mysteriously gone! Also, exactly 2 month after surgery my menstrual cycle started and has been on point since. I am basically cured and a healthy 27 year old. Also, all my labs are perfect! Never have I had this happen in my whole adult life.
Today, October 8, 2017 I am weighing in at 180 lbs. With 100% dedication and doing everything they laid out there for me, I am down 154 lbs. That’s 88% of my body fat GONE!. I went from a size 26 to a size 11 in pants. And a 3x in shirt to a M. I never in my wildest dreams thought that I would ever say those numbers referring to myself.
Dr. Smith and the team at Georgetown Bariatrics, thank you is an understatement compared to what you all have done for me! YOU GAVE ME MY LIFE BACK AND I AM READY TO LIVE IT TO THE FULLEST!!!
I LOVE YOU ALL!!!
~ Chelsea Emmons
“Results may vary. Specific results are not guaranteed and are a result of the individual customized weight loss plan for each patient, along with exercise, diet, and lifestyle changes.”
In July 2016, I took my kids to the county fair. My daughter wanted to ride the bumper cars, but as I looked at them, I was pretty sure I wouldn’t fit. I told her mommy couldn’t do that, but that my friend would ride with her. It broke my heart as I stood there and watched someone else do something fun like this with my 3 year old, but I remembered back a couple of years prior to when I was asked to get off of a ride at King’s Island because I was too fat. It was horribly embarrassing and I hadn’t been on a ride since. Right there, in that moment, I told myself something had to change. I wasn’t going to let my kids grow up with memories of someone else doing stuff with them because mom wasn’t healthy enough. At this point, I was 315 lbs.
I had always thought VSG was the easy way out, but after playing the diet game for years only to gain all of it and more back, I knew I had to have help. My sister had VSG a few years ago and was successful and a couple of my friends had the same surgery and were successful, so I decided to do some research and give it a try. It took 5 months to get everything approved and scheduled and finally, on December 12th, my surgery day had arrived. It felt like I waited in the pre-op area for years; numerous times I wanted to jump up, throw my clothes back on and head for the hills, but I stayed.
The morning after surgery, I threw up. I had drank too much protein too quickly and my tiny stomach wasn’t prepared. Sip your fluids! That first week I was home, I was so upset with my decision. I cried to my husband, “what have I done? I wish I hadn’t done this. I wish I would have just done it on my own.” He was so reassuring to me, telling me that it was going to take a little time, but that it would only get better. And, he was right!
At first, I had no appetite; I had to force myself to take bites to survive. Pretty quickly, I learned my stomach’s signal for being full and fell into a routine with my newfound lifestyle. Fast forward 8 months later, I am down 115 lbs! I went ziplining for the first time in my life about a month ago. I’m planning another trip to go back. I’m riding rides with my kids. I’m outside playing with them. We’re doing yoga together. I am constantly looking for life’s next great adventure. I have truly been given a new life with my sleeve and I would go through the surgery and recovery period 100 times over to have what I have right now!
~ Denise Patrick
“Results may vary. Specific results are not guaranteed and are a result of the individual customized weight loss plan for each patient, along with exercise, diet, and lifestyle changes.”
September 1, 2015 was the day I got a second chance to live my life. Before that day I thought I was living life but I slowly realized I was just surviving. I had decided I was going to have the gastric sleeve done at Georgetown Community Hospital with Dr. Smith. I always wanted to be an adventurous person but at over 350 pounds the scale determines what you can do. Its funny how the simple things in life that the average size person takes for granted. Like being treated like a normal person instead of a fat person. I didn’t want to recognize that people treated me differently but the more weight I lost the nicer people became. I’ve lost 145 pounds in my first year and for the first time in my life the number on the scale isn’t stopping me from doing anything I want to. As a child I remember going to Dollywood and being so embarrassed because I waited in line for a ride to only realize I didn’t fit. Because of the new life Dr. Smith and this surgery has given me I was able to go back to that very ride and not only fit but have room to spare! I can’t tell you how amazing that felt. My energy is through the roof and I’ve never felt better. I went from a 4/5x to a size m/l in tops and from a 28/30 in pants to a 12. Never in my wildest dreams would I think I could walk into any store I wanted and be able to purchase something. It’s one of the best feelings. I could never thank Dr. Smith and his team enough. It’s taken my hard work and dedication but without this tool he’s given me I would have never made it this far. My journey isn’t over yet!
~ Brittany Lewis
“Results may vary. Specific results are not guaranteed and are a result of the individual customized weight loss plan for each patient, along with exercise, diet, and lifestyle changes.”
I researched WLS for several years but as the mother of a medically fragile child, I was worried something would go wrong and I needed to stay here and be Hannah’s mom. But over time, my age and my weight got to a point where I needed to do something to stay and be Hannah’s mom. Thankfully, the advances in the gastric sleeve were encouraging. So the reasons for not having surgery back then became the very same reasons I wanted to have it now.
Why do I recommend Georgetown Bariatrics? Being the mom of a medically fragile child who has endured countless medical procedures and surgeries, never have I felt more educated, more prepared and more ready for anything in my life and it’s all because of the exceptional team at Georgetown Bariatrics. Dr. Smith didn’t just operate on me. He and his team educated me so I could be as successful as possible. The surgery is just the beginning. The real work is learning how to change what hasn’t worked in the past and becoming healthy again. I am forever grateful to them.
~ Mary Jane Taylor
“Results may vary. Specific results are not guaranteed and are a result of the individual customized weight loss plan for each patient, along with exercise, diet, and lifestyle changes.”
In April 2014 I finally made the decision to attend a Bariatrics seminar. My initial Doctor and I were not a good fit so I decided to transfer my paperwork to Georgetown Bariatrics shortly after I started the process. I am so glad that I made that decision. Dr Smith and his staff have been wonderful and I couldn’t have asked for any better care at Georgetown Hospital.
At my highest weight of 357 pounds I was finding it very difficult to do daily tasks. I would drive around in circles for 30 minutes at any department or grocery store so I could find a close parking spot because if I had to walk very far from the car then by the time I was finished shopping I was so winded I had to rest several times. I finally got to the point where I had to take one of my children with me to do any sort of shopping. Taking a shower was a dreaded chore and I had to sit on the side of the tub many times and rest before I could dry off, after I dried off then I had to sit on the bed and rest before I could get dressed. Going places with my children and family, friends had completely stopped. I never went out of the house except to work and back home. I was completely miserable and I knew I had to do something. I had tried so many things to lose weight and nothing worked anymore.
April 21st 2015 was the day that my life changed forever. I will never be able to thank Dr Smith and his staff enough for what they have done for me. Not only have they given me my health back but also my life. I can park anywhere now and go anywhere and never get tired. I can keep up with my mom and my sister when we go shopping. I do my grocery shopping alone and I don’t even think about it anymore. I can take a shower and dry off and get dressed and walk out the door without ever even thinking about needing to sit down. I go out now, I’m living my life now and I’ve never felt better.
At 12 months and a few days out, I’m down from 357 pounds to 214. I’ve lost 143 pounds in one year. My pants size went from a 26/28 to a 12 and 3/4x tops to a Large. I never dreamed in a million years that I would ever wear the sizes I’m wearing now. I don’t have to shop in the plus sizes anymore and I never knew this but regular size clothes are cheaper!
My only regret is not doing it sooner.
~ Stephanie Minton
“Results may vary. Specific results are not guaranteed and are a result of the individual customized weight loss plan for each patient, along with exercise, diet, and lifestyle changes.”
My whole life I have been considered severely obese. When I say my whole life, I am not speaking of just my adult life, but my childhood as well. Growing up I can remember having multiple blood test to see how I could gain weight so easily. I can remember going to Nutri System in fifth grade and losing weight only to gain it back, plus more, within the same year. My whole life has been a continuous rollercoaster of losing some weight, only to gain it all back, plus more. At the age of forty years old, I made a decision that I wanted to LIVE. I don’t mean I was going to die right away from my weight, but my quality of life was like a ninety-year-old woman. I want to truly live the life I was meant to live!
I am a nurse who was injured while caring for a patient when I was 38 years old. At the time the injury occurred, I was 278lbs and within that year, my weight reached 311lbs. Due to my back injury I lived in daily pain and was very inactive. I was constantly tired, hurting and depressed. Then I had a physician tell me there was nothing he could do to help my back injury because I was just “too big”. I will never forget leaving his office feeling completely defeated and hopeless. For over a year, I went through a terrible bout of depression and truly just wanted to give up. Then my specialist spoke with me about having bariatric weight surgery. Of course being a nurse, I was hardheaded about the option, but ultimately, I knew something had to change.
The last week of January 2015, I started the process of undergoing the bariatric sleeve surgery. At this time, I began eating the diet that would be required for me to eat several weeks before the surgery and the diet I would need to follow for the rest of my life to obtain and sustain a healthier future. I also incorporated myfitnesspal into my daily routine. (Myfitnesspal is an app that provides an easy way to maintain a daily food diary. This also aids in keeping an eye on your daily intake of proteins and carbs after surgery.) Before my surgery in July, I lost 55lbs. Looking back now, I am so thankful that I changed my eating habits prior to the surgery because it made the process easier to manage. Any surgery is a shock to our bodies and already having adjusted to a high protein diet allows our bodies to heal quicker.
I am now a year out from my surgery date and have lost a total of 128lbs. The surgery has been a huge tool in helping me control my portions and be more aware of what I put into my body. I am now very active and walk/workout daily. Please understand this has been a process. It has taken lots of dedication and self-control to get to this point. I started about three months after my surgery walking at home for just five minutes at a time. I used small weights and bands to exercise my arms and legs. Again, this has been a slow process. After several weeks, I then increased my walking to 10 minutes a day and then several times for 10 minutes a day. I can now walk 30-45 minutes without stopping. I still have back pain, but my knee pain is completely gone.
I am amazed at all the wonderful things I was allowing “food” to cheat me out of. I have also been amazed at the first time experiences that have excited me so much. For example, the first time I could fit into a normal size MRI machine, sitting in a booth at a restaurant, not having to wait for the larger handicap bathroom stall, watching a movie in a theatre with my son because now I can fit in the seat, being able to walk up a flight of stairs without having difficulty breathing half way up, setting in a vehicle comfortably, not having to worry if a chair is going to hold me, actually being able to find clothes to fit me and so much more. And the health benefits (which is what’s most important) have been amazing….. I no longer have to take several medications I was on daily, including my diabetic medication. At 41 years of age, I am feeling stronger and healthier that I can ever remember. There is nothing that compares to truly living. I want to be healthy and most of all, I WANT TO LIVE!!!!
Never give up on living a healthier life for you and your loved ones. Never let anyone tell you cannot succeed a being a healthier YOU. If I can do this, anyone can. There will be ups and downs in life, but you can meet them as a healthier, stronger YOU. And remember, nothing tastes better than living a healthier life. Start today living the life you want to LIVE!!!
~ Robin Duff
“Results may vary. Specific results are not guaranteed and are a result of the individual customized weight loss plan for each patient, along with exercise, diet, and lifestyle changes.”
Hopeless, that is how I felt at the beginning of 2015. I was starting another year reflecting on the weight I hadn’t lost in the previous year and thinking about the weight I wanted to lose that year. My weight has been a problem for me since I was 5; I was always the “you have such a pretty face you just need to lose the weight” girl. In March 2015 something changed and I knew if I didn’t change I wouldn’t be there for my family. So I did my research on different bariatric centers in the area and I read so many great things about Georgetown Community Hospital Bariatric Program. I went to an information session and something in my heart told me this was not only the right decision for me but it was also the right place. The people at Georgetown were always kind, prompt and put the patient’s first. I remember the day I got the call that I had been approved; I cried tears of joy because I could see a long happy and healthy life ahead of me. I chose to have my surgery on birthday in 2015; I thought there isn’t a better way to start off another year of life. I have been so blessed to have the support of all my family and all my friends. Life has changed so much for me since May 2015, I can walk and even run, I am healthier (I no longer have sleep apnea or have to take acid reflux medicine), I can wear beautiful clothes (I love fashion) and I can take care of my family. Before surgery I was a 26/28 in pants and a 3X/4X in tops, I am so happy to now be an 18/20 in pants and a XL in tops. Although I still have weight I want to lose, the journey has been amazing, but it hasn’t always been easy. I was blessed with a great tool, but I still have to make the conscious decision to choose healthy and nutritious foods that compliment that tool. When New Year’s Day 2016 came it was truly strange that for the first time in probably 20+ years I was not making a resolution to lose weight. Instead I made a resolution to live a happy and healthy life. Having Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy weight loss surgery was honestly the best decision I have ever made for me and my family. Dr. Smith and Cindy and everyone at Georgetown Bariatrics are wonderful and I will forever be grateful for the surgery that saved my life!
~ Jessica Carpenter
“Results may vary. Specific results are not guaranteed and are a result of the individual customized weight loss plan for each patient, along with exercise, diet, and lifestyle changes.”
My weight was spiraling out of control. I knew I had to make a change in my life. I had already lost my grandfather to a massive heart attack and then my Daddy suffered a heart attack 2 weeks later. It was all so devastating. I didn’t want to follow in their footsteps. Not to mention I was miserable and tired out so easy. I hated what I saw in the mirror. I ended up in the ER a few times because my bp got severely high resulting in near stroke. I wanted to give up especially after being told I had a brain tumor pressing on my left optic nerve. I was given a month of steroids and they destroyed my body; making me gain so much weight on top of what I already weighed. I knew I had to lose weight. It was now my mission to do something. I was NOT giving up!
Fast forward 15 months post-op I have no regrets. I play basketball with my son everyday. I can move faster. I can run faster. I have so much energy as if I were in my 20’s again. I can workout and still be able to breathe, whereas, before I gasped for breath. I am now in a size 1 in pants started out in size 16. I was 229 lbs then and now I am 139 lbs; that is a total of 90 lbs. Dr. Smith gave me my life back and the tools to succeed!! I enjoy my life and look forward to each new day. I want to say THANK YOU. You saved me.
~ Carrie Ann
“Results may vary. Specific results are not guaranteed and are a result of the individual customized weight loss plan for each patient, along with exercise, diet, and lifestyle changes.”
~ Crystal Powell
After losing around 120 pounds I have a different outlook on life. I am able to breathe better. I no longer have high blood pressure or high cholesterol. I am now able to do things that I couldn’t before or was severely limited to do. Having the gastric sleeve was the best decision I ever made.
~ Anthony Hockensmith
Give us a call at (502) 570-3727 or register now for our FREE live seminar and take the first step in your weight loss journey.
*This form is not intended for submission of personal medical information. Results may vary. Specific results are not guaranteed and are a result of the individual customized weight loss plan for each patient, along with exercise, diet, and lifestyle changes.