Living with morbid obesity is extremely difficult and potentially fatal. The NIX Weight Loss Surgery Center provides those who are morbidly obese with an alternative for a healthier, happier life. Bariatric surgery is not a magic bullet or a miracle cure, nor is it effortless. Much is required of the patient—you must learn to make good food choices, you must exercise, and you must learn alternative ways to cope with stress.

For a substantial number of our patients, bariatric surgery provides a chance for a more comfortable life. As you lose weight, your health improves, along with your energy, self-esteem and confidence. Through this process, you can become the person you have always wanted to be.

The following stories are of ordinary people who have undergone LAP-BAND System surgery at the NIX Weight Loss Surgery Center. Their stories are truly compelling with lessons to be learned. These are stories of people with courage and perseverence who challenged themselves to improve the quality of their lives after years of feeling unhappy.

Fit and healthy for the first time in my life!

I have struggled with my weight for most of my life. At age 4, I weighed 65 pounds. At age 14, my parents took me to see a doctor for weight loss pills. I lost 30 pounds in a month, but got very sick and I soon gained the weight back—and then some. That was the beginning of my “yo-yo” dieting life.

Over the past 24 years, I’ve gained and lost hundreds of pounds trying countless dieting plans and “miracle” weight loss supplements. By the time I was 35, I had reached my highest weight of 254 pounds! Outwardly, I looked and behaved like the stereotypical “jolly fat person,” but inside I was dying of sadness. I decided to look into weight loss surgery.

I saw a commercial about a place that offered both the Lap-Band and gastric bypass. After attending a seminar and listening to information about both operations, I knew I wanted the LAP-BAND. I decided to have my surgery at the NIX Weight Loss Surgery Center for two reasons. First, Doctors Cárcamo and Wright were so informative, caring and compassionate. They are the model for excellent bedside manner! They truly care about their patients. Second, my grandfather had been a patient at the NIX years ago and I remember how wonderful the doctors and staff had treated him. I knew I would be well taken care of.

I had my LAP-BAND surgery on December 8, 2005. The surgery was a piece of cake! I was in and out of the hospital the same day. I was sore, but not in terrible pain. I was full of hope for the first time in my life. Hope that I could finally take control of my weight and have a good quality of life.

Before the surgery, I suffered from several illnesses including asthma, fibromyalgia, back and knee problems, and a host of other ailments. I was on 11 different prescriptions and swallowed 26 pills a day. As my weight came off, my asthma problems have all but disappeared and the physical pain from my back/knee problems and fibromyalgia has been greatly reduced. I have been able to cut down to only three prescriptions! I feel like a completely different person!

I now weigh 154 lbs and am doing things I was not able to do when I was 100 pounds heavier. Simple things like crossing my legs, exercising, dancing, and wearing high heels were nearly impossible at 254 pounds. Now I can actually get on any amusement park ride and fly in an airplane without worrying that I won’t fit into the seat. I actually enjoy exercising and shopping for clothes now! Truly, there are so many more things I can do now, the list is virtually endless!

Doctors Cárcamo and Wright not only saved my life, they gave me the tools to make my life a life worth living! These tools include not only the LAP-BAND but also online and monthly support group meetings which are the shot in the arm that I needed to stay on track with my weight loss journey. It is nice to be around people who really understand my struggle with weight. They had the same struggles, the same journey, and now we are sharing our successes!

There are so many reasons I am glad I had the Lap-Band procedure, but the best reason is that I can live my life with my wonderful husband, who can now see on the outside the beautiful person he knows that I am on the inside. For that, I will always be grateful. Thank you Dr. Cárcamo, Dr. Wright and the staff Nix Weight Loss Center, you rock!

- Teresa

I Did It!

I am a weight loss success. In August 2004, I was 236 pounds and, at 5’5” and 25 years old, I could no longer say that I “carried the weight well.” In fact, I was miserable. I lived a half-life existence. My body couldn’t do the things I wanted to do and I had become used to sitting on the sidelines of life. I had forgotten what it was like to be comfortable when crossing my legs, fitting into clothes I like, and even sleeping. I loved the “me” inside, but I did NOT enjoy my life.

I wanted to change so badly, but I had tried and failed at other diets in the past and had simply come to a point in my life that I believed I would NEVER be thin. Until one day…The day that I found out about the LAP-BAND weight loss surgery at the NIX Weight Loss Center. I was a little scared of having surgery and unsure about what to expect of it, but now I can say that it was the best thing that I have ever done in my life.

I think of my body as a gift and I’m determined to do all I can to take care of it. I have incorporated lifestyle changes into my eating habits and have added regular exercise into my daily routine.

This surgery has changed my life. It’s changed my LIFESTYLE.
Now I understand the importance of eating right and staying active. There’s no magic diet!!!!
And, it wasn’t difficult because I knew that I was doing something wonderful for myself!
I now weigh 130 pounds and have lost more than 100 pounds!
My slogan is this: NEVER FAT, UNHEALTHY AND UNHAPPY AGAIN!

I could go on, but this is just an overview of my weight loss success. Obviously, losing over 100 pounds has changed many things in my life. I have definitely gained confidence and self-esteem. I know I will never gain the weight back. This time, I didn’t “diet,” I changed my life.

-Jessica

Drs. Cárcamo and Wright are independent practitioners on the active medical staff of the NIX Health Care System.