Before & After Gastric Sleeve with Michael C., losing 106 pounds!
June 27, 2017My Struggles With Obesity and Losing Weight
Being only 35 years old, I was on a dangerous path and didn’t fully realize it. My weight climbed to 362 pounds, but I’ve been big my entire life – tall and overweight. I was used to being that size. I always excused my weight, figuring I was large because I was 6”5.
When I was 30 years old, I started to feel sick all the time. I had a hard time keeping jobs because I felt lousy, sick, and depressed. I often just watched TV, not feeling up to doing anything else.
Why I Decided to Have WLS
One day, my best friend – a registered nurse – said she thought something was wrong with me. She checked my heart rate and blood pressure and sent me to the emergency room right away.
Tests revealed that my blood glucose level was at a dangerous number, almost 500 (normal level is around 100). I also found out that I had Type 2 Diabetes and would be insulin dependent.
A doctor also told me I was “morbidly obese” and that freaked me out. Many people in my family have had heart problems. Being diagnosed as morbidly obese scared me and that I might develop other health issues from that diagnosis.
I knew something needed to be done. I had a friend who had had successful weight loss surgery. After talking to my family doctor, I made an appointment to see Dr. Mujeeb Siddiqui, DO. Dr. Siddiqui and I discussed options and I decided a laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy would be best for me. I started losing some weight in preparation for the surgery and got down to weighing 334 pounds.
Before & After Gastric Sleeve With Michael C.
Weight Loss Total: 106 pounds
Surgery Type: Gastric Sleeve
Surgery Date: June 21, 2016
Bariatric Surgeon: Mujeeb Siddiqui, DO
My Surgical Experience
I had the surgery on June 21, 2016, and was surprised at the easy recovery. I am following the dietary guidelines faithfully and have seen great results. By the 7-month mark – January 2017 – I weighed 256 pounds, a total loss of 104 pounds. I’m still working at it and hope to lose more weight. Additionally, my blood pressure is normal, and I don’t need diabetes medication anymore.
The activities I’m able to do since surgery have changed too. I go to the gym – something I never thought I could do. I’m also going back to school to become a registered nurse. That has long been a dream of mine but my weight and lifestyle held me back. Life is good for the first time in a long time.
My Milestones & Non-Scale Victories
At the six-month mark after surgery, I turned 35. A good friend said, “Michael, your clothes don’t fit you anymore. For your birthday, I’m buying you some new stuff. We’re going to Kohl’s.”
I had never shopped at Kohl’s for clothes – those clothes don’t fit me! I had been wearing a size 3X. At my friend’s insistence during our shopping trip, I took some size “Large” clothes to the dressing room and a pair of size 36 jeans. I tried them on and they fit. I actually cried right in the dressing room at Kohl’s, realizing I could go anywhere and look like a normal-weight person.
A few weeks later, my supervisor at the hospital where I work as a Health Unit Coordinator and a Patient Care Technician told me I was swimming in my scrubs and not following dress code because they were too baggy. I was wearing 2X bottoms and 3-4X tops. I bought new scrubs – in size “Large” for bottoms and tops. I look at my old scrubs and can’t believe what I have accomplished.
Share Your Before & After Success!
Celebrate your own Before & After WLS Success, milestones, non-scale victories, and inspire others! The OH team wants to hear from you to share your weight loss surgery journey. Visit our Before & After Submission page for details.
