Lee A. Schmitt (COE) Bariatric Surgeon M.D., F.A.C.S.

I had gastric bypass two and a half months ago and I feel great. I have lost 60 pounds already and I am still losing. I had high blood sugar and already my levels are normal. I feel 20 years younger. The surgery was the best thing that I ever did for myself.Dr. Schmitt is a great doctor. He has taken great care of me.

My life has changed so drastically since 2003.I hardly know where to begin to explain the changes. When I weighed 310 pounds, I was unable to ride my beloved horses, something I grew up loving. I even met my husband while horseback riding, so we shared a common love, but for 20+ years we were unable to ride together. Since my surgery I have retired from my 30+ years of being a sedentary public school librarian. I now follow my husband all over the lower United States. We have a horse trailer with living quarters and we try to ride in as many states as we can, particularly during the colder months. Before the surgery I could not to do the things I wanted to with my grandchildren, now I can keep up with them easily. We try to attend their sport events, school events, and even take vacations with them during the spring and-or summer break. This summer we toured the western states by car with some youngsters with us and THEY couldn't keep up with me! We have gone on a cruise together to the Carribean Islands, something I never thought my husband would do!! We have taken romantic carriage ride through old St. Augustine, Florida: ridden our horses along a sandy beach on the Atlantic Ocean, and seen two of the major rodeos in the United States, all things that were on my "bucket" list. Now we're planning a trip next summer to see another rodeo on my "bucket" list: The Calgary Stampede in Canada! We still have lists of things we are planning to do, now that we can do them together!!!

I have battled with my weight all my life. Obesity runs in my family but I was determined to beat it. At age 26 I was diagnosed RA and was told that I would feel better if I lost weight. I also have a very active 4 year old daughter that I wanted to be able to play with, without getting tired. I researched different doctors on the internet and Dr. Schmitt's name showed up everytime. I decided to attend the class and realized that gastric bypass with Dr. Schmitt was the best for me. Three months later I am down 60 pounds and feel great. I am able to keep up with my daughter and actually like to go shopping now. I would like to lose about another 30-40 pounds and with the continued support of Dr. Schmitt and his staff and the support group meetings I know I can do it. Thank you Dr. Schmitt for giving me a second chance at a healthy life.

I am a 42 year old male and I had diabetes, high blood pressure, hypertension and I was obese. I have been overweight my entire life. Now that I had surgery I feel great and I am now off all of my meds. Dr. Schmitt is wonderful. He is very informative and professional.

When I started the process and before surgery I weighed 406 pounds, now I weight 281 at my year. I feel like a new person, with a new beginning. This surgery saved my life. I feel like a new woman. I love Dr. Schmitt, he is a very sweet man and caring person. He really cares about his patients. He has a huge heart. I love Veronica and all the people who help with all the programs and support meetings. The nurses are wonderful and Dr. Schmitt's office staff is also very kind and caring.

I weighed 234 before my surgery. I had high blood pressure and was diabetic. I did not have alot of energy and I sat arond alot. Now, I feel wonderful. I am doing things I haven't done in a long time. Dr. Schmitt is wonderful! He is very informative and he answers all of your questions.He also talks to you in a way that you are comfortable and can easily understand. He has helped me have a better life. My surgery went great!!! Support meetings are very encouraging and help me keep on track. Also I can share with others my experience. Having the gastric sleeve surgery has changed my life. Life is now about eating to live, not living to eat.

I was told I had 2 to 3 years to live if I did not do something. I had gastric bypass on 10/07/2007. I have lost 239 pounds. This surgery saved my life. Dr. Schmitt is wonderful and has made a hug difference in my life. I am so happy with my decision and would do it all over again.

I owe my life to Dr. Lee Schmitt and the wonderful people who work with him. I owe God my life as well and the praise for my doctor who did not give up on me when everyone else had except for myself and God. Dr Schmitt is a christian man and a great doctor. If I hadn't already had gastric bypass and I was still alive I'd do it again today anf be just as happy and proud to be here as I am today. I don't get to come to the support meetings very often becuase of my health mainly systematic lupus. But I have learned to be my own best friend and I have a support meeting every morning before I get out of bed and at least two more during the day. I'm just so blessed to be alive that anyone who wants this surgery or any weight loss tool can call me and I'll be very proud to tell them all I know that the gastric bypass did for me. Even though I had in the beginning planned to do the Lap-Band, but I o have systematic lupus (lungs and kidneys) so God and Dr. Schmitt knew what I needed to live and that's all I asked for. Now I got much more in return like: 1. loosing 2 people I didnt need off of my body. 2. I can live and enjoy my life now- But I knew I would be alright the first time I saw Dr. Schmitt. 3. Dr. Schmitt told me what and might possibly happen because it was a major surgery, and I already had 3 strikes against me without any help, He did help me and he will help anyone.

It has been been just over six weeks since Dr. Schmitt performed my gastric band surgery (8-19-10). In those six weeks, I have been blessed to achieve what I believe to be some remarkable results. When I visited Dr. Schmitt for my first "fill", I had lost 47 pounds!! Since the surgery I have felt great. My procedure was done on a Thursday. Following the operation, I was able to spend a couple of days "taking it easy", but being a preacher, I was able to be back in the pulpit on Sunday and I haven't slowed down since. Fortunately, I have had no complications or ill-effects. On the contrary, I have had some outcomes I had not expected so soon. My primary physician has taken me off two diabetes medications and my blood sugar is staying in the normal range. Additionally, he has already reduced one of my three hypertension meds from two pills daily to one-half pill twice daily. I am walking thirty to forty minutes daily and my energy level continues to increase. And the good thing about this is, I have been able to get to this point without feeling hungry or deprived. I am under no illusion that the band is a magic bullet. I know it is only a tool to be used to help achieve my goal of good health. A mind set on reaching the goal and a stubborn will not to overeat and and as a result override the usefulness of the band is a must. I would highly recommend to anyone who has reached the point of "being sick and tired of being sick and tired" to consider the band and the services of Dr. Schmitt and Dr. Miles at Alabama Weight Loss Surgery. Everyday I become increasingly convinced that a tenacious determination along with the aid of the gastric band will result in weight loss, improved health, and a richer quality of life.

My weight had gotten to an unbearble point. I had high blood pressure, sleep apnea, hypertension, diabetes. Something had to give. I was miserable. I had gastric bypass a year and a half ago and I lost 101 pounds. I feel great. Dr. Schmitt is wonderful. He has always been very personal. He is an encourager and is very concerned about me as a whole and a person and not just another patient. I just want to thank him and his staff for giving me a fighting chance to lift the burden of all the things that come with obesity.