Carolyn - A Successful Gastric Bypass Surgery Patient

The quest to a healthier and more active lifestyle

Carolyn began her weight-loss journey weighing 252 pounds and wearing size 22 jeans. She was under treatment for high blood pressure and had pain in her knees and back, as well as restless leg syndrome. "I had thought of weight-loss surgery for a few years but didn't think my insurance would cover it," she says. "When I finally called my insurance company, to my surprise, they said I was covered and gave me Dr. Robert Davis's name."

She went to the seminar Dr. Davis offered through the Memorial Hermann NewStart program and never looked back. "I liked his personality and confidence. I had 100 percent faith in him."

Carolyn began putting on weight at the age of 19, when she got married. "I tried every diet that was out there," she says. "I would lose the weight and then gain it all back, plus more. I'd lose 20 and gain 40, lose 40 and gain 50. I dieted from 1979 all the way up until I had my gastric bypass surgery on October 17, 2007."

After Gastric Bypass Surgery

Immediately following her surgery, she was able to stop taking her blood-pressure medication. Today, she weighs between 140 and 145 and wears a size 5.

The lifestyle changes required by weight-loss surgery have been smooth sailing for Carolyn. "I haven't had any significant problems," she says. "I've been careful about following the nutritionist's advice. She taught me many things that were important to making my journey successful."

"If you're obese, there's nothing better you can do for yourself," she adds. "When you're a wife and mother, you do for your family and not so much for yourself. I finally did something for myself. I made a better choice, and it was absolutely the best thing I could have done to live a healthier and more active life. I want to tell the whole world: if you're a candidate for weight-loss surgery, go for it! It's worth it."

Meeting the Physicians

Carolyn considers herself blessed to have met Dr. Davis. "Robert and Garth Davis are the most caring doctors I've ever met," she says. "They care about their patients, they understand what it means to be heavy, and they know how important it is to help us become success stories."