Christin Overton
Pre-op through surgery (2003):
When I met Dr. Brad Watkins and Dr. Kevin Montgomery I was impressed with their interest in providing comprehensive WLS care to their patients - through the entire process and his practice backs up that belief. Working with them and their staff while preparing for surgery, through the procedure itself and the follow-up care I have received after, only increased my opinion of them and their staff. The support group process they have in place, the expertise that resides within their office staff, and the solid information they provided before I was banded made me feel ready for the surgery and that I would have the support and information I needed to be successful afterward.
I have had only minor aches and pains since surgery and nothing major has happened. Surgically I had very little bruising at the incision sites (and I usually bruise very easily) and Dr. Watkins visited before and after surgery to check on me as did his nurse Jessie. Both were wonderfully supportive. I have a bad reaction to anesthesia and Dr. Watkins made sure that the nurses caring for me had lots of options to deal with the extreme nausea I can have because of it.
The confidence I had in Dr. Watkins and his staff made me feel like I was not starting this journey alone, that I had a team beside me all of the way. I really helped ease any stress I had about having the surgery and that in turn helped my family feel much better about the process as well.
6 Month Follow-up (9/2003):
Now that I am six months out, my initial feelings about Dr. Watkins and his staff have been confirmed many times over. The after care and support makes all of the difference and unlike many band surgeons these guys are in it for the long haul. Support groups (both in person and online) are really key to making process and long-term success and NWWLS is committed to both.
I feel incredibly luck to have found them!
14 Month Follow-Up (4/2004):
I am about 14 months out from surgery and my journey continues. I cannot recommend them enough. The follow-up care, their continued involvement and interest in my success are such a blessing. Having lost over 80 pounds so far I believe in them and this procedure so much I regularly do information seminars for them for prospective patients. I just love sharing my banding journey and my success with others - without Brad and his staff I do not think it would have gone as well nor helped me change my life in so many positive ways. I have friends who have been banded elsewhere who do not have the active after care process that NWWLS provides and their progress shows it. I wish more banding practices would do something similar to what NWWLS provides their patients would be so much more successful!
22 Month Follow-Up (12/2004):
I am now 22 months out from surgery and at goal. I have lost 105 pounds thanks to the band and the support of the staff at NWWLS. It has been an amazing journey and I am so glad I had partners like Dr. Watkins and his staff. I recently had plastic surgery to "defy some gravity" after losing all of that weight and the difference is just amazing. I started out this journey in a size 22/24 and now am wearing a 6/8. I have lost 1/2 of my former self and could not be happier! I would recommend NWWLS to anyone considering the surgery - their whole patient approach (before, during and after surgery) is what really made this process a success for me.
2 Year Follow-Up (2/2005):
This weekend was my 2 year “bandiversary.” It is so hard to believe this amazing journey started only two years ago. After two years I am down 110 total pounds from the band loss and the plastic surgery and now that I have lost most of the swelling I am actually able to “see” the results. I may be scratching on 40’s door but I look better now than I did through almost all of my 30’s! Early in the journey folks who had had the band awhile said “eventually” you will stop worrying about the band and the journey and just focus on the living and they are right. I am at a point now where the band is just part of who I am and I am so focused on the living part I really do not think about it unless someone asks. Two years ago I could barely walk around the block without my knees aching and now I am riding 15+ miles bike rides for fun and training for an amazing bike trip through the wine country of France. This process has helped me reclaimed my body which in turn helped me reclaim my life and do things I never thought I would do again, from snorkeling in the amazing waters of Hawaii to chances that are getting me closer to the career I have always wanted. Life is so amazing now it is just time to enjoy what it has to offer. All the best on your WLS journey and cheers to taking your first steps to reclaiming your body and your life.
2 1/2 Year Follow-up (8/2005):
Here I am 2 1/2 years out and still incredibily happy with my band and my progress. A few months ago I had my first band scare after getting a cold with a very bad cough which had me throwing up almost everything my stoma got so tight I could barely get water down. The next morning I went back to NWWLS and once again they took good care of me.
I got almost all of the fluid taken out (went from 4.25ccs to around 1.5 ccs) and could finally swallow. Took a few weeks "band vacation" and only gained a few pounds though with my excercise limited due to a quad ligament tear I would have expected to have gained a lot more but the bandster habits held. At about 4 weeks I got a re-fill to 2.5ccs and still had little restriction so gained a few more pound back... eventually after 2+ months I got back to 4ccs in my band and in the last 10 days have already lost 4 of the 10 pounds I gained. This little episode just served to remind me that my band is the tool that supports my efforts to stay in control of my weight for the rest of my life as long as I take care of it.
Someone asked me recently if I would do it again knowing what I know now and the answer is a whole-hearted yes. The band will not solve all of your problems and you have to work with it but just like a hammer, when you learn to use it right, you can accomplish some amazing things.
3+ Year Follow-up (3/2006):
It is hard to believe that is has been over 3 years since I took the plunge and had the surgery. Looking back that journey was so much faster that it seemed at the time. I am still doing well even after blowing out my knee and having to have knee surgery in December of 2005. 3+ months of little to no exercise was scary but I was relatively stable in weight and it was terrific!
NWWLS is still supportive and there when I need them though these days I do not need them so much anymore. :) I am active and doing well with biking and ballroom dancing as well as working out. Things are progressing so I am now ready for the next stage in taking myself back and will have a lower body lift in July. The "personal remodel" after losing 175 total poinds has been challenging at times but boy has the journey been worth it!
