Steve Braudt
I was born a large child, 11 pounds and 26 inches long and remained a large person my whole life. I have tried all the diets and procedures and was unsuccessful on the long term weight loss. After much due diligence I kept at the exercise, nutritional program, and keeping my band full I was able to lose 137 pounds in 11 months.
In 1998 I was 425 pounds and very unhappy, through a doctors care, Weight Watchers and a loving wife I was able to get to 295 in 2004. With a change of jobs and locations came a set-back and I once again went to 350 pounds, January of 2007.
I started the process of WLS in January 2007, first rejected and then after more test and 6 months of supervised diet I was approved with a August 9, date.
I was originally scheduled for the RNY surgery, during the surgery to discover that I had cirrhosis of the liver, which is counterintuitive to having the RYN. My surgeon had no choice but to close.
We had a hard 9 days of disappointment, but I resubmitted the insurance for the lap band, and on August 23 I had my second surgery, I couldn't be happier with the choice and the results.