Joe Davis
I was always thick but during and after college I got so overweight that I couldn't even work out. I was almost 400 lbs at that time and had Diabetes, High Blood Pressure and Cholesterol issues. I was taking so many pills for my conditions that I was dishing out almost 300 bucks a month for them. Finally I heard and checked out a seminar about WLS. It was conducted by The Bariatric Center in Georgetown, KY. After the seminar I applied to try for the gastric bypass. While waiting on getting approved I went to the support meetings that the same center hosted monthly. This was very good because I really go to see what I was looking forward to go through and learned a lot about the surgery itself.
I got approved after a few months and went into the center to start the process. I had to have lots of tests done and even had to loose a little weight before my insurance would approve completely. The center helped me a lot with all of this and the process instead of taking a year or so took 5 or 6 months.
My surgery date was December 15, 2004. I was first in. I was walking that night in the ICU. There was pain I won't lie, but the nurses in the ICU were great. They were really on top of things. The doctor checked on me that night as well. He was very pleased how well I was doing. I was out of ICU the next morning and in a private room. A few days later and lots of ice chips and I was home.
Literally weeks after the surgery and before weight loose began, my 
Diabetes, HBL, and Cholesterol issues were gone. No meds at all for them. Within 13 months I lost almost 150 lbs and have not gained any back. Now over 3 yrs out, I stay within 3 or so lbs of that same weight. I do want to loose more but my life is so much better now that I refuse to complain.
Thats my story...
