Battling life-threatening health conditions, Anthony chose bariatric surgery to save his life and get back to enjoying the outdoors.
CHOOSING TO LIVE BY LOSING WEIGHT
I have suffered with weight issues my whole life. I tried every diet under the sun, but none of them worked. I was battling high blood pressure, severe sleep apnea, acid reflux and non-alcoholic liver cirrhosis, and physically I could not do the things I loved.
I looked at my health conditions and knew I had to do something if I wanted to live. After researching bariatric surgery and talking to people who had it, I knew that it was right for me.
WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY EXPERIENCE
My bariatric surgeon and director of BMI, Dr. Samuel Bledsoe, was amazing, kind, polite, informative and helpful when deciding which surgery to have. He wanted what was best for me in the future.
I underwent gastric bypass surgery in March 2022. I will never forget that Dr. Bledsoe prayed with me right before surgery; being a man of great faith was very important to me.
My surgery experience was great. I couldn’t have asked for better staff; they were helpful and kind. They also were very helpful to my wife, making sure she had everything she needed while there. Encore Medical Center was clean and very accommodating.
Recovery was quicker than I thought it would be; I was walking a few hours after surgery. I got to go home earlier than planned because I had done so well. I was back to work within a week, but I could have gone back a few days earlier.
SUPPORT FOR LIFE
In one year, I lost 145 pounds. I can walk without having to sit down every few minutes, hike, enjoy the outdoors, which is very important to me. I never want to sit down! My ultimate goals are to be healthy, enjoy life and enjoy my hobbies.
One of the most important things you need before and after this surgery is a lot of support. And the BMI program is nothing but support. They make sure you have the tools to make your journey a success. They are always available to answer questions or concerns and lead me in the right direction.
If you’re considering surgery, do it! I’m not going to sugarcoat it. It can be hard, but if you follow the plan and do the work, it will be the best decision and investment you’ll ever make. The only regret I have is not doing it sooner.
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Weight loss surgery is proven to resolve type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, liver cirrhosis and more. If you’re battling these conditions, our bariatric surgery experts are here to help you regain your health. Start your journey at bmi.arheart.com.