Sharon Z. "I am a different person than I was 20 months ago, inside and out."	Richard C. "My health is great now — no sleep apnea, gout, or diabetes and my blood pressure is perfect."	Sandy C. "This surgery has changed my life and brought me so many blessings, I would do it over again, no question."	Rita E. "My closet is full of clothes of every color of the rainbow. I don’t have to worry about if the color will make me look too big."	Carl J. "I can now make it to the top of the stairs faster than some of the younger police officers, AND breathing normally."
Amy M. "I am proud of my accomplishment and that I addressed the problem before it got even worse."	Rosa F. "When I made the decision to have LAP-BAND surgery, I never expected so many changes to happen."	Amanda S. "It goes without saying what my life was like 120 pounds heavier. I had no life."	Cathy K. "For the first time in my life, I know I will never put my weight back on and I do not feel like I am on a diet."

Carl J.

The decision to have gastric bypass surgery was an easy one for me.  I was so overweight, it was having an affect on how I performed my job. I am a policeman and because of my weight, it was sometimes hard to respond to calls. For example, responding to calls for situations that were on the 3rd floor were always a challenge. I would have to stop at the top of the stairs to catch my breath.
    
I had a stomach stapling back in 1983. I had heard about the procedure from an acquaintance, researched it, and then had the surgery. It worked well – I lost 100 pounds and felt fine. Over the years, though, the staples began to wear out and the stapling became less effective. Soon, I had a full stomach again and started to gain the weight back. By 1996, I had gained back all of the weight I had lost plus a few pounds more. My weight was now up to 300 pounds, my heaviest ever.
 
When I started researching my options, I discovered that what I needed to have done was called a "revision." That's when you fail to lose weight after surgery or have weight regain. Not too many doctors would consider my case, though, since there are sometimes complications that result after the original surgery.  

Then I found Dr. St. Laurent and after meeting with him, I felt he was the best doctor to do my surgery.  The day of the surgery, he stuck with me even when doing the surgery took 6 to 7 hours (instead of the 2 and a half hours that we expected) because of all the adhesions I had from the previous surgery.  I really appreciate the fact he didn't give up and he completed the surgery like another doctor told me he wouldn't do.
 
I had my surgery on January 24, 2008.  My post-op experience was not that bad. So far, I have lost 105 pounds, and I have been successful because I do what I need to do and eat healthier.

My favorite part of losing the weight is that I have a lot more energy. I can now make it to the top of the stairs faster than some of the younger police officers, AND breathing normally.  I get compliments, my confidence is better and I like having a closet full of new clothes.  The only thing I ever wore before was t-shirts and jeans, so it is great now to have options about what I can wear.
 
I would have the surgery again in a heartbeat. Weight-loss surgery for me was the greatest thing in the world.
 
The key is to do your research and get the best doctor you can find.  I think Dr. St. Laurent was the best and I would recommend him to anyone.