Patient Stories
In my brain, I was simply “full figured” and fabulous – but when I saw pictures of myself, I was mortified at what I REALLY looked like. I attended a health fair at my office and my blood tests indicated that I was MORBIDLY OBESE. That label hit me like a ton of bricks.
When I first meet with Dr. Marvin in October 2009 I was at a very low in my life weighing 220lbs. At the time my daughter was 2yrs old and although she is the best thing that ever happen to me, I just couldn’t find happiness and depression had taken over. All my life I had been over weight trying every program out there and this was like being on a roller coaster.
Majority of my life I was thin. As a teenager, I was a cheerleader, dancer, & a gymnast. I started to gain weight when I had several major life changes in a short period of time. I started teaching in August of 2000. Teaching is a very stressful job and there always seemed to be candy or junk food somewhere in the school.
I had been fighting obesity for several years before seeking help for it. My 3 boys would get picked on at school because of me and I could not let that happen. I knew I had to do something, if not for me then for them. Dr. Marvin and his whole crew helped me change my life from the moment I walked into their office.
I was 46 years old, 5’8, weighed 345 pounds, and I had hypertension, diabetes (on Metformin),and arthritis in both of my knees. My orthopedist said I would need a knee replacement by the time I turned 50. My family doctor and orthopedist both agreed I should look into a bariatric procedure. A co-worker used Dr. Marvin and I checked out his website.
My whole life I’ve fluctuated with my weight and despite how much I lost, somehow I always ended up gaining back that weight plus more. Before my surgery with Dr. Marvin, I wasn’t active and I felt like I never had any energy.
In life before surgery, I had absolutely no energy. I was a mom to two very active little ones and I had a high-energy job. At the end of the day, I would order a pizza and sit on the couch while my kids watched cartoons. I didn’t have the energy to play with them and I didn’t have a good quality of life.
In May 2016, I decided to get the ReShape Procedure. Almost five months later, I can say it’s the best thing I have ever done for myself. I saw an advertisement on social media for ReShape. I was intrigued because the procedure was non-surgical, meaning I wouldn’t have to get part of my stomach removed.
It has been one year since I had the Gastric Sleeve. Best choice to save my life. Within a couple of months my A1c was normal , my blood pressure was normal and most importantly my cholesterol and triglycerides were in normal range.
After many attempts to lose weight on my own only to lose a few pounds and gain it back I wanted to take a more long term approach to getting the weight off. I battled with my weight most of my life. I was 310lbs and feeling run down, my knees hurt, my hip hurt, always out of breath. I had it in my head I would not see 55-60 years old if I kept gaining. That’s when I finally made my decision to check into gastric sleeve.
In the beginning I measured and counted my meals, but now I’ve learned to just eat sensibly, trying to include high protein and low carb/sugar. I’m much less hungry than before.
As an avid Pickball player, North Carolinian Nancy Berman knows a thing or two about teamwork. Never one to give up, she committed to finding a solution with the help of Dr. Marvin and sought to consult his expertise in Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty..
I spent a year researching many bariatric surgeons, and visited a couple before deciding on Dr. Marvin. His expertise was definitely the deciding factor for me, and I could not be happier with my decision. Only wish I would have done it sooner.
* Results will vary by person and are based upon the patient, the surgery type and the compliance with the aftercare program. As with any medical procedure or surgery, there are specific risks and possible complications. The testimonials, statements, and opinions presented on our website are applicable to the individuals depicted. Results may not be representative of the experience of others. Testimonials are voluntarily provided and are not paid, nor were they provided with free products, services, or any benefits in exchange for said statements. The testimonials are representative of patient experience but the exact number of pounds lost and experience will be unique and individual to each patient.