Bariatric Surgery/Expert Profile

Expertise

I can answer any and all questions from the perspective of a weight loss surgery patient. I have had Gastric Bypass Surgery - Roux-en-Y - and can answer questions from the perspective of one who has experienced the pain and suffering of murderous obesity. I have mustered the courage to open myself to the opportunity to live life again! Let me help you get there, too! Weight loss surgery isn't for everyone, but for those who fit some specific criteria, it is a viable option. With the rise in obesity in America, there are suddenly weight loss surgery centers springing up on every street corner, it seems. Choosing to have weight loss surgery is a major decision in your life, and choosing the right center can mean the difference between weight loss success and failure. There are three main types of weight loss surgery being performed today at most all surgical weight loss clinics: the Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass, which creates a small stomach pouch and bypasses part of the small intestine; the Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass, which is similar to the first surgery, but is done laparoscopically, so it reduces the size of the incision, and reduces the pain and recovery time of the surgery, and the LAP-BAND surgery, which is a band fastened around the stomach to create a small pouch. Weight Loss surgery is not for everyone who is obese. In most cases, candidates must be at least 100 pounds overweight. Surgery should be the last resort, rather than a quick-fix. Surgery is a long-term answer to managing your weight, and you need to be aware it will change your life.

Experience in the area

I am a post operative patient of Weight Loss Surgery (Gastric Bypass, RNY). I am interested in providing coaching for pre-operative and post-operative patients.

Organizations

Member of obesityhelp.com.

Publications

Profiled in Obesity Help Magazine.

Education/Credentials

Bachelors Degree in Computer Science. I am an engineer working for Computer Sciences Corporation in the Washington, D.C. area.

Awards and Honors

I am a retired veteran with over twenty years of U.S. Naval Service.

What do you like about this subject?

Several serious medical conditions have been linked to obesity, including Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, and stroke, and certain types of cancer. I like that so many are dedicated to solving this problem.

What do you still hope to achieve/learn in this field?

I am anxious to help others benefit from Gastric Bypass options as I have. My goal is to help save lives - it's as simple as that!

Something interesting about this subject that others may not know:

According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases of the National Institutes of Health, approximately 280,000 adult deaths in the United States each year are related to obesity. Many problems that are experienced now can be remedied almost immediately following surgery.

Something controversial or provocative about this subject

There is still a stigma surrounding Weight Loss Surgery that MUST be exposed as false.