Our Bariatric Success Stories

Jacqueline Holmes *

There isnt enough words to describe how incredible I feel... Hands down the best decision I ever made, I was noramlly a thick a girl but carried my weight well and then I had a motorcycle accident and I hurt my back had to have several surgeries. Which caused me to gain the weight very rapidily. Very similar to weight I had gained back from having children. I've always been a bigger woman. Im used to being that size. But after the accident in 2010 I had the same ole story happen to me. Went to Kings Dominion with my 2 daughters and I didnt fit on the roller coaster. My ankles wers so swollen by the end of the night, I remember whole drive home I had to put on a smile for my girls but I was in agony. Then I found Dr Fitzer. I was always encouraged by my regular doctor (Dr.Ash Diwan out of Warrenton, VA) to have the bypass surgery, tho it was truly meeting Dr.Fitzer and his staff that made me a believer. I was welcomed with opened arms the staff answered all my questions, my process from start to finish was barely 2months. I had my surgery April 10th, 2013 weighing in at 338lbs standing at 5'8 and now exactly 9months later I weigh 189lbs.. I've lost 149lbs... I still am in shock.. Absolutely no diabeites medication, my knees dont hurt, my back feels so much better having all that weight off.. I have so much energy.. And I look and feel like im 25 all over again.. BTW Im 40yrs old.. Please if youre wondering should I? Just give Virginia Baritric Center a call.. They will answer any questions. Call me if you want.. The recovery time was good, I listened to Dr Fitzers rules and everything has happened just as he said it would.. Dont put off another day.. Get ypur life and independence back.. Thank you Dr Fitzer, Carly, Danielle, Rebecca, Shara especially you girl... and Meghan.. You all helped me become the happy I knew I still had!!!

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Patrick Hubbard *

Well if you are over weight or obiese, have high blood presure a diabetic or have sleeping problems and want to help cure these problems bariatric surgery may be for you. I had tried many ways to loose weight nothing worked on a visit to my family physician he recomended to have this done which i had always thought about doing. Most of my life i was overweight and then became obiese. In 1989 i had weighed 190 lbs. at the age of 23 by the time i was 44 i was 315 lbs. not good. So thats were Dr. Fitzer stepped in. I attened his seminar and had my initial office visit. I knew this was the right thing for me , so much that day at the office visit we scheduled all of the various consultations like psychiatry, dietitien, and cardiology that were required to get approval for the surgery. The approval process was a challenge my insurance required me to lose 5% of my weight but if you really want it you will i lost 10% before the surgery. This is not hard to do but you have to stay focused and stick with the outline of the program. The three days before the surgery being on a liquid diet were the toughest three days. The day of the surgeryi had weighed 279 iam now 160 after 20 months. You need to respect what you have now. Before the surgery i had a size 46 waist hard to find clothes and frustrating now im a size 32. One embarassing day was when i couldnt fit in a roller coaster seat i was mortified that everyone on the ride saw what had happened.When i was heavy i didnt think i was struggling to do things like tie shoes, put socks on,and cut toe nails well you are if you are heavy. Now its all easy to do. Your eating habits will change drasticly. I use to beable to eat a whole large pizza now a slice fulfills my hunger. Eating habits have changed you eat to much you will either feel sick or get sick not a plesent thing. The weight will come off along with muscle tone so i work out everyday to build the muscle back and to stay fit. I never thought i would ever go to a gym. I recently did somethingi never thought i would ever do and that was to run a 5k running race which i had done with my daughter i ran the whole way with a time of 28:45. We also just ran a 10k race.I feel as if i have extended my life by many years. Dr. Fitzer was amazing and guided me through most of this along with the staff. Thank you Dr. Fitzer Sincerly Patrick Hubbard

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Patrick Moccaldi *

Hey Doc,

I hope all is well with you, I just wanted to send you a note on how i am doing, As of today i am down to 390 lbs down from 801 lbs off my highest weight, and 754 lbs from when i started your program at Dr grabbers office, I can't believe that i am finally getting my life back, It is amazing, I can now tie my own shoes, fit into a normal seat, and go to the movies, i walk everyday about a mile or so, i sleep better than i have ever slept in my whole life, No more pain meds, no more diabetees meds, no asma meds, no more sleep apnea, i just wanted to thank you again for giving back my life, you gave me the tools, and im using them everyday!! You are a miricle worker Dr Fitzer and i will never forget that!! Im sending along a pic of you working on me in the operating room, with Jesus along side of you, and a pic of me yesterday at my friends guitar shop in New Hartford NY, Thanks again Doc, YOU ROCK!!! If its ok i will keep you up to date on my progress, Thanks!!!

You friend, And Patient,

Patrick Moccaldi.

P.S. On January 7th 2013 Dr Orlando In New Hartford will be perfoming plastic surgery to remove my Belly, as known as a lower abdomal lift (Tummy Tuck) I can't wait!! Wish me luck!!

Thanks!!

 (Reprinted with permission.)

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Patrick Hubbard *

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