Will

"I had been battling a weight issue from the time I was a child… always having to wear the husky sizes, being the fat kid. My weight didn’t become an issue when I entered into high school athletics, but after those years were done the weight seemed to slowly pack on… In late 2005 I experienced what I thought was a heart-attack, which fortunately was an anxiety attack…At that moment I realized that my weight was no longer just a part of me, but a dangerous factor in my life that could very soon end it if I did not take an active approach to controlling and beating it…
After countless diets and exercise routines, I made the steps to take a medical intervention and proceeded to investigate Gastric Bypass as my solution. With the recommendations from my physician, I began the program with Western Bariatric in January of 2006. I weighed in that day at 430 pounds. That day was the beginning of a new change in my life. Taking simple steps and with the guidance of the staff, I lost about 80 pounds before my surgery in August of 06. I didn’t run every day or didn’t go through these massive changes…I re-approached the way I looked at food, my eating habits, my lifestyle. That not only prepared me for my upcoming surgery but it led me to a path of rethinking how I ate, as well as helping me change my lifestyle.
I have now lost over 130 pounds since my surgery and I have completely reaped in the benefits of my new life.
I am now able to perform physically things I was never able to do before, including coaching soccer, running, hiking…all that was unthinkable due to my weight issues. The staff have all been extremely supportive and all understand what it is like to go through a life of being overweight, as well as what it is like to enjoy the benefits of a healthy life. To anyone considering a surgical alternative, my recommendation is to remember that everyone will have a different experience… no matter what horror stories you may have heard. It's all a matter of how you approach it and how you prepare for your new life. I’m enjoying it everyday."

Thanks!

-Will

 

Nicole

 

I came to the realization when I went to Six Flags with my best friend. We were in line, totally excited, well, not too excited for all the walking, and we got in line for the Batman ride. I had ridden it before and I didn’t have any problems. We were in line waiting, all excited, and we go up to sit down in the chair and my belt doesn’t fit! They moved me to another chair with a larger belt and the belt still doesn’t fit!  I couldn’t ride it! After that I thought ‘you know what? If I don’t do anything now then this is going to be my life. I’m going to be so limited in so many things.’ I remember telling my parents, ‘you know, I’m gonna get this surgery! I’m gonna loose all this weight! Watch, one day I’m gonna be this size and you guys aren’t gonna recognize me!’  Sure enough, I did all the classes and did my research on the insurance, and I finally got approved.  I have nothing to complain about as far as the surgery as I had no real problems afterwards. Of course I got sick here and there but it was my fault if I ate something that I shouldn’t have eaten or if I ate too fast. Other than that my body took to it so well.

My surgery has sort of had a domino effect on everyone in my family. They really look at themselves now and say, “Ok, you know we really need to get healthy. Look at her look! at what she’s done!” They just look at me like ‘I cant believe you’ve done it!’ We look at old pictures and they’re amazed that I’m the same person!

Monica

 

I had been heavy my whole life. Since I’ve been a child I’ve been heavy. My father was heavy, my siblings were not heavy and my mother was not heavy, it was just my father and I. I saw my primary care physician and he basically said “you can just diet and exercise.” And I said, ‘Really? I’ve never heard of that before!” I felt like he was saying that I didn’t need that type of surgery because I could do it on my own. Do you think if I could do it on my own I would be in this boat? I would be as heavy as I am? I’ve tried for 30 years to loose this weight and it hasn’t come off. If I knew it was that easy, I’d be thin by now!

I feel like I can do things with my daughter now. My daughter is very young and I always felt that I couldn’t volunteer at her school because I thought kids would make fun of her for having the heavy parent. I felt like I couldn’t do things with her because I felt embarrassed, so it was more for her and health reasons. I felt like I was going to end up like my dad. He died very young, early 50’s, and his weight contributed to his death with diabetes, and I didn’t want to end up where my dad ended up. Also having my daughter grow up without her mother so young.

Kim

 

 

Dr. Krahn is a compassionate doctor who knows what he's doing. I mean, (I had) a doctor that was not and who didn’t take the time to get to know me as a person. Dr. Krahn is not like that. He’s very personal. He’s hands on and he does care!

 

 

Jean

 

I fell down a flight of stairs and every doctor just wanted to inject me with shots and give me pills. Nothing went away, and I gained weight tremendously which was making me miserable.  I had gotten to the point where my legs and my back were numb some mornings and I could not go to work.  I went to my doctor and I told her that I had went to this seminar and I was really impressed with what he (Dr. Krahn) has done and his profile. She said, “Well you have two choices: You can have back surgery or you can have the Gastric Bypass to lose the weight and see if it would take the pressure off your spine.”  I chose the Gastric Bypass because I didn’t have anybody to take care of me with the back surgery. Ever since I’ve had the Gastric Bypass I feel good about myself. I do things that I could not do. I still have a little back pain but it’s nothing compared to what I used to have!

 

Esther

 

 

Literally this surgery has saved my life and I feel wonderful! I’m totally out of pain! I can walk very fast. I feel good and I’m much more active.

 

 

 

Monica

 

 

I did go to a wedding this last weekend and my father and stepmother didn’t recognize me! That made an impact. They walked right by me and were calling my name.  I said, “I’m right here!”  That really made it official to me.

Daniel

 

 

My social life has improved. The conversations with females go a lot further than they used to! I think it’s combo of my confidence level and possibly me being a little more attractive than I used to be. Every aspect of my life has gotten better due to weight loss.

 

Juliette

 

Testimonial coming soon!

My first impression was great. It seemed like he (Dr. Krahn) was the one for me right of the bat. And over time it just got better. After my first office visit I really liked him. He was very nice and made sure that everything was covered. He really cares about your health and makes sure that your surgery goes as well as he can make it. Any future patients will feel the same way I’m sure. I cant even imagine feeling any different about him. Aftercare is very important to him and his staff. Any time that you have a problem you can call any time of day or night. I would rate him and his staff with a 10. Everything he does is 100% And if you do something that he told you not to do or to do, you better watch out because you could get scolded for it. LOL. His surgical competence and bedside manner… are both great. There is nothing negative to say about Dr. Krahn or his staff. They are wonderful!!

Posted on 08/24/2006 by Catherine M.