- Name: Charles McLemore
- Age: 47
- Surgery: Gastric Sleeve
- Surgery date: January 5th, 2012
- Testimonial date: June 28th, 2013
- Surgeon: Dr. Almanza
I was at a point in my life that I would stop breathing wide awake,(I jokingly called it wake apnea).
I had reached a weight of 285 pounds, seeing as I only stand 5' 6", I was way over morbidly obese.
I had gone down to Dr.Almanza in Oct with my wife to be support for her during her surgery. I saw how well she had done with recovery and decided I needed to do something for my own health. We scraped the money together for me to get my sleeve done. I was up and walking around within 30 minutes of waking in recovery room. I made it a point to do as much walking as I could while in Mexico to help with the release of gas pains and to keep mobility going.
After a couple days I went back home to Seattle area, my surgery was the first week in January and by mid march I was down from 285 to 175, I stabilized for about a month and then I dropped the other 15 pounds and have held at 160 pounds now for over a year.
I only wish I had done this sooner. I now have more energy and self confidence than I have had in years. I always thought that my goal weight would be about 185, and I never expected to actually see that weight thinking that I would stop at around 195-200 pounds. The last time that I weighed below 175 I was 20 years old, I am now 48 years old and have never been healthier. I no longer snore, stop breathing, or have trouble climbing stairs.
I went from a 2x shirt and 48-30 pants to a Medium shirt and a size 30-30 pants. Some times I still walk by a mirror and have to do a double take because I do not recognize myself.
If you are on the fence about this surgery, Just take the step and get it done, you will be amazed at the difference it will make, and not just physical but also a mental change happens you actually find a since of self worth and begin to realize that other peoples opinions do not matter.
In the pictures below you see my highest weight of 285, and a picture I recently took with my nephew, I am on the left side,of my nephew
Charles