Meet Kate P.

What was life like before bariatric surgery?

Have you ever heard the song “Fat Funny Friend”? Well, I fit that song 100%. I felt as though I had to make light of things not to let the truth show. I tried various diets, programs to be thin, with some success but minimal sustainability. I did not like having to take pictures with my thinner friends, or get ready with them. I hated hearing, “OMG this makes me look so fat” when I had several shape ware garments on in order to feel comfortable.

I wore a very good mask to the world. I was always the pleasant one to be around (mostly), had a positive outlook, and was confident because that was the body I had to work with, so I made the best of it.

The part in the song about the other girl gets the guy – yep that applied as well. I was put in the friend zone so they could get closer to the other girl. So I built walls to hide behind.

Then there were the typical things a lot of people experience. Tying my shoes was REALLY difficult, I was out of breath doing the simplest things, and I was hot and sweaty ALL THE TIME!! I was super embarrassed when trying to squeeze into an airplane seatbelt to avoid using an extension!!

If you put off the decision to come in for a long time, why was that? What kept you from booking a consultation?

I have looked at it for years and always thought it was an easy way out. I had people around me that did it and I was so jealous of their success. My mom also had a bad experience with a weight loss surgery and that did not help me in making this decision. I must have researched online for about a year. I found stories of people who had surgery and felt great. I found not so good stories as well, but once I found Panhandle, I knew I was doing the right thing for me, my health and my family.

What was it like to work with the team from the start of your journey to today?

They were great and always helpful! They were very concerned about my concerns and willing to listen and make it easy for me to tell them what I was going through.

What is your life like now? What’s the #1 thing you love being able to do now?

Oh wow!! What a difference losing weight makes in your life! I have lost over one hundred pounds now and I am 9 months post surgery. I can move more, for sure. I am able to walk and not feel like my lungs are going to come out of my chest. I have no more pain in my knees and my back from carrying all of the extra weight around. I do more now and I eat a lot less. Food is not the first thing I think about when I get up and it sure is not the only thing on my mind all day any more. My blood pressure is normal and I no longer take medication for that. My diabetes reversed and my first A1C after surgery was down from 9.2 to 5.5. What a huge difference that was. I am no longer having to give my self daily shots. Life has been amazing.