I have been overweight all my life. My cholesterol has always been high and in 2016, I started to have high blood pressure too. I had chronic sleep apnea and used a CPAP machine every night. Because of the extra weight I had back pain and knee pain. It was hard for me just to get out of cars.
I felt tired and drained all the time. I wasn’t spending enough quality time with my family. If we went somewhere, within a couple hours I would feel like going home and sitting down to watch some TV.
I had tried various weight loss programs with my primary doctor, but they never worked. In October of 2019, I hit my 279 lbs, my highest weight, and decided that it was time to get weight loss surgery. I had a friend of mine who had good results from his weight loss surgery with Dr. Davtyan in 2008. I talked to Dr. Davtyan soon after and decided on the lap-band procedure since it was the least invasive. I liked that Dr. Davtyan is a recipient of the land band, so he understands the process personally.
I had my procedure at Cedars Sinai hospital. Doctor Davtyan and the rest of the medical team were great. I had to stay at the hospital overnight, and Dr. Davtyan stayed in touch and organized my care the entire time.
One of the biggest differences I noticed after the surgery is my relationship with food has changed. I don’t eat as much and always monitor my food intake. Once in a while I do get a craving for burgers or that 40-oz steak. But then I look at my “before” pictures, and realize I made the right decision.
I went with Dr. Davtyan because he has been doing gastric banding since 2001, when very few doctors were doing it right. I wanted a doctor with experience, who does 100 surgeries a year, who has done thousands of surgeries in the last 20 years. Plus I have friends that went to Dr. Davtyan, and they all recommended him.
Less than one year after the procedure I lost 98 pounds. Now it is almost five years and I am down 114 lbs. My prediabetes, my sleep apnea and high cholesterol have all vanished. I don’t sleep with a CPAP machine anymore. I have noticeably more energy to spend time with friends and my kids. I sleep better at night, and it’s easier for me to walk up and down the stairs at home. I have not had any complications or needed any band adjustments.
I would tell anyone considering weight loss surgery, you will feel healthier. If you’re at the point where you need a lap band, you either have medical issues like I did or you are going to have medical issues. And in order to prevent or solve some of those issues, you need to take corrective action.
