Jo A. - My Story

Gastric Bypass  |  2001 My Life Before Bariatric Surgery  Before surgery, I was just doing the basics. After an early start to my day taking my son to daycare and working as a cook/manager at a family owned restaurant, I didn’t have the energy to get home safely. I picked my son up from daycare, pulled off the road, give him a toy to play with and took a nap before I could muster the energy to drive the remaining 6 miles home.

Once home, I made dinner. It seemed that I could never get full. I ate as I was prepping and then ate with my family. After dinner I took another nap before putting my son to bed. 

I slept a lot. I didn’t have a lot of activity in my life because I was always exhausted and I became short of breath easily. If I did get down on the floor to play with my son, I had a very hard time getting up.

I knew if I did not do something about my weight I would not be around to see my son grow up.  I tried to lose weight over and over again. I would lose a little then gain it back plus. 

My husband and I were watching a TV program one night and it had a documentary on bariatric surgery.  When it was over I looked at him and told him, "I want that!"

I initially lost 189 lbs. I gained 50 lbs back and had a reality check—there was no way I was going to be morbidly obese again. I started to use my tool properly and lost the regain. 

My Barix Clinics Experience 

Barix Clinics was awesome to deal with. If I had questions, I could call and talk to a real person--no machine to leave a message on.  If on a rare occasion I left message, they called back shortly.  

They were Johnny on the spot.  I can't complain about the care. 

My Life After Surgery

Well, I can breathe now. I can bend over without turning red in the face and being winded. I now drive a motorcycle, because I can. 

I can now give back to my local community as a volunteer fire fighter/ medical first responder. I can now crawl into a car that has been in an accident and do patient care. I can bend over and help pick someone up off the floor. I couldn’t even pick myself off the floor before. 

I am also a school bus driver instructor. I teach beginning school bus driving class along with the continuing education for school bus drivers.  At one time you wouldn't catch me talking in a room full of people, but with my new-found confidence, it does not matter how many people are there. 

To Someone Considering Surgery

Just do it!