Patient Success Stories

Kathy's Story

For Kathy, choosing to have weight-loss surgery was a quality-of-life decision. Kathy had advanced arthritis that made it extremely difficult for her to walk. She’d had knee replacement surgery several years ago, but had little hope of ever being able to walk without pain again. She knew her arthritis was a direct result of being overweight, but she had been unsuccessful in finding a way to lose weight and keep it off.

But that all changed on December 11, 2003, when Kathy had a gastrointestinal bypass at Alta Bates Summit Medical Center.

Just 6 months later, she already lost more than 50 pounds and experienced a tremendous improvement in her health. “My legs are 80 percent better,” said Kathy. “I can walk now with relatively little pain. I even went to Hawaii and had a fantastic time. This never would have been possible had I not had weight-loss surgery.

“I think it’s important for anyone considering this procedure to talk with others who have had it to get an idea of the entire process – the ups and the downs,” added Kathy. “This will help manage expectations and make for a more positive experience.”