My name is Barrett, and I had gastric sleeve surgery with Dr. James Augusta at JourneyLite Surgery Center in August 2024. At my highest adult weight, I was 382 pounds. Today, I am down to 255 pounds, and the difference in my life has been incredible.
I first started noticing that my weight was becoming a serious problem after the age of 30. It affected my energy, my mobility, and my overall health. Before surgery, I dealt with knee pain, high blood pressure, and diabetes. Since losing weight, I am much more active, my knee pain is gone, and I am off all of my blood pressure and diabetes medications.
The gastric sleeve has been a powerful tool for me. It helped me eat less and lose weight, but I also learned that long-term success comes from learning how to eat the right way. Surgery gave me the opportunity to take control of my health, but the support and education from JourneyLite helped me understand how to use that tool successfully.
The care I received at JourneyLite Surgery Center was second to none. From the surgical team to the follow-up support, I always felt like they understood me and my situation. I tried to take advantage of as many phone visits and support opportunities as I could, and even when I came up short, the team was understanding and encouraging. That kind of support made a real difference in my success.
One of the biggest changes is being able to do simple things that used to be difficult, like putting on my own socks or wanting to bend down and tie my shoes. Those may seem like small things, but they mean a lot when you have struggled with your weight.
I am grateful for Dr. Augusta and the entire JourneyLite team for helping me get my health and my life back on track. This surgery has truly changed my life.
