I am a 38 year old white female. Currently, I am a homemaker, wife and mother of two wonderful boys.
My childhood was an emotional "roller coaster" and although I was not overweight as a child, I began early to indulge in fatty food and sweets for comfort.
I was born in Queens, New York. My parents are a "sweet" Brazilian couple with a strong German and European background.
That's where I got my "potato, pasta, pastry loving" genes!
I call them: My Three "P's".
When I was twelve, I had a "crush" on this cute boy in school and when he called me "chubby face" my entire world crumbled. That was when I began to diet and to take amphetamines, which I bought from a friend in school.
At age 16, I lost my grandmother, who meant the world to me, and consequently, due to being highly depressed, I gained 30 Lbs.
Being 5' 2'' and 165 lbs. was not a "pretty picture" and so, my weight battle continued.
I went on crash diets, took pills, took laxatives, went on the Grapefruit Diet, teas, Herbalife, shakes, 3 day diet, 7 day diet, acupuncture, exercices, you name it, I had done it!
At 25, I had ballooned to 190 lbs. That's when I turned to Bulimia. I lost lots of weight and also lost energy, strength. hair, libido and hapiness.
When I got pregnant with my first child (age 29), I promised myself to stop my "binge and purge habit" because I was going to be a Mommy and I wanted to be healthy to take care of my kids. After my second child, I weighed and astounding 205 lbs.
On December 2005, I was on the phone with a friend who knew Dr. Almino and had decided to have bariatric surgery.
It only took me a few minutes to be totally enthusiastic about the whole thing and less than a month later... Sao Paulo! Here I go!
Well, let me tell you, that was the best thing I ever did to help myself.
The medical team has such great charisma, is so professional and they really know what they are doing.
When I arrived, a wonderful guide called Paola greeted me. ( by the way, she is the most adorable person I've ever met). She showed me to the hotel room, took care of all the paperwork and accompanied me to all my testing.
Gastro Obeso Center has an all inclusive package which is very helpful if the patient is coming from out of town. The accomodations are first class and so are the services the patient receives at the Center.
The team is efficient and always ready, working and helping the patient feel comfortable, confident and right at home (even if your home is "eight thousand miles" away...)
All questions asked, all seminars attended, all examinations done, finally the BIG day arrives!
The hospital is, let's say... Very "hospitable". They greeted me with smilling faces and checked me in. It was at Hospital Santa Rita. Since surgery is done laparoscopically, it was over pretty fast and my recovery ran very smoothly. Ten days later, I was back home in America.
So far it has been nine weeks and I've lost 29 lbs!!!
I feel happy, healthy and full of energy.
The multiprofessional group is always just a "click away" on my computer and they have been 100% helpful in assisting me with my recovery.
I am a new person and I thank Dr. Almino and his team for giving me this second chance in life. I believe that my weight struggle, high blood pressure, depresion, back pain, knee pain, sleep difficulties are all thing of the past!
I also thank My Lord God for leading me with His Almighty hand through this wonderful and awesome experience.
And I hope that somehow, these words may encourage you and help you make this life changing decision!