My battle with obesity has been a life long problem but it really took a nightmarish turn sometime after 1998. Though I was never thin, I began to put on a good amount of weight, and by 1999 I was exhibiting signs of PCOS, depression, insulin resistance, borderline high blood sugar and high cholesterol. I saw numerous doctors and nothing helped, nearly all counseling me to "stop eating sweets." The entire experience was very demeaning. It was nearly impossible to lose weight despite crash dieting, exercising, low-carb dieting, medications, etc. I felt I was treated poorly by these doctors and eventually stopped going.

In general, I found the doctors I have seen to be quite apathetic about my symptoms. I also saw a homeopath because I was willing to try anything to help correct these issues. Nothing seemed to help and my weight gain continued. I heard about the LAP-BAND and saw some hope for my situation. Because I was self-paying, the biggest decision for me was which doctor to use for my surgery. I researched every doctor I could find and had several consultations here in the USA and a few on the phone to doctors in other countries. After researching Dr. Rumbaut's impressive credentials and speaking with him and his staff, I knew I needed to look no further.

I had my Band placed by Dr. Rumbaut in November 2002, about a month after making the decision to have the surgery. I started at 240 pounds at 5'6" and today I weighed 150 pounds. 90 pounds gone! I never thought I would see 150 again. At the age of 33, I now wear a size 10 jeans- I never wore below a 14 in high school! I've had four fills and used my elliptical machine regularly, as well as sticking to the typical low-carb lifestyle. The best part is that all of my bloodwork is now normal! Before my surgery, my tests indicated insulin resistance, borderline diabetes/impaired glucose tolerance, high cholesterol, and I also had PCOS. Now, I still have some PCOS symptoms, but all the rest is GONE. I'm thrilled about being healthy.

I am not an easy patient by any means. I have a needle phobia and was more adverse to the IV insertion than I was to the concept of the LAP-BAND surgery or flying to Mexico. Dr. Rumbaut's reputation spoke for itself but after meeting with him in person, and discussing his own experience as a LAP-BAND patient, I knew I'd made the right decision. The pre-op testing facilities were high quality, the hospital in Monterrey was top notch, and Dr. Rumbaut checked in on me several times in the hospital (on his wedding anniversary no less!) and at my hotel. He also sent some of his staff to do the same. He referred me to an associate here in CT for my aftercare and fills, someone who he had trained and who had the same gentle manner with patients. This itself was a blessing, as my experience with doctors here had made me very cynical. Dr. Rumbaut treated me like a person with an illness, not as someone who lacked self-control, had no willpower, or ate too much. He understood exactly what I was dealing with, and he was wonderful in lessening my anxiety and fears over surgery, especially in a foreign country.

Dr. Rumbaut and this Band saved my life. The LAP-Band is not a miracle cure; you still have to make lifestyle changes for maximum weight loss. But it is an integral part of maintaining substantial weight loss after morbid obesity. I want to encourage anyone out there who is pre-Band or just starting their LAP-BAND journey: if I can do this and succeed, anyone can. I know many others who have had some type of weight loss surgery and it is so important to find a surgeon whom you trust, who has tremendous surgical skills, and who also treats you with respect. If you have a choice of LAP-BAND surgeons, go for the best: Dr. Rumbaut.

M.B.

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