Ray Bondlow
Before |
After |
Ray Bondlow suffered severely from diabetes, high blood pressure, and acid reflux disorder. At the same time, he also weighed 486 pounds. As a result of a brilliant gastric bypass surgery, Ray has lost 250 pounds and is still counting.
Ray Bondlow's story began almost 10 years ago when he was diagnosed with diabetes. His blood tests revealed that his blood-sugar level was at a towering 490. A normal non-fasting blood sugar level should be less than 200. As time progressed, Ray began to experience an acute symptom of diabetes called diabetic neuropathy. Diabetic neuropathy is caused by high blood glucose, which causes chemical changes in nerves. These changes impair the nerves' ability to transmit signals causing numbness and tingling in the legs and feet. His entire right leg became numb. This nerve damage often causes muscle weakness and loss of sensation, symptoms that may possibly result in amputation of the affected area. In Ray's case, he was in danger of losing his leg.
Ray saw a television commercial advertising gastric bypass surgery and started to take the procedure into consideration. He attended a free educational seminar to learn about gastric bypass surgery, the risks involved, and the dietary changes.
Realizing that surgery might be his only hope for a longer and healthier life, Ray made the decision to have the surgery. He met with Dr. Christopher Joyce to determine whether to have open or laparoscopic gastric bypass. Because of Ray’s size, Dr. Joyce elected to perform an open Roux-en-Y gastric bypass.
Ray went home after four days in the hospital with virtually no pain. After surgery, he met with a dietitian to help him plan his meals according to his new dietary guidelines. "I try to eat four ounces of food for every meal four times a day. I also need to eat a lot of protein", says Ray.
Regarding follow-up care, Ray goes to the hospital every six months for blood work and every two months to follow up on his condition. He has seen consistent weight loss ever since his surgery, having more than 250 pounds since November of 2003.
In addition to his follow-up care, around every three months Ray attends informational meetings to serve as a live example of the benefits of gastric bypass surgery. He stands in front of people with the same problems that he once had, displaying his weight loss first-hand. "It [the surgery] speaks for itself", says Bondlow. "I look like a completely different person than I did before." He is also doing great from a health standpoint; his leg is just about back to normal. Currently, he can feel every part of his right leg except for the toes on his right foot. Most importantly, he is able to do things that he could not do at his previous weight. "I can go on the rides at Six Flags Great America," he says with a laugh. "The surgery cured my diabetes and my high blood-pressure. I would recommend it to anyone who is overweight and to anyone with diabetes who is overweight."