Brett: 140 lbs. Weight Loss

I was never really heavy until I was in my mid-twenties; I have EDS (Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome) which has caused my knee caps and other joints to dislocate ever since my early teens. I had surgery at age 23 to tighten the ligaments in my knees to keep them from dislocating. After years of recovery my weight started to move upward. With the wear and tear of the weight and years of dislocating joints, my knees were shot.

Since I was unable to exercise properly, my weight had shot up to as high as 340 lbs. After my doctor told me that knee replacements were not an option until I was 65 or lost at least 100 lbs, I decided to look at surgery to help me lose the weight.

I had gastric bypass surgery with Dr. Richards on May 1, 2007. I have lost a total of 140 lbs. My knees feel better than they have in 5 years, and I will postpone knee replacements for a couple of years. I know that WLS is no cure for arthritis but it sure helps. Now as I turn 50, I’m at the same weight I was when I had knee surgery at 23 and it is weird to hear people call me skinny instead of fat. As for my personal goal it seems to be a moving target as I keep beating my own expectations and I can’t express how good it feels to go to the store for an ego check and find out I can fit into a smaller size each month.