St. Luke's Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Clinic

Lost: 115 Pounds
Gained: Energy and confidence

Lisa Vogt-Feusi is a registered nurse and clinical research coordinator. She is also a military wife and mom to seven children, including four foster children. She has an incredibly busy life that requires not just organization, but endurance.

Before weight loss surgery, Lisa struggled to get through her busy days. She had been gradually gaining weight for 10 years, and was more than 100 pounds overweight. She suffered from hypoglycemia (abnormally low blood sugar) and fibromyalgia (a chronic condition affecting the muscles, ligaments, and tendons) that left her exhausted and in constant pain. She also had problems with her back, her hip, and her foot, as well as frequent migraine headaches. There wasn’t much hope for her future health, either: diabetes and high blood pressure run in her family.

Lisa was unable to lose weight through diet and exercise alone. A year of trying netted only a 20-pound loss. She began to research weight loss surgery, learning all she could and keeping her notes and thoughts in a journal.

When she made the decision to undergo gastric bypass surgery, Lisa’s husband was serving in Iraq. With him in mind, she continued writing about everything that was going on and what she was going through while he was away. When he returned, Lisa had already had the surgery and was beginning to lose weight.

“He was home to see most of it come off,” she says.

Since her surgery in 2005, Lisa has lost 115 pounds, and she feels great. Today, she takes no medication, her pain and fatigue are a thing of the past, and her migraines are increasingly rare.

“My blood sugar is stable now,” she says. “I don’t ‘crash’ anymore.”

Lisa’s confidence and self-esteem have soared as much as her energy level. Now she can give her all to those who matter most to her – her family and her patients.  

“The surgery gave me my life back,” she says. “It gave me a second chance.”

Lisa is supported by the experienced physicians and bariatrics team at St. Luke’s Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Clinic. Our proven track record of favorable outcomes for weight loss surgery, and our comprehensive commitment to high quality bariatric care are why we are an American Society for Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence.

Considering weight loss surgery?
If you are 100 or more pounds over your ideal body weight, and are thinking about weight loss – or bariatric – surgery, join us for a free seminar to learn more about how we can help you.

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