Tommy Clement

“I did it more for the health benefits. Not being a type II diabetic anymore has been amazing.”

My struggle goes back to being a young kid. I had a period where I kind of grew out of it. But in my early 40s, I was diagnosed with Type II diabetes that steadily grew worse until I was unable to control it. I tried diet and exercise, every fad diet you can think of, but nothing worked. I finally asked my family doctor, “What can I do about this?” He suggested the weight loss surgery, so I decided to follow-up with Dr. Mason.

The free informational session definitely answered all my questions. And on August 22 of 2013, I had the “gastric sleeve” surgery. So far, I have lost 45 pounds and am completely off all medication. I used to take eight prescriptions, which amounted to 17 pills a day. I don’t need the beta blockers for heart rate or anything else. The difference is like night and day. I feel like I’m in high school. In fact, I’ve gone from a size 40” waist to a size 30”.

I walk three-to-four times a week, anywhere from six-to-eight miles. It’s changed my whole family’s dynamic; not just mine. My wife and our daughter had the surgery, too. My wife has lost 122 pounds. Now, she’s just a completely different person inside and out, and our daughter has lost 93 pounds. And she’s only grown more confident with herself. It’s hard to describe how much it’s changed things, all in a positive manner.

The only thing that’s different is that I can’t eat as much, but I never feel unsatisfied. You get the same sensation of being full. You just get there a lot faster. I let anybody ask me any question that they have. Sometimes, I just want to jump in and say, “I’ve got the answer to that.” But to watch my wife and daughter, the best description I can give you is, “to watch a flower that is blooming.”