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Shaun Chavis
Age: 55
Total Pounds Lost: 92
Procedure Received: Mini-gastric bypass
I’ve struggled with extra weight and obesity all my life. The first time I went on a diet I was 7 years old. I’ve been dieting ever since and I’ve tried everything. Just between 2011 and 2021, I lost and regained over 160 pounds. I’ve been a health journalist for half my career and through my reporting, I learned enough about bariatric / metabolic surgery that I told myself if I ever developed diabetes, I’d want surgery. That day came in 2019 - I was diagnosed with severe sleep apnea and diabetes. In 2020 my weight climbed to 304 pounds. I had back pain so severe, I couldn’t walk more than a quarter mile or stand in my kitchen for more than 5-10 minutes. I chose OCC because of the team’s credentials, expertise and commitment to every patient’s success. Frankly, OCC has higher standards than some of the US surgeons I considered. I also chose OCC because Lucia’s approach to nutrition aligns with how I like to eat for good health. I had a mini-gastric bypass in March 2022. Going to OCC was one of the best health care experiences I’ve ever had. I’ve lost a total of 92 pounds so far (about 40 more to go). I no longer have high blood pressure, my sleep apnea is now very mild, and my A1C is no longer in the diabetic range. I have zero back pain now, my knee pain has improved (I can use a rower again!), and I typically walk 2-3 miles most days of the week or row with no pain. I have more energy, I have more self-confidence, I feel better about myself, and I’m doing things I love. I am so grateful to Drs. Ortiz and Martinez and to Lucia for helping me take this journey. We all deserve to feel good in our body and to be healthy… I’m finally feeling and living it.
