Davis Romero

Age at surgery: 43
Surgery: Sleeve gastrectomy
Weight loss: 130 lbs.

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Davis estimated he weighed nearly 400 pounds at the time. "I couldn't confirm it, because my doctor's office didn't have a scale that went that high."

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When Davis Romero of Stamford traveled to Saint Maarten, he was looking forward to the vacation of a lifetime. But the experience got off to a bumpy start. "The plane ride was embarrassing. I had to ask for a seat-belt extender. It felt like people were staring at me the whole time for being so large."

Davis estimated he weighed nearly 400 pounds at the time. "I couldn't confirm it, because my doctor's office didn't have a scale that went that high," recalled Davis. Only 42, he had endured years of knee pain, taking medication for high blood pressure, and being borderline diabetic.

It was time for a change. Davis spoke to a friend who had elected bariatric surgery at Greenwich Hospital and wondered if weight-loss surgery would be a good option. "I had done Herbalife, Weight Watchers, Ripped Fuel, which increased my heart rate, and Atkins, which worked, but I couldn't sustain it (weight loss)."

Davis' friend invited him to a free hospital seminar where his questions were answered. Davis' weight-loss journey began with the decision to undergo bariatric surgery at Greenwich Hospital. "It changed my life."

Following medical tests and consultations, during which he was diagnosed with sleep apnea, Davis worked with the bariatric team including his surgeon, dietitian, exercise physiologist, psychologist, social worker and the program coordinator. His preparations culminated in a sleeve gastrectomy, the most common of three types of bariatric surgeries performed at Greenwich Hospital. During the procedure, at least 80 percent of the stomach is removed leaving a "sleeve" which restricts the amount of food a patient can eat, often leading to significant weight loss and changing hormone production related to hunger.

Davis lost 130 pounds in one year following bariatric surgery. He no longer needs his sleep apnea machine, his diabetes threat is gone, and his blood pressure medication has been cut in half. He takes two-mile walks during his lunch breaks at work and often climbs the five flights of stairs to his office.

"I feel like a new person," said Davis. "My knees don't hurt anymore and without the apnea machine, I sleep great every night," he said, adding, "I feel more confident."

The one drawback of Davis' new life? "Buying new clothes. My spending is up."