Testimonials

If you would like to submit a testimonial, please use this form.

Personal Comments:
I am just starting to look into surgery. I'm particularly interested in the adjustable gastric band (AGB). Like many, I've struggled with my weight all my life. I have 2 beautiful children and a wonderful husband who is very supportive. My goal is to get my weight under control so I can live a full and active life with my family. This is a great site with so much helpful information! Thanks! ----------------------- 3/1/04 BC/BS approved the lap band!! I'm ecstatic, and completely bowled over! All along I've been preparing myself mentally to be turned down, ready for the appeals process, and they approved it, right off the bat! Woo-hooo!!! I don't have the specific letter from them yet, but they told the Dr.'s office it was mailed on the 25th, so it should be here today or tomorrow. My surgery is scheduled for March 15th, just 2 weeks away! YIKES! Now I have to find out about financing that first payment until the insurance reimburses us...

Comments About Northwest Weight Loss Surgery:
All of the staff at NWWLS are great, Dr. Montgomery included! I first "met" him at the orientation seminar in November '03. He was very knowledgeable about the surgery, and very caring about his patients. That impression has not changed! :) After my surgery, he spent about 30 minutes talking with my parents (who had a LOT of questions), calming their fears and concerns. That meant so much to me! My mother has battled breast-cancer and my father has Parkinsons, so health concerns are very high for them, and I know having a doctor so willing and able to spend that extra time meant the world to them (and me in turn). I will go tomorrow for my one-week post op, and then will be attending the monthly support groups. One of the reasons we chose NWWLS and Dr. Montgomery is that they are very conscious of the aftercare and stress its importance. Overall I would give Dr. Montgomery, Dr. Watkins, and the entire staff a rating of 10! They are great, and I'm so glad to have them as a partner on this new life journey!

---

^Top^

Personal Comments:
I'm now 8 months post banding. I'm down about 60 lbs, and have gone from a size 22-24 to a 14-16. My body shape is weird as it's coming off like never before. Butt and thighs have lost a lot, but still have the 50 plus years of life problem of a residual hanging gut and floppy upper arms. But at least my belly is loose and can be compressed into pants without being uncomfortable. When I was 255 lbs, I couldn't stand anything tight on my abdomen. I'm feeling real great, and continue to think the lap band is the world' greatest invention. I wish I could pay for all my friends and family who need this surgery to have it. I've only had two fills, one a couple of months after surgery and then not another until late August. This last fill has caused more problems with things getting stuck. I never needed to bring stuff up before the last fill, now I occasionally do. I'd rather not do that...I don't think that's healthy.

Comments About Northwest Weight Loss Surgery:
Excellent first impression, which was confirmed over time. The office staff was calm, informative, helpful, and thorough. The office is clean and professional, in a large medical complex. They do have their own support group for aftercare, but I live 2 1/2 hours away, so will be difficult for me to attend meetings. They suggested other alternatives. Dr. Montgomery was very thorough in his explanation. I had many questions, as I am a nurse, but he was patient in answering them. Overall I would rate the doc as very informed, relaxed, with a good sense of humor and "bedside" manner. Surgical competence is the most important for me. I don't have to like the doc, as long as he knows what he's doing, but it's a perk if they do have a likable personality. The only negative aspect of the experience is being rushed toward discharge too quickly. This problem is not unique to this hospital, just an unfortunate fact of life in the current medical setting.

---

^Top^

Personal Comments:
IT HAS BEEN 1 YEAR SINCE SURGERY AND I AM FEELING GREAT...I AM DOWN A LITTLE OVER 50 POUNDS, IT HAS BEEN A SLOW PROCESS FOR ME ,BUT I WOULDNT CHANGE IT FOR THE WORLD....I LOVE MY BAND,AND ALL THE FRIENDS I HAVE MADE THROUGH THIS JOURNEY.I TRY TO STAY INVOLVED WITH THE SUPPORT GROUP AND THAT HAS BEEN GREAT,I TALK REGULARLY TO SO MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE SAME CONCERNS AS ME AND WE ARE ALL LOSING, SO IT HAS BEEN SUCH A POSITIVE EXPERIENCE.I HAVE SO MUCH MORE CONFIDENCE AND FIND MYSELF SO MUCH HAPPIER....MY ONLY REGRET IS I DIDNT DO THIS SOONER... IT HAS BEEN A COUPLE WEEKS SINCE MY SURGERY AND ALL IS GOING GREAT.I WAS TREATED VERY WELL AT EVERGREEN SURGICAL CENTER, EVERONE WAS VERY FRIENDLY, CARING AND HAPPY, AND MADE ME EXTREMELY COMFORTABLE. I WENT IN AT 6:45 AM, AND WAS SCHEDULED FOR SURGERY AT 8:15. I WAS OUT OF SURGERY AND ON MY WAY HOME AT NOON.I TOOK THE PAIN MEDS FOR ABOUT 3 DAYS,AND HAVE HAD ABSOLUTLY NO PROBLEMS.

Comments About Northwest Weight Loss Surgery:
I STARTED LOOKING INTO THE LAP BAND ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO, I WAS IMPRESSED BY THE OVERALL HEALTHIER WAY THE LAP BAND IS. I LIKED THE IDEA OF LOSING WEIGHT SLOWER AND MY STOMACH WOULD STILL BE INTACT. AFTER LOTS OF RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND PATIENT TESTIMONIALS I DECIDED TO TAKE MY INTREST ONE STEP FUTHUR AND FIND A SURGEON. I CHOSE DR. MONTGOMERY AND DR. WATKINS IN KIRKLAND, WASH.AND CALLED THEIR OFFICE WITH A FEW QUESTIONS, AFTER TALKING TO SARAH THEIR RECEPTIONIST I WAS HOOKED.SHE WAS SO HELPFUL AND INFORMATIVE I DECIDED TO MAKE A APPOINTMENT FOR A CONSULTATION. I HAD MY CONSULTATION ON AUGUST 7TH.I WAS VERY IMPRESSED.I MET WITH JESSIE THE NURSE PRACTIONER, SHE SPENT OVER A HOUR WITH ME GOING OVER EVERYTHING FROM PRE-OP, POST-OP, NUTRTION, TO SUPPORT GROUPS, WHICH THEY STRONGLY RECOMEND,AFTERCARE IS A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF THIS SURGERY AND THEY STAY VERY MUCH INVOLVED IN THE AFTERCARE OF THE PATIENT. I THEN MET WITH TRISH THEIR CLINICAL COORDINATOR AND GOT MY PRE-OP AND SURGERY SCHEDULED, I AM SCEDULED FOR SURGERY SEPT. 15, AS AN OUTPATIENT. THEN IT WAS TIME TO MEET DR. WATKINS, HE WAS GREAT.I SPENT OVER A HOUR WITH HIM AS WELL, GOING OVER SURGERY, RISKS, STATISTICS, AND RECOVERY. HE VERY FULLY AND PROFESSIONALLY AWNSERED ALL MY QUESTIONS AND EASED ANY DOUBT THAT I MAY HAVE HAD. SOME OF THE GIRLS IN THE OFFICE HAVE ALSO BEEN BANDED, SO IT WAS GREAT TO BE ABLE TO TALK TO EACH OF THEM AND GET SO MUCH FEEDBACK.I WALKED OUT OF THERE FEELING GREAT, EVERYBODY TRULY CARED AND WERE PROFESSIONAL, AND CONFIDENT.

---

^Top^

Personal Comments:
Hi well I'm only one day post op right now so still in a bit of pain. Still I’m looking forward to this new journey I’m on. 7/2/03 I had surgery with Dr. Montgomery in Seattle. I had a surgery called Lap-Band. This is usually a laparoscopic procedure and they place a band around your upper stomach which can be inflated to help decrease the size of the stoma, basically creating an hour glass shape. This gets you full faster and keeps it longer. The Great part is, NO Stomach cutting. Hence, this surgery is much safer than RNY. After two years the results are about the same. Still RNY people lose their weight faster, which is great on the outside, but can be harder on your insides. I'm feeling OK but still a bit sore. Basically like someone stabbed me five times and punched me in the stomach. hehe. But I am up and around, walking to help heal faster and drinking a lot to make sure I don't get dehydrated. So far so good.

Comments About Northwest Weight Loss Surgery:
I really liked Dr. Montgomery. He really made sure I understood what the surgery (lap-band) was all about and really took time for all my questions. The office staff is fantastic; many have had surgery themselves and really understand us. There is great after care, with monthly meetings to help you along the way over all Dr. Montgomery and his staff has competence and a wonderful manner, I would give them a 10 overall. My nurse at the hospital however could use some “on being helpful" lessons....

---

^Top^

Personal Comments:
1/01 I am 29 & have been obese all my life. I have type II diabetes, acid reflux (GERD) and I believe also sleep apnea. I know I want this surgery but I am a single parent/student & on state medical (Healthy Options). I am willing to fight though. I just need to know how to get started. Thanks 4/7/01 I saw my new PC today and asked if I was a potential candidate for WLS- she said yes! Just like that. I went in preparing to explain my research and defend myself and didn't even have to! She said right away she would refer me to a surgeon. She's starting me on some diabetes meds and I have a follow up appointment in one month for my blood sugar. She said she would refer me then. She's also going to refer me for the suspected sleep apnea. I know my chances of getting approved by my insurance for WLS are probably low, but I am excited to finally be taking the first step, to know at least now there is a tiny chance this might happen. Wish me luck!! 2/28/03

Comments About Northwest Weight Loss Surgery:
I first met Dr. Montgomery on 4/16/03. I was impressed because he spent over two hours with me, mostly just talking about the surgery, finding out what I knew, what my expectations were, and basically making sure I was well informed. He answered the two questions I was most concerned with regarding the actual procedure; that is that he performs a proximal bypass, meaning he only bypasses the minimum about of intestine, and he transects the stomach, which helps avoid SLDs down the line. I also did some research and found that Dr. Montgomery was Chief Resident Surgeon while doing his residency at UW Medical School, so I feel very good about his skills as a surgeon. Dr. M was personable and friendly but not overtly warm & fuzzy, which was a good balance for me. Dr. M is also very concerned about follow-up care and stressed he believed it was very important to the overall success of the patient. The only thing that sat funny with me was when we were discussing patient support & I said something along the lines that each person knows their own body & he said "They THINK they do" which rubbed me a bit wrong as I have had many experiences trying to get Drs to listen to what I was saying about my body regardless of what they thought things should be. The office staff seems very nice and overall I am looking forward to having my procedure done with Drs. Watkins & Montgomery. Also, I have heard good things about Evergreen hospital- I hear it quite posh. ;-)

---

^Top^

Comments About Northwest Weight Loss Surgery:
Drs. Watkins and Montgomery are great! Very good bedside manner, extremely prompt in replying to any questions, either by phone or e-mail. Office staff is very supportive of insurance details and appointments. I haven't attended a support group yet, but look forward to in the future. Jessie, the support coordinator has a lot of education and experience in obesity health issues. A great place to have your surgery. The hospital and staff are very good, some are banded themselves. No problems at all with my surgery and I was back to work the day after discharge.

---

^Top^

Comments About Northwest Weight Loss Surgery:
When I met Dr. Brad Watkins and Dr. Kevin Montgomery I was impressed with their interest in providing comprehensive WLS care to their patients - through the entire process and his practice backs up that belief. Working with them and their staff while preparing for surgery, through the procedure itself and the follow-up care I have received after, only increased my opinion of them and their staff. The support group process they have in place, the expertise that resides within their office staff, and the solid information they provided before I was banded made me feel ready for the surgery and that I would have the support and information I needed to be successful afterward.

I have had only minor aches and pains since surgery and nothing major has happened. Surgically I had very little bruising at the incision sites (and I usually bruise very easily) and Dr. Watkins visited before and after surgery to check on me as did his nurse Jessie. Both were wonderfully supportive. I have a bad reaction to anesthesia and Dr. Watkins made sure that the nurses caring for me had lots of options to deal with the extreme nausea I can have because of it.

The confidence I had in Dr. Watkins and his staff made me feel like I was not starting this journey alone, that I had a team beside me all of the way. I really helped ease any stress I had about having the surgery and that in turn helped my family feel much better about the process as well.

6 Month Follow-up: Now that I am six months out, my initial feelings about Dr. Watkins and his staff have been confirmed many times over. The after care and support makes all of the difference and unlike many band surgeons these guys are in it for the long haul. Support groups (both in person and online) are really key to making process and long-term success and NWWLS is committed to both.
I feel incredibly luck to have found them!

14 Month Follow-Up: I am about 14 months out from surgery and my journey continues. I cannot recommend them enough. The follow-up care, their continued involvement and interest in my success are such a blessing. Having lost over 80 pounds so far I believe in them and this procedure so much I regularly do information seminars for them for prospective patients. I just love sharing my banding journey and my success with others - without Brad and his staff I do not think it would have gone as well nor helped me change my life in so many positive ways. I have friends who have been banded elsewhere who do not have the active after care process that NWWLS provides and their progress shows it. I wish more banding practices would do something similar to what NWWLS provides their patients would be so much more successful!

22 Month Follow-Up: I am now 22 months out from surgery and at goal. I have lost 105 pounds thanks to the band and the support of the staff at NWWLS. It has been an amazing journey and I am so glad I had partners like Dr. Watkins and his staff. I recently had plastic surgery to "defy some gravity" after losing all of that weight and the difference is just amazing. I started out this journey in a size 22/24 and now am wearing a 6/8. I have lost 1/2 of my former self and could not be happier! I would recommend NWWLS to anyone considering the surgery - their whole patient approach (before, during and after surgery) is what really made this process a success for me.
2 Year Follow-Up: This weekend was my 2 year “Bandiversary.” It is so hard to believe this amazing journey started only two years ago. After two years I am down 110 total pounds from the band loss and the plastic surgery and now that I have lost most of the swelling I am actually able to “see” the results. I may be scratching on 40’s door but I look better now than I did through almost all of my 30’s! Early in the journey folks who had had the band awhile said “eventually” you will stop worrying about the band and the journey and just focus on the living and they are right. I am at a point now where the band is just part of who I am and I am so focused on the living part I really do not think about it unless someone asks. Two years ago I could barely walk around the block without my knees aching and now I am riding 15+ miles bike rides for fun and training for an amazing bike trip through the wine country of France. This process has helped me reclaimed my body which in turn helped me reclaim my life and do things I never thought I would do again, from snorkeling in the amazing waters of Hawaii to chances that are getting me closer to the career I have always wanted. Life is so amazing now it is just time to enjoy what it has to offer. All the best on your WLS journey and cheers to taking your first steps to reclaiming your body and your life.

---

^Top^

Comments About Northwest Weight Loss Surgery:
I'm happy to report that I was successfully banded on March 7 by Dr. Kevin Montgomery and Dr. Brad Watkins from Northwest Weight Loss Surgery - www.nwwls.com. The surgery took place at Evergreen Hospital in Kirkland WA. Everything went really smooth. I'm home recovering now, but I'm feeling great and will be going back to work soon.

This entire journey has been great. The staff at NWWLS is top notch. Once I decided this was something I wanted to do, they were behind me all the way doing their part to make it as easy as possible. Jessie is very motivating and knowledgeable. Sarah is herself a great motivator.

Trish makes the insurance paperwork and other financial arrangements seem like a breeze. Dr. Montgomery spent time going over the procedure with me in great detail. I felt like I knew every angle going into this.

I'd never stayed at Evergreen Hospital and was blown away by how nice it is. I stayed in a section that has either been recently built or remodeled. My private room was huge, had a great view and was very clean. The staff at Evergreen was also very nice and very supportive. I had nurses and techs that were curious about my surgery coming in to ask about it and check on me.

I'm 3 days into this new life, but so far it's all good! -- Susan

---

^Top^

Personal Comments:
I was banded on February 12. My recovery went fine. I was in hospital overnight. Went home the next morning. Rested in bed (watching videos most of the day). My DH made sure I had water and juice with me and I had some liquid pain medicine. Slept well that night.

Friday (Feb 14) I got up and showered and dressed in comfy sweats and sat at the PC for a while. Met my daughter for lunch (I drove but just about 10 miles) and held my baby granddaughter all afternoon. Cheryl was glad to be able to eat lunch without worrying about the baby and I just had some apple juice.

Saturday (Feb 15) I went to a concert in Seattle with a friend. She drove. I used my pain meds so I wouldn't be too uncomfortable sitting in the seat for a couple of hours.
Sunday (Feb 16) Mostly rested at home, did a little laundry. DH carried the baskets. Got my stuff ready for work on Monday.

Monday (Feb 17) Back to the usual grind.

Today (Feb 22) Made it through a week of work. Went shopping at grocery store and Costco yesterday. Helped by sister bake a cake and went to a movie also yesterday.
I feel fine, I'm still on liquids (Made shopping at Costco kinda not as much fun, but I did taste the Chai Tea). I miss my meat. I have it blended in soups, but miss chewing and the taste.

I have some soreness around the port incision (trying to avoid waistbands [like I had one anyway], my little steri strips are falling off and my tummy itches.
It was a good decision for me, I can tell a difference in my energy and state of mind in just one week. I know I've lost some weight but will wait till Monday when I see the Dr. (and Jessie) to see just how much.

That's my recovery journal. Hope it's not too boring, but I wanted you to know that it was a bit uncomfortable at times but nothing to worry about. - Good luck
PS. DH just blended me some cantalope for breakfast. Not bad!-- Esther

---

^Top^