George is a 58 year old retired school teacher with a farm. He currently farms 750 acres with his wife and son and works for Wackenhut Security.
George gained 10 pounds every year beginning with his sophomore year in high school when he weighed 130 pounds. He taught school for 30 years and stayed in the 220-230 weight range. When he retired in 2001, he weighed nearly 260.
George recalls, “My eating habits over the years haven’t been the best. I didn’t have regular eating times. When I did eat I was like a starving wolf, eating as much as I could - as fast as I could.” He ate at the school’s cafeteria daily, and it didn’t help that he grew up in a family where a clean plate was mandatory.
Over the years various doctor and other supervised weight loss programs were tried, as well as over-the-counter drugs. If George did lose weight, he gained it back. Doctors, year after year, told him that he had to lose the weight.
It got to the point in 2003 that George weighed 290 - 300 and couldn’t walk 50 yards without having to stop to catch his breath. This was an even larger problem since he had just purchased another farm that had to be maintained.
“My weight problem was causing a number of other health issues. It was the biggest problem I had. I realized if I didn’t do something I was going to die.”
Seminars helped George learn about the LAP-BAND® Adjustable Gastric Band procedure. This procedure was more appealing to George because it was less invasive than his alternatives. In June 2004, George underwent the procedure at Akron General Medical Center.
“Whenever I went somewhere at Akron General I was always with someone… I was never alone waiting anywhere.” This high level of service and caring continued through the surgery. “Dr. Chlysta was very attentive, as were the nurses.”
George doesn’t feel that his experience at Akron General was unique. “If anyone took a little walk through the hospital they could tell that people really care- and care about their jobs- whatever job it is.” George, perhaps more optimistic than most patients, considered his surgery “a mini vacation” – and maybe it was, after trying to work two farms weighing nearly 300 pounds!
Now, George weighs around 225 pounds and wants to lose 25 more. Not too long ago he ran a ¾ mile in a gratifying time. He has been much more active and frequently goes hunting as well as fishing, with his son. Their hunting trips include Caribou hunting in Quebec and bear hunting in Manitoba. “The surgery has worked for me so far!”
LAP-BAND is a registered trademark of Allergan, Inc.
George Eberwine — Newcomerstown, Ohio 
