I wanted to take a few minutes to let you know how I feel about my surgery. Today is exactly 1 month since I had my surgery performed by Dr. Mehta at Robert Wood Johnson Hospital in New Brunswick, NJ. At my weigh in yesterday I have already lost 68 lbs and I am amazed!! My clothes are all too big and I am getting compliments from everyone I see. When I first decided to go ahead with the surgery I was filled with trepidation, I am known as a big baby when pain is concerned. I was very pleased that the post op pain was to a minimum! I was up and walking the next day and was ready to leave the hospital in only 2 days! And I was back to work after one week! I really want to thank your staff too, without Debbie dealing directly with my insurance company I am sure they never would have approved me, she will surely be missed! Lulu was and is a constant source of encouragement. Thank heavens for both of them. Also, I have to tell you that Dr. Patel is one of the kindest physicians I have ever had; he helped me immensely in the run up to the surgery. Dr. Patel is a huge asset to the Mehta Bariatric Center. Dr. Mehta explained all of the possible risks of the surgery and I took them all to heart, however, I can say at this point I have experienced no ill effects. I suffered from severe sleep apnea before the surgery and I am thrilled to tell you that now I sleep through the night, every night and I don’t get sleepy in the middle of the day anymore! Also I used to take a pill every day for acid reflux disease, and since the operation I have not had to take them anymore! My only regret in this whole matter is that I didn’t do this years ago. Dr. Mehta, I don’t know if I will every be able to properly thank you for changing my life! All I can do is be a voice on the street and tell any who are in need about you and what you and your staff can do. I know that you do this every day and it is your profession, but as for me and my family, you will always have a place at my table! (The servings may be small but you can have seconds!) I don’t want to get all melodramatic but you saved my life. No one has ever done that before and again I will never be able to thank you enough. I can’t believe this all started by hearing a commercial on New Jersey 101.5. That day changed everything for me. I called for an appointment and was in your office 2 days after and before I knew it a surgery date was set, insurance approved, and all of the pre-op tests commenced. Everything happened so very fast and so efficiently, you should be proud of everyone in your office. And in closing I also must express my thanks for the after care you provided. I attended my first post-op support group a few days ago and it was very helpful to meet and talk with others that are in my position. That interaction will go a long way to giving me not only a positive mental attitude but to help motivate me to lose more and to maintain my new healthy lifestyle. I know that you don’t need to do it but thank G-D that you do. I will never miss one. Well I have bloviated quite enough, feel free to use my story any way you deem fit. I will be happy to talk to any one on your behalf. If you have a patient who needs encouragement or questions answered by a non doctor have them call me. Thank you for giving me my life back.*