Sean Fell

A diabetic for more than 20 years, Sean Fell struggled with drastic weight fluctuations for as long as he could remember. In 2019, he was taking countless prescriptions and reached his heaviest weight yet at 345 pounds. After suffering a minor heart attack, he and his family agreed it was finally time Sean take control of his health and consider bariatric surgery.

After consultations with Dr. Neyra at Oviedo Medical Center and a strict diet change, which resulted in a loss of 40 pounds, Sean was approved for a gastric sleeve procedure to remove 90% of his stomach. “The ultimate reason I decided to go through with the surgery was that Dr. Neyra said he wanted me to still be able to enjoy food. That philosophy was so much more attainable and realistic than what I'd heard from other doctors. I knew I could do this — and stick to it.”

Since his procedure in December 2019, Sean has lost an additional 100 pounds and counting. As a result, he's taking less insulin, reduced his blood pressure prescription, and no longer needs cholesterol medication or the help of a CPAP machine to breathe at night. He also reports saving hundreds of dollars in groceries each month and having more energy for activities with his family.

“This surgery has changed my life for the better in so many ways. But it's the little things, like being able to bend at the waist to tie my shoe, that remind me how far I've come. I'm still about 50 pounds away from my goal weight, but I continue to feel stronger every day. I'm grateful to the team at Oviedo Medical Center for their excellent care, as well as their help in understanding the balance between enjoying food and prioritizing my health.”