For as long as I can remember, I was overweight. I convinced myself it wasn’t really a problem—that with a little effort, I could easily lose the weight… until I couldn’t.

By the summer of 2022, I weighed three hundred seventy pounds and was deeply unhappy. I felt constant anxiety about my weight, and food had become my way of coping. Every meal reminded me how out of control things felt. Depression and anxiety set in, and I finally knew I needed professional help.

I made an appointment with my primary doctor, and during that visit, weight loss surgery was recommended. Bariatric surgery wasn’t something I had seriously considered before. I was referred to Dr. Fridley, but the thought of surgery terrified me—I had never had any kind of surgery before. I held onto that referral for months, trying to convince myself just to make the call. Finally, in late November, I scheduled an appointment for early December.

I was so nervous I felt sick. In my mind, asking for help felt embarrassing, like admitting I had created this problem myself. But I also knew I couldn’t keep going the way I was.

That first appointment was intimidating, but I went—and I’m so glad I did.

From the moment I walked in, Dr. Fridley and the team at Surgical Associates of Bayonet Point made me feel supported. Everyone was friendly, compassionate, and understanding. I realized that most of my fear came from the unknown. That first visit was incredibly informative and helped put me at ease.

Each appointment after that became easier. Dr. Fridley took the time to answer every question and address every concern—I had a lot of them. Damian taught me so much about healthy eating and proper portions, helping me find better choices for foods I already enjoyed. They made the entire process far better than I ever expected.

Today, I’m down about one hundred fifty pounds.

I have more energy. My mental health has improved tremendously. I honestly feel better than I ever have. It took hard work, but it was worth every step. I truly don’t believe I could have done this without Dr. Fridley and the entire team at Surgical Associates of Bayonet Point.