Eric's Weight Loss Story

Eric Shangold was suffering from diabetic neuropathy and drop foot, and had hopes of getting placed on a kidney transplant list before his bariatric surgery with Dr. Erica Podolsky.

“I did the bariatric surgery for the sole reason of getting on the kidney transplant list never thinking that having weight loss surgery could get me off the transplant list,” Eric said.

Eric’s cardiologist Dr. Jonathan Vafai, suggested that he have bariatric surgery and recommended Dr. Podolsky. At first Eric, a Boynton Beach resident, was hesitant to have bariatric surgery but his wife offered to have it was well, which, eased his worries of going through weight loss surgery.

“If you do it (weight loss surgery) I’ll do it with you!” said Dianne.

“My sleeve surgery only took 30-45 minutes. She completes her bariatric surgeries with robotic-assisted surgery module,” Eric said.

The Shangold’s went to meet Dr. Podolsky and she gave them information they needed and set-up their surgeries. Dr. Podolsky has a whole program you enroll in before surgery including meeting with Samantha Barone, dietitian, and Diane a bariatric nurse as well as a session with a psychologist. Eric had a sleeve gastrectomy and Dianne had a gastric bypass, both performed by Dr. Erica Podolsky at Delray Medical Center.

Dr. Armen Margaryan, a nephrologist, had some great news for Eric after the procedure. Eric could come off dialysis because his kidneys began functioning once again. After losing weight from the weight loss surgery, Eric no longer needed peritoneal dialysis he was doing at home every night for ten and a half hours every night for the last two years.

“I’ve also stopped all diabetic medicine,” Eric said.

The Shangolds’s see Dr. Noemi Margareyan, Dr. Armen Margaryan’s wife, and internist, for their primary care. Dr. Vafai is also the Shangold’s cardiologist. During a trip to Maryland, Eric passed out and an EMT team rushed him to the hospital. The first thing Dianne did is call Dr. Vafai’s office. Dr. Vafai was able to call Dianne and gave her support and answer any questions about Eric having a pacemaker put in while at the hospital in Maryland.

“And I have stopped all blood pressure medicine,” Dianne said.

The Shangold’s said that Samantha and Dianne taught them weight loss from the surgery is not the goal it’s the changing of your attitude about food and lifestyle. Eric said that he used to be able to eat anything without getting full but that now he’s full with just three to four ounces of food.

After bariatric surgery with Dr. Podolsky, Eric lost 94 lbs. to date and Dianne has lost 104 lbs.

Dianne also has a severe bleeding disorder and Dr. Podolsky and her team carefully took that into consideration and provided that type of elevated care Dianne needed. Dianne got clearance from her hematologist.

“I had to have transfusions before and after. Everything worked out fine,” Dianne said.

Dianne said that Dr. Podolsky also repaired her hiatal hernia because she had been suffering from terrible reflux.

“Dr. Podolsky, Dr. Margaryan and Dr. Vafai have all been terrific and done everything for us we needed,” Dianne said.

*This testimonial reflects the results achieved by this patient. As each case is different and must be independently evaluated and managed, actual results will vary.