Chellie's Journey

Username: Chellie
Location: North Central, PA, USA
Member Since: 1/12/2003
BMI: 48.0
Post Op
Surgery Type: Duodenal Switch (07/24/09)
Surgeon: John D. Husted, M.D.

Photos

Mine (1)
I'm in (4)

Uploaded on 8/8/09 1:41 pm	Uploaded on 8/8/09 11:00 am
Uploaded on 8/8/09 11:00 am	Uploaded on 10/12/06 6:07 am

Friends

Chellie has 28 Friends

Gwen E.	Shannon	hadleydriver
Karen Coppens	maureen	Kirk Thompson
JC	B. McCoy	Charlie

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Surgeon Testimonial

John D. Husted, M.D.
First impression- Very Kind and soft spoken, over time, found that he is very knowledgable and has a great bedside manner is firm in what he believes his patients need, will stick up for their needs and has a funny sense of humor.

Like least - hummm .. get back to you

Future patients should know - he will fight for you and what he thinks is best for you

He does have a structured aftercare program in conjuction with the nutrional program next door, and strict follow up and compliance with lab work is maintained. Rate him a 10. both surgerical competence and betside manner are great

any negitives would be with the hospital and the nursing staff itself. which they worked hard to contact my mother and myself to work on program changes. I hope to hear that these changes have occured

Hospital Reviews

(Harrisburg, PA) - Community General Osteopathic Hospital

Latest Surgery Support Comments

Comment by jfaria on 9/7/04 7:45 am

Chelle, Congratulations - you are doing awesome! I can't believe the success that you've had - I can only hope that I am that lucky! I wanted to let you know that you might want to look into Curves. I have back issues from a car accident and some days are better than others. I joined Curves in July of this year and it went really well for me. (I can't wait unitl I am 6 weeks out, so I can go back). They suggest doing 3 circuits, but I was only doing 2 because that's about all my back could handle. If I did more, I wouldn't be able to walk the next day - literally. Try it out - it was the perfect choice for me and maybe it will be for you, too. Jen

Comment by Tracy B on 7/16/04 8:55 pm

Chelle, It sounds like you're doing awesome! You should be so proud and happy :) I hope to join you on the losing side very soon! Enjoy your great accomplishments! Hugs, Tracy

Comment by brepau on 1/13/04 8:37 pm

Hi Chelle , Just want ed to say Hope you have a smooth recovery and you are a big loser. Take care and Get Well Soon

Click here for the surgery support page

Pittsburgh Convention with some Awesome friends and Staff-teammates. Working with OH has been one of the best experiences I have ever had....Kirk Thompson, a former OH staff member passed away last night... Here in this photo is a group of us at the Pittsburgh Convention... He will be missed by us all...(8/09/09)

Chellie's Journey
Chellie's Journey

That Broken Road
on December 29, 2009 5:37 pm

It's been about 2-3 years since I've updated this blog. Not because I haven't been here... Still here...Still working photos, Still giving and getting support... But, in essence hiding... hard word, but probably accurate... Obesity is such an insideous disease, that no matter how hard we fight to win, sometimes our paths aren't clear.

There are many who walk a straight line... pick a surgery, pick a surgeon, pick a date, go to the hospital, have surgery, welcome home, lose the weight (and the hair), life gets better ... the end.... happily every after, fairytale complete. Simple. Direct. Uneventful.

Then there are those of us whose journey's take on a different path. I started this weight loss surgery journey over ten years ago. It hasn't been that simple straight line, that happily ever after... It's that crooked path with twists and turns and stops and stalls and setbacks on the way... Starting at over 500 lbs. I was embarassed, ashamed, stunned, sick at the thought that I had gained that much weight. I was going to change my life... There was a surgery out there for me, and another, and another. A surgeon for me, and another and another, a surgery date.... and a date ... and a date. But wait... how can this be? I started with a VBG - Vertical Banded Gastroplasty... back in 1999? Strike One... Oh, and there was the RnY in 2004 (better?- debatable if you go with the think twice cut once theory... I just hit strike two) .. All the considerations everyone tells you factor in... I thought I knew the questions... thought I knew the answers... read the details of my profile to learn more... bottom line... never do a surgery just because it's close to family... never do a surgery because you don't have to drive so far, never do a surgery because they don't offer the one you want closer to your home, Bottom Line - Never Settle.

So here I am, and it's the end of another year, and there again have been many changes. The RnY of 2004? a thing of the past... Strike two indeed... regain I feel like the yo-yo of wls... The weight I was barely managing to keep controled at the last update kept coming, and coming, and coming... and before I knew it... I was back up to 409 lbs. If that isn't a reality slap... all the co-morbidities that "weren't so bad" were getting worse... back pains from herniated discs, and a broken an ankle at work almost 2 years ago...that left me out of work sporatically and with cronic pain in my hip, migraines, depression, you could pretty much say all of them were coming back and bringing friends... I Decided that I needed to take a sabbatical from work and get the health sitation straightened out. I also found myself researching the DS.

Now truthfully when I started thinking sabbatical I was looking to back surgeons, not another WLS, but fate had other plans... when talking to a friend, she suggested I talk to Dr. Husted... what could one more consult hurt right? Long story short... lots of research and a consult with the Doctor, and I'm heading towards my third attempt at WLS. Thinking I'm finally getting my straight shot... Nope... Insurance Denial... Had to fight the Insurance company, cuz after all... I've already had, not one, but two wls before this one... now I'm asking for a third surgery? yeah... I was asking... and they took their time... eventually it was appealed and approved after the first denial... but again... Think wisely... Insurance companies are big on denying these days and revisions especially are harder and harder to get. My appeal was a company technicality...they weren't being "moral or upstanding" or "wanting to do the right thing", or any of that... they lost cuz of group numbers... otherwise I would still be looking and waiting... Now don't get me wrong... I thank the Lord that technicality appeared. For without it... I would have been sitting on the bench still... As it happens, On July 24th of this year I had my second revision... this time from an RnY to a DS. Another twist in what I thought would be a direct path to weight loss. I remain cautiously optimistic. I'm losing weight again, slowly it seems to me... but 87 lbs in the 4.5 months that I have been at it, is worth it to me. I will take every gram of weight loss fought so hard for. The surgery like the others is a tool to be used wisely and with responsiblity. I hope I keep that in mind when times get tough.

And while I can sit here and look for reasons to blame (myself) and failure of each prior surgery, because each in their own way failed me as much as I failed myself. I need to let go of the past, let go of the failures of the past surgeries, and take control over what is my current journey. No, I'm not failing this journey, this surgery. But I am holding on to the loss of the others... the loss of their success and I think that interfers with me controlling the journey I'm on because I'm so afraid of where I've been and being there again..

It doesn't really matter that the path that my WLS journey led me wasn't the straight and narrow, fast track And maybe there is a reason I needed to experience the individual journeys that made this one mine... Maybe I need to let go and see that each of these experiences had a purpose in my life. Each of the prior WLS were their own experiences. I need to let this Be and let it go with faith and hope that it takes off and takes me where I need to go... I need to write the progression and fiill in the blanks, so I can let go of the past journey and look into the future ... One where I learn to control and not be controlled.

With many Blessings,
Chellie

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Update
on October 8, 2006 4:48 pm

Hi all, With starting this new profile system, I thought it would be a good time to update my story. I am almost 3 years Post-op from my revision surgery. I have not lost all the weight I have wanted to lose, BUT I have not gained it back either... I struggle between 5-10 pounds that I need to keep fighting. My goal is still to lose another 75 pounds. But, life is much better. I can move! I can do things I couldn't think of doing at 500 lbs. I've even started taking for granted "little things" like walking from the car to the store and not getting out of breath...

I need those reminders back... and I need to set new goals and new focus. I have a huge part of my health back, but there is more I can have if I can get that focus. A messsage to all of you out there-- life changes... but we do need to stay on top of the process and on target with the tool, the eating and the water... My head is struggling to stay in that game.

I started volunteering for OH in the photos dept, I now am one of the co-team leaders for the department.

Gwen and Shannon are awesome coworkers. And, the photo team volunteers that stuck in there with us (maureen, karen, and mark) you guys are the best.

Blessings and Hugs
Chellie

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My focus, My Goal
on November 20, 2004 12:00 am

Hi All...
Wanted to take a moment to say hi and update a bit... I am now down to 322lbs. This is 178lbs from my absolute heaviest. I have gone from a 7x to a 22/24 top and to a 26 pants. Starting to have a problem with the saggy skin under my arms, breasts, and especially my thighs... strange... as I lose, my thighs are the last place that I am losing... like it's leaving everywhere but there... oh well... this too shall pass. I am planning on buying myself a total gym for Christmas, my present to myself. I know if I want to keep losing I have to get with the exercise. No way around that. After being almost 500lbs, I will be happy if I can get to 250 and get the loosened skin taken care of and toned up. I don't see myself as ever being under a size 16 and you know, I'll be okay with that if I can be a HEALTHY 16. My focus is trying to be the healthiest I can be. I may get slack from others who have had surgery that will say, but that is still obese.... yes it is, but look at how far I have come... I've already lost more weight than most adults weigh. I'm going to keep on my path (which is slow, but steady) and one day be the turtle at the end of the race.

Blessings and Happy Holidays,
Chellie

Exercise??? UGH... Ive gotta do something!
on September 6, 2004 12:00 am

Wow... time flies huh? I am still losing... my doc says it's slowing down and I need to start exercising to keep my metabolism up... which I know... but truly I hate exercise... which is partly why I gained the weight in the first place. I'm going to have to change my thinking and start with some form of program... as soon as my back heals... oh that ... forgot to share that... Getting ready to go back to work for the next school year ... must of lifted or moved something wrong...for the last week my back has been killing me ... the doc says it's a sprained or strained muscle... so it's flexeril and anti-inflammatory... ugh... well if it isn’t one thing its another (grin) ... this too shall pass...

Blessings... Chelle

What a Tool
on July 13, 2004 12:00 am

Hi... I am so excited... almost six months out.. and am down to 350... that is -148... awesome!... I just cant believe it... I am off my meds for my knees. I don’t use my CPAP anymore... and I am gaining so much energy... and on the vanity end... I'm down from a 7x (tight at that) to a 28W... I am thrilled... I know this is where many of you start... well... it's a stop on my way down... I sit here grinning... wow...how awesome is this tool!

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