lorr.grassley's Profile

Name: Lorraine G.
Username: lorr.grassley
Location: Kenmore, WA, USA
Member Since: 1/4/2007
BMI: 46.6
Post Op
Surgery Type: RNY (10/19/07)
Surgeon: Joseph Chebli, M.D.

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Lorraine G. has 9 Friends

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Surgeon Testimonial

Joseph Chebli, M.D.
Very ,very sure of himself, almost to the point of being "cocky sure!"Over time I realized that I did not want to have a surgeon that was not sure of himself. I realized what I saw as "cocky" was really a confidence in his ability that I liked.

The first thing I noticed at my first individual conference was how organized to the extreme he and his office staff were. I LIKE organized! TO ME THAT SAYS EVEN THE LITTLE THINGS DO NOT FALL BETWEEN THE CRACKS. He made sure I had all the information and he was very patient in answering all my questions, and especially my husband's questions. MY HUSBAND DOES NOT PARTICULARLY LIKE DOCTORS. He mostly feels that they do not take enough time with each patient, just hurries them through the process. He really liked Dr. Chebli right off because he took the time to explaineverything as many times as needed so we understood. He took great care in making sure we understood everything at each appointment.

The office staff are wonderful. They met my needs though sometimes a little slower than I would have liked. When something is so very important to you, it is sometimes hard to remember that you are not the ONLY patient!!

One of the things I like is the mandatory aftercare and that he tells you up front that it will be necessary for the rest of your life.

Dr. Chebli requires a lot of presurgery testing, but it made me feel confident that he was not cutting corners anywhere.

I had an ulcer that just would not heal and the process he went through, even to insisting to an outside doctor that they do certain things they did not feel necessary, made me feel like he was not willing to make shortcuts. Twice my surgery was delayed for reasons that he felt were just not safe at the moment. Though I was very frustrated with the delays, I ended up having a good feeling of safty, and confidence that all would go well when the surgery day came.

I would give Dr. Chebli a top rating and reccomend him to any person wanting a TOP doctor!! One they could trust completely. I feel he always has my best interests in sight.

Member Interests

Family & Friends - My Family & Friends are my lifesavers.
Quilting - I have to always be doing something with my hands.
Meeting People - My weight has kept me a very private person most of my life
Gardening - My most loved exercise.At present difficult, but I figure out ways to do it.

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Latest Surgery Support Comments

Comment by PlicketyCat on 10/21/07 8:42 am

Hi Lorraine, hope everything went well on Friday and that you're bouncing back. With any luck, you'll be home from the hospital soon and back with us.

Comment by mlou on 10/18/07 12:00 pm

Good luck, Lorraine! Wishing you a safe and successful surgery and a quick and easy recovery.

Comment by judyanne on 10/16/07 5:24 pm

Friday is your day! Just remember you are on the journey of a lifetime. Try to enjoy every minute. It may sound weird now, but know that you are cared for and prayed for here, and all too soon this will be but a memory and you will be an inspiration to someone else. I am waiting for you on the losers' bench!

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Lorraine
lorr.grassley's Blog

January 12, 2008 - I can hardly believe it!
on January 12, 2008 9:20 pm

I turned 66 last week and had my 3 month checkup on the 10th of January, or almost 3 months. 9 days early!

I have now lost a total of 58 pounds, 36 pounds since the day of surgery. Not real fast compared to many at "Group" but making me very pleased. I have had more food issues recently than I did at first, but I have also speeded up the adding of new foods.

I am not eating a lot of meat, but eating a lot of fruit and fresh vegetables, the 2 things I actually missed the most. I get from 75 to100 grams of protein each day including my Protein Shakes and things like non fat and low fat dairy products. One of my all time favorite foods, refried beans is on my menu several times each week. One of my favorite meals is a small amount of "no fat added refried beans" and "low fat cream cheese" on a saltine cracker. I eat some meat, mostly sea food and chicken but that is all. I find I have a hard time with any other meat at present.

One of the things that has been amazing to me is the fact that from the day I returned home from the hospital, my bladder "stress incontinence" has totally disappeared after almost 42 years of suffering terribly with it. This was a totally unexpected PLUS!! If for no other reason, the surgery was worth it!!

My blood pressure has dropped to normal and actually below, making further meds unnecessary. I have dropped from a size 26 to a size 20 and am feeling great most of the time. I still seem to struggle with food unconsciously slipping down my throat before I have made a decision to stop chewing, sounds dumb right? Well, for me, all it takes is concentration on my husband telling me something, or listening to friends at dinner talk and all of a sudden I realize food has gone down before I intended and was not chewed enough. Usually all it takes is stopping eating for a few minutes and then all seems well again, but about 3 times in this 3 month period it has all come back up and that is not a pleasant feeling. In fact it immediately ends my meal!

My back issues are not getting better yet at this point and I am not pleased about that but time will tell. I feel sure that in the future this will improve.

In general I am feeling so glad I made the decision to have the surgery and know my life already has taken a turn for the better. I feel healthy and happy. And nothing really compares right now like the feeling of getting on the scale and seeing those pounds gradually go down.

I am now able to do 40 minutes a day on my recumbant bicycle and am looking forward to walking without my cane in the future. That will open up many new sources of exercise for me.

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10-29-07 Surgery 10 days ago
on October 29, 2007 8:30 am

Today I am back to work. Getting home from the hospital to find my husband with pneumonia was difficult. Instead of him home taking care of me, I was worried about him and trying to take care of him. But he is well on the mend, thanks to antibiotics, and we are both doing well now.

I woke up from surgery and my husband said my first words were, "I feel great!" And I did! The long wait for this surgery was finally over and I was now on my way to a better, healthier life.

My first week was both better and worse than I expected. I felt great, and had much less pain that I expected. But I did not anticipate gaining 8 pounds during the 48 hours in the hospital. That was a little discouraging, that is NOT why I did this surgery. But when I thought about it I realized it was all water, the IV's were going the entire time I was there. How could I not gain!!

Today I am back to my surgery day weight, so now I am on the losing side.

I am finding so far I have had no issues with food. My only issue is getting all the pills and "chews" down me every day. This is not a challenge I even remotely expected! I have always been able to toss a large number of pills in my mouth and drink a couple cups of water and that was it.

Now I am finding the process of getting pills crushed, and then making them go down quite difficult, but getting a little easier. I will be glad when I can just swallow one whole again though.

Other than that it is going great.

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10/16-07 3 days until Surgery
on October 16, 2007 11:05 am

After my recent endoscopy showing an ulcer still there at the end of September, I was dreading my appointment with Dr. Chebli the next week because it would mean yet another delay.

I was very discouraged the morning of Oct. 4th and went off to my appointment with a heavy heart, yet knowing inside that whatever was best for my health and safety would be the decision Dr. Chebli would make. Over these last 11 months I had learned to trust him a great deal.

Right off the bat Dr. Chebli got to the question about the ulcer and explained to my husband and I what the options were. It was obvious he had put much thought into the possibilities and after much discussion and drawing diagrams the 3 of us all agreed that we would go ahead with the surgery on the 19th and he would remove the lingering ulcer at the same time.

As we left the office my husband said, "for a second there I thought you were going to cry!" Well, I might have, but right off Dr. Chebli made me realize that there were options at this point and we really could go ahead with the surgery I had waited so long for.

So....3 more days and then I will be on the Post-op side of this Journey.... I am all smiles this week and more than ready!!!!

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9-11-07 Still Waiting
on September 11, 2007 1:10 pm

Can you believe I am still waiting?? I am not a patient person and this has been a difficult 6 months for me. When I was told that because of medications I was taking I would have to go off them and then wait 6 months I was devastated. All of a sudden the weight loss I had experienced since making my decision was all oiut of whack and I was gaining....I was miserable and depressed. It took about 6 weeks to get hold of my emotions again and accept that I knew it was for the best, I did not want to have the surgery before it was safe to do so. I trusted my doctor to have the correct answers.

So now here I am again looking towards having the long awaited surgery sometime in October. I am ready...more than ready and am more determined than ever to see this through.

Now for a confirmed date!!
lg

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3-29-07
on March 29, 2007 8:21 pm

Most tests are done and as soon as I get cleared on the ulcer, hopefully on April 22, I will be able to schedule my surgery. This has seemed a loooong wait. But I have not wasted the time. I have now lost 30 pounds since the first of the year and know this loss will help me after surgery. I am a patient person but this feels like a very long wait for something I was so set to do immediately when I first met with Dr. Chebli in November. I have started my annual Gardening sessions so am not having a hard time getting in some exercise on most days. The hardest thing about it is making myself stop before I am totally exhausted. I have had to learn to pace myself and just take a few minutes every half hour or so and just sit for about 2 or 3 minutes. I am so counting on being able to get rid of this cane within a few months after surgery. It has been almost 5 years now that I have had to use it and that is one of the things I am really looking forward to. It might NOT happen, but it won't be for lack of trying!!

Now to just do a little more waiting. Looking forward to getting that DATE tied down soon for surgery!!

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