Chuck's Journey

Chuck’s Journey

 

This weekend with the wedding rehearsal, wedding & reception.  Then pumpkin picking and pumpkin have a lot of temptation but I was good all weekend.  While we were pumpkin picking a Berry Scary Acres Ruet Farm my nephew gave me a grilled corn on the cob.  I was able to eat the entire thing then 10 minutes later the dumping started.  Not sure if I ate to fast, to much, to much starchy vegetables or what.   This upset my whole system all day that when I began to eat leftovers from the wedding I began dumping all over again.  I had to leave my sister’s house early because I was so ill.  Not sure again what caused this since it was what I ate the night before.  Never the less I purged my system twice yesterday.  Not fun!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Belt adjustments

Yesterday walking in from lunch my paints fell down around my knees in the middle of the parking lot.  I keep forgetting to adjust my belt when it needs it.  Err!!!!!!!!  It is a fun err!!!!!!!!!

Chuck's Journey: Journal Entry #4

Chuck’s Journey: Journal Entry #4

 

Now that I decided to have the surgery I need to get Dr. Gedeon agree to do the surgery and allow all that I did in 2012 be used so I would not have to start again.  I schedule my appointment with the doctor and explained how circumstances had changed.  I had more time off from work and my wife was now encouraging me to have the surgery.  I had to have my endoscope and it went very well.  I ended up have a sever sore throat but I was fine the next day.  I also needed to have a filter implanted to prevent blood clots.  I am allergic to cat scan die.  I was told the day before I was going to have the endoscope that I needed to be on steroids.  I was at work and had no money in my pocket to get the prescription.  Luckily my supervisor gave me the co-pay and I had the prescription transferred to Watertown from Torrington.  I got them just in time not to have the procedure canceled.  The procedure went well, until the next day in the late afternoon I began having an allergic reaction to the cat scan die.  I quickly to benedryl and by the next day I was fine.  I have been told that they do not need to give me the cat scan die again.  Hurray!!!! This was very scary, I was afraid to go to sleep.  With these two procedure done I was ready to have my surgery. 

 

Chuck's Journey: Journal Entry #3

Chuck’s Journey: Journal Entry #3

 

 

So I have decided to have the surgery.  My father had his life threatening back surgery in June 2012 and it was tremendously successful.  He healed and was better than he was for 20 years.  Amanda had her gastric bypass surgery and had some minor complications but has had a huge success with the surgery.  To date she has lost 185 pound.  Congratulations Amanda, we are all so very proud of you.  I spent the next 9 mo. Kick my self in the ass for not having the surgery.  I guess it just was not the right time for me.  In April 2013 I broke my back in two places L4 & L5 and herniated T12.  As I laid in bed suffering in crippling pain I realized I did not want to leave my legacy as morbidly obese dependant on my family to care for me.  I ended up using a wheelchair and two canes.  I slowly recovered and it is during this time I decided that my time is now to have the gastric bypass surgery.  My primary care doctor and orthopedic both agreed that it is in my best interest to have the surgery sooner than later.  My next step was to get in touch with Dr. Gedeon. 

 

Weight loss record so far

Weight loss record so far

 

9/3/13

27 pounds lost on the pre op diet

 

9/19/13

47 pounds lost on first Doctor appointment

 

10/8/13

64 pounds lost on second Doctor appointment

 

10/16/13

Went to primary care doctorand his scale says I was down another 8 ponds totaling 72 pounds lost. 

Chuck's Journey: 72 pounds down

Chuck’s Journey:

 

Went to primary care doctor Dr. Yoelson on 10/16/13 and the scale said I lost another 8 pounds.  That is 8 pounds in a week.  I have lost a total of 72 pounds.  My goal is 75 pounds by my next visit with Dr. Gedeon.  It looks like I am well on my way.  Dr. Gedeon’s office called and schedule my filter removal for 11/7/13.  I need to see Dr. Gedeon again on 11/12/13.  I got my flu shot and had lab work done at Dr. Yo’s office.  The lab results show I am low in iron and high in B12.  Everything else is good.  My wife Jen who has been the diet with me has lost 16 pounds and her lab work was excellent also.  Can’t ask for anything better.  I am so please with the results.

Journey Journal Entry 2: My descion not to have the surgery in 2012.

Journey Journal Entry 2: My descion not to have the surgery in 2012.

 

 

When we began a new year I was gung-ho to start my Journey of new healthier, happier thinner me.  Amanda and I began out dietary classes.  We went to see Dr. Gedeon at Bristol Hospital, we attended the support groups, we had a psych visit.  I had to have a stress test at Hartford Hospital because of my age, gender, family history and BMI that was over 50.  I passed the stress test with flying colors.  Hurray, my mom passed away at 42 years old of a heart attack and I had just turned 40 years old.  Amanda and I had our endoscopes scheduled for the same day.  While waiting to have the procedure done the doctor from Anastasia would not do the procedure because we did not have cardo clearance yet.  I lost a day from work.  Between leaving work early for doctor appointments and diet classes the weather was horrible I had been missing snow days from work.  My father had a life threatening spinal tumor that he choose to have the life threaten surgery to remove the tumor.  At the same time my grandfather unexpectedly sold the family home and that sent into a depression.  I began having thoughts on if this was the right time for me to have the surgery or not.  My youngest daughter just turned 9 years old and my wife Jen is disable.  Who was going to take care of them if I become disable myself or worse die.  Then Dr. g told me I had to have a filter to prevent blood clots and that was more time loss from work.  I had to take time off for Amanda’s surgery my father’s surgery.  Things were compounding on why I should not have the surgery.  After speaking with Amanda, my wife, brother, sister and father I choose not have surgery.  The timing was not right.  Amanda had her surgery on 6/27/12 while I was suffering my bronchitis that lasted two weeks.   

My Journey Started

My journey started in the summer of 2011.  My then 19 year old daughter Amanda began talking about have gastric bypass surgery.  To be honest I did not believe in the surgery at the time.  I believed it to be body mutilation.  I believed that if you really wanted to lose weight you could.  It was all a mind set.  I was so wrong!!!! I told my daughter that if she was going to pursue this she was going to have to do all the leg work.  She would need to call the doctors set up the appointments and I would just drive her back and forth.  What a surprise I had when she began scheduling the appointments for the doctors and the support group.  On a cold rainy November even in 2011 I brought Amanda to her first support group.  I was planning on staying in the car and playing on my mobile devise.  Amanda asked my to come inside because it was so cold out.  I agreed that it was getting cold and it would not hurt to just sit there and listen.  I might even learn a thing or two.  I met the team of Kerry, Tammy, Dr. G and Dr. O.  Within minutes they began speaking about the Swedish study show over 40 years of science show diet and exercise alone will not keep the weight off.  It was proven that with the gastric bypass surgery the weight will come off and stay off with diet and exercise.  I was hooked.  My journey began there.