Testimonial
Let me start at the beginning...

Christmas of 2003: I received a letter from a high school friend. Yep, we have been friends since we were 15 years old. In this letter she states she has lost 125 pounds. I had to read this part four times before I came out of the shock enough to pick up the phone. We spent two hours talking about the Duodenal Switch and her helping me surf the Internet about the surgery. I spent the next two weeks online going through every support site and information site I could find.

January 2004: I went to my doctor and talked to him about the Duodenal Switch. He didn't know anything about it but was more than willing to listen to me and look at the papers I had printed off. He agreed to help me if I would quit smoking! So, I went home and never pick up another cigarette.

See, I can control most everything in my life but eating. I eat when I am happy and when I am sad. I eat when the sun is shinning and when it is raining. Truth is, I just like to eat!!

At the end of January, my doctor sent off the paper work I needed to get this surgery approved and of course, I was denied right off. Because I am a TennCare Select patient I had to have the help of my case manager who was an angel through out the process. I just went right back to my doctor and we rearranged the letter and reapplied. I was approved six days later. Ok, I emailed the Governor, my State Rep, Senator and the head of TennCare Select too. I kept in touch with Ellen at Dr. Husted's office and tried to keep her up on what I was doing. Guess you could say I wanted this surgery real bad!

I found this site to have the most information on filing papers and how to do it. It helped both my Doctor and me. www.gastricbypassfamily.com You have to know that most insurance companies will deny you right off, hoping you will go away. Research says that 89% of those who reapply get approved. Guess they want to see if you are serious enough to fight for any surgery.

I know you have heard folks say this surgery has saved their lives but when I tell you this, it is true in more than one way.

I had the Duodenal Switch on April 2, 2004, which was a Friday. All went well and I was home the next Wednesday. I felt pretty good and was up and about in no time. That Sunday, Easter as it were, I started throwing up blood. Yes, it scared my husband and me. Early Monday morning I went back to Baptist Hospital and discovered by the end of the day I had a serious liver infection that had nothing to do with my DS and was back in surgery. For the next seven weeks I spent time in and out of ICU and was for all intent and propose, a very sick woman.

During this time Dr. Husted would not let me lose weight, (I had a tummy tube) which upset me the most, something about losing weight while my liver was healing...I don't understand it all but was very grateful that he did. The liver doctor told us that if I had not had the surgery (DS) that brought my liver to the attention of Dr. Husted, he would have given me ninety days at which time he couldn't have done much to help me. I would have died....... So you see, Dr. Husted saved my life, quite literally.

Well, on a happier note. I am so glad I had the DS as it is now October 2004 and I have lost 75 pounds in four months. I started at 257 and was talking blood pressure meds, cholesterol meds, sore feet, knees and lower back, looking at Diabetes 2. It was hard to get up in the morning and get comfortable at night. Now.....anything goes. I am off the meds and feel like a "spring chicken" as my Granma use to say.

I went from a size 26/28 to a solid size 14 so far.

I love being able to eat anything I want with in reason. I eat a lot of homemade soups, which is great by me during the cold months. I love the homemade broccoli soup my husband makes for me. But I also enjoy the beef stew and chicken soup as well.

I love to eat and that hasn't changed at all. I just don't eat as much and I eat more often.

If you are thinking about this surgery, all I can tell you is it is the best thing I did for myself. After a lot of research, I found that Dr. Husted is by far the best when it comes to the surgery but also his bedside manner can't be beat. He is kind, compassionate, caring and takes the time with you each and very time he sees you. He was in my hospital room as late as 10:00 pm just checking up on me. His staff members Leslie and Jennifer are just as wonderful as he is, the ladies who run his office as equally as professional and sweet. I was amazed as too how many times Leslie came by to see how I was doing.

There are no better doctors or staff than you will find here at Metabolic Surgery Center at Baptist Hospital.

Update - December 2005 - Eighteen months have past and I am feeling better than ever. Look pretty good too, so says my husband. Have lost a total of 102 pounds at this point. So happy to have had this surgery and would do it again.