Testimonials

***THIS IS AN UPDATE FOR MY TESTIMONIAL*** Growing up I was always the chubby girl. I was always the biggest girl at school and the biggest person in my family. I had done diets with my Mom, who was also obese, starting in 1996 when I was 11 years old and in the 6th grade. At that point I already weighed 275 lbs. I was active, just like all the other kids, and had no health problems. Little did I know was what the future would bring... Over the next 10 years I continued to slowly gain, and gain... and gain some more. I met Dr. Husted for the first time in 2005, but was denied several times by the insurance company I had at that time. It was at my first meeting with him, and his explanation of the Duodenal Switch, that helped me to realize the DS was right for me. At age 21 my fantasy world of being "fat, but healthy" came crashing down when I was rushed to the hospital with excruciating chest pains and a very high blood pressure. I remember not being able to breathe, and being surrounding by tons of doctors, and for the first time I was scared for my life. I was diagnosed with tachycardia, which I was told by my cardiologist was strictly weight related. He told me at the rate my heart was working to keep me alive, I'd be lucky to live to see 25. I also developed more health problems along the way: hypertension, edema, venous stasis and sleep apnea, just to name a few. After meeting my soulmate and getting engaged in the summer of 2008, I knew that without Weight Loss Surgery I'd never have kids and wouldn't live to grow old with my husband. It was shortly thereafter that I learned Dr. Husted was coming back to Kentucky to set up his practice at Commonwealth Bariatric Center. An answered prayer for sure! I was ecstatic!! My first appointment there was before the building was even complete, but I couldn't wait, and Dr. Husted gladly saw me. For 4 years Dr. Husted had been the only surgeon I had EVER met who would operate on me with no reservations. For other surgeons my weight caused me to be too high-risk, or their equipment had a weight limit. A few places even needed me to lose 100-200 lbs before surgery. I had unsuccessfully tried EVERY diet known to man, and could barely walk, let alone exercise. I had more than an eating problem; I had a metabolism problem-- a problem Dr. Husted understood. May 1, 2009 was the first time I met Cathi & Gayla at CBC. They were absolutely wonderful! I felt like I had known them my entire life, and not only are they mentors who are full of information, but they are a friend to each and every patient who walks through the door at CBC. Dr. Husted openly discussed with me the risks of surgery, what would happen if he couldn't perform a full "switch," and how he would modify the surgery to make it work (basically a VSG) until I had lost enough weight to finish the surgery. When I was finally approved for surgery I was 23 years old and weighed 636 lbs, with a BMI of 99. My weight affected EVERYTHING in my life. I was still working full-time, but I'd stepped down from a higher position and taken a pay cut, plus a cut in hours; I couldn't go to Wal-Mart, or anywhere really for that matter, and simple tasks like walking to the truck, or to the bathroom at work, and taking a shower, sent me directly into tachycardia. I lived every single minute of my life afraid of dying, or becoming completely homebound. I was headed straight to a very young death. I had all odds stacked against me: an extremely high BMI, heart problems, breathing problems, high risk for blood clots... and Dr. Husted & CBC saved my life. Dr. Husted was able to perform a full switch during my operation and he done so laparoscopic. This man operated on me-- 5'7" tall and 636lbs-- and didn't have to cut me open! His surgical skills are astonishing, and I am living proof of that! The nurses and entire staff at both Cumberland Bariatric Center and Lake Cumberland Regional were phenomenal! Everyone from the receptionist behind the desk when I checked in the morning of surgery, to the CNAs, were outstanding. The nurses took care of me with the utmost concern and were absolutely precious. I was never made to feel as if I were an inconvenience because of my size. Since surgery I've had good days and I've had bad days. The first few weeks I wondered what in the hell I had done! I've had to learn my body all over again, and introduce new foods one at a time... but there's one thing I would never change, and that's my decision to have surgery, because I'd do it again in a heartbeat. In the 7 months since my surgery I have lost an amazing 202 lbs!!! It's been an amazing journey so far; a rollercoaster of emotions, realizations and dreams coming true. The best part is, I know the best is yet to come! For the first time in 24 years I am able to live! I am able to be a better wife, daughter, employee & friend. I look forward to being a mother and living a healthy life. Dr. Husted and CBC gave me my life back! Dr. Husted has shown me time and time again that he cares about me and my well being. He answers my emails, my phone calls, squeezes me into last minute appointments when I'm struggling with something, and truly wants his patients to succeed!!! **As of right March 14, 2011 I have lost 371 lbs and am in the beginning stages of approval for plastic surgery!**

Before	After

UPDATE: I am almost at the 2-year anniversary of my weight loss surgery, and wanted to let everyone know that things are still going well. I have dropped a total of about 160 pounds, and am maintaining at around the 180ish mark! My lifestyle is stil the active same that it has been since I was physically healed from my surgery, and am still going strong. My diet consists of about 100 grams of protein throughout the day, and am back to running comfortably, and can run more than a mile now! The greatest hit that I've had taken is on my bank account buying clothes...and I do believe that I have sponsored Goodwill for the next 10 years with what I've donated, which has been about every 3-4 months. I am now back to the size I was when I was a senior in High School, and still going strong. The last time I went to my family physician for something, and they took my BP and pulse, they had to make sure I was still alive because it was so low!! For those who are recovering and continuing the weight loss process...keep on keeping on! For those considering...it's the best choice I've ever made medically! God bless and take care!

Before	After

Several years ago, I found an old, audio cassette of me at age four pretending to do a radio show. One of the first things out of my mouth was, “My name is Amy and I’m fat!” Such has been my identity for the past twenty nine years. I never remember a time growing up when I felt normal or as pretty as the other girls. As a child, I was chubby but not obese, but by my late teen years, I internalized this “fat” identity so much, that I became what I thought I already was. At age 27, I lost forty pounds, became pregnant, and gained ninety pounds. In 2007, I was at my wits end and decided to have lap band surgery at another facility. My husband reluctantly applied for the surgery, too, and together we were ready to embark on this journey. My world came crashing down when my husband was approved for the surgery, and I was permanently rejected because of a previous esophageal disorder. In my mind, it was a death sentence. For every pound my husband lost after surgery, I gained a pound, and then some. By the time I heard of The Commonwealth Bariatric Center, I was 5 feet, 5 inches tall and weighed over 300 pounds. My husband met Cathi Roskind at her previous place of employment and she was able to connect me with Dr. Husted and the CBC. He was willing to take on my case, even though he knew it was difficult. We decided to go with the duodenal switch, mostly because he felt that with my past esophageal problems, it would be best to focus more on the intestinal types of surgeries instead of those near the top of the stomach. On April 2, 2009, at 334 pounds, I had my surgery. Two weeks after I came home, I had to go back to the hospital for a three day stay due to dehydration. It was on this hospital stay (one of three) that I learned my esophageal disorder, achalasia, had returned. No one could explain why. For the next six months, I lost weight rapidly (because I was unable to eat), but had major side effects that were debilitating. I remember going to the cemetery to see my grandmother’s grave and showing my husband where I wanted to be buried. However, God is good. I went to see the best specialists in KY and even had an appointment at the Mayo Clinic, but on my final UK visit, the doctors looked at my test results and reported that my condition had “magically” disappeared. God healed me. I have no doubt of this. People all over America had prayed for a miracle and God heard their prayers. I am now a year out from surgery and have lost 157 pounds. I have gone from a size 32 pants to a 14/16. Most importantly, though, for the first time in years, I have hope for a future. I catch myself thinking about things I want to do in five, ten and even twenty years, and this was something I wouldn’t allow myself to do even a year ago. I am off of my high blood pressure meds, my knees don’t hurt, and I can sit in a restaurant booth without trouble. Even though this experience was the hardest of my entire life, I would do it again. I had tried everything. I know that I would not have lived to see my daughter grow up if it had not been for the staff of the Commonwealth Bariatric Center believing in me. There were times during my hospital stays when I was so down and discouraged, that Cathi Roskind would come and sit with me for literally hours. She gave up her own personal time to encourage and uplift me. How many nurses would do this? The staff of the CBC are some of the most caring and genuine people I’ve ever known. Weight loss surgery is very difficult. It is not easy and anyone who tells you it is the easy way out, hasn’t done it. But, it is worth every heartache. I praise God that I was given a second chance at life. I plan to use this experience for positive and let Him use me in any way He deems necessary. If I can help you in anyway, feel free to contact me! I can assure you I will answer your questions honestly…

Before	After

I am one of those people that was athletic in school: football, wrestling, baseball, tennis, marching band, etc. but had bad genes all along the way, and when I went to college, they caught up with me. Then, after college, I started teaching and coaching, and when I saw the first team picture, I was appaled at what I saw. I wasn't what a coach should have looked like...I looked like the Stay-Puff Marshmallow man. I tried all the fad diets...Weight Watchers, Nutri-system, Atkins, protien shakes, liquid diets, salad diets, soup diets. But I liked see-food the best, whatever I saw, I ate. I had these uncontrollable cravings for REALLY bad stuff, like eating whole pizzas and a 20-sack of White Castle's...the cravings killed me! I tried the pill several times, and I would do it for 6 months, drop about 70 pounds each time, and after I went off the pill, I gain it back in about 6 weeks. Then I started looking at weight loss surgery...I needed some relief. I had kids and a wife I needed to live past my 50s for! I started looking at Dr. Husted mainly because he was close, only 30 minutes where I lived, and didn't want to travel 2-3 hours to Lexington and Georgetown. And, then I started my research on him, and found out we have one of THE top bariatric surgeons in our own backyard. I went to an informational seminar, and was so impressed, I never looked back. When I entered LCRH for surgery on 4-3-2009, I weighed 340 pounds. I had people so worried about me, even tried to bribe me with buying me cell phones and the like, if I didn't have this surgery. But I knew that I was in God's hands for this. I went through all the steps that the CBC needed for me to do, including choosing what surgery, and it's amazing...all you have to do is LISTEN TO YOUR DOCTOR/SURGEON AND ALL WILL BE WELL!! My surgery took a little longer than normal because I was smaller-framed than other patients, but Dr. Husted took the time to do it RIGHT!!! I chose the Duodenal Switch for several reasons, one mainly because I saw my family history, and knew that this would be the best option for me to be successful in my future. After my surgery, the CBC had a master playbook that was written specifically for pre-op, surgery day, and post-op, and I followed it TO THE LETTER, and I have had 100% success. I am now 10 months out, and I have lost approx. 140 pounds! I am floating around 200-204 pounds, give and take how much liquids I have consumed in a day! There have been NO surprises...CBC and Dr. Husted prepare you for ANY and ALL surprises...so I knew EXACTLY what to expect! I am 100% back into my activities, including cattle farming, running my girls around to their practices, continuing my work with the RCHS marching band...and feel GREAT!!!! I have not gained any weight back....and am healthier that I ever have been! If you are obese, or like me, morbidly obese, I would recommend surgery to anyone....but you must make the commitment for the life change needed for the surgery to be succesful....like Nike says: JUST DO IT!!! You won't regret it! I thank God every day for Dr. Husted and the CBC for my new lease on life!