Half-Ton Man Loses 450 Lbs

netscape.cnn.com ^ | Jan. 06, 2005 | netscape.cnn

[crushelits]

South Dakota Man Loses 450 Pounds

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) - His recovery was slowed because of an infection, but a man who once weighed half a ton may soon leave a hospital after losing more than 450 pounds.

Patrick Deuel is scheduled to go home to Valentine, Neb., on Jan. 22. He is still receiving treatment at a Sioux Falls hospital for a staph infection he got in November. Deuel said he isn't worried about returning to a former lifestyle of overeating. He will have health aides at home and a doctor will check on him regularly.  ``I've learned a lot while I've been here,'' he told reporters Tuesday. ``I'll just keep doing what I've been doing, and I think things will be fine.''

Deuel weighed 1,072 pounds when he checked into Avera McKennan Hospital in June. At the time, he was dying of heart failure. His doctor recommended gastric-bypass surgery but Deuel wasn't healthy enough to undergo the procedure.

The hospital staff structured an exercise program and a 1,200-calorie-a-day diet. The 420 pounds Deuel lost by late October helped control his heart problems and other health issues, including diabetes, and the stomach surgery was performed Oct. 26.

Deuel, who relies on Medicare to pay his hospital bills, can't stay at the hospital indefinitely.

He now weighs about 650 pounds and hopes eventually to slim down to 240 pounds.

[jeremiah]

I don't know, but a google of S.D. news stories, may reveal a blockage in the sewer treatment plant in the time he was losing.

[evets]

Here's the source: interview

[Rodney King]

Thanks.

[HardStarboard]

>>>He will have health aides at home and a doctor will check on him regularly.<<<

>>>Deuel, who relies on Medicare to pay his hospital bills, can't stay at the hospital indefinitely.<<<

And we wonder why Medicare is slowly breaking this country's ability to pay?

For people who get themselves in this situation (I have no doubts that it is a self-inflicted condition) there should be a "527" that rich fat people can contribute to to help out their poor fat fellow travelers.

Paying for this self-inflicted abuse at the cost of not funding more widely experienced health problems is ludicrous.

[cubreporter]

Wow. Good luck to him in his endeavor.

[Hatteras]

Is that a 'Before' picture or an 'After' picture? I'm not sure if I could tell the difference between 1000lbs and 650lbs...

[Arizona]

Enabling for sure. He couldn't shop and cook for himself. Who was buying/fixing/serving/paying for all his food? The enabler(s) has problems as big as this guy.

[petercooper]

Looks like a Daschle voter.

[mastercylinder]

all that extra mass formed Michael Moore

[Proud2BeRight]

I wish the guy sucess.

[utahagen]

I agree completely. It is cruel to do anything to help someone remain morbidly obese. If someone in my family were too overweight to walk, I'd bring that person non-caloric liquids, protein, fruits, and vegetables -- and that's it.

[rightwinggoth]

Run for your life! It's the Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man!

...

I'm so going to hell.

[wolfpat]

I just crossed cookies and ice cream off my shopping list.

[Richard Kimball]

I sure pray he makes this goal. Being morbidly obese has to be a living hell. I know many people do it to themselves, but it's still awful. Godspeed to him for trying to come back to a liveable life.

[derllak]

Wow! I'm a whopping 138 and I feel like I'm morbidly obese!
This guy should have gotten help a loooong time ago. Sounds like he missed out on a lot of living, which is a shame. Better late than never though. Good luck to him!