Re: Your enthusiasm is contagious!

[Guest guest]

Tara--

I had surgery March 15. Here is my surgery diary. It might be helpful. I,

too, am a great fan of Dr. Rutledge.

Katy

Katy's Diary of Laparoscopic Bypass Surgery

3/15/99--Monday

and I got to the hospital at 6:30 and spent an hour visiting before I

was called at 7:30 for preparation for surgery. After checking in on the 5th

floor, we were temporarily given a room where I got out of my clothes and into

a hospital gown and compression stockings, which I kept on until Tuesday. The

nurse came in to get my vitals and Dr. Rutledge arrived with lots of forms to

sign. Then I climbed up on a gurney and was wheeled down to the OR. It's

very cold in the OR. There an IV was inserted and I was given my first shot

of something that made me very relaxed. Dr. Rutledge came by and spoke to me,

then I was wheeled into the OR itself, where I scooted over on to the table.

I remember noticing the light fixtures on the ceiling. That's all I remember.

When I came to, I was in a very brightly lit room and a nurse spoke to me. I

remember asking if we were done already, and she said yes. I think Dr.

Rutledge came by, but I'm not sure. I asked the nurse the time and she said

about 12:30. After a little while, I was rolled up to my room. was

there. I had a semi-private room for awhile, but later in the afternoon they

put me in a private room.

Harper, who had had this procedure earlier in the week, came by for a

visit. We kept in touch the whole time I was there.

My mouth was very dry, and I used a small sponge to keep it moist. My throat

was very sore, probably from the tube they inserted during surgery, but

otherwise I was in no pain. had had a long talk with Dr. Rutledge after

surgery and felt extremely well informed. I slept on and off a good deal

during the night, except that people kept coming in to take vitals and do

other things. It's hard to get a good sleep in the hospital. I also had some

sort of device strapped around my legs that inflated and deflated every minute

or so to keep the circulation going in my legs. They weren't uncomfortable,

but tended to rouse me until I got used to the rhythm. They actually helped

me keep warm.

The nurse came in about 3:00 am to check on my stitches, one of which was

bleeding a bit. I was ready to get out of bed, because my back was hurting.

She suggested that we go ahead and change the bed, and get cleaned up. She

took the catheter out so I could go to the bathroom. She gave me a sponge

bath and changed my dressing. It felt very good.

3/16/99--Tuesday

Dr. Rutledge came by very early. He said everything had gone exactly as

planned, no problems or complications. The procedure had taken a little more

than an hour. He said I could have chips of ice to suck on, but nothing else.

I was still on an IV drip and was given pain medication, antibiotics, and

vitamins, as well as saline. I had a morphine pump I could use if I needed

it. I was never in any real pain, but used the pump periodically because Dr.

Rutledge had said not to let the pain get bad before using it. It did help me

sleep in between interruptions.

The nurse came in and changed the bed. I took a shower, which felt good. Had

my first bowel movement.

came and spent most of the day with me. We talked, I slept, and just

had a good visit. , Kay and Vicky came by for a short visit in the

afternoon and brought a beautiful bouquet in a cobalt blue vase. I got up and

walked several times, and spent some time sitting in the chair. came by

and we compared notes. She had had several complications, but was doing well.

I counted my blessings.

Rick came by in the evening, and was very relieved that I was doing so well.

The kids were doing fine, but were insistent that if I stayed another night,

they would have to come by and see me. I slept better, but still got some

interruptions. I was getting pretty impatient with the blood pressure cuff,

which was probably the thing that irritated me most in the hospital.

3/17/99--Wednesday

Dr. Rutledge came by and said I was doing well and could have some clear

liquids. came in and we took a nice long walk around the corridors.

Shortly after we got back, they brought me a tray, and the three Jell-O cubes

were the best thing I had tasted in a long time. I also had a little juice

and a few sips of bouillon. Everything went down well.

Word came around 12:30 that I was okayed to go home. The nurse, , took

out my IV line and I got dressed and walked out to the car. It was great

getting home. It was also a beautiful day, which made it that much better.

I drank small amounts of juice during the day and went to bed pretty early.

My own bed felt good. I felt some discomfort in the middle of the night, but

got up and took some children's motrin and felt much better.

3/18/99--Thursday

Got up after Rick and the kids had gone to school and had a little yogurt and

a zantac. I crushed it up, but it tasted terrible. Dr. Rutledge said it was

okay to take it whole. Then I took a real shower and washed my hair. Rick

fixed up all my port holes and I rested for a little while in bed. Then

and I sat on the back porch and luxuriated in the warm spring-like weather.

Then we went to the afternoon movie and sobbed through The Deep End of the

Ocean. I had read the book. I took juice and ice chips with me and did just

fine.

I've begun to have some diarrhea, but that's normal. I'm being careful to get

enough fluids so I don't get dehydrated. It did occur to me yesterday that in

the hospital I was constantly on an IV drip and not likely to lack for fluids,

but that I had to be aware of it now that my total intake of everything is

much more limited.

There is a certain freedom to not being fettered by specific mealtimes. I

don't expect it to be a problem. But the desires for certain foods haven't

disappeared. But I know that I'll eventually be able to have a little of most

anything I want. In the meantime, it's important to take it easy and let

myself heal. I really am feeling quite well, but I don't have a lot of

stamina yet.

3/19/99--Friday

I woke up very early, around 3:00 am and had some juice. Before I headed back

to bed around 4:30, I went downstairs and weighed myself. I have lost 12

pounds! Slept until about 8:45, then got up, did some computer stuff, visited

with Molly, who came by for a short visit, and generally moved around the

house until about noon, when I started to feel a bit weak. So I got in bed,

talked on the phone and watched TV for several hours.

I took all the tape and bandages off my incisions, which are all looking very

good. One is more open than the other four, but is healing nicely. Rick put

some vitamin E on them, which he swears by. Still having diahrrea, but it's

not particularly bothersome.

3/20/99--Saturday

Went to the clinic to have staples removed. They are getting bothersome.

It's great to have them out. and I were the center of attention, being

the latest surgical patients. I'm doing very well. is still fighting

nausea. The main difference--she received an injection to prevent blood clots

and had an allergic reaction. I didn't receive the shot because of her

experience. I don't think it's necessary. One of the other prospective

patients questioned the wisdom of not doing it based on one patient's

experience. But the other things that are used, like the compression

stockings, the leg cuffs and getting you up very soon after surgery seem to be

enough, unless one is at greater risk for some reason.

There was another lady there that had had surgery just two weeks ago and who

was just feeling super. There was also another woman there who had had an

open abdominal surgery about 10 years ago and was there with her daughter, who

was considering having surgery. She looked great, and had maintained her

weight loss for that period of time, and had even had another child post

surgery. The long-term results are very heartening to me.

We made chicken noodle soup for dinner tonight, and I had a small cup of the

broth, which tasted soooo gooood! It was nice to have something hot and not

sweet. Most everything I'm eating right now tends to be sweet, and I get a

bit tired of it.

3/21/99--Sunday

left for Memphis this morning, and we miss her already. Rick and I went

in the afternoon to Raleigh to see Miss Saigon. We were disappointed in the

show, but the trip itself was just fine. I took some juice in the car and

felt like any normal person. No weakness or anything. I did rest awhile when

we got home.

3/22/99--Monday

Haven't done much today. Just watched TV and puttered around the house. Kind

of wanted to go to work for a little while, but didn't. I'm feeling great. I

discovered that V8 juice is also very satisfying and a not-so-sweet

alternative.

The kids were late at school today, so when we picked them up, we went out to

dinner. I ordered a cup of soup and felt like a normal human being sitting in

a restaurant. I wasn't even particularly tempted by anything else. I'm not

interested in sabotaging myself. The soup was very good, too. A nice change

from what I've been having at home.

3/23/99--Tuesday

I drove myself to have my nails done today. Then later on I picked up at

piano lessons. Feels like getting back to normal. Still not up to completely

normal hectic schedule, but getting there.

3/24/99--Wednesday

Spent the day at home. Feeling fine. Tried a little solid food today. Felt

very full after 3 or 4 bites. It really does work.

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 3/25/1999 12:21:31 PM Central Standard Time,

psgreer@... writes:

<< I'd like for you to keep me posted on your progress. I am getting ready to

see if State Employees BC/BS will approve my 16 year old for the same

procedure. She's not to the point I was...yet, but as she says " Her gene

pool sucks " so it's probably only a matter of time. Since she is also

having some other health problems I am hopeful we can get approval. Save

all the info on appeals you get....I may need a copy later.

>>

I used to pray to God that I would be fat whole life if my kids just didn't

have to go through the life of obesity. Anyone else worry about the gene pool

and their kids?

Tara

[Guest guest]

Tara,

I will let you know how Sat goes. I am very excited - I feel like I am

drowning but I can see the lifeguard (Dr. R) coming to get me and help

me live!!! I just hope the insurance company doesn't shoot him out of

the water first!!LOL

What is your ins?

Talk with you soon

Kathy

Kaiser Permente appealing

[Guest guest]

The s,

Dr. R is pretty water and bullet proof. He probably has enough " life

preservers " and " bullet proof vests " to outlast all the insurance companies

combined. When all else fails he just buries them under 45 pages of reasons

why there denials are ridiculous. Don't give up hope! He has this appeal

process down to an art.

I'd like for you to keep me posted on your progress. I am getting ready to

see if State Employees BC/BS will approve my 16 year old for the same

procedure. She's not to the point I was...yet, but as she says " Her gene

pool sucks " so it's probably only a matter of time. Since she is also

having some other health problems I am hopeful we can get approval. Save

all the info on appeals you get....I may need a copy later.

Re: Your enthusiasm is contagious!

From: thestewarts@... (Herbert )

Tara,

I will let you know how Sat goes. I am very excited - I feel like I am

drowning but I can see the lifeguard (Dr. R) coming to get me and help

me live!!! I just hope the insurance company doesn't shoot him out of

the water first!!LOL

What is your ins?

Talk with you soon

Kathy

Kaiser Permente appealing

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Did you know that we have over 85,000 e-mail communities at Onelist?

http://www.onelist.com

Come visit our new web site and explore a new interest

------------------------------------------------------------------------

This message is from the Mini-Gastric Bypass List at Onelist.com

[Guest guest]

Paam

Thanks for theletter, I was over weight teen also. I was lucky and

did not experience the side effects til my late 20's. Tell your

daughter that I know how she feels. I have a best friend since high

school who was also obese so we had each other to talk to. I hope your

daughter has a friend like that. I don't know if I could have ndled all

those years of being obese if my best friend hadn't been there with me.

One thing I would say, is take your daughter to the dctor over every

little thing so that you will have olts of medical records to fall back

on. I to have a sucky gene pool from both sides. I am the average size

at my family reuions!!!

Good luck and we will talk soon

Kathy

Kaiser Prmente appealing