Re: (unknown)

April 16, 2000

Just eat foods hi in iron. And the best way to swallow adult Vt. is by a

pill crusher, crush it and then Mix it with apple sauce or something. This

is what we do with pills in the nursing home for our older adult. MJ of

land

April 16, 2000

LOL

April 16, 2000

Don't feel bad about it - I'm with you on that one. I have to say I agree

with you about Debbie - actually I see her side of it too. I've not had

the best encounters with her and I am not looking forward to dealing with

her again - but I guess I have no choice. I take into consideration her

workload whenever I talk to her because I've been there - dealing with a

lot of people - asking the same questions - you get tired of it after a

while and that edge comes out in your voice. That is the time when you

should say ( like I did) " I'm not cut out for this " and find someone who

is. It takes a special kind of person - and though they are not easy to

find - they are out there.

Anyway - I'll quit rambling. I do understand her plight, but these

decisions we are making are the biggest we will ever make in our lives and

we could use a little compassion - not a lot - a little.

(unknown)

Sigh..I almost hate that I ever posted anything. I think it's

absolutely wonderful that so many of you had awesome experiences with

your surgery and I'm very happy for you. As far as my being sappy

sweet it was not meant to come across as sarcasm to Debbie, it was my

attempt to find a semi-human side to her, to see if perhaps she

really can be a nice person. I'm sure she is very busy and works

hard, but then again don't we all? Being a hardworker doesnt

constitute being a constant witch. I've never asked anything of her,

shes not had to do any extra leg work for me..for the most part, I've

been a fairly low maintenance patient in comparrison to some of the

others that I have read. My opinion of Ms. stands the same.

She accepted this position with Dr. Rutledge, and I am sure that he

disclosed the duties of the position, hours and pay with her. If she

did not feel as though she could handle a public relations sort of

job that required some multi tasking, then the position should have

been declined. Please do not continue throwing points in my face in

defense of her, I'm looking more and more like a horrible person with

each posting I write..and honestly I'm not a half bad gal

As far as Dr. Rutledge, I never said he was not a good doctor. He's

probably the best, his numbers and results speak for themselves.

, I don't require someone to hold my hand or make me feel like

family, I never asked that from my surgeon...after the endless emails

that I've read on him and word of mouth from prior patients, it is

something that I suppose I had expected. Almost like you hear about

a new restaurant..they have the best steaks in town, the service is

second to none and the prices are incrediable. You get to the

restaurant, the steaks are like eating a tennis shoe, the service is

#@$%&* and I paid HOW MUCH FOR THIS??? You're disappointed after

hearing the great reviews on it. Understand where I'm coming from

now? Again, Dr. Rutledge is an incrediable surgeon and probably a

hell of a guy...just wish I had the oppotunity to see that one on

one. Thanks for all the great advice guys and again I'm sorry to

rambling on and on. Take care all and best of luck to pre and post

ops

Sincerely

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April 22, 2000

Sorry, I do not know, But please send it to me, Thank You

Trish

April 22, 2000

Sorry, I do not know, But please send it to me, Thank You

Trish

April 22, 2000

Sorry, I do not know, But please send it to me, Thank You

Trish

April 22, 2000

Does anyone know who this person is. I am trying to send the supplement

charts to them at mjocean@... and it keeps getting returned.

(unknown)

>

April 22, 2000

Does anyone know who this person is. I am trying to send the supplement

charts to them at mjocean@... and it keeps getting returned.

(unknown)

>

April 22, 2000

Does anyone know who this person is. I am trying to send the supplement

charts to them at mjocean@... and it keeps getting returned.

(unknown)

>

April 24, 2000

Dear Lynda:

How kind and thoughtful of you to post a detail experience. I

so glad that all of the post ops are so willing to help us who waiting and

have so many questions to ask. Thank You--------oxoxoxs-------- : )

joy

April 24, 2000

Dear Lynda,

What a wonderful letter of experience. I would love to include you

as one of my contacts. I do have a couple of questions in addition to what

you have already shared.

1) How has your weight loss affected your family?

2) I am a couple of years older than you. You mentioned the wrinkling of

your thighs,

do you think additional exercise could have helped this?

3) I think 67 lbs in 4 months is amazing. Have you experienced any

discomfort that seems to be long-lasting?

4) Is the surgery worth the time and effort needed to meet requirements to

qualify for surgery?

Once again, thank you for your input.

Sincerely,

Genz ( Genzel )

lparker@... wrote:

> per your request shoutjoy

>

> I try to help the pre-ops out with their contacts by sending this.

> If

> you have received this by error, Please accept my apologies.

> This is something I sent another MGB hpoeful. I hope it helps. Keep

> me posted!

> As a pre-op, there are a few things I would like to know.

> You you share your pre-op stats? female, 46 y/o, 5'9'', and 336

> pounds currently 268

> What was you MGB date? 12-16-99 came home 12-18-99

> How much weight have you lost? 67 pounds

> Did you have co-morbidities? High blood pressure, acid reflux,

> urinary incontience, knee, hip, and back pain.

> Improvements? All are much better

> Surgery complications? none at all

> Have you followed Dr R's advice on introducing food back into you

> system? yes

> Experienced dumping? one time---- I ate some cereal and it had too

> much sugar in it.

> Did you do anything pre-operatively to prepare? (such as vitamins

> for hair, skin etc.?

> I did nothing

> Is there anything you wish you had done? yes, I wish I had tried

> to

> shed some weight so my weight loss would have been even more.

> Do you have any advice for me? Just relax and enjoy the ride to

> this wonderful journey of new beginnings.

> Hello,

> I chose Dr. Rutledge because, after extensive research,

> I found his procedure the most appealing. I would never have had

> the open surgery. I also felt safer in his care because he

> specializes in this surgery and had 20 years experience. I realize

> that God gifted him with his knowledge and skills but Dr. Rutledge

> chooses to apply his knowledge and skills in the most efficient

> manner in which he can.

> I am a firm believer that if it is my time to die, I will die. If

> it isn't my time to go then, then I won't. It doesn't matter if

> I am on the operating table or on the sofa at home.

> I had my MGB on December 16, 1999. I came home on the 18th of

> December. I have had no complications then or now. It was a

> positive experience. I had no pain except for a little gas pain in

> my left shoulder due to the " stuff " they inflate the abdomen with

> in

> order to do the surgery. This was alleviated by walking.

> I am female, 46 years old at the time of the MGB now 47, 5 feet 9

> inches tall and weighed 336 the day of surgery. I wanted and had

> this surgery for me, and me alone. That may seem selfish but I did

> not do it for any other reason than to get my life and health back.

> By the way I am married and have been for almost 31 years to the

> same wonderful man.

> We have identical twin daughters (age 28) two sons-in- law,

> and 3 grandchildren. I have had a good life indeed.

> My first clinic visit was on October 31, 1999. I was required by

> Dr

> Rutledge to see a specialists because of the following health

> problems. I have a Protein S Deficiency ( heriditary)which causes

> my

> blood to clot too quickly. This was discovered when I had a blood

> clot go to my lung in 1994. This is controlled by taking coumadin

> ( a blood thinner ) for the rest of my life. I had to go off the

> oral Coumadin and switch to injectionsa week prior to surgery per

> my local physician Dew MD. I had the surgery and was placed on

> yet another type of injection to prevent blood clots while in the

> hospital. The Monday following surgery I went back on the

> injections

> for another week, then finally back to the oral Coumadin.

> I also have Ulcerative Colitis ( stress induced) which is an

> inflammation of the large intestine. This was another area of

> concern for Dr Rutledge. I saw my Gastroenterologist for this and

> was cleared by him for the MGB. I am very happy to report all is

> well and I have not had any complications from either of these

> conditions since surgery. In fact I am now on the lowest dose of

> Coumadin I have been on since being diagnosed with this condition

> in

> 1994.

> I had, prior to the MGB, high blood pressure and was taking three

> medications to control it. I had problems with my knees, heel

> spurs,

> back, and joint pain in general due to the excess weight on my

> body.

> These problems have improved greatly since surgery and will

> continue to improve I am sure as my weight continues to go down.

> I work for the State of North Carolina and have the Blue Cross,

> Blue

> Shield insurance they provide for us. I had to pay my $250.00

> deductible and the $1000.00 out of pocket expense and then it paid

> 100%. This surgery was a covered procedure. I was approved

> quickly

> and they paid my bill without any problems.

> I feel very blessed. I was, and still am, committed and very

> careful

> to follow Dr Rutledge's instructions especially,the first 21 days

> following surgery to ensure my new stomach had the best possible

> opportunity to heal itself. During this time I consumed ice chips,

> broth, apple juice, frozen Pedialyte Pops( yes, the ones for

> children. These are located on the shelf at most pharmacies and

> grocery stores ), yogurt, Ensure, milk, and thinned cream soups.

> Then I progressed to solid food a little at a time. This was trial

> and error because I no longer desired or craved the foods or the

> amounts that my diet had consisted of prior to the MGB. This was

> hard to believe. I have always been a " bulk " eater and loved bread

> and sweets. It is wonderful to be free of those cravings. I

> can't

> explain it, I just know I am free of them. I now eat anything I

> want. I love yogurt and continue to eat it daily. I have

> livermush

> for breakfast a couple of times a week. I can eat cereal, pork,

> chicken, spaghetti, chili beans, french fries, chicken

> nuggets,pizza,fruits and vegetables. I no longer care for beef. It

> feels " heavy " on my stomach. I do not eat out a lot because I

> simply

> do not

> care to do so. It does not bother me at all to cook for my family,

> or

> to be around others eating all sorts of foods. It just does not

> temp

> me in the least nor does it make me uncomfortable. My life is no

> longer centered around food. I drink milk, water, and Crystal Lite.

> Occasionally I even have 1/2 cup of coffee.

> The hardest part for me was learning to eat slowly and chew my food

> well. I teach and we have 25 minutes to eat lunch. It is a

> challenge to get 29 students to the cafeteria, run to the bathroom,

> check my mailbox, go through the lunch line, and eat in this time

> frame. Needless to say, after 21 years in the education system I was

> conditioned to eat FAST. The rest of the adjustments were a breeze.

> I have shed a total of 65 pounds so far. I shed the weight

> quickly the first month. Thereafter it has slowed

> and formed a pattern. I tend to stay the same weight for about 3

> weeks and then I shed about 7-10 pounds. This has been the case for

> the past 14 weeks I am pleased with the outcome thus far. My bowel

> habits are the same. No diarrhea, no constipation. I am not bothered

> with gas any more or less since surgery. I do not have acid reflux

> or

> heartburn. I have had one episode of dumping this was caues by eating

> cereal that had too much suger in it. I do tend to be colder since

> surgery. I am experiencing a little hair loss that only I notice

> and

> this is only temporary. My thighs are looking wrinkled from the

> weight

> loss. My age probably has something to do with that. Would I do it

> again? A thousand times YES!

> I continue to take the vitamins, and Citrucel. The only thing I am

> not doing as I should is exercising. I would recommend this

> surgery

> and Dr. Rutledge without hesitation. As I have told him I do not have

> the words to thank God and Dr . Rutledge for this life changing /

> saving surgery.

> Best Wishes,

> Lynda usaully home after 6pm

>

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April 24, 2000