RE: LT'S BLOW-BY-BLOW DESCRIPTION OF SURGERY EXPERIENCE

May 26, 2000

Hi ,

Wow! What a great testimony! It was really good to hear how well

you have done with your surgery! I'm just starting to look into this

option, and this is exactly the type of information I was hoping to

find on this site!

Congratulations and best wishes for continued success!

Connie

Dallas, TX

> Friday, May 26, 2000

>

> Hi Ya'll!

>

> The *worst* part of the surgery was being without my computer!

LOL!

> (but entirely true!)

>

> Stats: I'm 47 years old, 5'4 " tall, starting weight 249, surgery

> date May 18, 2000, current weight 238 (1 week later). I lost 17

> pounds in the 6 weeks before surgery when I had gotten up to an

> all-time record high of 265 lbs.

>

> Here's my blow-by-blow description of how my trip to Oz went for me:

>

> GETTING THERE:

>

> I'm from Alabama and Dr. Rutledge requires out-of-town patients to

> attend one clinic prior to surgery. Since he is holding clinics on

> Tuesdays now and my surgery was scheduled for Thursday, May 18,

2000,

> I arrived in Durham on Monday, May 15th, in order to attend the

> Tuesday, May 16th clinic.

>

> For anyone travelling alone, I was solo and it is definitely

do-able.

> I would have done a few things differently but my original plans

> were made when I thought I would be accompanied to Durham, which

got

> changed at the last minute. Mainly, I would have stayed someplace

> closer to the hospital and not fooled with getting a rental car, but

> I was able to drive easily two days after surgery so it wasn't

really

> a big problem.

>

> I got my airplane reservations from lowestprice.com for $130 ($156

> after taxes and surcharges were added), with less than 7 days'

> notice, round-trip from Montgomery, AL to Durham, NC on Northwest

> Airlines.

>

> Being on the conservative side, when I made my reservations, I

> planned to stay in Durham for 5 days after the surgery, so I was in

> Durham from Monday, May 15th through Tuesday, May 23rd, when I flew

> back to Montgomery and then went to a friend's house in Florida to

> visit until today (Friday, May 26th). I could easily have left

either

> the day after surgery or two days after surgery with no problems.

>

> I stayed at Extended Stay Inn on Tower Boulevard. The cost is $272

> (total, after taxes) for one week for one person and it is about

$20

> more for the week to add another person. The room is on a par with

a

> Days Inn or Red Roof Inn -- not spartan and ugly, nice but not

plush.

> It has a kitchen and it is located across the street from South

> Square Mall and within 2 blocks of a 24-hour Kroger and several

> restaurants and fast-food places.

>

> However, I just read today where someone found a *much* better deal

> at 1-888-Medstay, that has a free buffet breakfast, lunch and a

pool,

> so I'd try that first!

>

> Rental Cars: The best price for one-week on Rental Cars was from

> Dollar Rental Car at the airport. You could get a small truck for

> $149 a week or a small car for $172 for the week. I lucked out

> because they were out of small cars so I got a mini-van for the

same

> price for the whole week and 1 day I was in Durham.

>

> ================================================

======================

> HINT #1: BEFORE YOUR LEAVE, CALL YOUR HOTEL AND GET *SPECIFIC*

> DIRECTIONS TO YOUR HOTEL FROM THE RALEIGH-DURHAM AIRPORT AND WRITE

> THEM DOWN AND TAKE THEM WITH YOU. My plane got in at 11:30 at

night

> and I forgot to bring my directions with me. The rental car place

> gave me directions to downtown Durham, but I spent about 3 hours

> driving around in the middle of the night, looking for *anyplace*

> open just to get directions from downtown Durham to my hotel. I

> finally ended up being shown how to get there by a security guard

> from the Marriott in Downtown Durham.

> ================================================

======================

>

> CLINIC:

>

> I showed up at Dr. Rutledge's office on Tuesday morning, May 16,

> 2000, for the 9:00 a.m. clinic. His receptionist gave me my file

and

> directions to go to a building just past the hospital, a few blocks

> away.

>

> The clinic was held in a small room in what appeared to be a

> medical-annex type building. Dr. Rutledge spoke at the front of

the

> room. Behind him was a blackboard and above him and to one side was

> a video screen.

>

> There were about 35 people, including potential patients and some

of

> their family members, in the room, seated in plastic chairs. Some

of

> the chairs don't have arms on them but some do. Don't get there

last

> if you want a chair without arms . . .

>

> In the back of the room, Debbie, Barbara, and two other women whose

> names I didn't get, worked on getting patient information, weights

> and waist sizes from everyone.

>

> I was given another Patient Information Form to fill out.

>

> ================================================

======================

> HINT #2: Print off TWO copies of your patient information sheet

when

> you submit it to Dr. Rutledge, one for you and one to take with you

> to your clinic visit, otherwise, you will get to fill out *another*

> Patient Information form (just like the one on the webpage) at the

> clinic.

> ================================================

======================

>

> I was weighed (249 lbs., argh!) and my waist was measured (45

inches.

> Sigh.)

>

> Dr. Rutledge calls on each person in the room, asking them to

> introduce themselves, then he answers any questions they may have.

> He illustrates things using the blackboard. Towards the end of the

> clinic, he shows a videotape of an actual Mini-Gastric Bypass being

> done, as he explains what you are seeing (which was very helpful

for

> me since I had no clue what organs were what). It is remarkable

how

> tidy the inner organs are and how skillfully Dr. Rutledge can work

> with those tiny little tools, looking at a camera image of what

he's

> doing. He also explains why the MGB is readily reversible. The MGB

> takes about 35-40 minutes and a reversal takes approximately 1

hour.

> Both are done laparoscopically so there is very little blood loss,

an

> average of 1 day in the hospital, and a very fast recovery time.

>

> Dr. Rutledge then goes into a small patient area and each person is

> called back to speak with him individually.

>

> My questions were:

>

> " After the MGB, does the larger part of the stomach that is cut

away

> from the new small stomach growl or send hunger signals to the

brain

> and if not, why not? "

>

> Dr. Rutledge explained that the stomach does not send hunger

signals

> to the brain. It is the small intestine that does that (and

> approximately 6 feet of that is bypassed by the MGB). I didn't

think

> to ask if the bypassed small intestine sends hunger signals to the

> brain since it would be empty all the time, but I think the cutting

> of the vegas nerve that occurs during the surgery alleviates that

(I

> may be wrong on this point). The bypassed stomach doesn't growl

> because it doesn't have any air left in it. It also does not

> atrophy, which is one reason why the surgery can be reversed.

>

> MISCELLANEOUS, DAY BEFORE SURGERY:

>

> You are supposed to wash with Hibiclens the night before surgery

and

> the morning of surgery. This is a red-colored cleanser that will

> pretty much permanently tint your washcloth pink (good thing you're

> staying at a hotel, right?) For those not staying at a hotel,

don't

> use your good washcloths for this.

>

> I found Hibiclens in a small bottle for $3.59 and a somewhat larger

> bottle for $6.79 at the Drug Emporium next to Circuit City, across

> the street from the Tower on Tower Boulevard in Durham. The smaller

> sized bottle would have been sufficient.

>

> Remember not to eat or drink after midnight the day before your

> surgery.

>

> Call Durham Regional Hospital after 3:00 p.m. the day before your

> surgery and they can give you the exact time you are scheduled for

> surgery. You are supposed to get to the hospital 2-1/2 hours

before

> your scheduled surgery time.

>

> THE DAY OF SURGERY:

>

> I parked my rental car in the patient parking lot in front of

Durham

> Regional Hospital. There is no charge for parking there. I walked

> through the main front door. There is an information booth just

> inside the front door and I asked where a pre-operative surgery

> patient should go. I was directed to a waiting area on the third

> floor. There was a receptionist there with a sign-in sheet which

was

> used to call patients for processing. I only had about a 10 minute

> wait before I was called. While I was waiting, I met the woman who

> was scheduled for surgery with Dr. Rutledge's before me. I was

> scheduled to be the second one of the day.

>

> When my name was called, I was directed to a small room just behind

> the receptionist's area. A lady asked my name, address, and

> insurance information. Dr. Rutledge stuck his head in to say " Hi. "

> Next I was directed to another lady who made a patient i.d.

bracelet

> and put it on me and then led me to the next area.

>

> I found myself in a fairly large room with nursing supplies and

> counters down one wall, with patient cubicles formed by large

> curtains hanging from ceiling tracks going down the other side.

Each

> patient area had a gurney with sheets on it. A nurse gave me a

> patient gown and some footies to put on. I was told to remove

> *everything* and put on this gown.

>

> The gown tied in the back and snapped at the neck and down the

short

> sleeves. It was plenty roomy and large enough, but it didn't tie

> well in the lower back, so that if I got up and walked around in

it,

> my bare behind was flapping in the breeze. I quickly parked myself

> on the gurney with the gown tucked around my hinterparts and stayed

> there.

>

> Shortly, a nurse came and took my temperature, blood pressure, and

> used a nifty little gadget to stick me in the finger to get some

> blood, that did not hurt one iota (a *big* improvement over the

days

> when they used jagged metal for finger sticks, let me say!)

>

> I was told to put anything I brought with me into a bag and the bag

> was marked with a sticker with my patient information to be sure it

> got to my room (it did). I had brought my Walkman, some books, a

> gown, and my purse.

>

> ================================================

======================

> HINT #3: Don't take your jewelry and purse to the hospital. If

you

> have a family member with you, leave these with them; otherwise,

you

> should check them with the hotel and have them put them in a safe

for

> you. It's a nuisance to keep up with them at the hospital and you

> are going to be asleep a lot, plus your bag of items can easily get

> misplaced from the time you check in at pre-op and get moved to a

> room. They will *not* be insured against theft if you just leave

> them in your hotel room, either.

> ================================================

======================

>

> Shortly, a nurse came for me and wheeled the gurney and me to the

> surgery staging area. This is another room, just outside the

surgery

> rooms, where patients for different doctors are lined up

> side-by-side, waiting their turn for surgery. It's a pretty plain

> room with a nursing station in the middle. It seems that patients

> are expected to be laying down so I did.

>

> Now, this is the part I dreaded most. I've had several surgeries

and

> I've given birth to three children, and each time, I had to have an

> I.V. I knew from these experiences that the I.V. needle is usually

> stuck in the back of the hand between the thumb and wrist -- where

> there are hundreds of nerve endings -- and it hurt like hell and

> beyond.

>

> Pre-Op Nurse Sheila Weeks sets up all the I.V.'s. She is clearly

> expert and she has a wonderful technique. She first gives a small

> Novacaine injection into the hand. This hurts a little (not much)

> and it is wonderful, because I then did not feel the I.V. needle

> (which is quite large) *at all* when she put it in place. I did

not

> have so much as a tiny bruise at the site when the I.V. was removed

> the next day, either. Truly wonderful. Thank you, Sheila!!

>

> Before anyone goes sticking an I.V. needle in you, particularly if

it

> is not Sheila, make sure they are going to give you the Novacaine

> shot in the hand first.

>

> Presently, the Anaesthesiologist and shortly thereafter, the

> Anaesthesia Nurse, stopped by to see me. This was a good time to

> mention any drug allergies. Both of them asked me to open my mouth

> and say " Ah, " so they good see if I had a good airway. (Anybody

who

> knows me knows I have a big mouth and plenty of airway!)

>

> It didn't seem like 2-1/2 hours had zoomed by, but before I knew it,

> I was being wheeled on the gurney into surgery. There seemed to be

> several people in the brightly lit room and everyone was wearing

blue

> gowns over blue pants, with blue hair covers and face masks (E.T.

> phone home!). Dr. Rutledge was standing off to one side with his

back

> to me. I think he was washing his hands.

>

> It's hard to see much laying flat on your back, but I knew it was

Dr.

> Rutledge because he immediately started in with his usual chipper

> chattering. Assured that at least I was in the right place, I laid

> back and relaxed. Momentarily, a gloved hand appeared and put a

mask

> over my nose. I started breathing into it and conked right out.

The

> gas didn't stink or have any odor to it at all that I could tell.

>

> I woke up in the post-op recovery room. Things are a little hazy

but

> I had no tubes in my nose or anywhere else. There was a nurse next

> to me saying things like " Your oxygen isn't high enough. Breathe

> deep! You must take deep breaths! " So I did. I'm laying there

> sucking enough wind to take the chrome off the bedrails. (I found

out

> later that they seem to say this to everybody so when you wake up,

> just start breathing deeply!)

>

> At some point, I remember somebody, I think it was Dr. Rutledge,

> saying " Your operating time was 37 minutes. "

>

> As I got more awake, within what seemed like minutes, I was being

> wheeled down a hallway to my room.

>

> Lori Honor, an angel who lives in the Durham area and is having her

> surgery the end of May, had come to wait for several of us who were

> having surgery that day and she was the first person I saw when we

> got to what was obviously the patient rooms. I thought we were just

> a few feet from her (she says I was actually at the opposite end of

> the hallway) when I hollered out, " IT WAS A PIECE OF CAKE! " And,

> indeed, it was.

>

> DRUNK AND DISORDERLY:

>

> I think the anaesthesia made me goofy and drunk-like because I was

in

> high spirits, to say the least, when I got to my room! I don't

> remember getting off the gurney and into the bed but I did. The

> nurse came and gave me some pain medication. I wasn't feeling any

> pain at the time, at all. Within a few minutes, I got up and went

> into the bathroom which was just a few feet from the bed. I called

> over my shoulder to Lori, " You've seen a fat ass before, I know! "

> since it was useless trying to get the gown to cover mine and I was

> laughing too hard to care anyway. I fell asleep sitting on the

> toilet three times. Fortunately, Lori would wake me up. I'd

laugh,

> try to pee, then fall back asleep each time. I finally succeeded

and

> then got back into bed. Right about that time, a friend called me

on

> the room phone. I tried to talk, but fell asleep on the phone.

>

> The next time I woke up, about 3 hours later, I had some pain and

> discomfort. This was from the gas that is blown into the belly

> during surgery so the doctor has room to work and see what he is

> doing. This gas is *not* like " having gas " when you get the burps

or

> farts. It gets in all sorts of places, like up under your ribs and

> in your shoulders and there is a lot of it and it is really

> uncomfortable. It's not like having terrible pain but it's

annoying

> and at the same time, you're tired from the anaesthesia, so you

feel

> pretty washed out.

>

> The gas *will* go through membranes, though, so it will go to your

> throat and lower intestines on its own. If you can force

> yourself to burp or pass gas (the men ought to be good at this.

Just

> remember your boyscout campouts), you can get rid of it faster. I

> put my best efforts into it and within about 6 hours after I got

out

> of surgery, I was feeling pretty good. I had the burps and passed

> gas more frequently for several days, though, and I also got the

> hiccups a few times after eating.

>

> Lunch, dinner, and breakfast the next day at Durham Regional

> consisted of a clear broth (be sure you get salt), jello and 4

ounces

> of fruit juice. I would keep the broth from breakfast to lunch,

> sipping it as I could and I saved the jello and fruit juice to take

> back to the hotel. Just the broth was plenty. I never felt

hungry.

> I was extremely thirsty frequently. My mouth would go so dry my

lips

> stuck to my teeth. So I guzzled a lot of water and ice.

>

> POST-OP:

>

> I was discharged from the hospital the next morning after surgery.

> After Dr. Rutledge came by, I remembered something I needed to ask

> him and I actually ran down the hall (no pain at all) to catch him.

>

> Since Dr. Rutledge's D/C instructions mention " No driving for two

> weeks " (until you are off pain medication), and I was concerned

about

> the effects of anaesthesia, Lori came and took me to the hotel and

I

> left my rental car at the hospital. Since I had five days until my

> plane left, I spent the rest of that day lounging, but by the next

> day (Saturday), I went with Lori to a support group meeting at the

> hospital and drove the car back to the hotel. That night, I went

to

> Krogers to buy some juices. Sunday, I went to the mall and went

> shopping. Monday, I went to the mall again and packed my things

for

> the early morning plane on Tuesday. I hefted my 80 pound suitcase

> into the mini-van, drove the 25 miles to the airport, checked the

> rental car back in, rode the shuttle over to the airport and hefted

> the suitcase another time to get it checked in. I had a long walk

in

> Memphis to change planes and it was uneventful. When I got back to

> the Montgomery airport, a friend was waiting to pick me up and we

> went to Florida, where she lives, for three days. We went shopping

> and generally did ordinary things and I had no problems at all.

>

> I haven't had any problems with dumping, nausea, or vomiting and

I've

> had milk, a bite of double-fudge ice cream, jello, soups (including

> some creamy mushroom soup the other day and chicken vegetable soup

> today), apple juice, orange juice, cranberry juice, and grape

juice,

> and a banana in the week since my surgery. I haven't been hungry.

> I got a couple of cravings in the past day or so, but nothing

> serious.

>

> I haven't had over 600 calories in any given day and I am usually

> averaging about 350 calories a day.

>

> At the end of the week, I'd lost 11 pounds and 1 inch off my waist.

>

> So far so good.

>

> Also, let me mention here that before surgery, I received replies

to

> my queries from 94 of Dr. Rutledge's patients and the majority of

> them related that they had discomfort the first day and little or

no

> pain, nausea, etc. thereafter, the same as me, so my experience is

> very much the norm, not the exception.

>

> Dr. Rutledge, you're the best!

>

> Kind regards,

>

> ( " the Barbie Wannabe " )

> email: lindat@f...

> website: http://www.fourlane.com/lindat

>

> Stats:

> 47 years old

> 5'4 " , 249 lbs.

> Surgery date: May 18, 2000

> Today's weight (May 26, 2000): 238

May 26, 2000