Guest guest Posted May 27, 2000 Report Share Posted May 27, 2000 Oh, you're too kind! My head's going to swell! Thanks! > > > 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 > > > > > > ------------------------------------------------------ > ------------------ > > CLICK HERE***SPECIAL OFFER***$60 in FREE calls > > ***SPECIAL OFFER***CLICK HERE > > > http://click.egroups.com/1/4127/2/_/453517/_/959396153/ > > ------------------------------------------------------ > ------------------ > > > > This message is from the Mini-Gastric Bypass Mailing > List at Onelist.com > > Please visit our web site at http://clos.net > > Get the Patient Manual at > http://clos.net/get_patient_manual.htm > > > > > > > > > ----------------------------------------------------- > This mail sent through Hitter Communications Webmail > http://webmail.hitter.net Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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