One Month

[Guest guest]

Beth,

Thanks for posting. You are so right that pre-ops need a balanced view.

Others have posted in the past and expressed similar sentiments. Everyone has

different needs. I don't like or need a warm and fuzzy coddling type surgeon.

I even traveled from Alabama alone because I didn't want to be bothered with

folks fussing over me during my recovery. But, I am one who can take a root

canal with no anesthetic. When I went to clinic, my visit was brief, but he

answered all of my concerns. In the holding area, he came out of the OR to

joke with me for being late. Upon discharge, he visited in my room an

adequate amount of time. But, all I really needed was his approval to be

released, because I was ready to go home. Yep, he's getting busier and he

will have even less time to spend one on one. But, the adjustment period

would be just as difficult with any other procedure. A friend of mine who had

the RNY regrets having the surgery because of everything you stated. She said

she preferred being fat, rather than learning to eat this way. Weight loss

surgery is not for everyone. IT'S A BIG DEAL! Thanks for sharing.

le

six weeks post op

[Guest guest]

I don't post often but I do read the messges daily and have enjoyed

the many quips of humor and helpful tidbits of information. Thanks to

all the members who contribute.

I am now one month post op and I wanted to take a few minutes to

share my thoughts. I seem to be in the minority as I don't have any

grandiose praise for Dr. Rutledge or this surgery. I am certain that

I will inflame some of you who feel he is a very special man and that

this surgery is a godsend. All I can say to that is I respect your

entitlement to your to your own opinion. My opinion is based soley on

MY experience. However I do believe it is helpful for the pre ops to

know that there is two sides to everything and that is my reason for

this post.

Let me first say that I am confident that Dr. R is a compent surgeon

and I believe his MGB is a wonderful alternative to the WLS

available. What I missed somewhere along the way was this man with a

deep personal interest in each individual patient. I found him to be

superior at public speaking but lacking when it came to individual

attentiveness. I'm certain the man wouldn't know me from adam's house

cat if we were to meet again.

I never saw the man the day I had surgery. As they were placing

the mask over my face I heard someone remark that he had entered the

OR. The next morning he took about 2 minutes with my husband and

myself and he was gone.

The following Tuesday at clinic I told him that I had been running a

fever and felt like I had the flu since Sunday. He told me to call

the office that afternoon and let him know how things were going. I

called stating I still had the fever and he told me to go to the ER

in Durham. I arrived at the ER at 6:30pm ... wasn't seen till 9:00pm

(they were waiting for Dr.R to arrive which he never did) and after

having an upper GI sent home around 1:00am. I'm thankful that I was

ok and only had a respiratory infection but I couldn't help but

wonder why he didn't send me on to ER while I was already in Durham

earlier that day.

After surgery I felt somewhat slighted by my experience with the good

doctor. If I were to total the amount of time I spent with him (while

awake) it wouldn't exceed 45 minutes. I think my experience will

become more of the " norm " as his schedule becames tighter and his

number of patients increase. Just be prepared if he behaves like

a " regular type surgeon doctor guy "

Now that I'm on " the other side " I will tell you that my journey has

not been easy. I miss food. I miss texture and taste AND I have

cravings ... for just about everything (lol). The one thing I looked

forward to after surgery was to not wake up every morning thinking

about what I can eat because I was starting that never ending diet.

Now I ponder all day long about what I can eat that will sit well in

this new tummy. I often feel deprived. I know that I have to work on

this part of my mental well being but I just wanted the pre ops to

know that it can be a struggle ... well worth it I'm sure but a

struggle none the less.

At 4 weeks I have lost 20 lbs. Sometimes I feel a little let down

because it's coming off slower than I expected but I remind myself of

my weigh in after surgery (at clinic) and I had put on 2lbs! I KNOW

those staples didn't weigh that much ... lol.

Thanks for giving me the opportunity to share MY thoughts, opinions

and experiences. Please email me personally if you have any questions.

[Guest guest]

Hi Beth,

In the past, when I have had surgery. I only saw my doctor a total

of... 10-15 minutes the whole week I was in the hospital. But I KNEW

that he WAS paying attention to me because I got well. Doctors, are not

like family, they have so much time to devote to each patient. I think

we are expecting too much from Dr. R if we feel individual attention is

necessary. I have been corresponding with Dr. R for over a year. He

knew who I was because of this long dialog. Not everyone takes the time

to do this. Yes, everyone is entitled to their opinions based on their

experiences. Mine was a good one.

I hope you can see that many of us find this a miracle in our lives. We

are losing weight that will never come back. This surgery has given us

hope!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

a

Beth in Raleigh wrote:

>

> I don't post often but I do read the messges daily and have enjoyed

> the many quips of humor and helpful tidbits of information. Thanks to

> all the members who contribute.

>

[Guest guest]

As someone wanting to have surgery and researching...I do appreciate hearing

both sides. I have heard so many wonderful, positive things and I know the

other must be out there also...it always is with anything. Please keep us

posted how you are doing...it is always best to make an informed decision and

for any of us pre-ops I think I can say we would rather hear both sides so if

we don't have a positive experience we can't say...but no one ever told me

this could happen. Again, thanks for your honesty.

Holly in Illinois