New To The List

[Guest guest]

Hello Everyone,

I have just signed up for this email group. I have been reading

constantly about Dr. Rutledge and his procedure. Everything sounds

great to me so far. But I would love some input from the people that

have had the surgery already!! Like .....

How are you feeling now compared to before the surgery?

Did you have any problems with food after surgery?

How much did you have to pay that your insurance didn't pay, i.e..

co-pay if any?

How much have you lost to date?

Do you stop loosing weight eventually? If so, at what point?

What did you think about your stay at the hospital and Dr. Rutledge?

Let me tell you a little about myself...I live in Alabama, and am

currently employed by the local newspaper as a graphic artist. I weigh

270 lbs. and am only 5'3 " tall, and my BMI equals to 47. I have also,

like many of you, fought with my weight all of my life. My earliest

memory was in the 3rd grade, a little boy was teasing me because I was

FAT. I had no clue at the time what that meant, but I learned quite

quickly after that. I am 28 years old now and have also done the yo-yo

diet.

If there was a diet, I was on it. Even the fatal Phen-Phen, but I only

took it a couple of days, make me feel weird. All diet pills do that to

me. They make me feel like my skin is crawling. And I cannot stand to

be on a strict diet. But I have done my share in my lifetime. I feel

like I have lost most of my 20's due to being overweight. I will not go

anywhere that I don't have to go. And that is sad to me.

I also have a very high cholesterol level (284) and trygleseride level

(1160)! I know, WOW THAT'S HIGH! My doctor has put me on Lotensin 20mg.

for this and I have my follow-up blood work done on the 7th. My doctor

is great! I know he will recommend this for me. I have a consultation

with him on the 17th and I will be discussing this with him. As for my

insurance, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Georgia, HMO. Does anyone have

this coverage or heard of this coverage?

Well that is enough about me, I want to hear about all of you!!!!

Looking forward to your emails!

Thanks soooooo much,

Phenix City, Alabama