Re: Muir Hospital Support Group Meeting

February 16, 2006

Patty, how are you? We haven't seen you in ages!

Laurie

__________________________________________________

February 16, 2006

Patty, how are you? We haven't seen you in ages!

Laurie

__________________________________________________

February 24, 2006

Laurie,

You asked how I am. Dr. Dutta wanted me to tell my story, but I was

not prepared to for a long time.

After the surgery, I was back in the hospital four more times for a

total of 36 days in the hospital including the surgery. Most of my

complications came from the fact that they took the gall bladder out

at

the same time.

I do not want people to say they are sorry. That is not where I am

at. It is a fact of what happened.

By the way, I have EVERY confidence in Dr. Dutta. My problems were

not

of his doing.

I was dehydrated one time, my bile bag fell out another time, a had

an

abcess to my spleen, etc.

What I would like others to know is that I read widely, but reading

is

not absorbing. I attended support group meetings, but I did not

learn

what I heard. I thought I had.

I was not prepared for the changes that occured. My tastes became

topsy turvy. I could not tolerate pills well, a problem I had never

had before. I live alone and could not take care of myself at

first.

When my sister had to go home, I was back in the hospital within a

week.

The bottom line is that while 75 pounds FELL OFF, I got to the point

where getting well was more important to me than losing weight. Only

two weeks after I got out of the hospital for the last time, I was

dehydrated again. I decided right then and there that I was not

going

back in the hospital. I changed how I was eating and drinking to

regain my strength. The impact of that was that I have almost

stopped

losing weight. That is a choice I made, and I am not sorry I made it.

I am working out now. I am getting stronger. It is only recently

that

I could feel somewhat glad I had the operation.

I should have mentioned that I was off work almost six months.

Let's face it. Things do not always go the way we expect. I never

want to regain a pound but I am not focused on weight loss after all

that has happened.

Please, I do not want a tirade of messages of people saying they are

sorry, etc. That is not how I feel. I am moving forward. I only

tell

you all of this because you asked.

I would still like to find out about the Muir support group if

anyone has any information.

Patty

February 24, 2006

Laurie,

You asked how I am. Dr. Dutta wanted me to tell my story, but I was

not prepared to for a long time.

After the surgery, I was back in the hospital four more times for a

total of 36 days in the hospital including the surgery. Most of my

complications came from the fact that they took the gall bladder out

at

the same time.

I do not want people to say they are sorry. That is not where I am

at. It is a fact of what happened.

By the way, I have EVERY confidence in Dr. Dutta. My problems were

not

of his doing.

I was dehydrated one time, my bile bag fell out another time, a had

an

abcess to my spleen, etc.

What I would like others to know is that I read widely, but reading

is

not absorbing. I attended support group meetings, but I did not

learn

what I heard. I thought I had.

I was not prepared for the changes that occured. My tastes became

topsy turvy. I could not tolerate pills well, a problem I had never

had before. I live alone and could not take care of myself at

first.

When my sister had to go home, I was back in the hospital within a

week.

The bottom line is that while 75 pounds FELL OFF, I got to the point

where getting well was more important to me than losing weight. Only

two weeks after I got out of the hospital for the last time, I was

dehydrated again. I decided right then and there that I was not

going

back in the hospital. I changed how I was eating and drinking to

regain my strength. The impact of that was that I have almost

stopped

losing weight. That is a choice I made, and I am not sorry I made it.

I am working out now. I am getting stronger. It is only recently

that

I could feel somewhat glad I had the operation.

I should have mentioned that I was off work almost six months.

Let's face it. Things do not always go the way we expect. I never

want to regain a pound but I am not focused on weight loss after all

that has happened.

Please, I do not want a tirade of messages of people saying they are

sorry, etc. That is not how I feel. I am moving forward. I only

tell

you all of this because you asked.

I would still like to find out about the Muir support group if

anyone has any information.

Patty

February 24, 2006

Thanks for letting us hear your story, Patty. I probably wasn't on

the list when you were posting before, so I don't " know " you, but

those of us who are pre-op need to hear the problems as well as the

success stories to prepare for our surgeries. Too often I feel as

if we only hear the benefits and the " miracle moments " ; and while

those are wonderful and they help us keep on-task with our weight

loss journey, we need to really know and accept the possibility of

problems. Like you said, they're facts. They happen. And it sounds

like you did what you needed to, and now you're getting better, and

I'm very glad you shared your experience with us.

Cathy C.

>

> Laurie,

>

> You asked how I am. Dr. Dutta wanted me to tell my story, but I

was

> not prepared to for a long time.

>

> After the surgery, I was back in the hospital four more times for

a

> total of 36 days in the hospital including the surgery. Most of

my

> complications came from the fact that they took the gall bladder

out

> at

> the same time.

>

> I do not want people to say they are sorry. That is not where I

am

> at. It is a fact of what happened.

>

> By the way, I have EVERY confidence in Dr. Dutta. My problems

were

> not

> of his doing.

>

> I was dehydrated one time, my bile bag fell out another time, a

had

> an

> abcess to my spleen, etc.

>

> What I would like others to know is that I read widely, but

reading

> is

> not absorbing. I attended support group meetings, but I did not

> learn

> what I heard. I thought I had.

>

> I was not prepared for the changes that occured. My tastes became

> topsy turvy. I could not tolerate pills well, a problem I had

never

> had before. I live alone and could not take care of myself at

> first.

> When my sister had to go home, I was back in the hospital within a

> week.

>

> The bottom line is that while 75 pounds FELL OFF, I got to the

point

> where getting well was more important to me than losing weight.

Only

> two weeks after I got out of the hospital for the last time, I was

> dehydrated again. I decided right then and there that I was not

> going

> back in the hospital. I changed how I was eating and drinking to

> regain my strength. The impact of that was that I have almost

> stopped

> losing weight. That is a choice I made, and I am not sorry I made

it.

>

> I am working out now. I am getting stronger. It is only recently

> that

> I could feel somewhat glad I had the operation.

>

> I should have mentioned that I was off work almost six months.

>

> Let's face it. Things do not always go the way we expect. I

never

> want to regain a pound but I am not focused on weight loss after

all

> that has happened.

>

> Please, I do not want a tirade of messages of people saying they

are

> sorry, etc. That is not how I feel. I am moving forward. I only

> tell

> you all of this because you asked.

>

> I would still like to find out about the Muir support group

if

> anyone has any information.

>

> Patty

>

February 24, 2006