patient letter

November 23, 2000

Hi Leilla,

My name is Angel, If you hear from any one regarding your questions with

your letter will you email me and let me know. I was going to ask the same

questions, but it looks like you did it for the both of us..thanks..

I am so lucky to have my mom, we have always been very close up until she

left my dad 3 years ago. She has changed in alot of ways but I still love

her. I have been complaining that on Holidays we have to go to four

different places to be with mine and my husbands families. We have to get up

at 4 am and drive, eat, give hugs, drive, eat, give hugs, drive, eat, give

hugs, and drive, eat, give hugs, then drive home and pretty much be comatose

for a day or two... But ya know, after I read the posting about the lady on

the side of the road, I have realized that I am so lucky that I have my

family. So today when I am diving and eating and giving those hugs, I am

going to appreciate the time that I am able to spend with my loved ones. I

am going to give thanks on this Thanks Giving day.

I hope that everyone has a blessed day today.

Angel in Winston-Salem

November 23, 2000

Leilla from claremont, You sound like a person I would like to know and

call a friend.

Betty in Forest City (formerly from Hickory)

patient letter

>hi friends, i'm working on completing my packet so i can send it out

>by wednesday. i was hoping to have at fed-ex this weekend, however,

>my pcp goofed and only had the physician's letter done and no h&p.

>i'm finishing my patient letter, and i've noticed that there is a new

>question...regarding lt...how much does dr r really want on her? i do

>not want to go back to her site!!! anyway, i am hoping that someone

>who has recently sent in their packet (like within the last month)

>and was approved for the mgb...would you please share about your

>letter...font size, did you single or double space, margins, and were

>there any questions that you did not get a full page on but had more

>than a page on others? i'm not meaning to obsess over details, but i

>want to do this right. i wish that dr r would post the specifics on

>his site.

>anyway, thanks for your help!

>happy thanksgiving to all!!!

>to other preops that may be a bit discouraged and waiting for their

>turn to dance...today lets try to focus on all that we have to be

>thankful for, sometimes i feel like planning on hoping for this

>surgery consumes my every moment. i have so much to be grateful

>for...4 great healthy kids, 2 special grandkids, a job to go to, a

>car that gets me there, a roof over my head, freedom, too much to

>list.

>however, let me mention this. i lost my mom 5 years ago this month. i

>was not " close " to her, and when my kids and i left connecticut to

>move to north carolina...her heart was broken. " why do you have to

>move so far away, i'll never get to see you and the kids " . my

>response to her was that just cuz we were related by blood didn't

>make us close, and i didn't have a problem being 800 miles away from

>her. at lunch the other day, i was amazed how most of the women my

>age whose mothers are still living were complaining so about such

>small things...their moms little quirks...you know what?...now, while

>it is too late, really miss my mom's little quirks. for those of you

>who have your parents...please appreciate them more and tell them how

>much you love them. wish i could.

>sorry this became so long...

>(((hugs)))

>leilla from claremont

>

November 23, 2000

hi friends, i'm working on completing my packet so i can send it out

by wednesday. i was hoping to have at fed-ex this weekend, however,

my pcp goofed and only had the physician's letter done and no h&p.

i'm finishing my patient letter, and i've noticed that there is a new

question...regarding lt...how much does dr r really want on her? i do

not want to go back to her site!!! anyway, i am hoping that someone

who has recently sent in their packet (like within the last month)

and was approved for the mgb...would you please share about your

letter...font size, did you single or double space, margins, and were

there any questions that you did not get a full page on but had more

than a page on others? i'm not meaning to obsess over details, but i

want to do this right. i wish that dr r would post the specifics on

his site.

anyway, thanks for your help!

happy thanksgiving to all!!!

to other preops that may be a bit discouraged and waiting for their

turn to dance...today lets try to focus on all that we have to be

thankful for, sometimes i feel like planning on hoping for this

surgery consumes my every moment. i have so much to be grateful

for...4 great healthy kids, 2 special grandkids, a job to go to, a

car that gets me there, a roof over my head, freedom, too much to

list.

however, let me mention this. i lost my mom 5 years ago this month. i

was not " close " to her, and when my kids and i left connecticut to

move to north carolina...her heart was broken. " why do you have to

move so far away, i'll never get to see you and the kids " . my

response to her was that just cuz we were related by blood didn't

make us close, and i didn't have a problem being 800 miles away from

her. at lunch the other day, i was amazed how most of the women my

age whose mothers are still living were complaining so about such

small things...their moms little quirks...you know what?...now, while

it is too late, really miss my mom's little quirks. for those of you

who have your parents...please appreciate them more and tell them how

much you love them. wish i could.

sorry this became so long...

(((hugs)))

leilla from claremont

November 23, 2000

Hi Leilla,

I just had MGB surgery last Friday 11/17, and had no problems with my

packet. I don't think there is a particular formula for the Patient Letter

that Dr. R wants to see; he just wants to see evidence that you fully

understand all about the surgery - risks, benefits, complications, morbid

obesity, other methods etc. I believe mine was 12-point type with 1 "

margins, single spaced. I had plenty to say and didn't have to strain to

fill up ten pages! Some topics were slightly less than a page, but several

were two pages. My advice is to not think of this as an unpleasant

assignment, but as an important exploration that helps you prepare for this

life-changing surgery.

Pretend that someone who knows nothing about MGB surgery has asked you

about it, in detail - and that you are anxious to fully inform and educate

them about all facets of the procedure.

Sorry about your mom. I lost my father in 1995 and although we had a fairly

good relationship, I have many regrets that I did not make more of an

effort to spend time with him and show him that I loved him as much as I

did/do. I try not to dwell on it because I know he forgives me and I feel

his positive presence in my life. I know he was with me during the surgery,

cheering me on, and that was a great comfort.

Happy Thanksgiving, and good luck on your MGB journey.

Kate