new and have questions

[Guest guest]

Kathy, There has been 4 of us that have had the MGB in my family and we all

live in Ct. I do have the names of doctors that will support you on this.

What part of Ct. do you live. I am in the Groton area. Liz

[Guest guest]

Kathy,

I can only speak for myself. I went the diet pill route, as well as every

other route, for many years. I would lose, regain, plus, always. Your

doctor may be negative because he just doesn't know that much about the MGB.

I do not think there is anyone else doing the MGB now. I had the surgery on

August 2, 2000 and for me it has been the best thing that I ever did for

myself. I have not had any pain or nausea. I feel as though I could eat

anything, but I am sticking to the liquids and soft foods for now. I have

lost 18 lbs. I feel fantastic, energetic, and just plain wonderful. As far

as the surgery itself, the only pain I had was immediately after recovery

and they gave me a morphine pump which took care of that pronto. I think

the surgery took around 35 minutes. It was done at about 4:30 in the

afternoon and I left the hospital at 10:30 the next morning. This was the

only answer for me.

Kay

new and have questions

> Hello everyone,

>

> congradulations to those of you who are doing so well. I envy you. I am 34

> with a 2 year old and weigh 280lbs. I hate it. weight runs in my family,

> father has been large (425) for 20 years. I grew up with this and I do not

> want my daughter to. I have asked my PCP about this procedure and she

said

> it is not the answer for me. The reason being that I pick at work, eating

> all day, I wouldn't lose weight even with this procedure. She was very

> negative, it was heart breaking. She has prescribed diet pills for me in

the

> past and I actually lost 60 lbs before putting me at 200, then I got sick

> and had to have my gallbladder removed, got pregnant and gained all the

> weight back and them some. The Dr. wants me to try the pills again,UGH,

the

> pills make you wired constantly, keep you from sleeping and stop working

> after a while. I have medical reasons that would enable me to get approved

I

> think, and I have Anthem blue Cross POS insurance. I live in Connecticut

and

> have been reading this group for a while now and following Amy Poe's story

> at Onhealth for 2 months. I would love this to work for me, does anyone

> know of any Dr's in new england that do the MGB, or have any advice. I

guess

> I'm just scared, this is a big decision. I also love to eat. would I be

able

> to deal with the mental part of it.?? also what foods can you absolutely

NOT

> eat Ever? Thanks for letting me babble, Kathy in CT.

>

>

>

>

>

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[Guest guest]

Hello everyone,

congradulations to those of you who are doing so well. I envy you. I am 34

with a 2 year old and weigh 280lbs. I hate it. weight runs in my family,

father has been large (425) for 20 years. I grew up with this and I do not

want my daughter to. I have asked my PCP about this procedure and she said

it is not the answer for me. The reason being that I pick at work, eating

all day, I wouldn't lose weight even with this procedure. She was very

negative, it was heart breaking. She has prescribed diet pills for me in the

past and I actually lost 60 lbs before putting me at 200, then I got sick

and had to have my gallbladder removed, got pregnant and gained all the

weight back and them some. The Dr. wants me to try the pills again,UGH, the

pills make you wired constantly, keep you from sleeping and stop working

after a while. I have medical reasons that would enable me to get approved I

think, and I have Anthem blue Cross POS insurance. I live in Connecticut and

have been reading this group for a while now and following Amy Poe's story

at Onhealth for 2 months. I would love this to work for me, does anyone

know of any Dr's in new england that do the MGB, or have any advice. I guess

I'm just scared, this is a big decision. I also love to eat. would I be able

to deal with the mental part of it.?? also what foods can you absolutely NOT

eat Ever? Thanks for letting me babble, Kathy in CT.

_______________________________________________________

Say Bye to Slow Internet!

http://www.home.com/xinbox/signup.html

[Guest guest]

Hi kathie,

I am also a pre-op, so i can't answer all your questions, but I have

been reading the site and the list for over two months now. I have a

few comments about your concerns. Post-ops are encouraged to " graze "

eating 6-8 small meals a day. The first two to three months are when

you need to be most careful and have the most restrictive diet

requirements while your tummy heals and you get to know how it reacts

now. It amazes me how many times I read that their cravings for

fatty

and sweet foods are gone. But most say that after a couple of months

( some even before this) are eating pretty much whatever they desire.

Some seems to have no problems with the foods they are interested in

and some have reactions to certain foods ( but they seem to be

different for different people). That is why you have to get to know

and listen to your new tummy. All these factors help with the mental

part plus support here and from others. Thinkning your hungry (head

hunger) seems to go away in a few weeks.

keep reading and educate yourself. I don't think you'll find another

doctor doing this particular surgery for awhile yet. You will

possible find surgeons doing RNY laproscopically.

Do not get discouraged yet. There are very few doctors out there

that

totally understnad bariatric patients and surgery. I am sure that

your PCP means well.

Laurie

> Hello everyone,

>

> congradulations to those of you who are doing so well. I envy you.

I

am 34

> with a 2 year old and weigh 280lbs. I hate it. weight runs in my

family,

> father has been large (425) for 20 years. I grew up with this and I

do not

> want my daughter to. I have asked my PCP about this procedure and

she said

> it is not the answer for me. The reason being that I pick at work,

eating

> all day, I wouldn't lose weight even with this procedure. She was

very

> negative, it was heart breaking. She has prescribed diet pills for

me in the

> past and I actually lost 60 lbs before putting me at 200, then I

got

sick

> and had to have my gallbladder removed, got pregnant and gained all

the

> weight back and them some. The Dr. wants me to try the pills

again,UGH, the

> pills make you wired constantly, keep you from sleeping and stop

working

> after a while. I have medical reasons that would enable me to get

approved I

> think, and I have Anthem blue Cross POS insurance. I live in

Connecticut and

> have been reading this group for a while now and following Amy

Poe's

story

> at Onhealth for 2 months. I would love this to work for me, does

anyone

> know of any Dr's in new england that do the MGB, or have any

advice.

I guess

> I'm just scared, this is a big decision. I also love to eat. would

I

be able

> to deal with the mental part of it.?? also what foods can you

absolutely NOT

> eat Ever? Thanks for letting me babble, Kathy in CT.

>

>

>

>

>

> _______________________________________________________

> Say Bye to Slow Internet!

> http://www.home.com/xinbox/signup.html

[Guest guest]

Hi Kathy,

Welcome! First of all, your PCP is wrong that you wouldn't lose weight even

with

this procedure. Maybe she doesn't realize that the MGB involves not just making

the

stomach smaller but also bypasses part of the intestine which causes only some

of the

food taken in to be absorbed. You will lose weight with this surgery. Many

doctors

do not understand weight loss surgery, and many are still thinking about older

forms

of weight loss surgery which did have a high failure and complication rate. If

you

haven't had a chance to yet, go to Dr. Rutledge's web site: http://clos.net and

read

about the MGB and it's success and low complication rate.

Before I had the MGB (on August 2nd) I had decided that I didn't want to try any

more

diets or pills because I had tried so many things, and I always just gained the

weight back, plus more. Treatments other than weight loss surgery are VERY

ineffective for people who are morbidly obese. From my research it is clear to

me

that the MGB is by far the best weight loss surgery available. Dr. Rutledge is

the

only surgeon that does the MGB, although I believe he has been working on

training

others, but as of now he is the choice, and he is a wonderful, kind, incredibly

skilled surgeon who has done almost 800 MGB's.

All of us who have had or who are considering having the MGB love to eat. There

was

certainly a mental aspect to my eating. I love food, and it has always been a

comfort and a reward for me. It has only been two weeks since I had the MGB,

but I

have already noticed a big difference in how I feel about food. If I see some

food I

loved to eat (like lasagna) I still have a feeling of really wanting it, for a

few

minutes. What has been happening to me is that I really want the food I see or

smell, and I feel badly that I can't have it (because I am only 2 weeks

post-op), but

then in a few minutes I realize that I have forgotten about wanting that food!

Now,

before the surgery I would not have forgotten about wanting that food until I

had

eaten a large amount of it. I forget about eating sometimes now! It is

amazing. I

don't know how I will feel about food as time goes on, but so far it bothers me

very

little that I can't eat everything my brain wants to. Whenever I have been on a

diet

in the past, I have been obsessed with food almost every minute of it, and it

has

been a mental and physical agony every minute. That has not been the case at

all

since I had the MGB. From what I read from other post-ops, the mental thing

gets

even easier as time goes on, and it is not even really hard now!

There are not any foods that you can never ever eat again (except you can't

drink

alcohol, and carbonated beverages are not good for you after surgery), unless

your

own personal stomach has a problem with them. For the first two weeks to two

months

after surgery you are on a liquid and soft foods diet, but after that you can

eat

anything your stomach will tolerate. I have noticed from the posts that some

people

can't tolerate soft breads or noodles or things that are very sugary. Everyone

is

different, and some post-ops can tolerate anything, but everyone eats and wants

much

less.

I hope this has helped with some of your questions. Please feel free to ask any

questions you have. This list is great!

Sara

MGB 8/2

kathy marotta wrote:

> Hello everyone,

>

> congradulations to those of you who are doing so well. I envy you. I am 34

> with a 2 year old and weigh 280lbs. I hate it. weight runs in my family,

> father has been large (425) for 20 years. I grew up with this and I do not

> want my daughter to. I have asked my PCP about this procedure and she said

> it is not the answer for me. The reason being that I pick at work, eating

> all day, I wouldn't lose weight even with this procedure. She was very

> negative, it was heart breaking. She has prescribed diet pills for me in the

> past and I actually lost 60 lbs before putting me at 200, then I got sick

> and had to have my gallbladder removed, got pregnant and gained all the

> weight back and them some. The Dr. wants me to try the pills again,UGH, the

> pills make you wired constantly, keep you from sleeping and stop working

> after a while. I have medical reasons that would enable me to get approved I

> think, and I have Anthem blue Cross POS insurance. I live in Connecticut and

> have been reading this group for a while now and following Amy Poe's story

> at Onhealth for 2 months. I would love this to work for me, does anyone

> know of any Dr's in new england that do the MGB, or have any advice. I guess

> I'm just scared, this is a big decision. I also love to eat. would I be able

> to deal with the mental part of it.?? also what foods can you absolutely NOT

> eat Ever? Thanks for letting me babble, Kathy in CT.

>

> _______________________________________________________

> Say Bye to Slow Internet!

> http://www.home.com/xinbox/signup.html

>

>

>

> 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

>

> To Unsubscribe Send and Email to: MiniGastricBypass-unsubscribe (AT) egroups (DOT) com

[Guest guest]

Kathy! I am living proof that you can pick on food and still lose

weight. I eat about 5-6 small meals/snacks while I am at work. I

have 1 more meal, sometimes, in the evening. My snack of choice is

pretzels. Sometimes I do whole wheat crackers and a piece of cheese.

My small meals include a salad or soup and 1/2 sandwhich, a Healthy

Choice entree (not the full dinner), fruit and cheese, a bigger salad

(yum!), etc...

If I were you, I'd get a new PCP - hey, you can fire her, it's your

health and life! Pills can get you trapped in a cycle of loss/gain

and possibly addiction. I have a friend who lost 120 pounds with

diet pills last year and her health was almost ruined from lack of

sleep, lack of nutirents and the addiction. PLEASE DON'T DO THE PILLS

AGAIN. It almost killed my good friend.

I am including my contact letter for you and those who are curious.

OK, my story:

I am 41, single (never married), overweight all my life. I have

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), arthritis and back problems. The

PCOS plays havoc with my insulin levels, amongst other things. After

all the diets in the world failed, I started seriously thinking about

having the surgery. I hit the net and started researching. IMHO,

Doc

R. is the most thorough person I have seen. He cares about us as

people as well as clients.

I first found his number at Obesityhelp.com. I called the number

listed late on a Sunday night expecting to leave a message with his

office answering machine. Here, it was his house I had called.

Yiikes! He spoke to me for about an hour - he was so nice. He won

my

vote on that alone.

When I finally decided to have the surgery, it was the beginning of

October of 99. My insurance was an HMO and I was afraid that it

would

not be covered. At open season (we Federal employees have a chance

every year to change insurance policies), I chose BC/BS for I knew it

covered obesity surgery. I had to wait till Jan 2000 for it to go

into effect. My first clinic was Jan. 8 (back in the days when you

had 3 clinics to go to) and I had no problem with approval. My

approval came mid-February and my surgery was 1 Mar.

Since I am single, I don't have a problem with family and the everyday

aspects of eating. When it came to the family support letter, I

wrote

it myself, took it home to PA with me and told my whole family (save

for my mom who already knew). All my siblings and my in-laws, save 1

(and I have 5 siblings, all married) signed. My eldest sister, who

has battled anexoria, started monitoring my eating while I was home

and I had to put my foot down with her. The sister-in-law that

didn't

sign is cheesed off with my cause that will make her the largest gal

in the family and it's making her feel guilty.

I went home for the first time since surgery on Memorial Day. My

whole family was happy for me. My sister-in-law who was mad refused

to come to my Mom's house to see me. My sister who was monitoring my

food at Christmas was so happy she almost cried.

As for my friends here, they are very supportive and have gone with

me

when I needed Gatorade or found a restaurant where I can get soup.

It's much easier now that I am almost 5 months out. I can eat almost

anything.

My surgery went well. Doc R. did find some liver damage so I am going

to have to be careful. I am one of the recipients of the " coveted "

(?) 6th hole. It was due to the fact that my abdominal wall was

thick

and stiff (might be due to my Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome - I am not

sure) that Doc R needed the 6th hole to finish the surgery.

My procedure took 50 min., even with the addition of the 6th hole. I

awoke about 3 + hours later (I supposed awoke in the recovery room

but

lordy, I don't remember a thing!) belching to beat the band from the

gas he uses to inflate the stomach for surgery. I heaved every time I

took a pill until about after midnight. It was about that time I was

given some apple juice (I cut it with 50% water to be on the safe

side). I was up and walking around 8:00 p.m. and was able to go home

the following morning.

Since being home, I have been careful to sip. Man, you have to be very

mindful of what you're doing! That first Friday night, I awoke and

took a big swig of Gatorade and then panicked over what I had done. I

was nauseous the remainder of the night and didn't sleep well.

I took lots of naps the first 4 days but went shopping with my Mom,

went to church, and went to work the following Monday. I was gentle

with myself and worked 4-6 hours/day that first week back. My staples

itched - LOL.

When day 6 hit, I awoke starved. I was nauseous that morning from

hunger. ly, this was the first time I have felt true hunger

since the surgery. For most folks, I think it takes longer. Lucky

me

:oP

I was on yogurt (ensure tasted vile to me), V8, chicken and veggie

broth, strained cream soups, Gatorade, and fruit juice cut with

water.

On day 12, I started with some soft foods: cottage cheese,

applesauce,

soups.

I lost 14 lbs. at my first weigh-in (3/11) and I promised I'd only

weigh myself every 2-4 weeks to keep my mind set out of the old

" weigh

yourself everyday " diet paranoia. I walk right now as a my major

form

of exercise but I also swim and am looking for a stationary bike and

a

regular bike.

I consider myself fortunate. Not much pain, not much nausea, no bile

reflux - although some folks have had trouble when they go on the

actigall, I wasn't one of them. I traveled 2 + weeks after surgery

to

Mississippi. I was lucky again and had a fridge in my hotel room and

grits on the breakfast bar.

As for the boredom, I go for a walk, read a book - far away from the

kitchen as possible. I moved four weeks after my surgery into a

house

that's a fixer-upper so I have lots of projects now. I take a class

every week at church and am quite involved there. I am thinking of

taking up quilting - that'll keep my hands busy.

After 5 1/2 months, I can hold about 12 or so ounces of food - less

if I eat something heavy like starch or protein. I am constantly

sipping on water so that gives my mouth something to do and I

satifify my thirst.

My PCP was a little (ALOT!) skeptical about my having the surgery. I

gave a copy of Doc R.'s manual and that helped her decide to

support

me. She is now thrilled with my results and since then has referred

3

more patients to him.

My insurance paid almost everything. I think my total out-of-pocket

expense is $450.

It really hasn't been hard adjusting to my new reality of eating, but

mind you, I spend a year and a half in therapy working on my

self-esteem and preparing for this MAJOR change in lifestyle. This

is

not a decision to be made lightly. If you are not willing to change

the way you live your life, not willing to stand up for yourself, and

are not willing to love and respect yourself, don't have the surgery.

For me, I'd do it again and it has been totally worth it so far.

I have only had one incidence of vomiting. It was during the 6th

week

and I ate something that was too greasy. It's all a learning

experience - refeeding and readjusting to your body.

I am 5'9 " and started at 348. Now, I am 266 and I can tell more is

coming off. Eighteen more off and I hit the 100 lbs loss mark!

Yee-ha! Good luck to you and write if you need anything.

-Ginny

MGB: 3/1/00

" I look forward to growing old and wise

and audacious. " - Glenda

> Hello everyone,

>

> congradulations to those of you who are doing so well. I envy you.

I

am 34

> with a 2 year old and weigh 280lbs. I hate it. weight runs in my

family,

> father has been large (425) for 20 years. I grew up with this and I

do not

> want my daughter to. I have asked my PCP about this procedure and

she said

> it is not the answer for me. The reason being that I pick at work,

eating

> all day, I wouldn't lose weight even with this procedure. She was

very

> negative, it was heart breaking. She has prescribed diet pills for

me in the

> past and I actually lost 60 lbs before putting me at 200, then I

got

sick

> and had to have my gallbladder removed, got pregnant and gained all

the

> weight back and them some. The Dr. wants me to try the pills

again,UGH, the

> pills make you wired constantly, keep you from sleeping and stop

working

> after a while. I have medical reasons that would enable me to get

approved I

> think, and I have Anthem blue Cross POS insurance. I live in

Connecticut and

> have been reading this group for a while now and following Amy

Poe's

story

> at Onhealth for 2 months. I would love this to work for me, does

anyone

> know of any Dr's in new england that do the MGB, or have any

advice.

I guess

> I'm just scared, this is a big decision. I also love to eat. would

I

be able

> to deal with the mental part of it.?? also what foods can you

absolutely NOT

> eat Ever? Thanks for letting me babble, Kathy in CT.

>

>

>

>

>

> _______________________________________________________

> Say Bye to Slow Internet!

> http://www.home.com/xinbox/signup.html

[Guest guest]

HI Kathy,

well Id find a new PCP. yours doesnt sound very

compassionate....you cant change your genes but you

can have a MGB and lose weight...I am basically like

you...family history...tried the diet pills from my MD

the whole thing....I love to eat..I would wake up in

the morning and think about what I would eat

throughout the day....sad huh>? now Im almost 4 weeks

post op and 25 pounds are gone....I havent weighed in

this week yet .....but I have no problem mentally with

food....I have just started eating small amounts of

solids and feel great...nothing has bothered me from

chicken parmasan to spaghetti and pot roast...I just

eat small amts and am totally satisfied....

I say youre very worth it...Dr R is the best...he is

soooo caring and compassionate I wish he would tour

and give speaches to these other MDs who think we are

pigs and dont want to help us...

anyway..dont give up...find a doctor who will be

supportive..there is one out there someplace...if not

come here to NY and see mine..they are great!!! very

supportive..and very willing to work with Dr R!!!

good luck

Jeanne in NY

--- kathy marotta wrote:

> Hello everyone,

>

> congradulations to those of you who are doing so

> well. I envy you. I am 34

> with a 2 year old and weigh 280lbs. I hate it.

> weight runs in my family,

> father has been large (425) for 20 years. I grew up

> with this and I do not

> want my daughter to. I have asked my PCP about this

> procedure and she said

> it is not the answer for me. The reason being that I

> pick at work, eating

> all day, I wouldn't lose weight even with this

> procedure. She was very

> negative, it was heart breaking. She has prescribed

> diet pills for me in the

> past and I actually lost 60 lbs before putting me at

> 200, then I got sick

> and had to have my gallbladder removed, got pregnant

> and gained all the

> weight back and them some. The Dr. wants me to try

> the pills again,UGH, the

> pills make you wired constantly, keep you from

> sleeping and stop working

> after a while. I have medical reasons that would

> enable me to get approved I

> think, and I have Anthem blue Cross POS insurance. I

> live in Connecticut and

> have been reading this group for a while now and

> following Amy Poe's story

> at Onhealth for 2 months. I would love this to work

> for me, does anyone

> know of any Dr's in new england that do the MGB, or

> have any advice. I guess

> I'm just scared, this is a big decision. I also love

> to eat. would I be able

> to deal with the mental part of it.?? also what

> foods can you absolutely NOT

> eat Ever? Thanks for letting me babble, Kathy in

> CT.

>

>

>

>

>

>

_______________________________________________________

> Say Bye to Slow Internet!

> http://www.home.com/xinbox/signup.html

>

>

__________________________________________________