Re: Questions from in Alabama

August 7, 2000

Thanks for emailing me this info. I read the patient manual, but I need

to read it again because there was so much in it to learn. I resent my patient

info sheet and printed the confirmation out this time. I'll wait for the email

from the Doctor now. I'm sure it will take a while because of how busy they are

now.

Another question for the group....Do you think that Dr. R will stop taking new

patients anytime soon? Or will he get another Doctor in to help him. I would

hate to find this fortune at the end of my rainbow and not be able to use

it!!!!

Also, my father wants me to go see a phychiatrist about this operation. He

feels like I need to go talk to someone that is not in the family or close to

me and see how I feel after seeing the phychiatrist. It is free through my work

and I think this would be a good thing. My father is all for me to have this

procedure as is my family, but he wants me to go the extra mile and talk to

someone else about this. I love him for that!!!! So, my question is, did any of

you go to a phychiatrist before this surgery?

Thanks,

Phenix City, Alabama

Weight = 270 lbs.

Height - 5'3 "

BMI = 47

ranee riggs wrote:

> ,

> I don't know the answers to all your questions, but they can be found

> in the patient manual. However, I can tell you that the bypassed

> part of your stomach and intestines will not rot. They still have a

> blood supply so they stay " alive " . As for confirmation that they

> have received your patient information form: You should get an email

> from Dr. R. with a copy of the letter for the insurance company

> attached. You will then need to download the letter, print it, and

> mail it to your insurance company yourself. They are no longer

> mailing the letters for us. This is good in a way because you will

> feel that you have some control over things. I mailed mine this

> morning. Good Luck.

> Ranee

>

> King " <lking@l...> wrote:

> > Hey Everybody!

> >

> > I have a few questions about the surgery...

> >

> > 1. What happens to the by-passed stomach? Does it just sit there

> the

> > rest of your life? It doesn't get infected or worse rot?

> >

> > 2. How long should I expect to stay in Durham after the surgery? I

> will

> > probably fly in because it will take 10.5 hours to drive there.

> >

> > 3. Who on the list has had the by-pass surgery the longest?

> >

> > As for my patient info. sheet, I haven't had a response yet so, I

> will

> > go back to the web site and fill it out again. I don't remember if

> I

> > got a confirmation on sending it or not!!

> >

> > Thank you in advance for your advice!!

> >

> > Phenix City, Alabama

> > Weight = 270 lbs.

> > Height = 5'3 "

>

> 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

August 8, 2000

,

I don't know the answers to all your questions, but they can be found

in the patient manual. However, I can tell you that the bypassed

part of your stomach and intestines will not rot. They still have a

blood supply so they stay " alive " . As for confirmation that they

have received your patient information form: You should get an email

from Dr. R. with a copy of the letter for the insurance company

attached. You will then need to download the letter, print it, and

mail it to your insurance company yourself. They are no longer

mailing the letters for us. This is good in a way because you will

feel that you have some control over things. I mailed mine this

morning. Good Luck.

Ranee

King " <lking@l...> wrote:

> Hey Everybody!

>

> I have a few questions about the surgery...

>

> 1. What happens to the by-passed stomach? Does it just sit there

the

> rest of your life? It doesn't get infected or worse rot?

>

> 2. How long should I expect to stay in Durham after the surgery? I

will

> probably fly in because it will take 10.5 hours to drive there.

>

> 3. Who on the list has had the by-pass surgery the longest?

>

> As for my patient info. sheet, I haven't had a response yet so, I

will

> go back to the web site and fill it out again. I don't remember if

I

> got a confirmation on sending it or not!!

>

> Thank you in advance for your advice!!

>

> Phenix City, Alabama

> Weight = 270 lbs.

> Height = 5'3 "

August 8, 2000

Hi , I have never sent a message on something like this message

board and I am not even sure if this will even work, however, I

wanted to give you some advise as you have asked for it. I had my

surgery on July 21, just about 18 days ago. I have, most of my adult

life, sought the advice of a therapist. I have found them to be

EXTREMELY helpful in coping with life's struggles and I highly

recommend that EVERYONE try it at some time in their lives. I

believe that therapy is good for talking through most situations.

However, unless this therapist understands the pain and suffering,

both physical and emotional of being overweight, and our inability to

control ourselves when dealing with food, I don't believe they can

assist us in that area. My current therapist was " OK " with the

surgery. Next week, I am joining a group of woman, with this

therapist, and the group will be dedicated to people who are addicted

to food. I believe that the surgery, PLUS this group will truly help

me. As I mentioned to the therapist, since my surgery, I

am " grieving " for the old days when food was my source of comfort as

I gorged myself when stressed. I guess what I am trying to say is do

go and see this therapist and continue to see the therapist, but

don't expect that person to understand our " problem " with food;

however, have them help you with the transition of not being able to

use food as a comfort in life, that much I am sure they will

understand and help you with. I think your father is very loving to

have recommended this to you. Vellucci, 283

> > > Hey Everybody!

> > >

> > > I have a few questions about the surgery...

> > >

> > > 1. What happens to the by-passed stomach? Does it just sit

there

> > the

> > > rest of your life? It doesn't get infected or worse rot?

> > >

> > > 2. How long should I expect to stay in Durham after the

surgery? I

> > will

> > > probably fly in because it will take 10.5 hours to drive there.

> > >

> > > 3. Who on the list has had the by-pass surgery the longest?

> > >

> > > As for my patient info. sheet, I haven't had a response yet so,

I

> > will

> > > go back to the web site and fill it out again. I don't

remember if

> > I

> > > got a confirmation on sending it or not!!

> > >

> > > Thank you in advance for your advice!!

> > >

> > > Phenix City, Alabama

> > > Weight = 270 lbs.

> > > Height = 5'3 "

> >

> > 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

August 8, 2000

Dear V, You did great with that message, don't deny us your

wisdom and experience because we need it. I for one want to know what

to expect with the emotional impact that the surgery brings for us

who have struggled with a food addiction, and how you get through it.

We need all the imput we can get and also we might be able to

encourage you in difficult times. Please keep on posting on this

subject or any other subject. I would also like to hear your surgery

experience. I am looking forward to my surgery date of Aug 30, but if

you remember what you felt like before you surgery, your can't hear

too much about the surgery because it is a very important life event

for us, and consumes us right now. This plea is for all the other shy

post-op lurkers out there PLEASE SHARE. Since I am from so isolated

from other MGBers I will be depending on this list to be my support

group for some time to come.

Thank You From The Bottom of My Heart!

Marjory

5'2 " 280#

> > > > Hey Everybody!

> > > >

> > > > I have a few questions about the surgery...

> > > >

> > > > 1. What happens to the by-passed stomach? Does it just sit

> there

> > > the

> > > > rest of your life? It doesn't get infected or worse rot?

> > > >

> > > > 2. How long should I expect to stay in Durham after the

> surgery? I

> > > will

> > > > probably fly in because it will take 10.5 hours to drive

there.

> > > >

> > > > 3. Who on the list has had the by-pass surgery the longest?

> > > >

> > > > As for my patient info. sheet, I haven't had a response yet

so,

> I

> > > will

> > > > go back to the web site and fill it out again. I don't

> remember if

> > > I

> > > > got a confirmation on sending it or not!!

> > > >

> > > > Thank you in advance for your advice!!

> > > >

> > > > Phenix City, Alabama

> > > > Weight = 270 lbs.

> > > > Height = 5'3 "

> > >

> > > 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

August 8, 2000

No but my Mom wants me to talk to someone while I'm losing.

August 8, 2000

Thanks, very much, and yes, I am a VERY shy person. Right before my surgery

I experienced the " what if something goes wrong and I can't have the

surgery " like I have heard some of you express. That is natural. It is

because we feel like we won the lottery and are afraid we won't get the

money!!!!! I had my " last supper " with my family at a Chinese buffet a few

days before the surgery. I told everyone I knew about my decision and most

of the people who weren't addicted to food said " that's good " but I could

see that they were thinking " why doesn't she just go on a diet and exercise "

and you know, that's OK. I shouldn't expect them to understand me and my

addictions. In the end, I win when I loose the weight my way whether they

understand or not. When I went to the hospital that morning, my mom was

with me and we had a long wait. I was there at 7 am and did not go into

surgery until about 1 PM. I was scared, of course, if you aren't, then

something isn't right!!! I have had many surgeries, even one just this past

February for a hysterectomy, so I know the routine, however, it is serious

every time. After the surgery, I awoke in pain and they gave me the button

to press and I was fine within no time. I am VERY sensitive to pain, but

only needed it for the time I was in the hospital. I didn't have a need for

pain killers at all after I was released, which is very good. I was VERY

thirsty afterward and when I drank fast, as I always did, it hurt my

stomach. After this surgery, you learn to sip and swallow slowly, as well

as chew your food very, very well until it is VERY soft and then swallow

small amounts at a time or you will be in great pain. The night of your

surgery, try to sleep sitting up somewhat so that your stomach doesn't get

full of air and cause you distress. Try to urinate ASAP. I was unable to

for about 48 hours and they had to catherize me, which did not hurt at all,

just a little embarrassing. Before your surgery, make sure you have

EVERYTHING in the house that you will need afterward when you get home.

Once you get home, have someone go to the pharmacy for you to get the

prescriptions that you need and the doctor gives you when you leave the

hospital. Make written lists of questions for when you see the doctor in

the hospital and WRITE DOWN his response so you will remember later. At the

time you are asking, you probably will be groggy with pain killers and won't

remember his response. Do everything he says and you should be fine. Oh

yes, BEFORE YOU LEAVE FOR THE HOSPITAL, take a big marker and a big piece of

paper and write down on it Dr. Rutledge's phone and beeper number and the

number of the nearest ambulance, just in case, God forbid, you have a

problem, your family can call. I would recommend two week's off of work. I

came back after 12 days and it was a mistake. I should have taken two weeks

off. I am still feeling weak, but getting better daily. Rent some movies,

lay on the couch and relax and sip juices and salty broths and dream about

healthy food and a time when you will be healthy.