FW: Hello from an Oldie

[Guest guest]

> Hello from an " Oldie "

>

> Hello.

>

> My name is Janie Whitford. I guess I could be considered one of the

> " Oldies " on the post-op and pre-op list. I mostly am on the post-op list

> because the pre-op list is so overwhelming in volume but recent e-mails

> have made some of us " Oldies " decide to rejoin to help elevate some fear

> and educate as much as WE know how. Who better to answer questions than

> those who have had the surgery?

>

> I had my surgery on 25 Mar 99. My starting weight was 350 pounds and

> climbing. I had high blood pressure; diabetes; joint aches and pains;

> couldn't walk 50 feet without huffing and puffing and couldn't sleep at

> night. I wore a size 34 dress, 5x tops and pants. Bra size was 54EE.

> Shoe size was 10 1/2. Ring size 11.

>

> My doctor made an appointment for me to meet with Dr. Rutledge. I've

> never regretted a minute the decision I made to have this surgery. You

> need the support of family, friends and your doctor. You cannot go

> through this surgery alone. It's a life changing surgery. Everything

> becomes different but you can do it. The hardest part is changing your

> eating habits and regime. You realize that you want food but you don't

> really need it. We're so conditioned to clean our plates and not waste.

> With this surgery you have to change your eating habits. The first two or

> three weeks are the hardest but it does get better. Time helps

> everything. I stayed strictly on the broths, juices and yogurt for two

> months. For those times I had to have something to crunch, a saltine fit

> the bill. The next two months I ate soft foods such as mashed potatoes,

> mushed vegetables, some rice, pasta, yogurt and cottage cheese. I tried

> baby food but that's nasty, foul food. Don't ever tell your youngun that

> it tastes good. Bleck!

>

> My family stood behind me 100-percent. I couldn't have done it without

> their love and support and the support of the friends I've made since

> having this surgery. The majority of us are a supportive and loving

> bunch. Have questions? We'll try to answer them as honestly and as best

> we know. The medical questions I leave up to Dr. Rutledge. I had no

> insurance problems so can't help much there but I'll gladly talk about the

> results of my surgery with anyone who has questions. I don't claim to

> have the right answers; just how the surgery has helped me and the

> problems I had or didn't have which I'm glad to say I didn't and don't

> have any complications.

>

> I posted my before data. Now it's time for my after 18 months data. My

> weight today is 165 pounds which means I have lost a total of 185 pounds.

> My high blood pressure is gone; has been normal since day after surgery.

> Diabetes is gone. Sleep like a baby at night. Went to Disney Land three

> weeks and didn't miss a park. Went to Animal Kingdom; EPCOT; MGM Studios

> and Magic Kingdom. It was so wonderful. We went from opening time to

> closing. Rode and saw everything. I didn't have to rest at all. Only

> time we sat down was to eat or watch one of the shows. I now can wear a

> size 14 or 16 dress. Wear size 18 pants (my butts gone but my stomach is

> still hanging around for a while). Shoe size is 8 1/2. Ring size is 6.

> Bra size is 36D. I feel better than I've ever felt in my life.

>

> I eat anything I want in small sizes. I find that grazing all day works

> best for me. If I get too hungry I eat and drink too fast.

>

> I've never regretted this surgery. I'd do it again in a New York Minute.

> One thing you learn with this surgery is patience. You have to be

> patient. Each person loses at a different rate and throw away your

> scales. DO NOT WEIGH EVERY DAY. You only get discouraged. You didn't

> gain this weight over nite and you're not going to lose it overnite.

> You're still losing inches even when you don't lose weight. I believe in

> Dr. R. and this surgery but that was my decision to make. No one else can

> make it for you. Dr. Rutledge educates his patients to the best of his

> ability. He is the most cautious and careful Doctor I've ever met. He

> remembers each patient by name and whether you had any complications or

> not. The only time he doesn't recognize you is when he hasn't seen you in

> a while and your looks have changed because you've lost so much weight.

>

> Hopefully I can help elevate some stress and fear regarding this life

> changing, life giving surgery.

>

> Please feel free to use me as a contact. If you want to talk, please

> e-mail me and I'll give you my number.

>

> Janie