Re: Responses

[Guest guest]

I want to thank all of you who have responded to my request for your

thoughts and experiences. I did not want to stir up all this again,

but I needed some last minute reassurance that I had left no stone

unturned. I have been reading and re-reading my manuel for months, i

have talked to many, many patients of Dr. R's I have researched the

MGB on and off the web. I have gotten to know my PCP better than I

ever cared to, while spending a considerable amount of time exploring

all the online info and what he could find. And when it all came

together there was no bad side to it.( Nothing any different than any

other surgery I have had). So it never occured to me to ask for the

bad news until this all came up with and I realized I had left

a stone unturned. As I explained to someone else, My heart knew

exactly what I wanted and what I was going to do, but for one weak

moment I let my head get in the way.

In the past 3 hours I have received over 40 responses privately, not

to mention those openly and I now know I have left no stone unturned

and come Sunday Morning I am Durham bound. I have the utmost respect

for Dr Rutledge and trust him totally. As far as his follow up care,

I have had 4 surgeries and have never layed eyes on my surgeon again

after my surgery was over and I left the hospital, Nor have I had one

who put the responsability of staying in touch with him in my ADULT

hands.

I thank all of you for your willingness to share your experiences

with me and your cander in doing so. I thank you for your support

during the time I have tried for insurance approval, getting my

packet ready, and your excitement for me when I announced I had a

date to dance. And I thank all of you who have promised to pray for

me.

Sincerely,

Gwen DeWitt

Dancing with The Doctor 9/27

[Guest guest]

Good for you! I do hope no one took any of my comments as

suggestions that they not have the surgery. I too looked at

everything, even a death, and made my own decision. At 7 weeks

postop, I feel it is far too early to make any determination as to

whether I made a good or bad decision. I wish I had lost more weight

at this point--but that doesn't mean that I regret what I have done.

And I do believe that Dr. R does want us to post freely--if you're

the kind of person (NOT saying YOU are!) that will think an infection

is the sign of a surgery done incorrectly, then you very probably

shouldn't have surgery! Dr R did nothing to cause my infection. I

just would have felt better if I had seen him more when I was in the

hospital!

You're right--we are all adults, and as such, we all form our own

opinions. You are wise to ask for as many opinions as you can get--

and to then sift through them and make your own decision.

Good luck to you--

Kathi

> Thanks for your post, Gloria. I am following you

> by one week (10/04) and I feel I have done so

> much research and feel this is the right choice

> for me. But I also had moments of anxiety -

> wondering whether my excitement about finding a

> new life was making me not reflect fully on the

> risks of this surgery and the possiblilty of a

> failed procedure.

>

> But as I have reflected on all that has been

> posted here over the last few weeks, I do believe

> that I have seriously considered the risks and

> possible complications. And I think that is

> exactly what Dr. R wants us to do. If we don't

> understand just what the possibilities are, we

> cannot make an informed decision about this

> surgery. I will go forward as an informed

> consumer, knowing the risks and benefits. It is my

> decision to make, and I feel comfortable making it

> after all of the research I have done about this

> and other procedures.

>

> Knowing about the complications helps us know what

> to look for if we aren't feeling right after

> surgery. And hearing Kathi's experience with the

> other emergency room lets me know just how

> important it is to have Dr. R involved if there is

> a problem, to avoid mis-diagnosis by someone who

> isn't familiar with the procedure.

>

> So even though there are risks and many possible

> complications, I am ready for my surgery and am

> going into to it with my eyes wide open. Good

> luck next week - to you and all your littermates.

>

>

> - waiting in Chicago - MGB 10/04

>

> RE: Responses

>

>

> > I want to thank all of you who have responded to

> my request for your

> > thoughts and experiences. I did not want to stir

> up all this again,

> > but I needed some last minute reassurance that I

> had left no stone

> > unturned. I have been reading and re-reading my

> manuel for months, i

> > have talked to many, many patients of Dr. R's I

> have researched the

> > MGB on and off the web. I have gotten to know my

> PCP better than I

> > ever cared to, while spending a considerable

> amount of time exploring

> > all the online info and what he could find. And

> when it all came

> > together there was no bad side to it.( Nothing

> any different than any

> > other surgery I have had). So it never occured

> to me to ask for the

> > bad news until this all came up with and I

> realized I had left

> > a stone unturned. As I explained to someone

> else, My heart knew

> > exactly what I wanted and what I was going to

> do, but for one weak

> > moment I let my head get in the way.

> > In the past 3 hours I have received over 40

> responses privately, not

> > to mention those openly and I now know I have

> left no stone unturned

> > and come Sunday Morning I am Durham bound. I

> have the utmost respect

> > for Dr Rutledge and trust him totally. As far as

> his follow up care,

> > I have had 4 surgeries and have never layed eyes

> on my surgeon again

> > after my surgery was over and I left the

> hospital, Nor have I had one

> > who put the responsability of staying in touch

> with him in my ADULT

> > hands.

> > I thank all of you for your willingness to share

> your experiences

> > with me and your cander in doing so. I thank you

> for your support

> > during the time I have tried for insurance

> approval, getting my

> > packet ready, and your excitement for me when I

> announced I had a

> > date to dance. And I thank all of you who have

> promised to pray for

> > me.

> > Sincerely,

> > Gwen DeWitt

> > Dancing with The Doctor 9/27

> >

> >

> >