Hello from an Oldie

[Guest guest]

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