Hi there Linda

I just got my approval from OHIP today and I have some sage advice, since I was in the process for a number of months - since October to be exact - however to be fair to OHIP the appl. didn't actually reach them till early January.

I spoke directly to the OHIP office and they advised that they do not use our personal letters.

Your doctor needs to mark off one of the two boxes I'm sure you've heard about already which is that if you don't have this surgery you will have irreversable tissue damage or the other box saying something about leading to death without the surgery - anyhow,
secondly,
make sure that your doctor adds a letter with the form that outlines your co-morbities or major health issues.

Its wise to include any other doctors reports such as the ones you mentioned in your e-mail.

The woman at OHIP advised that they will only read doctors reports.

Also somewhere on the website (unfortunately I don't remember where it was at this time but I'm pretty certain it was a link on the home page) there is a page that was posted by a Canadian giving advice about your OHIP application.

At the bottom of that page is an actual number to reach the OHIP office, to check on the status of your application. **Don't suggest you do this for at least 6-8 weeks.

OHIP has also advised me that all applications are reviewed within 35 working days, however many of these result in a request for further information from your doctor (this is what happened to mine a couple of times). As well, I assume the 10 contacts Kim was speaking of are the 10 required prior to surgery not for OHIP.

I have shot myself in the foot so many times.

With the MGB, I did myself the biggest favor, I gave myself a chance. It took someone being tough with me,

Kathi, please don't take what I said thinking I am mean or a monster, I said to you what someone I am grateful to said to me. Barbara, has the way you have tried to control your weight worked? The answer is no.

You won't have to count your pills. We are not satisfied with our choices as we have made wrong ones so many times. If any of you have seen my post op interview with DR P on you tube, you will see the sense of relief that I was able to have this surgery. I was in fear due to adhesions, scare tissue, that DR P would only do the gastroplasty part and not the bypass. I had to have him reassure me that I indeed had a 7 foot bypass. I joke and say that besides for having more chins than a Chinese phone book that I came off kind of endearing in the interview. I had to hear from DR P himself that I didn't make up the bypass in my mind. Tomorrow will be 8 weeks and I am down from a size 26 to a size 20. All I can say is stop the crap, stop the numbers you are doing on yourselves. I finally gave myself permission to be exactly who I am. Two nights ago I ate Chinese duck. It tasted great, I will eat it for the next two weeks from my freezer, but it tasted great. Flo promised me I would feel completely normal by 2 months and she was right. I feel like the surgery never happened. My last difficulty was being tired, and I am no longer tired. I can stay up past midnight and be fine the next day. Please give yourselves a break and stop listening to the negative voice that pops up from time to time, I finally have.

I'm home, and life is so sweet. I had my surgery eight days ago and have to say--for all to hear--that I am Dr. R's greatest fan. This wonderfully personable, kind and compassionate doctor has given me my life back and to borrow a thought from a commercial I just saw...........

MGB Surgery $17,000 Getting My life back PRICELESS

Also, Sandy Brubaker is truly one of my favorite people in the world. She was so sweet and kind to me during this process. She bent over backwards to help me through everything and always did so with such kindness and compassion. Wow--these guys have definitely got a corner on the market when it comes to patient care (PRE and POST op)

To those of you who are scared, I have to tell you. Don't be. I actually started to cry as they wheeled me into surgery. I was so scared I made myself nauseous--yet 31 minutes later, I had no pain and was feeling like a great big baby for feeling scared before. The first two days were a dream, third day out I felt a little like I had been in a car accident. Sore neck and back, a little discomfort in my belly, but that is it. No major pain--it's true what they say, having your teeth cleaned takes longer and is more uncomfortable.

If anyone has any questions, please feel free to send me an email and I will do my best to answer. This is the best decision I have ever made and I would do it all again tomorrow (now that really is saying something EIGHT days after surgery!!!)

I'm about a week shy of being 1 year post op and as required, I had my bloodwork done--6 vials worth!!...and now for the results (...drumroll please).

In one years time:

1. My Type 2 Diabetes---RESOLVED!! 2. My Hypertension---RESOLVED!! 3. My Fatty Liver Disease--RESOLVED!! 4. My Cholesterl levels (all of them)--NORMAL!!

For those who have gotten to know me over the course of the last year on the messageboard, most know that due to my fatty liver disease, I only had a 4ft bypass--and I know it was important to not put my liver under more stress by a quick big weight loss...so at 1 year post-op, I have about 47 pounds yet to lose (but who's counting--hahahah)...

And yet, with approx 50 pounds yet to lose, it tells me in very LOUD terms that this surgery can restore HEALTH to someone who was very very unhealthy a year ago and on her way to a life full of mounting health issues.... and I'm so very glad that I made the positive choice to have the MGB.

There are many on the board who have had no co-morbidity health issues to deal with--and use "size" as their parameters--at age 53, I use my health and the bloodwork results moreso than the body size/shape... I continue every day to make healthy choices for myself to keep me enjoying an active life (where a year ago, my life was sedentary and focused on my diabetes, pill taking, and food. Now my days are filled with spending quality time with my family, making my trip to the Rec Center and doing my workouts, and looking forward to the fun things in life.

So, while I am not yet at my goal weight-wise, I AM at my goal HEALTH-WISE... and want to stay there!!!

Thanks for "listening" to my ramblings--

I'm not going to get to come to the picnic after all. I have too many obligations at work (VIP tours, Volunteer Appreciation Day, etc.) plus the Arkansas Food Bank is having their biggest fundraiser of the year and I cannot justify buying an airline ticket when there are so many hungry people to feed. And it's all happening when I planned to be in Las Vegas.

I will send you all my doctor reports plus progress photos that I had planned to bring with me. After 10 months, the verdict is in - I AM IN PERFECT HEALTH! I am down to one prescription medication and that is for my thyroid which I will have to take the rest of my life. I still take my supplements; 2 Prilosec, 3 vitamins, and 2 calcium with Vitamin D every day. I haven't felt this good in over 30 years.

You all hold a special place in my heart and you always will. I thank you for everything you did in order to make me a vibrant, healthy, 63 year old woman that I am today.

With love from Arkansas,

I had my surgery with the fabulous Dr. Rutledge on Feb. 28th of this year!! He is wonderful, Sandy and Trish are wonderful as is the entire hospital staff.

After my surgery, I was up and walking around within 2 hours. I walked the hospital halls with my littermates time and time again until I was discharged the following afternoon. I had my surgery on a Wednesday. On Thursday morning, I was up at 5 a.m. and had my hair and make-up done and went to clinic at 7 a.m. to see and talk to the group that was scheduled for surgery on Thursday.

My husband and mother kept telling me I didn't even look like I had surgery the previous day. The entire experience was such a blessing. My recovery was so blessed. I was and am so blessed. The only "blip" on the screen I experienced was with my hormones the Sunday evening following surgery. I recommend that you put on a patch the day you are discharged from the hospital..........EVEN IF YOU DON'T FEEL YOU NEED IT!! I made this mistake and my estrogen plummeted and got ahead of me.

Don't be worried. Cast your cares and everything will be fine.

Hi!

I am happy to be a contact for you. I had the surgery 21 months ago and I have lost 137 pounds, from 268 to 131 pounds.

On June 27, 2004 I was in a car accident. At the time I was overweight but it wasn't something I was concerned about ~ outwardly anyway. I was hurt pretty badly in the accident and was on pain meds for just about a year. In that time, I gained 50 lbs from lack of the ability to exercise (too painful) and the continued use of percocet. I was in a bad downward spiral and losing ground everyday. I needed a cane or walker to get around because I was in so much pain.

Then one day I found CLOS on the internet and the adventure began. It really wasn't a struggle to get everything done, except in my mind; I was just sluggish about all of it because everything felt like I was moving through molasses. The biggest challenge was stopping all the pain meds, which I had to do 5 weeks before the surgery. And taking the pictures was REALLY HARD on my ego.....now I wish I had taken all my measurements, but I was too embarrassed at the time.

I was committed to the surgery beyond all doubt, and agreeing to live through 5 weeks of pain without pain meds was evidence of that.

On June 27, 2005 (I found the date to be a good omen) I flew to LV. I registered the following day. I was scared out of my wits: what if I was the one person to not lose weight, or didn't come out of anesthesia.. ..all the fears that I have heard so many pre-ops share on this board. So on the morning of June 29, I showed up at the hospital. I was scheduled to be #3. Much of it is a blur because I was so apprehensive. ...that is, until I was sent to pre-op. All went smoothly there, and the staff was incredible. I got into the operating room and was under anesthetic in moments. The next thing I remember is something coming out of my throat and nose. (My surgery took 19 minutes!!!) Didn't really feel anything. I was in recovery for an abnormally long time because one of the patients from the previous day had not left yet. I got all the ice I wanted in recovery, but it added to my biggest issue...that of having to go to the bathroom and not being able to go until I got to my room. When I finally got to my room, I used the restroom and then tried to get organized and acclimated. I did use the morphine pump because I was so afraid that my back would start hurting on top of everything else. BUT GUESS WHAT - NO pain anywhere. I could not tolerate the Gatorade, so lived on ice, jello, broth, v-8 juice and crackers for all of stage one. I got out of the hospital at 1 PM the next day after walking the halls several times during the night and visiting with my litter mates.

The next few days were about figuring out what and when to take meds, taking walks, and starting the process of learning to eat in a whole new way. I took a shower on the second day and it felt great. Because it was 114 degrees outside we stayed in for a few days. I slept a lot. We did go to the lake one day and the Grand Canyon one day. Mostly I just had to make sure I didn't get dehydrated.

My biggest mistake was on the night we were flying home. I had packed the pepto bismol and tums so I didn't have any on the plane with me. I had left the hotel at 5:30 pm and didn't get home until 2:30 am......and by then I was in pain, Pain, pAiN, PAIN. My throat and chest felt like it was on fire. As soon as I got home I unpacked the pepto bismol and put the fire out. Little did I know until three days later, that I had developed an ulcer. Dr R put me on quite a regimen of pepto, tums, prilosec and pepcid AC. I threw up after almost everything I put in my mouth.....NOT FUN!! It was the only time I wondered what I had done to myself. But then I began to feel better and I could eat more. ( I did try something that was not on the list for stage two before I should have and paid the price.....DON" T do it). I stayed on stage one for two weeks and stage two for about three weeks. I added a few things to my diet, but my main problem for the first 4 months was that nothing tasted good, especially liquids. I talked to Dr R and he suggested the estrogen patch, which I was on for a week. I got terribly constipated and bled non-stop for three weeks, so I didn't put another one on and was much better without it.

It is weird, even one year out; some days I can't fit anything in my pouch and so drink protein drinks mixed with water and my liquid vitamins. On other days I can eat just about anything. Most of the time though I just couldn't find anything that appealed to me. Liquids were the hardest to get in, because nothing tasted good and I just couldn't satisfy my thirst. I started to tolerate lemonade in about the 3rd month and realized it was because it was sour and not sweet. My body did not tolerate sweet drinks. In month 4 I found Smart Water and thankfully my insatiable thirst was satisfied. I would also drink ruby red juice, which I tolerated really well because of the tartness. At six months out I still struggled with ulcer symptoms, and so was treated with a prescription form of prilosec for 6 months. At 10 months out, I was still having ulcer symptoms and Dr R recommended (seriously) that I have an endoscopy. (I was still throwing up occasionally and when the fire started, it was difficult to stop it). I finally had one on July 7, 2006. I will talk more about that later in the letter.

It has taken me the better part of the year to retrain my eating habits and to eat differently. .....everytime I sit down to eat I have to remind myself ....small bites,,,,chew chew chew, and only 2 -5 bites at a time to see how the food sits with me. I take it slow and don't drink any liquids while eating...... ..it has often been a challenge. I often have times when I am not hungry at all and I have to remember to eat. I have also found that if I eat salad before any meat, I can tolerate the meat better.

I have lost 137 pounds since surgery...and I am thrilled to have that much weight off this frame and my injuries ....although my neck, back and shoulder still need to be treated (from the accident). But I am completely free of pain medications since before surgery.

I have more energy now. I religiously take my vitamins in the form of UniVera Ageless Essentials. I could not take the pill form of vitamins because I would feel nauseous for hours afterward. UniVera Essentials has become a mainstay for me. I take citrucel every day. I still consume Tums to stave off the acid reflux I get. I occasionally take Maalox now if I need an immediate antiacid fix. I take Maalox because I threw up too many times in the first few months right after I had taken Pepto Bismol and it made me nauseous to even look at the pink liquid.

Since my surgery my BP has reduced measurably.. ..from 148/99 to 128/70 (yesterday) and I am off my BP meds. I go in for my schedules checkups and my labs are ALL fantastic. My HDL is still a bit low but it has gone from 31 to 42 in 6 months (50+ is normal for a woman).

My mother was obese and had died at the age of 62 due to complications with cancer. Her weight spiraled out of control with all the meds she was taking and her awful eating habits. She was probably close to 450 pounds at one point. Losing her was horrible, she was one of my best friends, and I grieved for years. I was only 36 when she died. My father had died when I was 8, and she raised my brother and me on her own. If she had had the chance to have this surgery, her life would have been so different. She was a fighter and lived years beyond what the statistics predicted she would, but she was always in pain and her weight contributed to the pain and the complications she endured. Oh how I wish she had had this chance.

I am so thankful for this wonderful opportunity to reclaim my life. I won't spend the autumn and winter years of my life sitting on the sidelines watching life go by. I am not a recluse anymore, and have become a traveling tutor. I am also a representative for a bio-tech science based nutriceutical company that supplies me with my nutritional needs. It is so much fun. I also teach scrapbook classes which boosts my creative side.

I feel so good about myself and my newly born ZEST FOR LIFE. The MGB staff is so wonderful, and I for one, am happy to have one less thing to worry or obsess about (my weight), because I know it will take care of itself while I am busy attending to the opportunities that life has to offer.

The other part of my recovery is the vitamins and supplements I take. They are fantastic. The vitamins come from a company called UNIVERA Life Sciences. I take a product called Ageless Essentials, it is delicious cranberry based liquid that contains the vitamins, minerals, iron, whey protein, calcium, zinc, fiber, biotin, essential salts, and essential omega fats that we need post-op by providing it with natural products. It is 100% absorbable. I also take Ageless Extra which provides me with more energy at the cellular level, manages my stress, increases my mental clarity and eases joint discomfort.

Now back to the ulcer: at ten months I was introduced to the Univera products when my son suggested I take Aloe Gold. I immediately got a lot of relief. Aloe Gold balances the ph in the GI tract and repairs and restores the GI tract. It has also helped with the gas problem. I don't peel wallpaper off the walls anymore or clear a room in 10 seconds flat. It was bad when even the dogs would wake up and sniff and walk out. It has disappeared almost completely.

I used Aloe Gold everyday until I had the endoscopy on July 7, 2006. It showed that the ulcer had healed, and I credit that to the Aloe Gold. As I continue to baby my tummy, Aloe Gold is a daily supplement. I take 3 more of the products and I feel younger and have more stamina that I have in years.

I credit my increasing health to the combination of the MGB and the UniVera products.

Sometimes I still feel like I am walking in a dream when I tell people I lost 137 pounds in 21 months. I can remember that at this time 2 years ago I wondered what it would be like to say those words. The time has gone by so quickly. I am still surprised when I glance at myself in the mirror and have to do a double take. Last week I put on the pants I wore to Las Vegas a year ago and I could put 3 of me into them now and amazingly my hips can fit in one leg. I am moving with ease, I am able to manage my businesses, and I can keep up with my 3 1/2 year old granddaughter and love cuddling with my new 8 month old grandson.

I'm not sure if I posted this yet so if I have, please forgive me. I had my surgery May 10, 2006 with Dr. Rutledge and last Thursday, I hit my 100 lb. mark. That's a little less than 9 months. I wish I could convey to everyone how wonderful I feel. Today, I wore high heels to work and then served dinner at my church in my heels and my feet did not hurt. I have been so blessed.

Contact letter for you or any new PRE-OP that needs a letter.

Welcome aboard! This was by far the best thing I have ever done for myself and my family. Dr Rutledge's procedure is from what I have researched the BEST and the safest that is why I choose it. I started this journey November 2003 I asked millions of questions, called CLOS every day asking questions was on the board reading every single post and January 5, 2004 I was blessed to be able to have surgery by Dr Rutledge in Statesville North Carolina. Very lucky I only lived 1 hour away no motel and home the very next day after surgery. If I had to I would have traveled to Europe to have this done by Dr Rutledge, he is outstanding. I feel wonderful, I am 53 years old and for the first time in many many years I feel like a normal person. I can fit into airplane seats without a seat belt extender, I can sit on a chair without checking to see if it is wide enough or strong enough to hold me.

The Clos staff was very helpful, they are very busy doing multiple jobs so you have to be persistent calling them sometimes but mostly all Dr R's staff have had this procedure and can answer your questions with knowledge and experience! I did experience some pain when I woke up (nothing like having a baby, and nothing I wouldn't do every year for the rest of my life to have this again) so I used the pain pump. Next morning, no pain hooray but I did feel very nauseous for the ride home. That was the only day I felt nausea. Went right to bed when I got home, and slept that day and the next, had to force myself to drink Gatorade. I was NOT hungry at all, what a good feeling, but I was tired after operation for about 10 days, after that it was like I had the biggest burst of energy and 21 days after surgery my husband and I took our children and grandchildren to Disney world for a week of fun. I rode rides and walked more that I had in years!! I had lost 16 pounds by then and felt like life was going well for me. I listened to what the manual told us to so with Stage 1, Stage 2 and now I can eat anything at all, no problems with anything. I feel happy, healthy and I thank God for having the chance to have this done. I wish you luck in your decision to have this surgery, please let me know how you are doing.

I just had my MGB one week ago. It took me two years from the time I found the site on the web until I could finally afford to do it. There are VERY few insurance companies who will reimburse any of the costs associated with MGB. My husband and I refinanced our house and used a portion of the equity to pay for the cost of the surgery. The best way to think of this is buying your life back...what is that worth? People would ask me what the surgery was going to cost and I would say $17,000 and they would be shocked...but if I were to tell those same people I was buying a new car and it was $17,000 they would think I was getting such a great deal! I fail to see how society thinks - buy a chunk of metal that will last you 7 years and it's a great deal but spend the same money to buy back your health and suddenly that cost is outrageous. That makes no sense to me. Again, I had the surgery only one week ago, I HAVE ANKLES AGAIN!! I feel WONDERFUL!! Dr. Rutledge and the surgeons he has trained are the best. I don't think you should be afraid to put yourself under their care. Find yourself a GOOD Primary Care Physician and discuss this with him/her. If you find a good doctor he/she will show interest in your endeavor and read the information on the surgery and be supportive. In all honesty it is the first and most important step in this process. I wish you luck and health.

So far, so great!! My burping has settled down and I've lost 8 pounds since surgery last Friday the 19th. I am not hungry at all, but make myself eat crackers, yogurt, etc....and all the other things faithfully. I'm not as good about the pepto, but once I get a routine, it will be better.

I have not had one bit of trouble with drinking or anything - the only think I noticed last night is that I might have turned over in bed a bit fast and I felt something pull inside, so I'm being very careful from now on. It's hard to remember that I've just had major surgery because of how good I feel. Everyone in Statesville was so nice and helpful and the staff at Davis Regional was great - the night nurses were wonderful (since I had to pee every 2 hrs and they had to come take those boots off) I hope all had a wonderful holiday and here's to a fabulous new year for us all (raising my glass of gatorade in toast)!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Sitting here today I just wanted to let you all know a few things that I am thankful for.......

1. that my 5 children are healthy 2. that i get spend another Christmas with my wonderful parents who getting older 3. thanking god for leading me to this website and finding dr. H. 4. And for the many friendships that are shared on this site.

to all of you and your families, from mine.... have a merry Christmas and happy new year!

My niece traveled with me and she is a nurse and she could not believe just how well I felt. I did sleep most of the day and night on Monday but Today, I have been up since 6am and still feel good. We even stopped by the outlet stores in Gaffney and I bought a floor lamp at the Bombay outlet.

I am getting a little tired now and will probably go to bed soon. Folks, if you do not already know it, LIFE IS GOOD! That is even being 1 day out from surgery and I am down 3 lbs.

For those who don't know of me, my name is Ruth. I am 33 years old and I live in Anchorage, Alaska. I am a full-time Dental Hygiene major and mother of five sons (that's right-5 boys-under the age of 10)!

I just wanted to let you all know about my progress.

I am doing great(8 weeks out from surgery). I have gone from 250 pounds to 208 pounds in that time and I feel wonderful! I am going through pants like crazy and my friends are calling me droopy drawers. It's been a long time since my butt didn't completely fill my pants-so that is nice to hear!

My boys can see a difference in me both physically and mentally. I no longer avoid activities because of my weight and I am just getting started on this weight loss.

I have gone through periods of throwing up like a maniac-5 to 6 times per day, but that seems to be leveling off now and I am getting sick only about once to twice per day now. I notice it is frequently rice or noodles that make me sick and I have tried to steer clear of those, but then something else will surprise me and I will get sick from it.

My mom had RNY three and a half weeks ago and is losing weight well, but has been very sore-when I talked to her today, she said she is still in pain and is afraid to sleep on her stomach. I was sleeping on my stomach the day after surgery and I shopped all day the day after surgery and only felt a little tender in my stomach.

Please use me as a contact if you need one.

Ruth vanb@gci.net 250/208 Surgery date: January 29, 2003

I loved Dr. Rutledge and the staff as well as the nurses at the hospital. Dr. Rutledge is very kind and funny and competent.

I would do this again any day to have the results I have had and the lack of post-op pain and difficulties. The throwing up is not hard to deal with-and I seem to be having a greater problem with it than I have heard from others.

The worst part of the whole process was just waiting for my date to come up and fearing that I would get there and be sent home without surgery for some reason.

If you have other questions-please e-mail me!

Good day. Anyone in need of contacts can feel free to use my story and contact me if needed. Although, I must say please do not just take the easy way out by just taking contacts that are posted and that are newly post-ops. Search people out that have had the surgery performed some time ago and learn from them. Believe me you will be glad you did.

Age: 45 Date of surgery: March 4, 2003 Pre-op wt. 281 pounds Post-op wt. 270 pounds as of March 18, 2003. Pre-op blood pressure 150 over 90 Post-op blood pressure 124 over 88 Pre-op blood/sugar count between 250 and 300 while taking 2 medications Post-op blood/sugar count between 125 and 150 while taking NO medication.

The only pain at all was at first from the swelling in your upper stomach area, when you swallowed food, it seemed to stop about half way down and hurt for a minute then move on. The slower you eat the better this pain is. Now 2 weeks out it is almost completely gone

Ankle swelling is going down.

Before surgery it had been at least a year since I have slept more than 2 hours in a row due to getting up all night long for the rest room because of the Diabetes. I did not sleep very much the night in the hospital but every night since then I have only been up once per night and it feels so good to get a good nights sleep.

Before surgery I would wake up in the middle of the night just ringing wet from sweating. Since surgery dry as a bone every single night.

Arthritis pain is still there but it is much better and heading in the right direction. ( The Lord did not even create the Earth in one day)

Dr. H. in Joplin, MO. Did my surgery with his trusty companion Dr. Rutledge by his side and I can't forget Elizabeth that watches over the fort and is there to help you and answer your questions. Elizabeth is a blast and a joy to be around. Everyone associated with CLOS is so caring and willing to help. I promise you that you will never find such a group of caring people all focused on the same goal. To help hurting people that have lost hope.

The night of the surgery in the hospital I walked 5 laps around the floor. For me there really was no pain. The more you walk the better you feel.

Everything in Joplin is right at hand. It is a nice city. We stayed at The Best Western. Best rates we could find and it was nice and close to everything. It is impossible to get lost in Joplin. We tried to get lost and could not. The only negative we had was that none of the restaurants were willing to strain the soup to make me some broth. One lady did at Bob Evan's but she told us that she got into trouble for doing so. I wanted to go to bat for the girl but then we thought it may get her in more trouble after we left for telling the customer she got in trouble for trying to help them. So, we let it ride.

The most amazing thing about it all is that somehow the surgery does something to your mental status. From the minute I woke up from surgery, I have felt that desire for life again. I have hope again.

I know that all the cures that the post-ops talk about sound too good to be true, I thought the same. I am telling you that every bit of it is true or at least it is with me.

Follow the orders of Dr. Rutledge and Dr. H. and eat slow.

Thank you to the Lord, my family, friends I have met on the way and every single person at Joplin and NC that make this miracle blessing a reality.

Believe me when I say this surgery is a blessing from the Lord. The Lord is only an invitation away from leading each and every one of us through a victorious life. When you need someone and their is no one, just ask him to forgive you of your past and ask him to come into your heart and change your life. Then if you cannot find anyone in your area to help you, write me back and I sure will help you get your walk with the Lord started. You will not be sorry. It is just hard to take that first step. After you actually feel the presence of the Lord in your life then you will be running to him. You will want more. Ask anyone on this site how comforting it was to know that the Lord was watching over them while having this surgery. The Lord is real and he makes a huge difference in lives. If anyone at all ever needs more info on the MGB or to talk more about the Lord, please feel free to contact me anytime for any reason.
Iwitness4u@aol.com.

I had surgery on Aug.20,2002. I have lost 90lbs. My surgery took 31 minutes. I had very little pain, mostly gas. I had a really good experience at the hospital, the staff was great. Dr. Rutledge is a very caring person, and a gifted surgeon. His staff is very attentive. My pre opt weight was 340, this morning I weighed 248. I cant believe its almost 100 lbs. I would do it again in a heartbeat.

I also am hoping to soon have the MGB surgery. I just completed my online patient letter which seemed to be a "test" on the procedure, risk benefit and knowledge of follow up expectations. I think that I did OK.

This process is interesting to me from two perspectives. I am obese and think that this procedure may be right for me, and I am founder of a company that deals in the ethical review of clinical research studies. The company I started reviews research protocols and prepares an informed consent document which the investigator uses in the consent process. In this process, the doctor will interact with the potential subject and the subject will voluntarily decide whether or not to take part. It is this decision process that interests me.

The process that Dr. Rutledge has developed seems to focus heavily (pardon the pun), on educating the patient through written information, questions directed to post op contacts and an attentive staff ready to talk with and encourage patients along the way. His website encourages extra research, provides helpful links to other resources, all the while allowing those who want to communicate their experience, do so through the chat forum.

As overweight people, we can easily figure out what the possible benefits are in having MGB, but we must never downplay the potential risks. The risk/benefit assessment is ours to make. There is a massive amount of information given in the MGB patient manual. Is it everything we should know to make an informed decision on whether to have the surgery? For some it will be enough to make that assessment, for others of us, we will have additional questions. But from what I can tell, this group encourages questions, anytime at any place along the journey. And that is a good thing.

So I guess what I am saying is that an obese person who may decide to have this procedure done and as a business person who deals with information like this all the time, I like what I have seen so far on www.clos.net. I am anxious to get down the road and meet Dr Rutledge and his staff and discuss this more.

Thanks to everyone who has been so kind to share thoughts, experiences and hope with others making this life changing decision. I am sure that I will soon communicate with some of you soon as I complete my packet.

I just wanted to give my one month update. I have now lost 33 lbs and I feel great! I'm sticking to mostly liquids, but I have tried some solids like: soft shell crab, calamari, veggie soup, rice cakes, watermelon, and grapes. Happy to report they all went down well and stayed there! I'll continue to post weight loss monthly now. I am so happy. If anyone needs a contact, please email me personally at tahneereign@m... Best wishes to all those beginning a great adventure and to those who have already accomplished it.

Today is my six month anniversary of my MGB with Dr. Rutledge. I have been very pleased with my progress so far. My starting weight was 311 and today I weighed in at 219.8 - so just a little over 91 pounds. In just six short months I've gone from a size 28 pants/24 top to 18 pants/16 top. Amazing!! Side effects - losing some hair (not noticeable to anyone but me), can't eat pizza anymore (no big deal), & spending too much money buying clothes that only fit for about 4 weeks. <g> No throwing up, no significant bathroom problems, no pain, no headaches, & no high blood pressure any longer. I've lost my cravings for sweets, enjoy my meals (albeit they are a lot smaller than they used to be), have learned to love certain flavors of Gatorade, and actually enjoy exercising.

More importantly, my life has changed so dramatically in such a short period of time.

First, I've regained my self-confidence. I honestly didn't realize that some of it had slipped away until I realize now that I stand a little taller, feel more comfortable in social situations, and generally just enjoy life a little bit more. Six months ago I had difficulty going up & down stairs - a bum knee required me to take one step at a time. There was a time where I would go out of my way to NOT have to climb stairs. Recently, I was so engrossed in talking with someone that I didn't even realize that we had climbed two flights of stairs in a hotel. NEVER would that have happened before.

I have energy! I mean real energy. I thought I was still fairly active, but now realize how much the extra weight was burdening me. Thanksgiving evening I actually went to work out in the hotel fitness center we were staying out. WOW, something I couldn't even imagine doing just six short months ago.

I travel a lot for my business and actually had to keep a seat belt extender with me so I wouldn't have to ask flight attendants for one. Now, I no longer need a seat belt extender, fit comfortably in the seat, and can take the cross country flights so much better! I don't swell up as badly as I used to after those long flights also.

Lastly, I have been heavy for much of my younger son's life (he is now 11 years old). So, in a few weeks, just the two of us are going to Orlando so that we can ride all the roller coasters & rides together for the very first time. We are both so excited and really looking forward to spending this time together and doing EVERYTHING!

Yes, I have more weight to lose. I'm not someone you'd look at & think "skinny" - but I definitely feel healthy now. I was in a clinic yesterday & Dr. Don (the plastic surgeon) commented how we should just relax and enjoy the weight loss (not worry so much about not extra skin, etc.) That's exactly the advice I'm going to take.

Here's my info... My name is Suzie J My surgery was Tuesday 11/12/02 Weight before surgery 275 Weight now 248 27 pounds lost in 20 days!

I had a very normal surgery...44 minutes under.  I spent one night in Davis Medical Center where the staff there was genuinely excited about the surgery...very responsive and helpful. This was very clean and friendly. I'm a city girl and used to bigger hospitals. I've had 3 c-sections, so the recovery from laparoscopic surgery seemed much easier. I did use the pain pump 2-3 times, but it wasn't bad. I was up walking a couple of hours after the surgery and by the time I went home I was feeling very good. I would highly recommend a book to you called "Weight Loss Surgery...Understanding & Overcoming Morbid Obesity" by Michelle Boasten. She was a patient of Dr. Rutledge's and she's a nurse. She explains the technical stuff in layman's terms. It's a quick read and she covers MANY of the subjects on the patient letter form...I found this a very valuable tool. Michelle's pictures are on the CLOS website and she has her own website too. You can purchase her book at www.alongtheweigh.com or on Amazon.

I don't have a lot of advise but can tell you this is the best thing I've ever done for myself and for my family. I'm 20 days post-op and have experienced two dumping episodes. I had a pop-cycle and then 15 minutes later had some tomato soup and a cracker and some cran-apple juice with water in it. It was just too much at one time. Then on Thanksgiving I allowed myself a little bite of everything. That was fine, but two hours later I had a bite of pecan pie. My stomach rejected that pretty quick. Also...if you get bored with saltines, get crackers with NO FAT. The fat will give you the runs and could cause dumping. I do eat yogurt everyday. I've had no trouble with yogurt, just don't eat a lot in one sitting.

One common side effect of the surgery is a yeast infection. I have experienced this.  It's very uncomfortable but I know it's not forever so I'm dealing with it.

It has been 4 months out for me. I am happy to report I am feeling great and still losing. Thanksgiving dinner was a nice surprise, NO ISSUES of any kind.

Back in the early 1990's I had a open vertical gastroplasty. I weighed 246 and lost down to 135 pounds. I was young and ignorant of the fact that all my "weight" problems had been solved. Well, as time went by before I knew it I was back over 200 pounds. I also had problems with severe reflux. The doctor who did my original surgery recommended an open revision.

The revision was the open Roux-N-Y.

Well, needless to say it was not successful. I am still over 200 pounds and very disgusted. I see no results in weight loss. I do moderate exercise. Lately, I have been considering another revision, but don't know if that would be feasible for me. I am 46 years old and good health.

I have an appointment with the original doctor who administered the gastroplasty and then the Roux-N-Y.

Please give me some insight on this, as I would be greatly appreciative.

My life is so different now from what it was. And in every way, improved. It scares me to realize that, had I not had this surgery, I would likely be 30 or 40 pounds heavier today than I was that day, and I wonder how I could have carried it! And I know that the quality of each day would have been so drastically reduced as to possibly make my life not even seem worth the effort. I was having lots of arthritic pain in most joints and in my back and neck, and experiencing many days of gastric reflux which would leave an acid taste in my mouth. I was taking 10 or more Tylenol every day in order to live and work and tolerate activity. My triglycerides were on the rise, and my cholesterol had hit 271. I was a heart attack waiting to happen. I felt diabetes breathing down my neck. I knew my life was being taken away from me, bit by bit, and I was helpless to stop the deterioration. I was dieting and exercising, and gaining. It was then that I said to myself, you must do something or you will die after living for another 15 or 20 miserable years.

The rest is history. I was given a re-birth. A new life. Another chance. And it is Grand. I am so happy, so capable. So able to do whatever I wish. And pain-free! I take nothing, not even Vioxx, on any regular basis, and have no pain. I can't even remember where all those aches were! I seem to be going from sun up till midnight every day, and thrilled with all I can see and do. My cholesterol is 156; triglycerides are normal; blood pressure 106 over 60; pulse about 62. I am "the picture of health", according to my doctor, and every bit of it is because of this surgery. Except, she says, I still am a little overweight! Well, I am according to the charts. I still weigh 173. And can I tell you all how wonderful a number that is? I am a perfect size 14, and I never want to be anything else. I feel healthy and strong and vibrant. Men stare and flirt and tell me I'm beautiful. I never thought that would happen! I live with the certainly that I will get to know the next generation whenever they begin to appear, and I will be able to play with them and run on the beach and enjoy their lives! If ever in my life I've made a good decision, this one, to take matters into my own hands and those of a wonderful surgeon, and vote for life, will go down as best decision number 2.

Number one was to have my kids! I have not one iota of regret or concern. These past 2 years have been 2 of my best ever. And the journey has just begun. I am 58 years young, and getting younger day by day.

Thank you Dr. Rutledge. Thank you all the wonderful support group members who helped so much before and after.

Life has never been sweeter!

Just wanted to post my EGD results. Had a colonoscopy and gastroscopy on Monday, Sept. 30 and the gastroenterologist said that usually they see all the terrible complications from gastric bypass surgery. He had never seen any of Dr. R's work but said my upper GI and my bypass were "awesome". In perfect order and absolutely no gastritis, etc. He was very impressed with the results and said I must have done my homework to find someone willing to "modify" current procedures in order to have such a good outcome and so few complications. So you go, Dr. R. Thanks for the awesome connections.

I know there are several of you looking for contacts. I am just short of 14 months post op and would be very happy to be a contact for anyone. My condensed experience is below; if you have any other questions, please feel free to contact me personally at sschlitt@chartermi.net.
I am S. S., from Michigan; I just turned 40 years old in October.

My surgery was on 2/5/01. My weight at Clinic was 303. Today, a week short of 14 months, I weigh 187, down 116 pounds since surgery, and 131 pounds from my highest weight in November '00. I have gone from a tight 4X to large top and 18 pants and some 16's. I can shop in a regular boutique for the first time that I can remember.

My surgery lasted ** 29 minutes ** and was the easiest thing, and the best thing I have ever done for myself!

The day I got out of the hospital I went beach combing at Cure Beach, NC.

My only complications, I had to take the Carafate for an additional 2 weeks.

Since surgery, my allergies are completely controlled by just a nasal spray on my bad days!! To-date I have not had any other problems. I am able to eat what ever I want, including candy and all types of deserts. Just not nearly the amount I used to eat (thank God!). I lost a lot of hair after my six month mark and it lasted for almost 4 months. (I was sure I was going to be bald!!) But it is coming back in now.

I have hidradenitis suppurativa and have had multiple radical resections for this. The worse it got, the less exercise I was able to do, then, the more weight I would put on. Then, this of course would make the hidradenitis worse. It was a horrible snowball effect. The surgeries were horrible because I was so fat that stitches would not hold and I would have to heal from the inside, out. At one point I was 78 days in bed before I could sit up for a few minutes at a time. I do have to have more surgeries, but even my surgeon feels they will be so much easier on me because of the amount of weight I have lost. (Too much information?) I also suffered from sleep apnea, high blood pressure, incontinence, Rosecea, exhaustion, and sometimes even depression. It was all I could do to get up in the mornings just to go to work and come straight home and go to bed.

Now, I have an unbelievable amount of energy. I am no longer depressed, I enjoy life. I look forward to each day. I smile all the time!! Never used to do that! I still have the hidradenitis suppurativa, but everything else is gone, gone, gone.

I was on 9 different prescriptions at the time of my MGB; today I am only on birth control to try to regulate my cycles (gone haywire since MGB) and nasal spray. I feel like I am free! I did develop gall stones and had to have my gall bladder removed in December '01. But, that is very common in rapid weight gain and rapid weight loss. I've had both of them, so which one caused it? Both?

As far as Dr Rutledge, I just spoke with him last week. It still floors me to think that this surgeon takes such a personal interest in each and everyone of his patients. We are very important to him, and he makes you feel that way. He has an amazing memory and will remember you each time he speaks to you. I have my life because of Dr Rutledge! He has people that are compassionate working with him, because that is how he is. There is so much I can tell you, I am afraid I may have bored you already.

His application process is very demanding, but it was so helpful in educating me to where I was able to make my decision. LT's web site didn't bother me too much because of all the research I did on the various surgical procedures, but, I was leery about going to a surgeon "sight unseen". I wasn't real internet savvy, so I was really unsure of the whole process. So, for peace of mind, I took a copy of Dr R's manual to my local surgeon and went over it page by page with my local surgeon, Dr B.. He knew of Dr R, his reputation, and told me of how highly respected he is amongst surgeons across the country and that there are some surgeons that might be jealous of him. Please let me know if there is anything I did not cover, or if you have more questions.

Well I have been off line for a few days. We had a friend that had followed through with RNY weight loss surgerybecause of how well I had done. His doctor has been on him to have weight loss surgery for the last 2 years. I answered all his questions that he had and he finally decided he wanted to have it done also. The only bad part was he could not have the MGB.  He had the open RNY last Monday. My husband and I went to visit him in the hospital on Thursday night. He looked good he was telling us that he was probably going to come home on Saturday. We were so happy for him.

Then we got a phone call on Friday morning that he took a turn for the worse. He was in intensive care. Then an hour later we got the phone call to tell us that he had passed away. It was so unreal after just seeing him the night before. 

It is so sad...

Hi Victoria,  

I couldn't let the day pass without logging on here and trying to sum into words how I feel today....

Bear with me (if you dare)

Today I turned ONE...one year ago Dr. Rutledge and I danced, and it was a glorious moment. In 29 minutes, Dr. R. did what I had been trying to do for YEARS but never was successful. I was 261 pounds at 5'4" (maybe on a good day), wearing a size 24, and at 28 years old I could hardly make it up a flight of stairs without stopping and trying to catch my breath. Feeling as if my heart was going to burst out of my chest nonetheless. My right knee hurt each step I would make, and I had headaches daily. My blood pressure was high, and I should have probably been on a light dose of medication for that, however, because I was so ashamed to go to the doctor's office (because of the dreaded scales) and sheer fear that my doctor would finally have the dreaded..."You need to lose weight" talk, that I suffered silently. I was a borderline diabetic as well, and my immune system was pretty low, because if someone mentioned the word virus I would catch it. My self-esteem was non-existent, and probably worse than that, and I was depressed, very depressed, although I learned how to hide that well around others and was able to fool most just by my smile. Waking up each morning felt like I was serving a life sentence, not a blessing like it should be. If someone did happen to find something nice to compliment me on, I would quickly jokingly laugh it off and say, "Yeah- right!" without even imagining the possibility that they could have actually meant what they said. At 27 years old my doctor told me when I went to see her because I was afraid I was getting ready to have a heart attack, that if I didn't change all areas of my life (my job which was toooooo stressful, my weight-no need for explanation) that she might be tending to a patient that had a stroke before she was 30! Boy was that a terrifying visits. After finding Dr. R's website one night, I began researching the MGB. When I first found the site, I immediately became excited. Excited by the thought that this could help me...but then only to play Devil's Advocate with myself and tell myself that this probably wasn't a realistic possibility for me (and then I began to try to think of all the excuses of why it couldn't be for me) but still nightly getting on the website and doing more research. I emailed my doctor several times, and basically she kept telling me that she wasn’t really a "fan" of weight loss surgeries, that she really thought I could get my weight off with a sensible diet and exercise program, but she told me to keep researching it if I felt strongly enough about it. That is exactly what I did. I did keep trying diets and continued to exercise, however you know the drill.... diet 40 pounds off, and that 40 comes back and brought its friends. I kept in touch with my doctor over that year via emails about the MGB, and finally one night I sat at my computer and typed up a LONGGGGGGGGGG email to her. I asked her to keep my email between us and out of my medical chart and basically I explained to her how it felt to be me. How I hated myself. How I felt I kept people at an arms length and wouldn't allow anyone to become close to me, because I knew that one day (probably not so far into the future) I wouldn't be around. How I knew that I would die of a health problem due to being overweight. How it felt to have to struggle just to tie your shoes, how it felt to try to bathe properly, how it felt to not be able to buckle up a seat belt in your friends vehicle b/c the belt was too small. I explained how I felt like a failure because I had honestly tried everything I could think of and everything anyone else could think of to lose weight. I poured my heart and soul out to her in that email, and surprisingly, she responded with a beautiful email saying...good news...I have a patient that had the surgery with Dr. Rutledge and she is doing wonderfully, and I would support your decision to have this surgery if you choose to do so. WHEWWWWWWWW.... what a beautiful day that was!!!!! I felt hope where there used to be despair before, I saw light where they had only been darkness! I began working hard on my packet...and everything else just fell into place for me. I was definitely one of the lucky ones!

On March 19, 2001 I went to Durham Regional Medical Center and my life changed...after 29 minutes of surgery I was given a second chance at life. I know God has always looked after me and he still does, and I can't thank him enough for him sending and angel to me.

In one year, I have lost half of myself, but gained so much more! I have lost 131 pounds and I have gained tons of self-esteem, understanding, compassion, love, patience, knowledge, and closeness. I'm half the person physically I was before, but I've learned that I've always been the same inside. I should have loved myself before. I see now that nothing was wrong with who I was! It's sad for me to look back and realize that the weight wasn’t the REAL problem with me, it was the way I viewed myself. How I was also like many others that stereotype those of us that have weight issues. How could anyone else see anything I had to offer...I couldn't even see those things myself, so how could I show them to anyone else? Someone would have to look really hard to find them, and quite frankly...who would have wanted to. Even if they saw those things initially in me, I would have pushed them away. I would have basically called them a liar to their face for seeing something different than what I saw in myself. I am happy to report that I now like T. for T.... because I'm a good person, with a loving heart and soul. I'm a good friend, a hard worker, and I'm human. I'm human and I now know it. I tell myself to strive to be the best I can be, but I now allow myself room for a few mistakes. I have tried to stop taking other people’s responsibility for their mistakes. I've learned to ignore ignorance whenever possible but to lead by example. I don't push this surgery or my ideas on anyone, however I'm always free to discuss it with anyone. I am opened with everyone, probably too opened about my surgery. I no longer have headaches (maybe once in a blue moon- and even then not too bad). My blood pressure is terrific, my knee rarely ever hurts, and my blood sugar was wonderful last time it was checked. I am scheduled to have my one year physical with my doctor on April 26th at which time I will have a full blood workup and I'll be sure to update everyone again, but I promise it will be a shorter email...hehehhee...then I'll be going to see Dr R, hopefully sometime in May for my Dr. R one year check up!

I have changed all those areas in my life that my doctor suggested. I had surgery on March 19th and moved out on April 7th. I was laid off from my job on August 1st and now I'm living in Virginia (close to Roanoke Rapids NC) and I'm in love :) I met a wonderful man, who loves me not for my size, but for who I am. I have lots of new friends, one of which I feel extremely blessed to have found. She is the sweetest, greatest, most kind hearted, thoughtful person I've ever known. I hope that one day I can repay her for all that’s she's done for me, but I’m almost sure I won't be able to- although I'll certainly try.

I'm so sorry this is such a long email. I have been overwhelmed with emotions all week, and especially today.

I'd like to thank Dr. Rutledge for believing in what he does. I know that there must have been MANY, MANY times that he also felt like giving up over the last year, but I'm so thankful that he didn't. I want to thank my parents for all their love and support, and I'd like to thank Dr. N. (the best PCP in the world) for supporting me. Also, to all the post ops before me a special thank you for always lending a supportive ear and answering all my questions. Thanks to all my friends that supported me along the way, and my new friends that have had to sit through the MGB training class...hehehee...also...to my sweetie...I'd like to thank him for loving me for me, and helping me realize that I never was nearly as bad as what I made myself out to be.

A friend of mine once told me I was like a butterfly. I started out a caterpillar but metamorphosed into a beautiful butterfly. I never really believed that about myself, but I'm so thankful to say that I am a butterfly now. A beautiful, colorful butterfly that had been wrapped up in a cocoon for much too long. I'll be getting a tattoo of that butterfly, and hopefully someone might comment on it one day, and I'll get to enlighten another person about the MGB. Maybe Dr R could save someone else's life just like he did mine :)

Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to bore you to death tonight. Thanks to all those that helped me along my journey, and for those that I’m sure will still help me the rest of the way.

I'll be sending Tricia some updated photos of myself by the weekend so check me out...hehehe

I don't have much time anymore (working 2 jobs) to read the posts, but if anyone needs me, please email me privately at heelsnpack@aol.com and I'll be sure to reply as soon as I can. I'll still pop in every now and again to say hi and post one of my world famous 3 hour emails...heheheheeee

I'd love to hear from all my ole' buddies and littermates! Susan from Ark.how is you? Shelley? Carla? Andrea? Nicole? Flo? Margie and Phil? Manda? Everyone else I've missed!

Ohhhhhhhhhhh...one more piece of news...I'm having a tummy tuck and boob job (woo hooo finally getting some boobs after 29 years of trying to grow my own) in June...everyone keep me in their thoughts and prayers!!!!!