MGB ?

I am considering the mini gastric bypass surgery. Could someone share their experience with me about the surgery such as length of hospital stay, how long out of work etc. I live in Raleigh, NC and was wondering where I could have this done that would be closer to Raleigh? Help!! Sherry

There is a girl on this board who just had it ... contact her her name is KIM ~DANCINJUDGE She is very nice! good luck, Britt

Britt: Thank you so much for the info. What kind of surgery did you have and how are you doing now? Sherry

Hi Sherry, I had Lap gastric bypass. I will be two weeks post op Monday and I am feeling geat it is amazing. I lost 11 pounds the 1st week and I am excited to see tomorrows # I had no pain other than gas pains (they lastest about 8/9 days) - It is pretty amazing how fast you recover. 1 week after surgery I took my daughter to dance ... no one even knew that I had surgery the week prior! So far so good. Britt

Hi Britt: Congrats to you! Sounds like you are well on your way...that is so fantastic. I am really happy for you sweetie. After having the Lap gastric bypass, how soon can you return to work. Do they give you a suggestion? What do you have to eat after the surgery? What kind of process did you have to go thru to get to surgery? Everything I have read seems like a lot of things have to take place before even getting there. Did you have to diet before the surgery and if so, why do they have you do this. Sounds confusing. Good luck and keep up the good fight girl! Hugs, Sherry

Hi Sherry, I am a stay at home Mommy. But most people I hear go back after 2 weeks. I am on a soft . mushie food diet ... protein protien protein! My surgeon required quite a few pre op tests ... Ekg, blood, phscy, nut, pulmonary, endoscopy. My profile detials my journey! I didn't have to diet at all before surgey ... 1 day of clear liquids the day before surgery. good luck with your journey Hugs, Britt

Out dancing at one week! Between you... and then there's Miss DancinJudge out touring Vegas... I feel like such a slacker!!!! So glad you guys are getting around so well, that's amazing! Marilyn

Hi Sherry, Yes, I did have the MGB. I had mine in Las Vegas with Dr. Rutledge last Wednesday. I am nothing short of AMAZED! I was out of the hospital the next afternoon. I am stayinig at the Candlewood Suites so it feels homelike. Got a room with a kitchen, separate bedroom and a living room with a cushy recliner that I have been sleeping in the past 2 nights. Last Tuesday I went to "clinic" where we get to meet Dr. Rutledge, and all the one-week post ops from the previous week's surgeries. There were also some local people who came who are 1 week after a lap band revision, 6 months out and one 3 1/2 years out. They don't even look like they were ever heavy. I sat there and listened to Dr. R. question each person who was one week post op. They all said they felt great. There was even this one lady who was out on a car tour of the Red Rock Canyon here on day 3 after surgery! I was SO skeptical. But, nonetheless, I was just like her. On day 3 I went down to the strip with my sister-in-law, and we took in a show. Today, which is day 4 post op, we took the grand strip tour on the monorail and went all the way north and south stopping at most stops and going into the casinos. We took in another show too. I swear we must have walked the equivalent of AT LEAST 5 miles today. Maybe more. I have no pain. I am a bit fatigued because we did so much, but geez, for 4 days post op I felt like I was doing what I would have done anyway. I just moved a bit slower, and kept my gatorade, water, and crackers with me. We stopped yesterday and today for meals and I had soups. They tasted excellent. I have made sure to have my yogurt and other protein before we left and again when I got home. If you travel from outside a 2 hour radius of the hospital, you have to stay in a hotel for a week. You have to check in every day and tell them how you are doing. Then on the last day, Tuesday, we get to go back and be the post-ops for everyone having surgery the next day to ooh and aaah over. I tell you, it's a real trip. And Dr. R. has everything down to a T. He said day two would be kind of blah, and it was. Then on day three my period started. Just as he said it probably would. I think I would be fine going back to work a week after surgery. I hear some that have been back on day 4. Probably depends on how strenuous your job is. There are three locations that Dr. R is associated with that he has trained the doctors at. They are Bay City, Michigan; I believe Houston, Texas; and Las Vegas. There is also a place in High Point, North Carolina that is no longer affiliated with Dr. R. but he taught them and they are very good too. I hear glowing reports from the other facilities as well. They don't accept insurance, but the cash price is $17,000, or $5,000 more if you are on blood thinners. You get receipts from the hospital, the anesthesiologist, and Dr. R. so you can try submitting to your insurance once you are done. It looks like there may be a way to get a lesser procedure, the "cosmetic" gastrectomy or something like that if your insurance will pay for an RNY. That way you can get them to pay for the hospital portion at least. The "cosmetic" surgery is for lower weight loss, more like 40-60 pounds and all they do is bisect the stomach and not bypass any intestine. There is more on their website about it. It is at www.clos.net. Hope that's helped some. Feel free to ask me anything either here or by PM.