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Surgeon Testimonial

Clifford Deveney, M.D.
Dr. Clifford Deveney is taking me on to do my revision surgery. He seems very knowledgable. More to follow after I have my revision.rnrnFirst surgery first impression: Dr. Robert Rutledge is very knowledgable and easy to talk to. He and his staff work very hard to ensure every patient has their questions answered. Dr. Rutledge was good about going over our aftercare requirements. His manual he provides patients is invaluable as we navigate the various stages post surgery. I would say his surgical competence is superior, and his bedside manner is great too, while in the hospital. I started out very happy with my experience with Dr. Rutledge, but over time as I developed complications, my impression of him changed. At six months out I had surpassed my goal and continued to lose. I went to Las Vegas to talk to him about how to stop the weight loss. He blew me off, in person. And since that time he has pretty much ignored my communication with him except to send me e-mails that state \"you need a revision.\" He has ignored two fax requests, and two phone calls urging him to comply with my fax requests to send my records to my PCP. It looks like I will need a revision, and I sure don't trust Dr. Rutledge again, as I believe the reason for my excessive weight loss was taking too large of a bypass on me for the amount of weight I needed to lose. I would caution anyone using him to consider that his post-op patient care for patients with complications is next to non-existant. While I believe Dr. Rutledge does a fine job with his new patients, and those immediately following surgery, my experience of his post-op care for patients with complications has not been great. I also question his judgment when determining the length of intestine to bypass in his lightweight patients. This has just been my personal experience and is no reflection on what other patients of his may think.rn
Member Interests

Latest Surgery Support Comments

  • Comment by h_mgb on 1/3/08 8:29 am
    Happy new tear to you and your family
  • Comment by h_mgb on 11/30/07 6:13 pm
    hope everything went well
  • Comment by Love913 on 11/30/07 4:35 pm
    I am thinking about you today!! I hope your recovery is smooth and quick. You are in our prayers :)
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dancinjudge's Blog
dancinjudge's Blog


5/19/08 Update
on May 19, 2008 9:24 am
It's been a while since I posted, so I thought I'd give a little update on myself. 

Not much new has been happening here.  Just working hard. Long hours and lots of work. 

My kids are doing great in school. Getting good grades and they appear to be really happy and relaxed.  This is so good to see them this way after they were so scared I was going to die last holiday season.

Today I'm at 116 lbs.  Up another 10 lbs. over my Feb. pics.  I'm looking much better and feeling better too.  I think I'm pretty much back to normal activity level, but as I start to push it I do wear out easily.  So I have to be careful.

All-in-all, I'm doing great. Glad to be feeling better and not lugging around a bag of food attached to my intestines anymore.  The freedom we all take for granted. 
My Weight Chart:
Weight Chart

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03/24/08 Update
on March 24, 2008 7:45 pm
Well, I've been off all tube feeds for 2 weeks, and I've held my weight.  Didn't lose.  So I got my J tube out today!  It's almost like the end of the nightmare I've been living this last year.  I'm almost afraid to breathe and think this may be the end of the tunnel.  But I went on a 3 mile walk this weekend with my hubby.  I'm back to work full time and feeling great.  Now if I can just get the financial stuff figured out, I'd be so happy
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3/11/08 Update
on March 11, 2008 9:36 am
I saw my surgeon yesterday and he is taking me off ALL tube feeds! I was 116 lbs. in my clothes in his office, so up another 6 lbs. from last month. He wants to see me back in 2 weeks to see about taking out my tube!!! He wanted to take it out yesterday, but I reminded him what he told me last time about being off feeds for a month and see if I am stable, and then he decided 2 weeks was enough.

I'm SO excited! I can't wait to get this thing out. It's been causing me pain lately. I have a granuloma that developed and it's gotten huge and it bleeds. So he used some silver nitrate on it yesterday and now I have this blackened, charred lump that is shriveling up and will fall off. Yuck! It's still oozing. It's like it doesn't want to die. LOL!

So last night was my first night of not being on a tube feed since before my surgery last November. I can't tell you how good I slept! I was finally able to turn on my left side without fear of my tube coming undone and leaking all over the bed and me. I am sore from the silver nitrate treatment and just in general in that area, so I felt that, but I still slept really well.

I can almost see the light at the end of the tunnel. I'm back to work full time starting this week. I'm eating better without the pain on swallowing except just very occasionally. And I am learning when to stop eating to not overeat and get uncomfortable or in pain. We've actually started going out to eat again. I still bring ALOT home, but I eat enough that it seems like a "meal" to me. My acid reflux is under control with the Prilosec and doesn't bother me except very occasionally. And then I take Tums to get me through.

I cannot wait to get this hole healed up so I can take a bath and swim again. I miss that.

I would be happy to be around this weight. I actually feel flabby in the middle. I need to work out, but I can't yet. I hope I can get rid of the pudge there when I can start working out. I have suits I bought that fit in the jacket, but the skirt won't close. I have never been larger on the bottom than the top. It's weird. Oh, and I'm getting some of my boobs back. I hope they don't get huge again!

And did I share with you I got my period back? I haven't had one since June last year. So I feel like my body is adjusting and slowing coming back to normal.

Anyway, just wanted to share a positive note with you all. Thank you all for your continued support. I couldn't have done it without you all! 

Weight Chart
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03/03/08 Update
on March 3, 2008 8:23 pm
Well, it's Monday and I went to work for the first time in nearly 5 months!  Starting 1/2 days.  The extreme pain and swelling I had last week has subsided, but I still ooze more than normal from the feeding tube port.  I haven't been on pain pills for 2 days, and as of this morning the swelling was all gone.  I took an ice pack to work with me and wore inside my waistband.  But even with trying to sit still, it still was aggravated a bit so it's a bit sore tonight.  

I see my dr. next week, and I'm going to press the issue of my treatment with him.  He can't be the only one with power at that clinic to get people appointments.

I honestly think this whole thing was irritated or infected, and my body just responded by ballooning up and that is what caused the pain.  I think the oozing is from the swelling.

So we will see what shakes out.  I'm just happy to be out of the pain and able to wear pants again!
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02/29/08 Update
on February 29, 2008 10:58 am
The results of my CT scan are in.  I have a thickening of the bowel wall at the jejunum.  Well, that's where the tube is, and is somewhat expected.  He said it is also not uncommon. And shouldn't cause all the pain or swelling.

So I'm supposed to stick it out, see if it resolves on its own, and see Dr. D. on my next appt. on March 10.  Keep taking my pain pills to have some semblance of life.

Man I hate this.  So I'm considering if I should go to Adventist and get a second opinion?  I don't necessarily need to go to ER, but i don't know where to go and how to get an urgent appt. with someone else.

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My Story

Hi, I'm a 43 year old single mother of two and I'm ready to stop losing at the losing game. I have fought my weight my whole life. I've tried just about every diet out there, only to lose and then gain back more than before. I have several co-morbidities that if left unchecked would cause me problems later and probably cut short my life. I want to be healthier and not be on so many medicines.

All of my immediate family has died from cancer. Both parents and a brother. I know being overweight makes my risk go up. I really want to get down to a healthy weight to lower my risk.

After I turned 40, my metabolism took a big dump. I can work out 10 times harder and longer than I did in my 20's and not budge the scale.

I'm currently exploring my weight loss surgery options. Anyone with words of wisdom, please feel free to pass them along.