Sybul C.

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Obesity & Me

Describe your behavioral and emotional battle with weight control before learning about bariatric surgery.

I was very depressed, had given up any hope of losing weight and was dreading each new day.

What was (is) the worst thing about being overweight?

Not being able to participate in life's simple pleasures. I am too out of shape to be able to enjoy or participate in what I really enjoy to do like gardening, walking, etc. Also the extreme shame and embarrassment when I can't put on my own socks or perform personal hygiene without an assistive device.

If you have had weight loss surgery already, what things do you most enjoy doing now that you weren't able to do before?

Putting on my own socks, not getting out of breath walking more than 10 feet. Able to exercise now.

How did you first find out about bariatric surgery and what were your initial impressions of it?

An ad in the local paper for a seminar by a bariatric surgeon. I decided I didn't have anything to lose and talked my husband into going with me.

Describe your experience with getting insurance approval for surgery. What advice, if any, do you have for other people in this stage?

Insurance was the pits. Even though I am covered under two insurance plans, mine and my husbands, both policies has specific exclusions for weight loss surgery. They were both very uncooperative and downright rude to deal with. We had to go self-pay for most of it. They did pay for a lot of the pre-op testing that was required such as the sleep study, heart cath, pulmonary study, and x-rays and lab work

What was your stay in the hospital like? How long where you there? What things are most important to bring?

The hospital stay was fine. I was in ICU the first night, on the bariatric floor the second night. Was home in two days.

Did you have any complications from the surgery? If so, how did you deal with them?

No complications at all. Very little pain, no nausea or vomiting.

In the weeks after you got your surgery date, how did you feel? How did you cope with any anxiety you might have felt?

I was excited and frightened at the same time. I kept busy.

Describe your first few weeks home from the hospital. What should people expect from this period?

I was fine. I was a little sore the first week. I walked a lot every day and kept moving and out of bed and drank my fluids. I was back to work in two weeks.

How far did you travel to have your surgery? (If far, how did this affect your aftercare?)

about 60 miles. No problem. Just takes about an hour each way.

Please describe in detail what things you could and couldn't eat in the weeks and months following surgery. What foods have been off limits? Please explain how your dietary tolerance changed week-by-week, and then month-by-month since surgery.

Fluids first two weeks post op. After that, soft foods only until 3 months post op. Have problems eating ground beef. I've tried it several ways but still makes me sick to my stomach. White chicken is pretty much the same. Also can't tolerate ham in any form. I can eat pork chops, rare steak, crock pot cooked meats, and baked and broiled fish. Anything with any grease is totally intolerable.

What was your actvity level in the days and weeks after surgery?

Right after surgery I felt much more energetic. With each passing week and pound lost I am feeling better and better.

What vitamins and/or dietary supplements have you taken since your surgery?

I take 1250mg of calcium citrate and a centrum vitamin q day.

What side effects (nausea, vomiting, sleep disturbace, dumping, hair loss etc.) were worse for you? For how long after surgery did they persist? How did you cope with them?

Haven't had any side effects from surgery except for small amts of vomiting a few times when I either ate too fast and didn't chew my food well, or ate something my pouch didn't like. I get really nauseated but throw up very little and it always passes within about 30-45 minutes.

What was the worst part about the entire bariatric surgery process?

It was a surprisingly easy process. There was very little pain or discomfort. It was so easy I just regretted not having it done sooner.

What aftercare support group/program do you have? How helpful/important is this?

So far, I had a 2 wk post op visit, 6 wk visit, and will go back at 3 months. We have a nutritionist that we see when we go for our visit and she is available by phone any time I have a question, the same with the surgeons office staff. We have monthly support group meetings at the surgeon's office. The best aftercare support is the obesity.com website.

What is your scar like? Is this what you expected?

I had a lapros copic RNY so I have 5 small incisions on my abdomen. They are healed.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

None yet.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

My friends and co-workers are all very positive and supportive.
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Before & After
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before photo after photo

ARE YOU READY TO PAY IT FORWARD & SHARE YOUR JOURNEY? Your journey will help highlight the many ways weight loss surgery improves lives and makes a difference in our families, communities and world. EACH JOURNEY COUNTS as a voice towards greater awareness.

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