tjcofield

member photo member photo member photo member photo member photo member photo member photo member photo member photo member photo

Obesity & Me

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

I felt hopeless like my battle and the war was lost.

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

The worst was the pain your body is in and how little you get around. the feeling the world's activties where not built for me

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

Just being out!! flying in an airplane, wearing my Hubby's shorts and T- shirts like in the movies, sitinng in any chair without the worry it will break, peolpe really see my smile, My sex life WOW. MY life I dont take up so much room now!!

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

On a show in the 90's the flobe pouch.

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

wow it took five years to battle. The first time. rIGHT WHEN THEY SAID YES MY employer chsnged insurance . Then acsess changed the rules on me serval time i had to repeat the process 3x times then my employer changed to ATENA and they really explained to me what to do and 6 mos later i had the surgery.

What was your first visit with your surgeon like? How can people get the most out of this meeting?

I was so nervous . But Dr Clapp rocks he pulled up a chair and sat next to me and talked with me not to me. I told him what i wanted and he listen to me and my feeling he offered to me the other options but he made sure i was medically ready for what i wanted and went with it.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I had horrble back pain , my life was falling apart i satrted to be come withdrawn and i was 344lbs my heaviest. I could not see myself in the future i saw my family alone with out me!!

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

research research, reseach, and my doctor, I cannot stress that enough you need to know what goals you have for wls and what ur body can heel from and to remember this is just a tool.

What fears did you have about having complications or even dying from from the surgery, and what would you tell other people having the same fears now?

I only fear that it wiil not work for me!! the other worries my doctor( DR. CLapp ) took away !!!

How did your family and friends react to your decision? Would you have communicated anything differently if you could now? How supportive were they after your surgery?

I only had one friend push her pint of view. She told me horrible stories about her child who had it but her problem where not for surgery it was other issues, but everyday unless i hid from her it was dont do it. y two friend Danna and Lupe where at the hospital the day of the sugery with my mom, and hubby they came every day my best friend came everyday she even helped walk me. my hubby stayed everynight with me. before My friend would work out with me to help me stay focus on my six months pre op requierments. I will say I have one friend who afterwards every time some says i look good she makes it appoint to tell them i had surgery or she has lost weight .

How did your employer/supervisor react to your decision? What did you tell him/her? How long were you out of work?

I had mine in the summer!! while on vacation went back to work may be 4wks later

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

The staff was great my hubby feed them once and i was there five days. I was scared to go home i wanted to be babyed some more.

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

NONE

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 had my hubby to push me!! I went back to work and focused on that

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

I was very tried I was amazing how i first could not walk three houses down and back with out stopping. and to Feel the food moving down into my belly was weird. I have never felt full before and now i know what full feels like. I ate to fast one and i will NEVER do that again it really hurt. My first day away from my house was as a lesson I forgot to pack my lunch. Now before you could grab some fast food and go now i could not here i am cring at the corner store because i needed somthing that was on my list of foods to eat. I picked up my cell called my nures (SANDRA) who talked me down and claimed me she helped me to find something that would not hurt to bad boy did i learn a lesson ALWAYS BE PREPARED!!

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

In my area

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

NONE

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

very small

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

right now i am in one its scary because i feel like it stopped working for me. I went to my doctors office Michelle the nurse she is my angel gave me two books to read and told me to do a food dairy and remined me the is normal be strong dont give up. I alo attended a support group meeting to help me get over this is hard right now but I am learning to battle with out the comfort of food!!!

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

yes, i get help now people want to hug me. I get more attention for men now. The cleark in the stores want to help me they dont look at me like nothing fits u so why are you in here. I feel like they take me seriouly and want to be around me not cause i am the big girl who needed help. Today i was sitting on the grass and one of the guys that was helping stuck out one had to help me up and guess what i stuck out my hand and took the help without saying "You can't pick me up with one had" I used to refuse help which can very little. In fact only last yr i was suck on the ground and the group i was with just pretened they did not see me. I had to roll around on the ground it was embrassing crawl to a big rock then pull myself on it to get up.
show more answers

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.

Share Now
×