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

I am a nurse, and we had a pt. that had lost 300# (from 600#) in 18 mos. He was having a body lift. Also I had heard about Carney Wilson. I started investingating the new procedures, and found that they had improved over the years, and was fairly safe. E-mailed many people from this site, including pts. that had the same surgeon that I was considering. I went to one of his support groups. Read several books. I feel I was very well informed. I took me about 6 mos to make up my mind. I had decided against it for awhile. After a few months of eating anything I wanted, and feeling like crap, I decided that the payoff wasn't worth it. I wanted to live.

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

I didn't have any problems with my insurance BC/BS of Alabama. Make sure when your Dr. send his letter, it includes all attempts at weight loss, especially if you had a Dr. supervised program, medications you've tried, exercise programs, etc. Also what medical problems you've had ie,pain, high blood pressure, Diabetes, sleep apnea, arthritis, depression. Also any restrictioons in activities, especially if it effects your ability to work, involvment with children, etc.

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

I was pretty well informed when I had my apt. I had read all the books, and had read many of the profiles in this site. I knew what questions and concerns I had going in. I also e-mailed many people who used the same surgeon I was going to go to to ask them how they were doing, and about Dr. Oakley. I had also attended one of his support group meetings. All before I even saw the surgeon. I highly recommend finding the surgeons in your area who are on this site, and e-mail a few of his patients

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

After seeing the surgeon, I decided to wait awhile and see what I could do on my own, What I ended up doing was started binging again, eating all the things I thought I wouldn't be able to eat again. I gained 10# and felt worse than ever. Sick, bloated, and disgusted with myself. I thought, well, I can not have the surgery and eat myself into an early grave, with no life, Or I can have the surgery, gain some control, and have a life worth living. It was a pretty easy choice to make.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

It was the procedure my surgeon recommended

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 was pretty confident I would come out ok. I felt that the risk was worth the possible rewards. I would rather have died taking that risk, as I wasn't really living anyway.

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 didn't tell anyone except my immediate family. They were very supportive, as they knew I had done my homework. They were sad for me, and wanted me to have the life I wanted for myself. After my weight loss started to show, people asked me what I was doing. There were a couple that specifically asked me if I had the surgery. I did admit to them, because I knew they were interested in having it done also (three of them have had it done). Eventually it got out that I had it done, and everyone has been very supportive.

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

My hospital stay was uneventful. Pain was tolerable, nursing care was fair.

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

No complications yet, I'm only 2 weeks out, but I don't anticipate any at this point, I feel great!

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 a litte anxious, but felt comfortable with my decision at that point. I continued to e-mail post ops, and read other profiles. Almost everybody, even with complications said they would do it again in a heartbeat, and it changed their life. I figured I already felt like the walking dead, how much worse could it get. To get my life back, it was worth the risk.

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

I was very hungry the first week on a liquid only diet. I advanced to soft foods (mashed potatos, refried beans) the second week. Tolerated it fine, and it took the hunger away. My energy leven has been great. No vomiting or dumping yet.

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

I had my surger in town where I live.

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.

Once I started more solid foods, it was pretty hit or miss. One day I could tolerate meat, and the next day I could only eat a few bites, and it would come up. This probably occured during months 2 through 6. After that, I could tolerate most things I tried. I do still have trouble with dry or tough meat. Ground meat, or very moist chicken with some sause or something goes down better. I also avoid breads, pasta, rice. I can have a few bites without trouble, but I don't push it. I can eat pizza (just throw away the outer crusts). Just one large piece or 2 small ones. Unfortunately, I don't seem to have any dumping. I can tolerate sweets quite well. I might get a few palpitations (fast heart beat) if I have too much, but that's about it. Except for ice cream, probably because it goes into the system faster. I do get a little sweaty and queezy. I wish I would never had tried sweets at all. I didn't miss it that much while I was off of them, but now that I know I can tolerate them, I find my sweet tooth and cravings are back. I do notice now that I'm a year out, I do get hungry at times. I guess I hoped my appitite would be gone forever, but I guess that's asking too much. I hope I havn't missed my window of opportunity, cause I still have about 20# to go. I'm still not starved, as I would have been before the surgery, eating as little as I do, but the hunger is there. In the beginning, I just never got hungry. Now I guess I'm like a normal person, I feel hungry, I eat until I'm satisfied, and I'm fine.

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

I had my surgery lap, so I have six 1/2 inch scars.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

Have had several pateau's. Usually lasting a week or two. Wt. loss has pretty much stopped since about 8 mos. out and 80# down. I was a lightweight, and havn't been very good about working out. I need to suck it up if I want to get these last 20# off.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Not really, but I do feel more confident in myself.