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

My sister in law pointed out a lady and said she had WLS, she used to be a size....What I thought was "whow, that was really radical, and although she is thinner she is still overweight.

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

My surgeon took copies of my insurance card and a week later they called to say I had been approved.

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

By the time I had actually walked into my surgeon's office I knew I wanted to have the duodenal Switch procedure. I just need to know if that was the doctor that I would have do it. His ablity to listen to me when I talked, to answer my question and treat me like a human being and not a number made me sure that I had made the right choise in surgeons. People can make the most out of their visit by doing research ahead of time. That way the questions they have can be very specific about what that doctors protocal are.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I had the typical thoughts along the lines of: How can you butcher yourself like that. If you just try harder to lose weight..blah,blah, blah. Well I was watching Oprah and thinking her weight is really coming back on (AGAIN). My thoughts, Oprah is an intellegent, strong will woman. She has exersized her butt off. Hired personal trainers, personal cooks......If she can't keep the weight off what makes me think I could. I could lose the weight, I just couldn't keep it off. I KNEW that I would keep trying to lose weight, I would keep gaining it back,plus. Within the next 10 years I would weigh 300+ pounds and at that weight I WOULD be in a wheelchair. I wanted off the weight loss rollercoaster.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I felt that the Duodenal Switch procedure would leave me with the most normal eating patterns and the best chance of keeping the weight off.

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?

Since I had severe morning sickness with both my pregnancy's the entire 9 months...I just knew I would suffer from nausea for at least 3 months. It's been 3+ weeks and so far I haven't had any nausea or vomiting. Before surgery I just kept telling myself that all I had to do was survive the first 3 months, then life would get real good.

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?

My Family was supportive, but scared. Remember, My father died from stomach cancer. My sister started having nightmares like she did when my dad was dying. When I would tell people, I was also prepared to fully explain the procedure and why I thought it was for me. By the time we parted they knew i fully understood what I was getting myself into, what the complications were, what the benefits were...that I was at least making an educated decision. And since I am loved, they continued to love me.

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

My supervisor said "Ok just let the scheduler know when you need off and when you think you'll be back, take all the time you need" I took a week before surgery and I haven't gone back yet. I will be at least 6 weeks from surgery off since my job has a 75 pound lifting requirement with no restrictions. I am seriously considering taking 8 weeks. Just because I can.

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

My stay was good (Delano Regional Medical Center). Had a private room, a lift recliner and a nursing staff that was very caring and attentive. I checked had surgery on a Monday and went home on Thursday. I packed very light...a pair of house slippers and the loose dress I wore into the hospital..I wore home. That's it, I brought nothing else and I didn't need or want anything else.

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

I am 11 months post op and haven't had one single complication...not even a tiny one. I have never thrown up and I can eat anything I want to. I feel good.

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 didn't have any anxiety...I felt peaceful. My anxiety was worring about getting insurance approval...once that happened I was at peace. It's not that I felt nothing bad could happen...I just felt that by the time I would be 3 months post...it would be easy sailing and I would be a happy, healthy girl....guess what...I was right.

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

Low energy, tired, uncomfortable, going to the restroom alot, trouble reaching to wipe the first week...after a couple weeks started to feel better, had more energy...would have a couple real good days than I would have a real exhusted day...

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

30 miles...I can go for aftercare appointment and attend support meeting regularly.

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.

The first week soft foods like scrambled egg, applesauce, cream of wheat, pudding, cheese, soup...about 1/4 cup volume and about 1/2 hour to eat it. The second week, dark meat chicken and tuna...After the third week I could eat anything I wanted..Could eat a whole egg, two pieces bacon and 1/2 piece of toast (that's a volume example) Now at 11 months I eat anything I want (just lead with protein trying to get at least 20 grams per meal) volume wise I can eat a small salad, 1/4 potato, 6 oz meat, serving of veggie and sip on a drink.

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

Walking around the house was about as active as I got those first couple weeks, preparing food by week 2...by 3 weeks post op I ventured out shopping...I didn't start to exercize until around 4 month post op (but I thought about it alot!) I could have been more active, I just wasn't. Went back to work 8 weeks post op (full time) I could have went back earlier but I didn't because I didn't have to.

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

First 3 weeks viactiv chews and childrens chewables...then I took centrum and viactiv for a couple months...since then I have been taking vita-4-life.

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?

The only side effect I had was hair loss...it started at 4 months and lasted until about 9 month. I wasn't disturbed by it because I expected it. The worse part was always having to clean the bathroom floor! Plus I had really thick hard...even I can hardly tell I thinned

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

The days that I would be passing an enormous amount of stinky gas! I would start to wonder If I would be able to go out in public ever again...fortunately that didn't last long. And It wasn't every day or all day, hey thinking back on it I guess I just happy I was passing it...that much gas 'trapped' could kill a person.

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

Once a month support group meetings and online yahoo Duodenalswitch groups including one for my surgeon. During this first year of rapid changes...attending the meeting and watching others change has been wonderful...plus I have made new friends that I can relate to concerning this life altering surgery

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

It is a line from below the breast bone to above the belly button, with drain scare on each side..it is exactly what I expected

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

After the first month...I would have about a week of really good loss than 2 weeks of nothing...week of loss...then nothing...averaging about 10 pounds a month.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Yes, but I think I act different...so are they responding to my new looks, or my new outlook? One thing...men seem to be more courteous...like rushing up to open doors, offering to carry things.