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

too drastic

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

patience

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

First I saw the Nurse Practitioner. I didn't meet with the surgeon until my pre-op visit 4 days before surgery. They both answered all of my questions and were very honest and serious about my future surgery.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I couldn't control my eating and was still gaining weight. My future looked grim. My sister and uncle had recently almost died of obesity related complications.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I went with my doctor's recommendation after I had researched it thoroughly.

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 wasn't really afraid of the surgery but of failing at this also. You will get through it and it will be worth it.

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 extremely supportive. My best friend (also heavy) at first was a bit negative and leary. All were very supportive post-op

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

supportive....I told the truth....I was out 6 wks

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

Supportive staff.....2 1/2 days hospitalization....slip-on slippers (my slip on thongs worked great)...your own pillow...chapstick

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

readmitted overnight, 24 hrs after discharge with dehydration and pneumonia 6 wks later I was admitted overnight when I had a piece of brocholi stuck in my pouch outlet. It worked itself through but the whole experience was terrifying and very painful.

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

First 2 wks were awful My doctor gave me some anxiety medication when I was readmitted which I took for about 4 days. It really helped. I was quite anxious.

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

I felt really lousy (but I had pneumonia postop). I didn't tolerate water at all. It hurt my pouch. Sips of 1/2 strength juice/gatorade, broth, jello, and popsicles were tolerated best in VERY SMALL SIPS!!!! Gas pains were quite uncomfortable. I felt very bloated. I was only on narcotic pain medication for 3 days, then used Tylenol. My 5 little lap incisions didn't hurt much. The pain was deep inside of me where the surgery was. I felt nauseated and vomited 3-4 times a day that first 2 wks. I couldn't sleep well lying flat either. Basically, I was miserable. BUT IT WAS WORTH IT!!!!!!! Many people that I talked to didn't have near the problems that I did.

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

local surgeon & hospital

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.

1st 10 days- jello, watered down juice & gatorade, snapple diet drinks, sugar-free popsicles, broth Next 2 wks- pureed vegetable soup, creamed soup, yogurt, triscuts, sugarfree fudgesicles, string cheese, baby shrimp; protein supplement drinks (Isopure) mixed with frozen fruit in blender 4-8 wks-- added cantalope, watermelon, soups, mac 'n cheese, bananas, protein bars, 3 months-- pasta salad, cole slaw,; few bites of chicken & meat loaf tolerated only fair; 2 protein drinks per day (65 gm protein total supplement), soup goes down great; diced fresh vegetables;

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

exhausted....still took naps weeks 2-6

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

tums, children's multivitamin first 2 months then switched to calcium citrate and 1 adult multivitamin

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?

Nausea & vomiting first 4 wk Nausea first 6 wk Hair thinning from 3 through 5 months then it stopped.

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

Waiting for the surgery after I was emotionally ready to have it done!!!

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

Early support group-monthly (patients less than 3 months postop)-WONDERFUL! General support group-monthly for anyone pre or post op--Wonderful 7-20-02 I am active on the yahoo WLS group online support group which are very important to me for support along with the monthly groups at Dr. Callery's office

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

After 4 months (now), the 5 little incisions (I had a lap bypass), are still dark colored but have healed nicely. 7-20-02 Almost 6 months postop....nice scars which are still a bit dark. 10-13-02 scars still a little dark 1-1-02 After 11 months the scares are faded and small 2-29-04 2yrs postop and minimal scaring 1-27-08 6 yrs. postop and minimal scar

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

initial plateau weeks 2-4 after large initial weight loss in first 2 wks (very common occurance) lost 3 lbs per week between 4 wks to 3 months then 2 lb per week between month 3-4th...... losing about 2 lbs a week during 4th & 5 1/2 months with a plateau the past 3 wks. which is frustrating. Major slowed weight loss between 5 1/2 months through now 8 1/2 months of only 3/4 - 1 lb a week; 1-1-02 While I lost 88 lbs the first 7 months, I've only lost 12 lbs in the past 4 months with about 20 lbs. left to go. 2-29-04 Between 13-18 months I gained 10 lbs. when I started eating sweets and snacking. At 18 months I stopped eating all sugary crap. I rapidly lost the 10 lbs. I gained and went on to lose another 10 lbs.. Now I wear a size 12 and am a BMI of 25.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

not really yet ...My friends, family and coworkers are so supportive of me... 7-20-02 I feel just overweight, now, no longer morbidly obese. I don't feel that people judge me anymore for my obesity. 10-13-02 I don't feel prejudiced against anymore.