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

carney wilson on tv is what initially sparked my interest. i thought it was something only people with money could afford. but apparently my insurance will cover it.

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

it was so easy, the cori centers did everything for me. i was approved in just a couple days.

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

it was very informational. i knew most of what was explained thanks to this site and many others. i did my research, so i was not in shock when they explained the new way of eating that is a lifelong committment. they answered any questions i had. if i would have to give any advice for this first meeting, write down all your questions and make the surgeon answer them. this is a lifelong committment, make sure you are ready for it. you dont want to make the decision with unanswered questions.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

nothing has worked, and i am getting frustrated with my no weight loss. also, i used to be thin, i know what it feels like to be smaller. i cant handle being overweight.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

my doctor asked me which one i would like. because i had done plenty of research, i didnt hesitate in saying the micropouch. i dont want the regular bypass because those could stretch and the lap band just wouldn't work for my body. my body likes to absorb everything. so that was not an option. my doctor agreed.

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 dont think any fears have set in yet. i fear the dumping if it happens. i hate being sick, but if i stay away from sugar, i should be fine. i dont fear dying, but i do fear what my family would do if something were to happen because i have 4 children and my husband depends on me so much.

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 husband is supportive. everyone else i have told is slowly becoming supportive of me getting it done.

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

my boss is the other person that is very supportive. she has had friends do it and it has worked and they lead happier lives. so, she stands behind me 100%.

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

My stay was great. I only had some problems with my IV sites. Other than that, I had no issues. I had surgery Monday morning at 10am and was going home Wednesday morning at 11am. Everything I needed was there. I brought slippers, a portable cd player, my bible, and notebook paper with pen.

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

No, I had absolutely no complications. Besides having a big incision on my stomach, I didn't even feel any different.

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 so happy. I got a little nervous when they finally brought me back. I would say that was mostly because I felt I was on a tv show or something when you are being wheeled down the hall and all you see above you are white lights and white walls. Other than that, I was fine. But I gave it to God. I knew he would take care of me.

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

I was walking around the day I got home. The drain tube is a pain in the butt. It gets in the way of everything. It was even a chore to use the washroom. I only had two major issues. One was because it was heart wrenching when my 8 month old cried and I could not hold her to comfort her. My other issue, which no one warned me about, was my underwire bras rubbed against the top of the incision. That was as painful as it was annoying. I suggest buying sports bras before surgery.

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

only about 35 minutes.

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.

I have lived on hot tea with splenda, mashed potatoes, and juicy juice. I am about 8 weeks post op and just now am able to start eating things that don't make me too sick. I don't dump, but I am very careful about sugar. My problem is remembering to chew, chew, chew. It is such a habit to just swallow, but then you pay for it later. I am able to eat bites of english muffin with something on them, but one bite fills me up. I have also tried some chicken. Hash browns do not agree with me. My stomach becomes very bubbly when I eat. Most vegetables don't sit right with me yet as of week 8.

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

I was never in a lot of pain. Didn't need my pain meds when I went home, which was good because it tastes awful. Liquid prescription pain meds........ewwwwwww!!!! I was able to be active from about day 4. I started walking a full flight of stairs. It took me a while, but I was able to do it. I started on a aerobic glider in about week 4.

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

I am supposed to be taking 1200mg of chewable calcium along with 2 multivitamins a day. I am also suppose to have about 60g of protein daily. I haven't found a good protein supplement that I like yet, but I am a very picky eater.

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?

I really had no side effects. I would say my worst thing to bother with was the fact that I couldn't sleep on my stomach for a while (I am a stomach sleeper) and that I couldn't pick up my 8 month old. She was quite angry with me, too. I was finally able to pick her up and put her on my lap at about week 3 to week 4. I was able to sleep on my stomach, little by little, by about week 5 to week 6.

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

I had some staples that were very tender when the doctor took them out. That and the drain tube was horrible. If anyone tells you it doesn't hurt, they lied to you. Everyone told me, it doesn't hurt. Boy was I in for a surprise when they took it out. I probably would have been fine and it wouldn't have been such a big deal had someone told me what to really expect with that drain tube.

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

I had a nurse come down and check on me 3 times in a two week period. She felt she didn't need to come down often because I was doing so well on my own. The nurse really wasn't all that helpful, she was great, but helpful isn't the word. I knew what I was doing. I had done lots of research, gone to the seminars, asked all my questions, took notes, and paid very close attention. She couldn't tell me anything I didn't already know. Actually, I informed her of quite a bit of stuff about the surgery.

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

My husband thinks its cool. It goes from about my sternum to right above my belly button. I have marks from the staples. It is thick in some areas and thin in others. It is slightly crooked. I am hoping it fades a little with time because it is still very dark, but I am only 8 weeks post op.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I am on my first plateau right now. I started out at 270 pounds and am at 220 right now at 8 weeks post op. That is a remarkable 50 pounds, more than expected for 8 weeks. Running around after 4 children, a husband, working full time, and we just moved has been my exercise. I am setting my exercise machine back up so that I can try and break this plateau. My goal is to reach 200 pounds by my 3 month check up on February 5, 2006. That would be 70 pounds in 3 months.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

My family is so proud of me. At first they were very skeptical. Talking down about the surgery. Trying to tell me I didn't try everything. But now they see I am happy and losing weight. People will actually smile at me when I pass them on the street.