mrsalexander99

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 have been trying different diets for the past 10 years to lose weight. Not seeing results had me emotionally scared as well as finacially. I had completely given up and decieded that I would have to live with being a plus size woman for the rest of my life.

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

The worst thing about being overweight was not being able to keep up with everyone else, the feeling of being isolated. Also the health the problems that came along with it.

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

I enjoy going to the club now, I don't have to be the one holding the purses while everyone is off dancing and having a good time. What I enjoy most though is being able to walk, and walk, and walk.

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

The first time I found out about WLS was from a friend who had it. She came to visit me after having the surgery 4 months and I was like wow, she looked like a totally different person, so healthy, vibrant and energetic and also smaller.

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

I went through medicaid for my insurance and was approved in 2 weeks. I had no problems with them.

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

My first visit with my surgeon was more of a Q and A meeting. If there are any questions that you have about the surgery the first visit is where you should ask them.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

Well, it was hard for me up until the end to deceide to have the surgery, but the day before the procedure I finally deceided that this was the best thing for me. I had health issues from being overweight that I just couldn't see living with for the rest of my life.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

Actually I let the surgeon deceide what procedure was best for me.

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 had noo fears about complicatons, my only fear was going under and not waking up.

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 had a wonderful support group. My family and friends have stood by me through the good and the bad.

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

My stay in the hospital was short and brief,as soon as I was able to walk around I was out of there in 24 hours.

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

I had no complications from the surgery.

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

After I got my surgery date I was anxious as well as terrified because it wads finally going to happen and I felt as though maybe I would fail and all of this would have been for nothing.

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

My first weeks home fromm the hospital were difficult. I was in pain and not eating like I should. I was able to move around but didn't really have energy to do much.

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

I didn't have to travel far at all for my surgery just 3 miles.

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 few weeks after surgery I was on a liquid diet, then I progressed to puree which lasted a week then I went to solid foods. The solid foods were difficult in the beginning because I had a stricture but after that was resolved I ate mashed potatoes and macoroni and other soft foods.

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

I walk about 20 minutes a day the first few weeks and now I am up to aroun 2 miles a day 4 days a week.

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

The only vitamins I am taking at this time is optisource.

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 had a bad case of nausea for about 3 weeks, and had to be hospitalized for it, the hair loss didn't occur until 4 months after the surgery and it had me devastated for a while but I have managed to cope with it. I semm to keep a burst of enery now so I am experiencing insomnia at times.

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

I would say the worst part about the bariatric surgery for me would be having a stricture.
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
×