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Obesity & Me

Describe your behavioral and emotional battle with weight control before learning about bariatric surgery.

I had given up. I thought I was gonna die. I have lymphedema, high blood pressure, and i'm a factor five defienct.(my blood is too thick). My mother has diebetes and my dad died due to heart problems. I was depressed, especially after my mother had both legs amputated and had a stroke soon after that. I had resigned myself to the thought that I was gonna end up just like my mother. With all the yo-yo dieting I had done...I would lose a little and gain back a whole lot.

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

The worst thing for me was a couple of things actually: 1. The way people stare at you, like you're from another planet or have three heads and tail! 2. Not being able to fit into anything! I mean from airplane seats to cute clothing.

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

Just getting out of the house more.

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

I started doing research online about this surgery. I saw celebrities doing it and working very successfully for them. I'm not one to just go with what everyone else is doing because it's trendy. I have done 5 years of research on all the different types of surgeries and yeah I was a little scared at first. But, the more research I did, the more I wasn't so scared. Knowledge is Power!

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

The doctor I went too took care of everything for me. I am on medicare so all I really had to do was find a "Center of Excellence". The office staff was very helpful.

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

My first visit was wonderful. The surgeon I have answered all of my questions and my husbands questions. He went threw the whole surgery with us and would stop and ask if we were with him. Do you're research! Write down questions before if you think you won't remember them when you get there.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I wanted to live. This surgery was the only way I could think of that I could do that.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I chose lap rny...the reason was I needed the permanance of it. I didn't want the band, mainly because I felt I would cheat if I could and I wanted to lose as much weight as possible and I didn't feel that any of the other procedures could offer me that.

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 really concerned at first. With all of my medical history I was worried mainly about blood clots, even though I have a Greenfield filter around my heart and lungs. I would say if you are having the same fears as I did...do research and lots of it! Go to seminars, talk to others that have had the surgery done, talk to you're surgeon.

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?

So far, my family has been supportive. I have found that one of my sisters is being, how should I put this, not mean but just going out of her way to show me how much weight she has lost without doing anything; so she says.

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

I am on disability so no boss to tell.

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

My stay at Bothwell Medical was wonderful. All the staff were just great! I was there a little longer than usual I went in on a Friday and didn't leave till Monday, due to pneumonia. Bring chapstick!!

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

No complications other than I got pneumonia.

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 the surgery date I was really nervous! I went to obesityhelp.com and talked and cried and ranted online to some very nice and friendly people there. I felt much better listening to what they had to say.

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

The first few weeks for me have me rough. I was a big drinker with my foods, had to get used to that. It was hard to know when I was full, so I had to learn the hard way. Each day does get better, so just concentrate on the days ahead.

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

I traveled about 2 hours away to have my surgery. It really wasn't too bad, took my pillow and a teddy bear with me..lol.

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 pretty much stuck to the liquids in the first few weeks. I did try the next stage; mashed potatoes, yogurt, skim milk, etc. and all went down well. I have found that tomato juice doesn't go down well with me. I am on the pureed diet now. Everything seems to be ok so far. I had a piece of chicken breast and it took me all day to eat it.

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

I'm still a little tired but I do notice I'm not just laying in bed all the time now like I was. I don't have half the aches and pains like I used to have, especially in my back and legs.

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

I take chewable vitamins and calcium plus d. I also drink protein shakes maybe twice a day.

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

I don't have a support group where I live at. I go online for most of my support but I am going to go to a support group meeting in Sedalia, Mo. at the hospital where I had my surgery at. I think it is very important, especially during the first few months because you do get discouraged at first.

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

I had laproscopic rny done and my scars are not bad at all. I had had gallbladder surgery a few years before and there is just a few more like those now. My kids say that I look like a survivor of a drive by shooting..lol.. kids!

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

Only plateau I noticed was when I had my period. Water gain I guess.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

I notice a few more smiles.
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