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Obesity & Me

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

I was an emotional indulger. If I felt happy I ate, sad I ate, didn't feel anything I ate. I hated myself because I could not get it under control. I was on every diet in the world, for at least a day. How no control over intake control

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

The way the world looks at you like you are an out of control pig that might take their sandwich away from them and eat it. Or the sad look you get when they thought how sad your life must be.

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

Living my life. Going to the fair and fitting in the rides. Going on a plane ride to visit my father at Thanksgiving and having plenty of room in the seat and the seat belt. Walking around the entire Mall of America with my niece and she is the one winded. Riding my bike for the first timein 10 years this past summer.

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

I had a friend that had it a long time ago and she lost hardly no weight. And what she did lose she gained back that plus. Then my ex boyfriend had the surgery and I saw the changes it made in his life. Still was not sure, in 2003 my new job brought me some new friends who had had the surgery and sucessfully changed their lives for the better.

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

I had no issues with insurance. My primary care DR took care of everything that they could have asked for. He had been tracking my battle with weight for nearly 7 years and had a lot of information for them as to what the weight was doing to my health.

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

I was at Methodist Hospital in St Louis Park, MN and it was awesome. They have special rooms for this type of surgery and special nurses assigned to you. Some of which have had the surgery themselves. I was there for 2 nights and 3 days. I most enjoyed the peace and quite there.

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

none

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 felt the most anxiety about coming back to work and having people look at me and try to guess how much I had lost. I was very open about having the surgery and I think that I drove myself nuts with wondering what others were thinking about me. Was I loosing fast enough? That sort of thing.

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

rest, rest, rest. Don't over do it. You will feel like you could walk 10 miles but don't. I felt great then I would wear myself out. It was like I would forget I had just had major surgery.

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

less then 10 miles from my house. At the hospital my primary care DR is associated with.

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.

MILK....anything dairy was badddddd for quite a long time. At least 6 months out. I lived on soft foods for the 1st month and when I could add meats it was lots of chicken. I craved potatoes but I really didn't eat them for quite some time.

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

I felt like I could walk around the block several times but I was so tired after. I did it anyway and took several naps

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

multi-vits every day and a B-12 pill once a week

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?

hair lose started at 2 1/2 months and still is going on at 9 months somewhat

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

missing the milk and anything that is made with milk I wouldn't change a think but I missed the dairy.

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

My surgeons office, family & friends, and this website

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

I can't even notice them. 5 little nothings on my stomach.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

now at 9 months I haven't moved the scale in a couple of weeks. I am trying to workout more to make it move

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

YES, I think I am smiling more at people and they respond to that. I notice more men checking me out. That makes me angry sometimes then I realize I would never talk to them any way to get over it.
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Before & After
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