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

A friend of mine had the gastric bypass done about a year ago. I had heard people talk about it, but I was very skeptical. I was afraid for my friend. I told her that I thought it was a drastic thing to do, but I also understood why she had to do it. She had complications with her surgery and even had to go back in to repair a leak, but after it was all over and her body began to heal and adjust, she felt great about it and said she would still do it all over again. She looked wonderful and was doing things that she always wanted to do, so I decided to look into it as well. It was scary at first. I read everything I could, good and bad, it is still scary, but overall, I feel that this is the right choice for me. I decided to have the Adjustable Gastric Band (Lap Band).

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

I gathered all my past history together and got two letters of recomendation (one from a previous doctor and one from my gynecologist) as well as a referal from my PCP. I wrote down everything I could, all my medical problems, all the past diets I had tried, and a complete family history. I typed up copies for the surgeon's office and the insurance company. I had to follow up a few times with my insurance company, because they said they hadn't received the letter from the surgeons office. But after three attempts, the letter finally got to the right department at the insurance company and I was approved with in days. My advice would be to follow up! Don't just wait and see! Call and make sure that they have all of your information and keep calling until they do!

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

The first time, I met with Dr. Gupta, who was very helpful and discussed all of the different types of surgury. It helped that I had researched all of them before hand, so I could understand clearly everything that he discussed. I took my husband with me the first time, so that he could hear all of the information as well. This helped my husband feel a little more secure about the procedure and helped me to have someone there. Don't be afraid to ask questions, it's your body and you need to understand what they are going to do to it. I did end up switching doctors to Dr. Rossi, but only because he could get me in to do the Lap Band surgury sooner. Both doctors where helpful and knowledgable and I would trust either one of them to do the surgury, but I also researched both of them and found no problems with either one of them. I think it is important to be informed and understand exactly what you are getting into.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

After a lot of research and discussion with my family and friends, the final decission came down to this- I took pictures of myself on a digital camera with a timer, both with and with out my clothes on. The pictures were for me and only me to see, but they helped me to look at myself objectively and I knew once I saw them that I had to have the surgury. For me, it is the only thing that makes sense.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I did a lot of research on all of the options availible and in the end I decided on the Adjustable Gastric Band (Lap Band). First of all the procedure is less evasive, so the risks were less. It is adjustable so you can customize it to the progress you make over time. It is reversable if it doesn't work out. The recovery time is shorter and it can all be done laperscopically. All of these reasons weighed into my decision. The lap band is not as drastic, and does not produce the immediate results that the bypass does, but it is the right choice for me. I am willing to work hard and wait for my weight loss to occur over the corse of a few years instead of a few months. Other people may not want to wait for the results and this may not be the procedure for them, however, I think that it is the right choice 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 am afraid of the complications, but I am more afraid of the health problems and risks involved in being over-weight. I have seen the effects of obesity and I don't want to live my life like that. Every one has to consider the risks for themselves! Do not let anyone minimize the risks or attempt to make this decision for you! You are the one that has to live with the choices you make, either way.

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 have had a number of mixed reactions to my decision. I would say most of them are shocked when I tell them that I am going to have the surgury. Almost everyone initally tried to talk me out of it because of the risks involved, but I remained strong and explained in detail to each one of them the risks and benifits from the surgury and helped them to understand that I was not making this choice lightly. My husband is afraid, and so am I, but we both agree that this is the right choice for me, for our future.

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

I am a stay at home mom, so I didn't have to worry about work. My family has been very supportive of me and have helped out with the babysitting arrangments during my recovery.

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

My surgury was in the afternoon and I had a little bit of a wait because of emergencys that come first, but it wasn't too bad. My mom kept me company which was really great. Be sure to take someone with you that doesn't mind just sitting and waiting because that is most of what they do. The surgury went fine and there were no complications. When I woke up in the recovery room I was very groggy and nausiated. They gave me medication for the nausea a few times, which mostly made me even more groggy, but was well worth it. I did not vomit, which is a really good thing. After they took me back to my room all I wanted to do was sleep. I thanked all my family for coming and then promptly sent them away so that I could sleep. I slept most of the night waking up about every two hours or so to go to the bathroom. Make sure you give the nurse plenty of time to come help you to the bath room (don't wait until you really have to go!) because it takes them a long time some times to come. I didn't really need anything I brought because the hospital provided everything that I needed. By the next morning I wasn't as tierd and I was able to get up and walk around with help. I had to go down for a swallow test (upper gi) which was no big deal it just taste terrible. I got to go home that day about five o'clock.

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

No complications at all.

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 pretty tierd and sore the first few days. It was hard getting up and down, but I managed. Sometimes I had my husband help support me when I had to get out of bed, but with in a few days I was doing it all by myself. Each day gets a little easier and a little easier. After about four days I was able to stop taking the pain medication, which tasted awful anyway. A week after my surgury and I am doing pretty well. I can do everything by myself and have started on the full liquid diet. No nausea or vomitting and everything is doing just fine. I am beginning to feel normal again. I have started going for longer walks and I have a lot more energy. I admit that in the hospital and for the first couple of days afterward I found my self thinking "what was I thinking, why did I do this?" but it goes away and the excitment about discovering the new me has won out.

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

I was very sore for the first few days. It was hard for me to get up and down. I could not sleep on my stomach or side which was very hard for me. It took me about a week to be able to sleep on my one side and about two weeks to be able to sleep on my port side. The pain medication tasted terrible and just made me tierd. I was able to stop taking it after about 4 days. With in a week, I was pretty much able to move around normally and it was easier to get up and down from a sitting/laying position. It was still difficult to bend over and I was definately not up for a marathon, but I was able to function pretty normally. I also was able to have sex too, although I was scared at first and we had to be careful not to put to much weight on my port side which was still very tender, but it all worked out okay.

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

My surgery was done locally as well as the aftercare.

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.

For the first week after my surgery my doctor had me on a clear liquid diet. I was really sick of eating jello and broth, but I had no problems with it and was not really hungry. After the first week, I was able to bump up to a full liquid diet, with no problems at all. I was never so happy to drink the Carnation Instant Breakfasts (sugar free of course). They were so good. Each swallow was like a dream and they really filled me up. I could feel the pressure on my port site when I finished the drink. It was not painful, just a little uncomfortable, but it was a good full feeling. It was another full week, two weeks after my surgery before my doctor cleared me to start on pureed foods and then work up to solids. Again, I never thought that pureed mush could taste so good. I didn't have a problem with anything. No nausea, no vomiting. I was completely satisfied with only a very small amount and I didn't crave for anything. Not soda, sugar or anything. With in three weeks of my surgery, I was eating solid foods again. I could eat anything with no adverse effects. Red meat, pasta, even soda and some sugary deserts. The difference was that I no longer craved any of these things. They just didn't satisfy me like they once did. I was actully happier eating a small 1/3 cup of cottage cheese or cream soup rather than a slice of pie or a diet coke. I did try soda, and had no adverse affects, but I didn't really enjoy it like I used to. I used to drink diet coke and diet 7-up all the time, but now I may have one a week and I usually don't finish it. I really prefer milk products now. Instant Breakfasts are still a main stay in my diet. I have found that I really crave a small amount of milk after my meals, I know that they don't recommend drinking for at least an hour after meals, but I feel better if I drink about a half a glass of milk after I finish eating, especially if the food was spicey. It just feels right. Now, three months after my surgery, I find that I am eating more and I am more hungry than I was before. Oddly enough, my appetite seemed to increase after my first fill. But I still do not eat near as much as I used to and I find that I am most satisfied if I stay away from carbohydrates. I am more hungry if I eat a sandwhich and some chips, then I am if I have a small dish of cottage cheese or some yogurt and a peice of low-fat swiss cheese. Milk products are still my favorite by far. I have found that I am more battling old habits, like eating while I watch TV or stopping for lunch when I'm out shopping, rather than with actual hunger cravings. Right now I am struggling to remind my self of what I really need and not fall prey to the bad habits.

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

I was pretty sedate for the first few days. I did get up and walk around as the surgeon had recommended, but I was definately not up to any major activity. With in a week, I was moving around pretty much normally, although my port site was still sore and bending over was difficult. With in a few weeks, I was completely back to normal and even went swimming (after my stitches were out).

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

I started off taking a chewable multivitamin every day, but eventually after I was back on solid foods, I just stopped taking it. I do still drink Sugar free Instant Breakfasts atleast twice a day and I get a lot of protien in milk products like yogurt and cottage cheese which I eat pretty much every day. Vitamin deficency is not really a big issue with the lap-band compared to the bypass. I have noticed that my hair is growing a lot more than before, I think that is because of all of the protien I eat now.

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?

There were no side effects. The lap band didn't have the same effects as the bypass and so you don't have the nausia, vomiting, dumping syndrome or hair loss. No saggy skin either. The only minor discomfort with my sleeping was that I could not sleep on my stomach or side for about a week and about two weeks to sleep on my port side due to tenderness. The weight loss may be much slower with the lap band, but no side effects is well worth it.

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

The pain after the surgery. Lap band or not, it is still surgery and it is still painful.

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

There is a support group that meets every Monday through the OSF Bariatric Program. I usually try to go about once a month. It helps to keep me focused and reminds me of why I chose to do this. I think that it is important to stay focused and not take the program for granted. The lap band is a tool and it takes work to stick to it.

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

I have one scar at my port site that is about two inches long, and then four others that are minimal (stab wounds is what I call them). The scars are not that bad, and were exactly what I expected. My surgeon explained them well to me before the surgury, so I was not surprized.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I have experienced my first plateau at three months, shortly after my first fill. My weight has remained the same for the entire month which is frustrating. Before, I was steadily loosing 2-3lbs every week, faithfully. The past month has been difficult and frustrating, especially since I just had a fill. My husband says that he can still feel changes in my body, but my weight has not changed at all. I figure that my body is just readjusting itself. I have been battling old habits and am trying to stay focused and not give in to past mistakes. This week marks my fourth month since my surgery, and my scale is just now showing another 3lb drop, the first one in four weeks. Over all, I have dropped about 30-40 lbs, depending on the scale that I use. The expected average is about 10lbs per month so I am a little behind, but not to much.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

No, not really. The weight loss is slow with the lap band, there is no noticable large drop, so most people don't say anything. With the bypass, the weight loss is so dramatic, that it is kind of hard not to say something. This way is a lot more natural.