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

I had seen various programs on TV about WLS, then I started seeing people I work with losing weight. I asked how they were doing it and they all said the same thing, Bariatric Surgery. I was initially afraid of it and what the long term affects of it could be, then I realized what the long term affects of being morbidly obese was going to have on my body. I opted to be open minded and attend a seminar to see the real facts about it. I was very impressed with what I heard and started the process in my WLS journey immediately.

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 problems with my insurance company approving me. We do not have any exclusions in our policy, all I had to do was meet the BMI qualifications, and I had no problem doing that. Some people are turned down, but chose to fight the insurance companies, and a lot are succesful in getting approval that was initially denied. So never give up, fight for your health.

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

My first meeting with the Dr. went well, he went over what to expect before, during and after the surgery. He covered all the possible complications that can occur, and as most people know, all surgeries carry a risk, no matter how minor the surgery is. he answered all the questions I had and he assured me if I had more questions that I could call his staff or him anytime for answers. I left feeling more confident in him and the surgery.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I attended the seminar that was held at my Dr. office,which answered most of my questions about the surgery, also, I joined ObesityHelp.com and met a lot of people who have had the surgery and knew from all of those things that WLS was for me.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I went in to the seminar with the intentions of havng the lapband. After I heard all the facts about it and the RNY, I was convinced that RNY was the way to go.

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 really didn't have any fears of dying during or after the surgery and I knew from working in a hosptial what complications can occur with any surgery, so that fear was no worse than if I was having my gallbladder removed. I just put it in god's hands and the hands of my Dr. to get me through it will little or no problems. Everyone needs to know that problems can arise with any surgery no matter how minor, and to not let those fears stop you from gaining your life and your health back.

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 family was terrific and very supportive of my decission to have surgery. My husband has attended almost every support meeting from the start and encouraged me to do this for myself. I thought the negitive part would come from my daughter who also works at a hosptial, but she works with two women who had the surgery and knows how it benefited them, so she was excited for me to do this. The only negitive comments I received was from some co-workers who have never had a weight problem and had no clue what the surgery was all about. I never hid the fact that I was having the surgery and now that it is all over and I am losing, everyone is singing a different tune.

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

My nurse manager was great, she was and still is very happy that I made the decission to have the surgery. I was out of work 2 1/2 weeks but could have went back sooner if I had wanted to. I decided to take an extra week off, due to the fact that I work a minimum of 12 hours a day.

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

I had a wonderful hospital and great team of nurses. I had some problems with my O2 saturation dropping due to my body not handling all the fluids I was being given, so I was under the care of a great respiratory department, also. I stayed 4 days, normally it is 3, but because of my O2, the doctor kept me an extra day. I sleep with a c-pap and was told to bring it, good thing I did, I needed it with the repiatory problems I was having. Also bring your meds or at least a list of what you take and the dose, they need to know what you are taking.As far as anything else to bring, I pretty much had everything I needed supplied by the hosptial. Don't pack too many things, you won't need them. I was more comfortable in the hospital gowns and used my own robe and slippers,when I walked outside of my room. If you have a living will or advance directives (power of attorney) bring that with you so they can copy it and add it to your chart. I also brought my own pillow and an additional fleece blanket, so I would be more comfortable when sleeping.

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

I didn't have any complications from the surgery, but I did have problems with my O2 sats dropping. They determined it was from my body not handling the fluids I was being given. I went home with oxygen for several days until my sats stabilized.

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 elated the day my insurance gave approval, then the anxiety started, not so much about the surgery, just over the length of time from approval to the actual surgery date. It passed really quick and I found the support group meetings helped take care of the anxiety, by talking to others who had the surgery and those waiting, like I was, for their day to come.

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

I had six incissions from the laproscopic surgery, one had a drain coming out of it, which is used to determine whether a leak might have developed during the first two weeks. I had to drink something with blue or green food coloring so that if a leak was there it woud come out of the drain and easily be seen. Of course the area where the drain is was sore, and will remain a little tender for a few weeks after it is removed. The other 5 places were not sore and healed up in a week.The hardest thing to get use to was sipping small amounts of liquids and just being on clear liquids for 2 weeks. Not all doctors require this, mine did. I was back to work in 2 1/2 weeks a week longer than most people, only because I work a minimum of 12 hours a day, so I needed to take it easy for a while and not rush getting back to work. You can pretty much return to your normal routine with in a week.

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

The hospital was local, as was my doctor, so I only traveled about 15 miles. I think it's important to be close to where your doctor is located unless they do not offer any after care programs. My doctor provides a lifetime program which includes, psycologist visits, nutritionist counsiling,weekly support meetings, and an on site chef that teaches you how to prepare meals and what to buy. He has weekly cooking classes so you can try out the recipes before you make it at home. My doctor charged a fee up front,other than what the surgery charges are, that covers this life time program. It is well worth the money. They also have a nutrition store that carries everything from vitamins, protien products, to regular foods that we are allowed to eat at the different stages following our WLS. The chef also prepares meals that you can purchase so you don't have to cook anything special and your family can eat as normal.

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.

So far I have not found anything that I can not eat. Your taste does change after the surgery, so I advise not buying a lot of protien suppliments before hand , what you liked before, you might not be able to stomach afterwards. Sweet tasting things are nauseating to me,even crystal lite that I loved before surgery. I have an allergy to Splenda and sugar alcohols, but I had that before surgery, it's hard to find sugar free products without either one of those in them. I am only 6 weeks out, so I am still trying things to see how I tolerate them, so far so good. The only time I "dumped" was when I ate pre-made sugar free pudding, it had sugar alcohols in it.

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

Right after surgery I got tired easy, but after the first week, I was able to get out and go shopping without feeling like I ran a marathon. Six weeks out my energy level is better than it has ever been in years

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

I use a childrens chewable vitamin along with B12 and calcium citrate. I drink prostat 64 and alternate with isopure for my protien.

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 diarreah for a week after surgery, which the doctor said is better than having constipation. It stopped after the first week and all is normal now. So far the only dumping came from the pre-made sugar free pudding that had sugar alcohols in it that I can not tolerate. I sleep great and have had no vomiting at all.

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

The waiting was the worst part for me. I'm a "get it done yesterday" person, and hate to wait for anything. But all in all it went by fast, 3 months from the first day I walked in to their office until the day of my sugery.

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

My doctor has an awsome after care program. We have everything from weekly support meetings, psycologist meetings, nutritionist counsling, and an in house chef that teaches us how to prepare our meals.

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

I have 5 small scars and one larger one on my side from where the drain was. They are already starting to disapear. I expected a lot worse, so I was happy with the outcome.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

In the 6 weeks after surgery I have had two stall periods. One lasting a week, the other has been for at least 2 weeks.The inches drop off even when the scale isn't moving, so all you need to do is try on clothes and you will see the difference. Stalls are normal and will occur throughout your WL journey.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Oh yes! I have gotten more attention from co-workers in the past 6 weeks than I have in 6 years. I have lost 37 pounds but you would think I have lost 300 the way they talk to me now. I'm the same person, just less of me, so I don't get the reasoning behind it.