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

My mother had the surgery in October '99. My first impression was that it was a drastic step. But after watching her for a year (even with the complications) I feel it is the right step for me also.

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

I didn't have any problem with my insurance. The place I work is self insured so I don't think I would be much help for others.

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

My first visit was a group/individual consultation. The group part was helpful because other people had questions that I hadn't thought to ask. Then if you had more personal questions you were able to ask in an individual consultation with the doctor. I think it helps to be preparted. Know a little about the surgery before you go for the consultation so that you can have a list of questions ready to ask. You may still leave and think of other more specific questions, but most general questions will already be answered in the first meeting.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

The success my mother had with the surgery, and current and future medical problems were my real deciding factors. Also researching a LOT and getting LOTS of other peoples oppinions of the surgery helped me to decide it was the right decision for me.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I had heard different things about each proceedure from my mothers decision to have the surgery. She had chose with her Dr. to have the RNY because of several factors. I had heard many people had to return for this proceedure because the other was not as effective. Also people had problems with stuff getting stuck in the ring and throwing up from this. I am kind of clausterfobic (spelling?) and the thought of this just creeps me out (like I would be suffocating.)

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 nervous about the surgery. The thing that I fear worse is that something will happen to me and I will miss my three year old son's life. However, I also fear that being overweight, and heart problems running in my family that something will happen anyway (but could have been prevented with this surgery.) I decided that sitting back not doing anything was not the answer.

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 husband has been very supportive. He saw how well my mother has done with it and has been very supportive. My mother was very supportive because of her success. My grandmother is negative about it. Others I have told say they hope everyting works out ok, but I can tell they are skeptical. As I have told my grandmother and everyone else, it is my decision and I think it is the right one for me.

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

I work for my father, so he knew I was thinking about it. My mother had it so he knows what to expect. I do not plan to miss much work because I am a secretary for one, but also I feel I can sit and answer a phone at work as well as I can sit and watch tv at home. They also have a couch and cordless phones so if I do get tired or sore I will be able to rest. It is a pretty relaxed atmosphere. If i'm not at work they would only have someone answering the phone anyway, so nothing additional would get done. So if i'm not able to do to much there would not be much of a difference.

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

I slept most of the time I was in the hospital. I would try to read or watch tv but could not stay awake. I was only in the hospital for 5 days. I think the most important things to bring are a robe, slippers, and toiletries, chapstick, slip on shoes to go home in, and something to do if you do get bored.

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

I had no complications from the surgery. I did have a problem with the pain meds. after surgery. The first day and a half they had me on morphine, which did nothing for me. They switched me to demoral and I started feeling better instantly.

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 am excited, but nervous. I coped with my anxiety by researching to make sure this was what I really wanted to do. I usually visit this site 3-5 times a week. I also have subscribed to the OSSG group at e-groups.com and read their e-mails daily. They can be very helpful with what to expect before, during, and following surgery.

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

I was tired a lot the first few weeks. And sore. I took my pain meds regularly and tried to eat and drink what I was suppose to. I was also suppose to exercise, which I did as much as possible.

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

I am going an hour away for my surgery.

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 was on a full liquid diet for the first 5 weeks. This included cream soups, oatmeal, cheeses, broths, mashed potatoes. After the first 2 weeks they added beans because I was having problems with the protein shakes. They allowed me to eat the after 6 week menu at 5 weeks because I was not eating a very good variety. I didn't like much on the full liquid list. Now that I am eating a larger variety of foods, I feel much better.

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

My energy level has been low. However, I have not been released to do anything except walk 15 minutes after each meal. I plan to start swimming laps at the YWCA when I an cleared next week. My energy level changed after about 8 weeks. I felt almost 100 percent after that. I am at 3 months now and don't feel there is anything that I can't do.

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

I have taken Bugs Bunny Vits. which were changed to CVS multivitamin. I was taking Zoloft, but they changed that to something that starts with a C. I take a B-12 sublingual 1-2 times a week. I was also taking Pepcid AC 2in the morning and 2 in the evening. However they changed that to Previcid? I was having problems with a bad taste in my mouth so they switched some of my meds. I was only on there for the first 6 weeks. The other meds were still leaving a bad taste, so I stoped taking everything except the multivitamin and the B-12. I am doing fine now. After six months they found out the CVS multi does not have iron, so they wanted me to switch. I had a miscarriage before my first son and my dr. put me on prenatal vits for a year before I got pregnant with him. I talked to them and my ob-gyn and since I want another baby after I am released to do so, they said going on the prenatals again was a pretty good idea. So now I'm taking prenatal chewable vits w/ iron. I also started taking Biotin because on one of the sites I go to a dr in my office said it helps with the hair loss (and energy). I am still taking B-12 vits.

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?

Had problems sleeping due to back pain for about a month. Had problems with nausia due to a reaction to meds. so they changed them. Other than this no real problems. I'm 3 months out and have never vomited (knock on wood), I am sleeping fine now (better than before surg. because I don't go to the bathroom every 2-3 hrs), I have only had tired reactions to foods high in fat or sugar (haven't had much though), my hair is thining a little but not very noticably. I'm seven months out now and my hair is thin, but not really bad. I started taking boitin (a dr.'s advice) to help with this.

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

I miss eating some foods. Which I cannot eat for 4-11 months on the diet plan my dr. had me on. I am dealing with it though.

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

We are offered a support group 2 times a month. It has been very helpful knowing what other people are experiencing, so you can be prepared. It is a fairly large group and very informative.

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

My scar is about 4 inches long and seems to be fading already at 5 months post-op. I also have two small scars on each side of the incision where I had a drain tube and a tube they put in just incase their is a problem and they need to feed and medicate you through it. I had been told it would be small because the dr. has small hands.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I have had several plateaus that last from a couple days to a couple weeks. What I seem to have noticed is when I plateau, my body is getting smaller. It seems like I plateau so that my body & skin can catch up with the weight loss.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

I didn't think that people would treat me differently because people seemed to be friendly, but I have noticed a difference. People are ALOT more friendly than before surgery.