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

My sister talked to me about it for a couple of years in a joking manner. My grandmother had removed 3/4 of her stomach back in the 50's for health reasons. I never understood exactly what that involved until I got to my lowest point of desperation following a TV commercial that gave an 800 number to call. It turned out to be a stomach stapling ad brochure. I talked to my father who explained all about Grandmother's surgery and success, and that got me started with cruising the Internet for more information. That is where I eventually found my surgeon.

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

The first submission by the doctor's staff was for the wrong procedure, but a phone call followed by a correction fax took care of that. In less than two days, Humana had approved me at 100% based on the doctor's recommendations.

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

I went to a monthly seminar his clinic held in Houston, and while I was there, I made my final decision based on prior hours of Internet research and long heart-to-heart talks with family and friends. I took my daughter and my sister with me to the seminar (my spouse was out of town)so they could hear about and understand the entire process. They asked questions and got the answers they needed to calm their fears. I needed their support, and I knew it had to be informed support.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

Seeing the Carney Wilson interviews on TV, listening to Roseanne Barr talk about her procedure, and finally researching the Internet for answers to my toughest questions. This site helped me most of all, and I send prospective surgery candidates to it all the time.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I researched the success results for all available procedures, read profiles from patients of each type of surgery, got stats for mortality rates on each type then spoke candidly with my surgeon, asked him if his own wife's conditions were the same as mine, what surgery would he recommend to her.

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 knew that the fact of my obesity was the biggest fear factor I had when approaching surgery. From my research, I came to understand that NOT doing something was an even greater threat to my life. The choice was quite easy when I thought about not seeing my grandchildren grow and leaving my spouse alone and bereft. I made my choice to protect my health and prolong my life. I alos had some fears about never getting full, and wanting all the 'forbidden foods' on the list. I had food funerals and said my final good byes to my most trusted edible companions. I recommend that approach to anyone contemplating surgery.

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?

Many different reactions came my way. My biggest friends had the most concerns and least support ot offer. My father was wholeheartedly in favor of it, since he had seen his mother's health improve after her surgery. My active friends were excited that I might soon join them in activities I had never been able to join before. My daughter was worried about death on the operating table, as was my sister. My RN sister had grave concerns after she had observed a 'botched' RNY in her early nuursing school days. My M.D. brother never gave much of an opinion other than 'your genes have been very bad to you' so I took that as a neutral response from a medically informed viewpoint. My grandchildren met the idea head on and asked a thousand questions. In the end, their questions led me to the greatest research I probably ever did, in an effort to assuage their fears and concerns. Ironically, after the surgery I found many less informed family members aloof and acting scared. Most of my friends still haven't seen me; my choice at this point. My daughter, sisters and grandchildren have been most accepting and unconditional in their support. It has troubled a lot of my family that I no longer support social use of food, and that I never cook and serve monster meals anymore.

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

I own my own business so tiem off was no trouble. My spouse covers all my bases for me, so my time out of the office has gone relatively unnoticed. When I discovered how easy it is to be out, I chose to use daytime office hours to go to the gym and stay on top of my exercise regimen. It has worked well so far. In that respect, I am very fortunate. I did have to explain my absence to the customers, but they have all been supportive and very complimentary with follow up comments. I still haven't returned full time, and am choosing instead to be healthier and set in my routine before I come back to conquer the world.

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

I had a pleasant induction into the surgery unit, then the horror began. Even though I did thorough research, I failed to pick up on the post op trauma I was to endure. For the first two days I wanted to undo my surgery. I was completely unprepared for the tube down my nose and into the pouch. I had no understanding that a liquid diet would be nothing more than ice chips for two days. I was in a morphine haze, and still, I was miserable. I had packed a proper case with music and headphones, scented soaps, shampoo, gowns for four days and panties a plenty. I failed to understand I would also be catherized and panties were a moot point for the better part of two days. My books and writing tablets with pens remained tucked in the side pocket of the hospital bag. In fact, of all I took with me, the front opening gown/house dress for hall walking was the most important item I took. Second most important was my tootbrush, the only source of mouth comfort I had after day one until mid day three. I did use my shampoo and one pair of panties on departure day, late afternoon the fourth day, and I left the hospital in my house dress with shoes and socks. In short, I definitely overpacked. I should have taken toothbrush, toothpaste, one pair of panties and the exit/walking housedress. Even my makeup went untouched except for the lip balm. The most important 'thing' I took to the hospital was constant family monitoring in the form of my spouse, my daughter and my Rn sister.

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

Absolutely no complications, but in my post-op state, the tube in my pouch got stopped up and it took ranting by my daughter to get the problem fixed. It was not pleasant, and was, I am told, most unusual.

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 once I had my surgery date set. I had only one week to prepare, so I spent the time getting my finances in order, preparing my room and bathroom for my return home, and staging my food funerals, each of which I shared with special family and friends that liked teh same foods.

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

When I returned home from the hospital, I asked my family to eat out, or have backyard cookouts, anything to keep food aromas from wafting toward my bedroom/recovery cave. They all tiptoed around, doing their best not to even breath onion breath my direction. When I realized I would never see a family member again, I started asking them to try eating as usual. I even joined them at the table to eat my broth and crackers. It is a serious adjustment for everyone.

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

I drove from Austin to Houston, about 175 miles to the hospital. I took a van with a foam mattress in back so my return home was spent lying down. The occasional jigs and jogs of usual and customary driving caused intense discomfort, but I lived through the ordeal. My RN sister made the trip with me so I was confident she could handle any emergency that arose. None did.

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 ate clear broth and unsalted crackers in the first two weeks. During the thrid week, I added thin cream of wheat, pureed potato soup and other pulveriized vegetables. Anything that will disolve in water was my test o fwhether I could eat it. By the fourth week I was spreading Laughing Cow Light cheese on my crackers and had learned to eat Taco Bell refried beans with cheese (no sauce) for comfort food. I even ate a bite of a cheese enchilada that I chewed to mush before swallowing. I added scrambled eggs thinned with half and half before scrambling, and even ate some sausage, ONCE! After trying a little bite of a hamburger and a sliver of steak, with less than satisfactory results, I avoided any meat but very moist chicken or baked fish till I was at two months. Now, I eat most anything in moderation, but I DO NOT EAT sugar laden products, highly refined white flour foods, rice or high fat foods. I still haven't tried to eat steak, though I did get a bad case of 'chest pain' with about an ounce of grilled pork chop. I don't eat nuts or chips of any kind. I get nauseated from super processed foods. I don't know what it is about the Roux-en-Y procedure that causes it, but the bad foods are easy to avoid. I will ocntinue to try new things, and lately, I added shrimp with cocktail sauce to my diet. M-m-m-m.

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

At first, I walked about two minutes, then added a minute or two a day till I was up to ten minutes. At that point, I took a walk in my yard, (five acres to roam) and discovered how easy it is to stumble while still taking Darvocet. I stayed on the porch (wrap around old fashioned style) and did my fifteen minutes there taking tiny steps, but being active. When I was feeling ready to venture out, I went to the local Recreation Center and joined up to use the walking track and treadmill. Inside a couple of weeks I was up to thiry minutes a day on the treadmill, jamming to my Beatles CD at 3.4 mph. Not bad for a woman of size. Now, I can't wait to get to the rec center, and I have several walking partners in my family. It is good for them too.

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

I take a woman's complete with iron multi-vitamin, a calcium/magnesium/zinc/copper supplement and a B-Complex. I take them morning, noon and night. When I forget a dose, I can tell the difference in my energy level.

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 ate cautiously to avoid nausea and dumping. I did try 'No Sugar Added" ice cream and learned what dumping is all about. I also had some Campbell's Tomato Soup and got very nauseated. I am an avid label reader and stay within my 4 grams of sugar and 5 gram s of fat guidelines for each meal. So far, so good. As for hair loss, I am just begfinning to see handfuls during my rinse out after shampooing and my brush now picks up much more than ever before from a casual brushing. I was gifted with a massive mane of hair, so right now, it isn't even showing much. I do expect to see more problems with it, but I am trying to keep my chin up. I sleep better now than I have for years. My spouse says I have all but quit snoring, a fact that he is totally grateful for. I also quit the dreadful heartburn adn GERD trouble I had fought for years. No side effects for me could possibly outweigh my benefits from the surgery.

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

The first two days post-op were horrendous, and I expereinced many second thoughts and recriminations. If I had paid better attention to my post op research, I might have been better prepared for those problems.

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

I have a lovely hot pink scar that traces along a stretch mark from my 1974 pregnancy. It is a nice addition to an already scarred tummy, though I never have hated those marks of my precious daughter's womb time. I show my scar wiith pride to anyone that is interested, and I am proud of the commitment to myself and my better health that it represents. I did see a scar at the seminar I went to, so I was not surprised or annoyed. (I am certain I will never be baring my midriff to the public, so the scar is no problem at all.)

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

When I am out in public with my make up on and my new slimmer self ready to interact, I find a world of smile that greet me. I even attract some male attention every now and again, something I had forever given up on. I saw my ex-husband recently and he was impressed with my new slimming down self. It felt great to be on top of the world. I've always known you get in return whatever attitude you give out, so I must have been hard to interact with in my mound of flesh. I'm so happy the better me is finally being recognized. I haven't seen her since I was seventeen years old.