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

The first time I heard about WLS was when a prior supervisor had the VBG done. At first I thought it was something I would never do. However, after my first back surgery, the doc told me that he would have to keep operating on by back if I did not lose the weight. This made me think about the option of WLS. After researching the procedure for months, I decided that it was the best thing for me to do.

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

My experience with getting approval was amazing. At the time of my surgery, the insurance company who covered my benefits did not require pre approval. Only a letter from the surgeon stating that WLS was medically necessary and I had to be at least 100 pounds overweight. Medica is great about covering WLS.

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

My first meeting with my surgeon was brief. A group of us attended an informational seminar and then met individually with the surgeon after the group meeting. People should really take time to ask questions they don't already know the answers to during the seminar or meeting with the doctor. If you have family or friends who have questions or concerns about WLS this is also a great way for them to get educated.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I was just ready. I had already tried every diet in the world and was just sick and tired of being fat and having to deal with all of the health issues that came with it.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I knew tht the VBG did not work since the supervisor I spoke about before gained all of her weight back in less than two years. I researched all the surgeries and knew that Lap RNY was the best fit for me. I encourage anyone considering WLS to make a decision based on what they think would work best for them.

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 was mainly worried about not waking up. If your getting ready to have surgery I would say to always keep in mind that this surgery is a major one. 1 in 200 people die and I think that people should not look at this as an easy way to get rid of the weight. I had complications 14 months after my original surgery and ended up having to go back in for an emerggency internal hernia repair. This only happens to 1% of people who have WLS, but I knew it was a possibility and I was willing to take the risk. All I can say I guess is DO YOUR RESEARCH. People should never make a decision based on someone else's experience with WLS.

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?

Most of the people in my life were very supportive about my decsion. However, after surgery some of my overweight friends struggled and continue to struggle with my weight loss. I understand this as I struggled with people that I knew losing weight after surgery, but for me it would always pass.

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

My employer at the time was great about it. I was only out of work for ten days after my initial surgery and I had the hernia repair done while I was already on medical leave from a back surgery so my time off had to be extended by a couple of weeks. They were great.

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

My hospital stay was good. The nurses were attentive and kind. I was only hospitalized for two days. Personally, I did not bring anything except for the clothes on my back and some chapstick. Everything you really will need will be provided by the hospital. I would sugges that people bring a pillow to the hospital for the ride home which will be miserable.

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

Fourteen months after surgery, I had pain in my upper abdominal area, so I went to the hospital that performed by bypass. It was discovered after seven hours of testing that I had an internal hernia. This only happens to 1% of people. My hernia was caused due to the fact that I had lost so much weight and the fat that was there when they closed in my intestines disappeard, which caused 60% of my intestines to move and twist in my upper abdomen. They were able to fix the problem laporscopicially. I was in the hospital for four days after this procedure due to having a lot of post op pain.

In the weeks after you got your surgery date, how did you feel? How did you cope with any anxiety you might have felt?

Physically I felt fine, but emotionally I was a total wreck. You don't realized before surgery how many food commercials are on tv. The fact that I was missing food so much and being constantly reminded of it was a bit like torture. I knew that I was becoming depressed, so I saw my primary doctor who put me back on Zoloft, which made my situation much easier to get through. Once I began eating more real food and not liquids, my depression lifted.

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

Home was fine after surgery. People should expect to be tired for a couple of months after surgery. They should also expect to be very emotional over their relationships with food, whatever that relationship may be.

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

I did not travel far at all. I went to a local hospital and aftercare has not been an issue at all.

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 couple of weeks I could barely eat or drink anything. I advanced with my diet fairly quickly though and never struggled with most foods. Early on I could not do rice, pasta or bread. These things are not an issue with me anymore. I have always been able to tolerate sugar since surgery and now have to be careful about how much sugar I eat since I gifured out that sugar is what makes my weight go up. Three years later, I can eat everything, but only in small amounts. Nothing makes me sick. Since having surgery I don't think I have vomitted more than seven times because of something I ate. I am very fortunate, because everyone else I know vomitted a lot the first few months after surgery.

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

For the first few months I was very tired. No energy at all. Once the weight started to come off, I could pretty much do everything I did before and then some.

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

I take a multi vitamin, B12, iron and calcium supplements every day. I am very good about this since it is such an important thing to do for the rest of your life after surgery.

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 suffered from nausea for a good six months after surgery. This passed once my body adjusted to my new system.

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

The emotional feelings of not being able to eat and getting use to eating such small amounts of food. At first I struggled because I wanted to eat more, but now three years later I very much feel satisfied after eating my little meals.

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

I received support from other friends who had WLS. In addition, I see my surgeon every six months. I do not attend support groups.

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

My procedure was done lap, so my scarring is very minimal. Most people would not notice if they did not know I had the surgery done.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I plateaued on and off for the first sevent o eight months. I would not lose any weight for a couple of weeks and then one week I would lose seven to ten pounds in a week. I figured out that this was just my bodies way of having the weight come off.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Absolutely. It's crazy to me how differently I am treated by both men and women. I never noticed this while I was obese, but it became very obvious once I became thin. People seem to be much nicer. I struggled with men after becoming thin, because I knew they would not have been interested in me as a big woman and I found myself feeling bitter about this because I was the same person when I was big. I finally got to a place where I accepted the fact that sizeism is very real and that society treats fat people differently. I am now living my life as a thin woman and I have to always keep in mind that this is now my reality.