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

From television and magazine articles about Carnie Wilson's surgery. I felt that this was a very unhealthy and drastic solution to my morbid obesity. Imagine that!! However, when my PCP recommended it and gave me the name of a surgeon it stopped me in my tracks. She said...Gail I don't think that you have a depression problem...I think that the root of this depression is your weight problem. Please go talk to Dr. Gonzales about WLs.

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

I had an easy time getting approval for my BPD/DS. I had United Healthcare Select EPO thru my husbands employer Electronic Data Systems (EDS). Thank God EDS made sure they offered their employees a high level of insurance while making sure that costs are managed and kept as low as possible. I have paid only $15 co-pays for three visits to Dr. Gonzales and $15 co-pay for the visit to the dietician for my preop evaluation and to the psychiatrist for the preop evaluation. I recommend that you elect the best insurance coverage offered by your employer. Before you visit a bariatric surgeon you should research with the insurance carrier what they require to prove medical necessity for WLS. And definitely find out up-front if there is a specific exclusion for bariatric surgery. If you have the exclusion I recommend that you talk with your employer about selecting a better health insurance plan during the next open-enrollment period.

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

It was very enlightening. Based upon my research I was leaning toward having a laparoscopic mini gastric-bypass. Dr Gonzales educated me in depth on the open BPD/DS and why he highly recommended it for my case. He knew that I had no issues of binge eating so would not get much benefit from the RNY surgery where the stomach pouch is particularly small. He felt that retaining the pyloric valve via the BPD/DS would give me a much more normal lifestyle overall while still assisting me in meeting my health and weight goals from the surgery. I just loved him and his personal and intimate style immediately. I have never been disappointed. I recommend anyone meeting with a bariatric surgeon know as much as possible about the various types of WLS and have an opinion on which one they would prefer. Then be open-minded and listen to what the surgeon recommends as I did. I also recommend that they get a referrel from another medical doctor for the surgeon they visit. Also, check credentials online and via the medical association to assure that you are getting someone who is board certified for bariatric surgery. Also research the number of each type of surgery the surgeon has done and how many surgical deaths they have to report.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

Dr Gonzales telling me that I would never, because of my genetic makeup, have long-term success at maintain a normal body weight in his opinion. He said the only other solution was to move to Ethiopia or Biafra or some other starving nation where my genes would be a blessing and not a curse.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I had the procedure recommended to me by my surgeon. The duodenal switch (BPD/DS) as he explained to me that it would meet my weight-loss goals and give me the most normal ifestyle of all of the WLS procedures that were known at that time (June 2002).

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 had no fears as I have a strong faith in God and know that whatever happens to me in my life, he will be there to help me cope with it. I would tell others not to borrow trouble and to keep their eyes on God and there health goals. As little energy as possible should be given to worry and anxiety about possible complications. I believe negative thought attracts negative experience.

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 and friends have been very very supportive of my decision. Now they are tickled for me when they see how my health has improved and how darn pretty I look as my weight decreases. I recommend being open with those you are close to about your surgery. I think that creates the best environment for caring and post-op support. My family and friends were as supportive as I wanted them to be! I really wanted to be left alone to cope with the pain and the new way of eating for the most part. But, if I needed help, my family and friends were there for me. My cousin even came and cleaned my entire house when the dirt was really getting me down but I couldn't do it physically myself as yet!

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

I was not working then and am just now (10 months later) getting into my own business working from home. I am really glad that I did not have to leave home for a job 9-10 hours a day during the first six months after my surgery as I had very low energy and quite a bit of incisional pain despite having no complications.

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

It was very pleasant. There were 5 other patients of my surgeon in the hospital at the same time and we visited between rooms a lot after the first day we had our surgeries. We also walked the halls together to give encouragement. I was in the hospital for four (4) days. I think it is really important to bring chapstick, toiletries so you can keep your appearance up, socks to keep your feet warm, and a good bathrobe to keep warm and decent when you are walking the halls in a backless gown!!

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

No complications whatsoever.

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 felt like crap. No energy and a lot of abdominal and incisional pain. I didn't feel very good until six months post-op. I had about 5 hours a day of feeling good enough to get off the couch and get some exercise before falling back into reading good books and napping the rest of the day and evening. I didn't have anxiety but I think that all of the laying around did get me a little depressed but nothing my regular Prozac didn't handle fairly well. It was situational depression of being so long in recovery and in pain more than a chemical thing.

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

I have two support groups that meeting once a month that I attend as often as possible for sharing and clothing exchanges. But, the most important thing I depend upon are the Yahoo message boards that my surgeon's patients have started: [email protected] and [email protected]

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

It is horizontal just above my belly button and about 12 inches long on the day of surgery. As I have lost weight it has shrunk down to about six inches long. It is very thin and the redness decreases every month. The only think now is that it looks ruffled and gathered with excess skin. I look forward to losing this scar when I have my tummy tuck surgery.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I have had only 1 plateau in January 2003 where I lost no weight for 4 weeks. I have had months where I lost only 5 lbs. but for the most part, if I drink my 120 grams of protein drinks every day I continue to lose my excess weight.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

No.