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

I had heard of bariatric surgery 30+ years ago when I started working in a hospital that did them. Most of the people died back then since there was not alot known about the dangers and complications. I was scared to death to have the surgery since I had that information from so long ago. I realized after researching it for 1.5 years that it was a safer procedure (lap RNY) and the surgeon I chose had learned it from the best.

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

I was able to get the insurance rather easily since I work for a company who agrees that this is a life saving procedure for co-morbidities and had no trouble. I would advise sticking with a company that will support you throughout the life-long decision you have made. Mine certainly, along with my surgeon will follow me for as long as I am a patient.

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

Ask questions! Ask lots of questions! What is their complication rate. How many patients have they lost from this surgery. How many and what types of complications have they dealt with. Do they follow you for life. Do they do follow-up blood work, physicals, etc. How is their staff to work with at the office and on the phone if you have questions. How quickly do they respond to problems that come up. Do they have partners in their practice that have the same expertise in case the surgeon is not available. Check out the nursing staff as well as the physician staff.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I researched for 1.5 years and my PCP finally talked me into having the surgery after all of the co-morbidities were getting worse each year. He said it was safe and told me how to find out about the surgeons, complications etc.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

My surgeon only did Lap RNY at the time. Now he does bands as well.

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?

Make sure you go into the procedure knowing everything. My complication was different than any that I had read about. I had a pyloric valve stricture which meant that my stomach was slow to empty it's contents. This is done by a barium swallow procedure. I did not know at the time of surgery that this would be a problem. Two days after my surgery, I has having trouble with chest pain and breathing (they thought it might be a pulmonary embolis). I was taken for an EKG and CT scan which is when they found out that my stomach had held all the fluids and had swollen up to the size of a football and was pressing on my lungs and heart causing the symptoms I had. I was taken into special procedures and they placed at GI tube into the remnant stomach to decompress the fluids and relieve the pressure. I also, starting bleeding internally due to the stretched stomach and received two units of blood. Just make sure you check out and tell your surgeon everything about yourself if you know something that might cause a problem!

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 mother (an RN) was not happy. She was afraid for me which I understood but, it made my decision difficult to be around her. My friends and others understood that I needed positive support for the decision I had made so they were supportive.

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

My boss was great support! I told him the truth and made it confidential. I did not want others to know until after I had come back to work. I was out for 3 weeks.

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

My hospital stay was not that great sorry to say. I had a different nurse each day. Some were great, most were not. I had to ask for clean gowns, was never asked to be given a bath, my bathroom was filthy and I had to ask nursing to have it cleaned, I was lost in the hospital after being taken for a procedure for two hours and no one knew where I was. The surgeon finally found me in a radiology hallway! I had nurses that could not figure out my pain medications, etc. NOT GOOD! I was in the hospital for 6.5 days due to complications. Bring your family members to stay with you at all times while you are there. You need someone to make sure everything is going well for you. Do not leave your health in the hands of hospital staff (nurses, PCT's, etc.)

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

Yes, my stomach swelled to the size of a football and would not drain properly which meant that it pressed on my heart and lungs making it painfull and difficult to breath. I also started bleeding due to the stretched sutures. I did not know what had happened until I awoke to find a GI tube in my stomach to drain the contents. It was painful, and very scarey but I made it through fine.

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 nervous, afraid that I had made the wrong decision and I cried a lot. I was told that people do have these emotions since it is a life-changing decision that you are making. Make sure you talk with the therapist about your feelings, it helps!

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

You are sore, tired and I got depressed. I knew this going into the surgery, but forgot about the depression part. In my mind I was telling myself that I had made the wrong decision but, knew better. Your mind plays games with you sometimes. I got over the depression as soon as I started feeling better about 3 weeks after the surgery. I had not given myself enough time to begin the healing process.

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

About 30 miles. I had my family members take me to the post op appointments and they were happy to do it. They were able to talk with the doctor as well, so that made them feel better.

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.

Week 1: total liquid diet, protein shakes Week 2: total liquid diet, protein shakes Week 3: Soft diet, protein shakes, soups, yogurt, pudding, mashed potatoes, baby food, juices, protein shakes, etc. Week 4: Soft diet as above Week 5: Soft diet and puried meats (chicken, pork, ground beef) with gravy, occasional protein shake, peanut butter crackers. Week 6: Added cooked vegetables, green beans, peas, added some fruits, applesause, pears, peaches (ground up). No carrots, corn, milk, sugar, fats, still on protein shakes. Week 7: Still on soups, protein shakes, and soft foods with no dairy to speak of, no fibrous vegetable, no sugary starches. Week 8: Started eating meat without grinding it up. Chewed until it was very soft and not chunky. Week 9: Eat almost anything I wanted except carrots, milk, corn, spicy. Week 10: No problems with any food unless I don't chew it up well. Still can't eat carrots, corn, milk, spicy. Week 11: Cannot eat salads at all! TOO much fiber. Week 12: Only have protein shakes if I cannot make it to lunch or cannot eat breakfast. Otherwise, I can have anything except the sugars, and fats. I am at 3 months and can eat just about anything except what I have mentioned already. I did however, start dairy this week with no problems. Being able to drink milk again was great!

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

Very minimal at first, I did walk a bit every day though. Otherwise you get stiff and don't lose the weight quickly. I am now up to 2 miles a day and will increase as time goes on.

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

I take two Centrum chewables per day along with slo-Iron and Slo-Magnesium since I am anemic due to the blood loss I sustained 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 have never had nausia, vomiting, sleep disturbance except for the pain of having the GI tube in. Dumping I had a couple of times when I eat baby food carrots, sweet potatoes, or something spicy. I have not had any hair loss (at 3 months now). I try to eat at least 60 grams of protein a day which helps. At first it is very difficult to get in enough protein so drink the shakes!

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

Recovery! Painful, tiring, depression. You don't think you are every going to get better; but, you do!

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

I have not been to any yet. I would like to go but, the time and distance makes it difficult to attend the sessions.

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

I have 10 small scars across my belly and sides. They are still red and itchy but, will eventually go away. Not a big deal considering what the open is like.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I experience a plateau about every couple of weeks but come off of them with about a 5 pound loss. I was told that this is normal and it is better that the weight comes off slowly so that your skin does not sag as much.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Yes. People come up and ask me if I have changed my hair or what have I done with my makeup? Some ask me what diet I'm on or you look smaller, what am I doing different? They are all thrilled with my new look!