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

My first introduction to WLS was through my sister. She presented me with LapBand clinical trial information without comment; I looked into the trials but they were closed by that time. I pushed back the idea as too radical and too expensive, but recently I heard that my insurance is covering the procedures and I began researching. I was surprised at the number and varying types of surgeries; it began to dawn on me that this was a real possibility for me, not the fantasy I believed it to be at first.

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

The clinic I used took care of my insurance billing for me, and UHC covered my LapBand without a hitch. I have had one fill, and those are also covered 100% by UHC.

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

I met my surgeon, Dr. Louis F. Martin, five days before my surgery during the signing of my consent forms. He had several of us in a roundtable type session, and he was funny and charming and extremely professional. I was blessed to have a surgeon I could talk to and feel comfortable with. Ask all the questions you can. Take time to write down questions as they come to you. Don't give in to "white coat awe" .. with Dr. Martin that was easy .. but try not to be intimidated. Surgeons are like any other professional .. YOU are hiring THEM to perform a service for you and YOU are paying for it.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I did not want to wait until I got really sick. I am not right now; but why wait until the chances for complications from surgery are higher? I had my LapBand surgery on 7-16-03, and felt healthier almost immediately.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I decided upon Lap-Band, mainly because it would leave no permanent changes to my body. It is the least invasive procedure, and the one that apparently presents the fewest complications. I liked the fact that with the LapBand, the weight comes off at a slower, more controlled pace. This seems more healthful to me. I don't have to worry about malabsorption, either. I also like the fact that I am more in control of my destiny with a LapBand. My choices are my own .. there is no threat of "dumping", which to me seems overly punitive. My weight loss will be determined by the choices I make, not by some arbitrary side effect which no one can predict or control.

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?

Two words: Blood Clots. The idea terrified me. That and the anasthesia. Having never been in the hospital for any reason, I was terrorized by these and several other nameless fears. I had a fear-induced meltdown the night before surgery, but some calm, rational talk from my husband got me through it. A patient is going to be scared. This is natural and right. What one can't do is let the fear make the decisions. Once I was at the hospital, I realized that I was in good hands (my research of the surgeon and facility bore that out) and I surrendered the fear. Praying and talking to someone I trust helped me. So did being informed about the real risks and statistics.

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 and my mother are God's greatest gifts to me. They have both been 100% supportive, even when I tell them the bad and the ugly facts that I unearth about WLS. I could not have asked for better support from either of them. I know you can't have WLS for anyone else, but I must confess that I am really motivated by the thought of sharing my success with these two. My siblings and coworkers have been thoughtful and curious, (but not intrusive!) and very supportive during the whole process.

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

My boss is also my friend. In that I am blessed. She made it very easy for me to take all the time I needed. She didn't even ask what kind of surgery I was having until later, and then she was concerned but supportive. I took 6 weeks off due to the fact that I have a lengthy commute and my doctors advised against that much driving.

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 uncomfortable, and as pleasant as can be expected. The staff was very friendly and kept me in plenty of pain medication when I needed it. They also kept abreast of my vital signs, which was a strange comfort to me. They could have been more responsive to my calls, but fortunately I had no major issues. My husband acted as my "call bell" while he was there with me, and they were very responsive and friendly to him. I spent 3 nights and 2.5 days in the hospital, and felt prepared to go home when they released me. Be sure to take a small, firm pillow (like a throw pillow) for the ride home, and make sure you have pain meds and water if you have to drive any distance. Stopping to walk is a must, but you don't want to be doing any shopping. My husband bought me little foam footballs to put under my feet, and I rolled my feet over them between stops. I joked to him that I "walked" all the way home from New Orleans! I strongly suggest reading material, but make sure it's lightweight, such as a small magazine, so as not to hurt your new incisions. You will also want lip balm, robe and slippers, and your own pillow. If you're female, bring a scarf or something for your hair too .. mine was an embarrassing mess by the third day.

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

I experienced no complications. I believe mine was a textbook surgery and recovery.

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 experienced a strange mix of elation, terror, and restlessness. Sometimes all at once! I had more than a month to prepare, and it flew by. I knew I wouldn't back out of the surgery, but I told myself I always could if I wanted to. It helped me feel more in control. I kept on researching and talking to my family and other patients. I would strongly suggest a support group .. sometimes Internet ones are preferable to live ones, because you can ask all the silly questions you want and remain anonymous. And, people can be as blunt as they feel they need to be without looking you in the eye. I learned so much from my online group.

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

The first weeks home from the hospital, I pretty much rested and tried to recoup my strength. I walked as much as possible, and drank my protein shakes. I was never hungry, and some of my weakness probably came from not getting quite enough protein some days. It is very difficult, but patients MUST get their protein in. Some days, I felt good enough to venture on short road trips, but I always regretted it. It is hard to strike a balance between being active and overdoing it. Listen to your body .. it's going through changes; get your exercise but be sure not to push it too hard.

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

I travel about 5 hours one way to my clinic. This definitely gave me problems immediately after surgery, as we had to stop often so I could walk. I am trying not to let it compromise my aftercare, but as my husband and I both work, it will be tricky. As a LapBand patient, I have to get my fills in as often as needed. I have had one fill and now need another, and I recently found that it's difficult to see the doctor, have him order the fill, and get the fill the same day. That is going to be a nusiance, but I will deal with it. I cannot let distance keep me from working my tool. Hopefully soon there will be doctors competent to do fills closer to me, but that is not on the horizion right now.

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 have had one fill, and I haven't had problems with any particular food. I get what we call the "golfball" occasionally; that's when food isn't chewed well enough or I eat too fast. It gets stuck and there's pain right in the middle of my chest .. I can't take a deep breath and I produce lots of saliva .. it's not pleasant, to say the least. The worst one was on some beef tips and gravy that I didn't chew well enough .. it stayed stuck for almost an hour (far longer than usual) and the pain lasted the rest of the day. I can't eat after a golfball .. I usually stay on liquids for a while afterward. I need another fill .. after the first one, I experienced great restriction and was full for hours on a boiled egg white. That lessened as the weight came off .. for Bandsters, restriction drives tolerance. I have minimal restriction right now so I can tolerate anything. After my next fill, who knows?

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

I could do very little immediately following surgery, but I have upped my activity gradually. I now walk with handweights nearly every night, and I just invested in a secondhand treadmill. This should help me to get in at least 30 minutes of walking every day.

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

None. I plan to start taking a daily chewable soon, but as a LapBand patient, this isn't as imperative for me as for a bypass patient.

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've had no side effects except for the wierd gas. I can belch like a hero. It embarrasses me and amuses my nephews. :)

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

Waking up after surgery was horrific. I had no idea where I was, who I was, or why there were six heads hovering over me in a freezing cold room. I was completely disoriented, but it faded. Or I went to sleep. I don't remember which. The constant taking of blood was pretty heinous, too. My "good" veins are all in my right arm, which was occupied with the IV. Apparently there are no good veins in my left arm. When we did tap one, it flowed like molasses. I was black and blue when I came out of the hospital. Don't care to repeat that experience.

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

While I live too far away to take advantage of them, I understand that the Weight Management Center in New Orleans has excellent aftercare programs. I rely on internet support groups and they have proven invaluable. I don't have any "live" support in my local area.

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

I have seven scars, ranging from 1/4 inch to about 2 inches. They are healing well, but still purple, but that is fading. Fortunately they were closed with glue and steri-strips rather than staples, so they are not raised.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

When I changed from liquids to solids, I experienced a gain of 2.5 lb and then a plateau, and I worked through that by upping my protein shakes. My first fill was on 10-10-03, and I am down 17 lb. I plan another fill as soon as possible.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

I have had some very kind comments about my loss, but my loss is naturally slower so I haven't had any "extreme" reactions.