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

I found out about WLS about a year ago when I started doing research looking for a behavioral therapy that would work long-term. This appeared to be the only option with long-term success. I knew it was a major life change, so I considered it for over a year. I think on some level I had decided about 6 months ago, but I spent a long time putting my self post surgery in my head (eg. If I'm out to dinner with friends, what would I do and what would it be like not to eat much or drink beer? Could I really handle that?)

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

I was lucky, my insurance (BC/BS) approved me with no problem

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

I liked my surgeon immediately. I took questions in writing so I wouldn't forget questions I had.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I was sure it was the right choice for me and the only option that I thought would work. I was afraid of dying from the surgery, but more afraid of dying from being obese. Guess I decided I'd rather die trying.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I picked a surgeon I liked and went with the procedure he did, although my research had helped me decide I wanted a proximal RNY.

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?

The complications from obesity are much worse than the complications from the 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?

They were incredibly positive. I've been told that was because I presented it to them as a positive decision I had made for myself and asked them for their support. One friend had a really tough time with it, but she didn't tell me because she felt it was her problem rather than mine. She feels much better now that she's seen the results.

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

Four weeks. I work for a hospital and so they were very supportive of my decision to improve my health.

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

I'm told I had a great time. I was on pain killers and so have large blackouts related to my 5 days there. Actually, I remember getting up and walking as much as I could, and that having my family there to help was great. What to take...someone to stay with you the whole time, a baby sippy cup (the kind that has to be tilted up and has the autoplug feature) to keep you from drinking too quickly, a nightshirt for when the IV's come out, a body pillow to help you stay in whatever position you want.

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

Not really. They kept taking the urinary catheter out and then having to put it back in because my bladder wasn't kicking on, evidently due to the pain killers (which also meant putting the catheter in and out didn't hurt). Once I got home I had some killer muscle cramps that were so painful I didn't recognize them as such. I called my surgeon in the middle of the night thinking I must have ripped something out. They were very sharp and completely took my breath away. If you get them, forget pain killers...take Flexeril (a muscle relaxer).

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 excited, nervous, anxious, eating massive amounts and having nightmares about being out of control. I coped by talking to my close friends and admitting my fears. I also had to realize that I was thinking I would definitely have all of the complications, which was a bit ridiculous. I wound up having none of them (so far), but even if I had had complication, I would have only had one or two.

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

You wind up spending all of your time having to think about eating (or drinking, as the case may be). It gets frustrating trying to get enough protein in, especially if, like me, you're allergic to cow milk and soy milk makes you gag. Try finding protein supplements that you like in advance, but don't buy much. My tastes changed slightly after the surgery. The pain in the first week was pretty overwhelming, but walking every day made it better. I needed to sleep a lot, but found having an "adventure" every day (like going to the store for jello) was much better than just walking. I was surprised at how quickly the pain resolved. I was weak much longer than I was in pain.

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

Just half an hour.

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.

First week - nothing. Second week, not much. By the third week I was supposed to be on pureed food, but most of it made me gag. I found it easier to get very soft foods and take tiny bites that I chewed to death. I found that soy and chicken make my tummy hurt since the surgery (at 5 months post-op) and beef, pork and fish don't. My preferences before surgery were definitely chicken and rice, now I like beef and pasta. Other no-nos are fruit juice and breaded fried things (stir fried/french fried are okay, but only in small bites). Most of my solid food is about getting in veggies. A couple of months ago I gave up on getting enough protein in solid food, and now I take supplements every day in order to get enough protein. UPDATE 1 year post-op, I can eat pretty much anything now, as long as I chew carefully, eat slowly, and only eat a bite or two of something sweet or fatty. I am the perfect success story from the eating standpoint...can't eat too much, not too restricted.

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

In the days after surgery, I needed a nap every morning and afternoon. That kept up for about 6 weeks. I went back to work at 4 weeks and started feeling a normal energy level around 3 months. Now I'd say I have much better energy than before the surgery, even though I'm still tired at the end of a day.

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

Calcium and multi-vitamins. Kids vitamins and Tums are yucky. I switched from them at about 2 months.

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?

Hair loss was frightening. I coped by upping my protein level and making plans for buying a wig...though it never came to that. My nutritionist thinks I need 75 gms of protein a day to get in enough to keep my hair, and she seems to be right. I can only get that with supplements (God Bless www.netrition.com)

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

Finding the right protein supplements. I had no idea I was so picky. It took months.

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

I have my friends/family, my surgeon's monthly support group, and the chat room at obesityhelp.com. I'd say having somewhere to go with "is this normal" is the most important, which is what you can get from the chat room and a support group.

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

It seems to be growing right now. It's darker than I expected. UPDATE 1 yr post-op: The scar is still lightening, but it's pretty thick. It bothers me more than I thought it would (psychologically), but is certainly worth it.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I've been losing fairly steadily (1-2 pounds/week). A couple of weeks (I only weigh once a week) I didn't lose anything, but this hasn't lasted more than a week. I try not to obsess about it. UPDATE 1 yr post-op: I never really had bad plateaus. Right now I'm at 134 which is a healthy weight I'm happy to stay at. I haven't lost any weight in the past few weeks, though I keep losing size. I think I might be rebuilding some muscle, which weighs more than fat.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Not yet. UPDATE 1 yr post-op: Well, not in my professional life. I was lucky in that I was always successful and treated well at work pre-op. In my personal life, I've noticed that men are starting to flirt with me more, which is nice.