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

I saw a commerical on tv and knew that I wanted to have it done.

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

My insurance company has an exclusion for weight loss surgery. I am a re-do and have had several complications from the first surgery done 14 years ago. This is how I was able to get my insurance company to finally approve my surgery. It was filed as a revision and finally after a year approved.

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

It was very informative. I asked several questions as did my husband. This being my second time and because I had so many problems from the first surgery my husband was very sceptical. I was a very big sweet eater and this concerened him. The Dr. explained how all of that would change with this procedure. Don't be afraid to ask questions even if you think they are silly!

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I had been told by my family Dr. and by my surgeon that I could possibly die from all of the complications that I was having due to the first procedure. This was the only way the old could be fixed.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I had the old procedure as did several friends and they all failed. I also believe this was the only procedure that would correct the old one successfully.

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 really did not have a lot of fear. The alternative to not having the surgery was more frightning than having the surgery to me.

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 was wonderful and very supportive as was my family. They are still very supportive. My mother want let me tell her how much I have lost she says she wants to be surprised everytime she sees me, which is usually once a month and oh what fun!!!

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

My supervisior was also very supportive. She knew how hard and how long I had to fight to get approved. I was off work for 1 week initially, then I had so minor complications and was off 2 mor weeks.

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

My stay was great. The hospital staff was great. I was there for 4 days. I think having someone there to help you get out of bed and answer phone and do small things helped me the most. The nurses teased me that I had my own personal nurse and it was my 14 year old son, but he was great!!

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

A couple of weeks after surgery I got a blockage I was unable to eat or drink I had a scope and they fixed me right up. About 4 weeks later happened again had same procedure and was fixed. My Dr. said that was not uncommon for a revision. It has not happended since then. The procedure does not hurt and is minimal risk involved, just time consuming.

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 so excited. I am ashamed to admit I kept thinking something bad would happen and I would not be able have surgery. But everything went great.

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

Honestly, miserable!! I could not get comfortable in bed in a chair anywhere. My back hurt really bad and I could not lay on my side and sleep. :( Expect to be uncomfortable but this is major surgery and that is to be expected. My motto no pain no gain. :)

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

About 2 hours. Well because I had the complications seemed like every other day was on the road again, but was worth it!

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.

Well of course the first 6 weeks is a liquid diet which is hard really hard. After that when you can eat regular food just takes time to find out what your body can tolerate. If I eat something and get sick I will eat it one more time and if it makes me sick again is off limits. Not throwing up sick but nausiated sick and some foods to rich will do that. Never thought I would enjoy a tall glass of ice water but is most wonderful thing now. I was a huge sweet eater because of first surgery was one of the main things I could eat and not throw up so was worried about that but for no reason I honestly do not crave sweets. I have had some and if I eat a very very small portion do fine. I have had more problems with regular food being to rich and causing nausia and bloating which is very uncomfortable.

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

At first not much activity other than work. Now I try to walk on a regular basis, at least a couple of miles a week.

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

I take a bi-lingual B12 which goes under tongue. I have a multi-vitamin with iron in a small pill form and I take 3 calcium chews that are chocolate. At first I was trying to chew calcium tablets orange flavored gross and was also taking children chewable vitamins also gross. A friend told me about chocolate calcium chews and small multi vitamin and that was a wonderful day. I would literally cry when I had to chew up those pills. I was so tired of bad tasting medicine. Thank goodness for friends who have been there!!

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 am 4 months post-op and for about the last 4 weeks have been having lots of nausia and bloating with stomach cramps. This is very uncomfortable. I have tried eating less and eating different things but so far everything makes me sick. I am scheduled to see my Dr. to try and find out what is going on with this. As for hair loss because I had complications and was put to sleep three times in less than 2 months my hair was yuck. I have lost some but not much. Only had sleeping problems for first couple of weeks after surgery until incision healed.

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

The first 6 weeks. I did not think that eating liquids for first six weeks would be difficult. I was wrong!! My friend who had the surgery 2 years ago told me after first 6 weeks everything was uphill from there. Would be some bad days but few and far between and that is very true. I hit the 6 weeks and don't know what it is but started to feel 100% better. I have had some problems like the cramping but feel assured my Dr. will take care of that problem and I will be good to go again.

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

As of right now I have no support group. In the process of starting one in our town hopefully soon. I think it is very important. I only had a friend to talk to but boy did she give me good advice and hope that things would get better. There were days in the beginning that I questioned my sanity in having the surgery. But after talking to her felt good about what I had done. I think having someone to talk to about things that are happening to you would be very helpful.

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

Is bigger than initially thought it would be but only because I was a revision. Is not near as big as first scar though.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Yes some. I have lost 40 pounds and I see people who have not seen me since surgery and they look at you kind of funny like they want to say something but usually don't.