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

I'm not sure, but I think I first heard about bariatric surgery on television because, since I never go anywhere, I watch a lot of T.V. My initial impression was: "Wow, that is WAY TOO DRASTIC FOR ME - NO THANKS!" But WLS has been in the back of my mind for many years. Then I saw the surgery on T.V. once and was horribly repulsed. Didn't think about it again for at least a year! Then a friend of my daughter's had VBG by Dr. Breiling in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and lost 100 pounds over the next year. I was so impressed, I started to research it on the Internet and "voila". Here I am, almost 6 months post-op and I feel wonderful! I've lost 60 pounds and feel like I'm 30 again! Now I could kick myself for not doing this 10 years ago!

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

My health insurance through my employer was Blue Cross/Blue Shield Alliance Select. Once the surgeon and I had decided to proceed with sending a letter to the insurance carrier, I was approved 2 days after their receipt of same. I understand that it is more difficult now, because 9 people have died in the Des Moines area after having the Roux-en-Y surgery. But my dealings with BC/BS was seamless!

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

My first meeting with Dr. Breiling was extremely informative. I went with a notebook of all the research I had retrieved over the Internet and studied. I had a long list of questions regarding the various WLS procedures, which questions he answered without hesitation, including how many of these procedures had he performed; how many patients he has lost from these procedures, etc.)I also had with me a complete history of my health (including all surgeries; the name, address and phone number of the surgeon; the name and address of the hospital in which the surgery took place, etc.), what drugs and/or vitamins I was taking; and a history of my family's health problems. I also had a list of all the diets I had tried (at least all those I could remember) and how much I had lost on each one, and what I hoped to accomplish if I had the VBG procedure.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I considered this my last chance at life. I really didn't want to live as a fat person any longer and I was ready to risk my life in order to have a life with my family.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

Dr. Breiling was so compassionate and kind and explained many different WLS procedures. After meeting with him 3 times - me armed with questions and he being armed with answers - Dr. Breiling considered me to be a good candidate for WLS, and we determined that the VBG would be the best procedure for me.

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 was more excited than fearful. The only time I was really afraid was right before the surgery, and then only briefly. Dr. Breiling had explained all possible complications but, as it turned out, he and his hospital staff did everything in their power to prevent any and all complications. I felt very safe in their positive, capable hands. I had no complications whatsoever. However, I did make sure my "affairs were in order"; I went to the hospital with a living will and a durable power of attorney for health care, and made sure my children knew where to find my Will. That all seemed rather morbid, but necessary.

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 children looked like "deer in headlights" when I sprang this on them. But I shared my research with them and my daughter's friend, who had already had this surgery, was a huge help to all of us. We discussed the pros and cons and when my kids understood that my decision had been made, they were very supportive. My son, who lives in a different city than I do, came to stay with me for a few days after my surgery and did all he could to help me. It turned out great!

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

My employer was very supportive. He shared a story of a friend who had the Roux-en-Y procedure and had a lot of complications and had been ill for several months. But, overall, he and my co-workers were extremely supportive. Some of my co-workers, though, acted like this was way too drastic; that it was an "easy fix"; blah, blah, blah - I just remembered that I was doing this for myself and they could go hang themselves as far as I was concerned. I took 3 weeks off work, but I really could have returned working half days on the 3rd week. But, during those 3 weeks at home, I walked every day and concentrated on my new eating habits. I think 3 weeks really was an ideal amount of time to be off work.

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

To be honest, I don't like hospitals. I lost both my parents within 3 months of each other in 1991-92, and we spent literally months in the hospital with them, so if I never saw another hospital as long as I lived it would have been too soon. However, I was in Mercy Hospital in Cedar Rapids for my WLS; I had a very large private room with full bath (shower); with a great view. What's not to like! The hospital staff, including custodial staff, was wonderful. They were very attentive, even though they were very busy at that particular time. I was in the hospital 6 days - I was admitted on a Monday afternoon and my surgery was at noon on Tuesday; I was discharged the following Sunday. I couldn't wait to get out of there and get some rest! You can't rest in the hospital! They won't allow it! Don't bother bringing your own gowns, because all the while you're there, you're hooked up to IV's, so you need to wear a hospital gown that has snaps at the shoulders to accommodate the IV lines. Don't bother with socks, because the hospital has slipper socks with the non-skid bottoms. All you really need to take are your toiletries, underpants and a book, of course. They provide everything else!

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 only had to wait 6 weeks from the time my insurance company approved me to the date of surgery. I basically used my free time to figure out what I needed to stock in the way of food, drink and vitamins for when I got home; what loose fitting clothes I could wear when I got home; I wanted to make sure I had everything on hand that I was going to need in the way of laundry detergent, etc. And, the final week before surgery, I cleaned my house within an inch of its life so I would have a sparkling house to come home to. The only anxiety I really felt was the fact that it seemed like such a long time to wait for surgery and, of course, the time just flew by!

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

The first few days home were a little rough. It was painful getting up and down from a chair and my bed. But after the first few days, I didn't need any pain medication. It was basically a trial and error period with regard to food. I found a protein drink I liked and ground up my vitamins into that for breakfast. Still do that. But I just had to figure out what I could and couldn't eat. I really wasn't hungry, but I knew in order to heal, I had to consume protein, so that took some figuring out. I just concentrated on walking and trying to consume as much protein as I could.

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

I traveled approximately 150 miles to have my surgery and still do for my aftercare visits with Dr. Breiling. I would rather have had the surgery in my own city, but I did my "homework", consulted the American Association of Bariatric Surgeons' website and found out there are no qualified bariatric surgeons in my city. I don't particularly like to drive and I thought I would hate all these aftercare trips, but actually I don't. I've made the trip about 7 times now and except for once in bad weather, it's no big deal. It gives me a chance to get out of the office early, get out on the road and see some different scenery, and crank my tunes!

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.

When I first got home, I stuck pretty much to my protein drink (Naturade Chocolate Soy Powder mixed with cold skimmed milk), which I still have every morning; sloppy scrambled eggs; egg salad; vegetable soup; applesauce; sugar-free Jello; sugar-free pudding; and mashed potatoes. I ate that for about 2-1/2 months. Dr. Breiling said he wanted to be sure everything inside was healing nicely before anything got stuck. I really didn't mind, though, because I wasn't hungry - just knew I had to eat to heal. Then, after 2-1/2 months, I added meat. Surprise! We are carnivores! I purchased a little Black & Decker food chopper and have used it so much since my surgery. I run canned chicken and tuna through it for chicken and tuna salad - I mix the meat with low fat mayo, some mustard and relish and voila! It especially tasted heavenly the first time I ate it after surgery! At 3 months out, I added fish that I grilled in my George Forman grill. The fish got stuck! It was my fault, though. I was in a hurry and didn't chew, chew, chew. I have since had fish and have been more careful and it's gone down smoothly. I've not had much in the way of beef since my surgery, simply because it sounds like too much work to chew it so that it doesn't get stuck. That getting stuck business really hurts! And, for me, it comes back up pretty quickly and I don't like to throw up! I'd be a lousy anorexic! After 4 months, since I was lusting for a salad, I added salad to my diet. The surgeon said lettuce, etc., is hard to digest so not to eat salad until about the 4th month. Now, 6 months out, I eat a salad almost everyday, because I love them and because that's where I get most all of my raw vegetables - cauliflower, broccoli, carrots and tomatoes mostly. I've never had trouble with salad getting stuck. At 5 months out, I buy a baked chicken at the store or I grill chicken fillets on my GF grill. The baked chicken got stuck once but, again, it was because I was eating too fast and not chewing. (Old habits are hard to break!) Who knew that before surgery, I swallowed almost all my food whole? Just a couple of chomps, and down it went! Can't do that anymore! Again, it's pretty much a trial and error thing - you don't know if you're going to be able to eat something unless you try it. Actually, I can eat most anything, it's just that I am making better choices now. I choose to eat mostly low fat foods and very little sugar. Desserts weren't so hard to pass up before surgery; my downfall was salty snacks - chips, nuts, etc. I don't even keep those in my house now. Can't. Too much temptation. And I haven't had a piece of pizza in 6 months! I'm so proud of myself, because I used to live for pizza!

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

I'm 58 years old, so my activity level wasn't great those first few months. I did my walking those 3 weeks I was home after surgery, but I was exhausted at the end of the day. I didn't sleep during the day; in fact, I made my bed in the mornings (as I always do) just so I wouldn't be tempted to lie down when I went by it during the day. I did sit in my recliner and once in a while, I dozed in that, but I've never been a napper so it wasn't too difficult to stay awake during the day. But, by 9:00 at night, I was in bed and asleep! I went back to work the 4th week after surgery and had lots of energy in the mornings. I worked half days that first week back and it was a good thing, because when I got home, I was exhausted! By the 5th week, exhaustion didn't set in until later and later, but I still didn't even have the energy to fix myself something to eat when I got home until I had rested for an hour. Now, 6 months out, I'm tired at the end of the day but after supper, I sit for about an hour, and then get a second wind. I find it's easier to run my errands after work now and I don't get nearly as tired as I did before my surgery and shortly thereafter. But, the most amazing thing is I sleep so much better! Before surgery, I would wake up about every hour, either because I had to urinate or because I was choking. Dr. Breiling said that after I lost some weight, he thought I would be surprised because I wouldn't have as much weight pressing on my bladder and, therefore, probably wouldn't have to get up so often to go to the bathroom. He was so right!! I only usually wake up once now during the night! What a treat!

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

I take chewable multiple vitamins, chewable "C" and chewable calcium. I also take 400 unit Vitamin E, which I can easily swallow. I take potassium, magnesium, zinc and "B" complex, and various other supplements for my arthritis, like glucosamine chondroitin, and grind these up to put in my protein shake in the morning.

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 didn't really have any bad side effects from the surgery. It was a little difficult to turn over in bed, but I slept pretty well. I did have some hair loss at about 4 months, but now 6 months out, that has pretty much stopped.

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

The worst part was getting up and down those first few days after surgery. Ouch!! Luckily, the pain drugs helped emensely, but getting up and down really sucked! Walking was no problem; lying down and even sitting in a chair were no problem; it was just getting up and down that was very painful. By about the 5th day, though, it was no big deal.

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

Obesityhelp is as close as I come to having a support group. It's sometimes helpful to read that people are going through a lot of the same things I am.

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

It's a long scar from my breastbone down to my pubic area. But it is what I expected and doesn't bother me.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I've hit a couple of plateaus since surgery, but they didn't last more than 5 days, and then my weight started going down again. I don't weigh every day; only once a week. That way I don't freak out quite so often!

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Yes; this is an interesting question. I have always felt discriminated against. I have always thought, and still do think, that most "normal" looking people are extremely rude to fat people. In fact, I have been treated so rudely for so long that I've decided that everyone who treated me like crap when I was fat, will be treated with indifference by me when I'm thin! Hah! That'll show em! Now that I've lost 60 pounds, I've noticed the men I work with taking a second look - I'm sure because I'm starting to look "different"; I get fewer doors slammed in my face; I get more "Hi's" when I'm out walking. I work with 80 people and one man in particular is a real jerk. Has treated me like some nasty thing he found on the sole of his shoe since I started working here 5 years ago. He actually spoke nicely to me the other day and I had to look behind me to see if he was speaking to someone else! Eh! I'm still going to treat him like the jerk that he is!