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

My doctor had suggested bariatric surgery when I was 35. This coming after 2 congestive heart failures, one at 29 years old and a second at 34. After the second heart failure, I was asked if I had ever heard of or thought about bariatric surgery. I had heard of it, but never thought of it as something for me. Once I started to study it a bit closer, I realized could just possibly work for me.

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

Access was able to give me everything I needed on first attempt. Don't give up, you fight them and appeal to them as much as you need to. Never give up on the fight.

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

My first visit to the surgeon was with 5 other people. He likes to bring a few together into a class type atmosphere and go over the history and everything about the various choices of surgery available. REALLY get you focused on the surgery, what it does and what it doesnt. After, each person will have a private meeting with the surgeon and gather any paperwork, exams and tests that needed to be done were given to me then and off I was to work on the things I needed to do for approval. ASK questions, don't sit by and let it pass you, you need to know everything you can about the surgery, your doctors program and aftercare. KNOW what you are going to have to do, dont be like many and have the surgery only to get home 3 or 4 days later and have no idea what to do!

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I decided it was time to have surgery after being 34 years old and having a second heart failure. My first being when I was 29.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

The choice for me to have Open RNY was more out of need than choice. I needed to have RNY, I wanted something that felt permanent to me, RNY fit that bill.

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?

For me, it was do or die time, I didn't go into the surgery room with any fears. I knew this was my only chance at not dying in 5 years. I wanted to take the chance and hope to live versus not taking the chance and dying for sure. Its ok to be scared, he great actually. It lets yourself and everyone around you know you are a human. Remember it takes fear to have courage. You can't have courage without fear. Fear it, overcome it and succeed!

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 family watched and tried all my life to help me cope with day to day living as an obese person. They have always known I was my own person and was capable of making the choices I needed to make. Their support to this day is very important to me.

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

Being out of work for me wasn't anything I had to worry about, the work I had been doing for years was from home. As little work as it was, it did involve lifting sometimes. Computers and monitors can be kinda heavy, I refused to lift much of anything for the first 6 weeks after surgery. Hernias where not something I was wanting.

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

I was at the hospital for 4 days and 3 nights. The first day was the worst. They had given me a new bariatric bed and it totally made my lower back and butt go numb for the next 2 weeks. Had I not had any back pain from surgery or that bed, I wouldn't have had any at all. I asked for a new bed that following day and it was switched out promptly. Bring yourself some slippers and a favorite pillow, Hamot Hospital has everything you need.

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

The only complication I had, if it was in fact a complication. Was low blood pressure shortly after I was back in my own room. They quickly get fluids into me and got it under control.

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 don't think I have ever wanted anything more, the waiting was unbearable at times. I am impatient at times, so having people here at OH who had gone through this all made it so much easier for me. I was able to talk with people and keep my mind off the waiting.

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

Once you get home you are going to be tired a lot, it is very important that you are up and walking as often as you can. Dont fall into old habits of sitting in front of the tv or computer all day when you should be up and walking, that walking will make the difference in the time it takes you to get back into the swing of things. Pace the house! Get those fluids in, take those vitamins. You might feel a bit depressed or even a lot depressed, remember. Your body has just gone through major surgery, it is now learning to cope, itself with the new changes internally. The body goes through a period of famine. It thinks it is in a famine and reacts, this is the anxiety and depression you most likely will be dealing with. Have no fear, once your body realizes it is not in a famine and is not going to get those calories it is used to getting, it will after a week or so be happily eating away at the fat your body needs to lose for energy. Watch the weight come off then :)

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

Surgery for me was at a local hospital. I had to travel about 17 miles after surgery and for each return visit.

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.

At the begining, anything even slightly thick wouldn't be tolerated well, I had to keep my protein shakes really watered down. After week 3, I started into puree, by this time fluids were going down like they did pre-op. Slow and steady was the key, going to fast would cause me to vomit, you learn fast not to eat fast. After I moved to soft foods 3 weeks after puree, I was able to eat most things with no problem. Some things were very specific too, like peanut butter. I could only tolerate Peter Pan peanutbutter, anything other then that and I would get sick. Salmon I could eat at 6 weeks, but by 12 weeks I couldn't tolerate it again. Now at 11 months I can tolerate it again. The pouch is like a spoiled child, the difference is, this pouch always wins. :)

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

slow and steady went the activity. about every week I could move my activity level another notch higher. I started with barely getting 5 minutes on a treadmill before surgery to 3 weeks out doing a full mile in 25 minutes. Today at 11 months out I am able to do 5 miles and not break a sweat, time to up the speed I think. I did find it much easier to walk without the treadmill for the first month, walking on land is the way to go. Not only is it easier on you, you get to see the world. I missed seeing what was outside these doors for over 10 years, walking around my town today is still a new expirence. So many things have changed, life goes on with or without you, catch up to it.

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

I started taking Optisource Multivitamins a month before surgery along with a protein shake every morning for breakfast a month before surgery. I still do this day do the Vitamins 4 times a day and a shake for breakfast every morning. Designer Whey Chocolate is my favorite powdered protein. No other vitamin or supplements were needed with the Optisource Vitamins, they cover all my needs. Iron, calcium, b12, vitamins. Perfect bloodwork since day one, I figure I wont fix what isnt broken, Ill stick with these.

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?

Most of my nausea was from post-op care in the hospital. I would get nausious from the pain meds, once removed from those the second day, the nausea stopped. Hair loss, I shave my head I cant really comment hehe. Dumping for me was bad, but thankfully only a couple times. I stuck really tight to my doctors program and was very strict with myself. I have been fortunate to have had a very easy time of this surgery, as far as side effects go. The only real side effect that bothers me at 11 months out is dehydration. I will stand up and get dizzy,to the point of not being able to see for a few seconds. This is easily fixed by drinking the water I should be drinking anyway. 64oz of water for me is gone before noon. If I don't get a minimum of 120oz a day in I will start to get dizzy spells. So I drink my water and dont get dizzy.

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

The worst part of the ENTIRE bariatric surgery process for me was waiting, I wanted it now not later, after the wait was over, I could start working with the tool given to me to help me live a healthier happier life.

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

Aftercare support is mostly from my family and friends. I thank god every day for my family and their support. Local support meetings are an option that I do take advantage of from time to time, and of course OH, coming to Obesityhelp has been a great help in itself.

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

My scar now that I am 11 months out is hard to see most of the time, its 6 inches long (OPEN RNY) and almost the same color as the rest of my skin. PLUS I have hair on my stomach, a nice line that covers it up lol It is far less than I expected, I really thought I was going to be left with a much bigger battle scar.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

Plateau to me is just a time when the body wants to catch up with all the losing its been doing, I deal with them and they have been VERY rare for me, by drinking more water and changing up my activities. For instance, I will do a different exercise for a while instead of getting too caught up in a routine. Back off any extra carbs and get that protein in at each meal also can help. Measure yourself, when the scale stops the tape keeps gettin smaller. Helps those days go quicker when you worry about the scale not moving.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Yes, being treaded differently is more than I expected. It's almost hard to deal with at times. Going for most of my life being treated a certain way, to now being treated like a human all of a sudden takes some getting used to. I feel a bit of anger to some who treated me different than they used to. I deal with that easier though, I can find new people anywhere I go now, and I do like to go go go now. No more being locked away for more than 10 years in a 2 room apartment for me again!.