Shana M.

member photo member photo member photo member photo member photo member photo member photo member photo

Obesity & Me

Describe your behavioral and emotional battle with weight control before learning about bariatric surgery.

I'm your classic yoyo dieter with a twist. To help with my weight gain I am insulin reisistant which makes me gain weight and not have any control. The trick to control the insulin is to take the apropriate meds, but for the meds to work you need to only weigh so much. Once my weight went down the meds started working.

What was (is) the worst thing about being overweight?

I am very self conscience about my weight and how I look.

If you have had weight loss surgery already, what things do you most enjoy doing now that you weren't able to do before?

I can go longer than I used to. When I go out I find myself wearing clothes more fitted and I seem to have finally left the baggy T-shirt and to big jeans behind me. I can wear my heals all day without needing to take them off the moment I get home. i can shop in any store and find something that will fit. There are many things I enjoy now that I was limited on before.

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

I had a friend do it and my first thought was I'd never do that. Then as I kept gaining I realized it was more of a choice of whether I wanted to live or die.

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

Call your insurance ahead of time and find out what their requirements are ahead of time. I knew before I even went to my first appointment what they wanted from me and had it ready, I was approved on the first try.

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

I stayed in the hospital 4 days and 3 nights. Bring warm socks and your own personal cleaning supplies. After everything is over there is nothing like a warm shower the day after the surgery. Make sure the nurses on your floor are familiar with your surgery and what you can and can't do afterwards. Walk often and don't be afraid to ask for help with pain.

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

I had a wound infection. it meant that my incisions took almost double the time to heal which was rather annoying and frustrating. i didn't deal very well but i did stay on top of it and made sure everything I could do to make it better I did.

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 got my surgery date on Thursday and had surgery on Monday. Someone got canceled right after my appointment and my surgeon slipped me in since it was better timing for me. Because of this I really only had 3 days to get worked up and everything was moving so fast I just wasn't able to ponder what was about to happen.

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

You are very sore and weak. There is no way to realize how dramatic this surgery is to your body until you have it. Take it easy and don't push to hard. I went back to work after 1 week and it was really hard. I had problems concentrating and thinking clearly due to lack of nutrients and the changes occuring in my body.

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

I go to a support group meeting once a month. It's nice to go and talk to other people who have already gone past the stage you are at. It's also nice to meet people who are just starting and share your knowlede with them.

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

I have 5 scars from the laproscopic gastric. 3 of them are about 1 inch long, 1 is a hole from the tube. and 1 is about 2 inches long. The 2 inch long scar is the incision that got infected, so it is larger and darker than the others. I am very pale so my scars are purple and very noticeable. I don't plan on showing my stomach any time soon, so it's not a big deal to me.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I have a tendancy to stop losing for about 6 weeks at a time and then start again. When I reach a plateau (I'm on one now) it's depressing, but there's not much you can do about it. You body has to catch up to the loss some time.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

I notice people do treat me differently now that I've dropped 118 pounds. Men look at me and it's not with a repulsed look and women seem to look at me more like an equal. It's not fair, but unfortunatly it's life.
show more answers

ARE YOU READY TO PAY IT FORWARD & SHARE YOUR JOURNEY? Your journey will help highlight the many ways weight loss surgery improves lives and makes a difference in our families, communities and world. EACH JOURNEY COUNTS as a voice towards greater awareness.

Share Now
×