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

I had heard about it for years and finally started researching it and my initial reaction was that it was extreme but I was at the point where I needed something extreme.

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

This was the worst. My insurance required a 6 month dr. supervised diet, which I did and the insurance didn't accept it because I had gone in for other health reasons and not just for my dr. supervised diet. I was denied in the fall of 2006 and had to start my dr. supervised diet all over again after I moved to Colorado in 2007. I was approved after the first try in Oct of 2007.

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

I was very impressed by Dr. Snyder after his seminar and extremely please after my initial consult. He is a very intelligent, knowlegdable mad who has compassion for those with weight problems and has a sincere desire to help us obtain a better quality of life and to be healthier. I didn't feel rushed and he was willing to answer any questions I had. My insurance was also changing at the end of Nov. and he worked with me to get my surgery done before that date.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

The insurance approved it and I knew this was something I couldn't do on my own.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I choose to have the RNY because I wanted to have this done 1 time and one time only. I thought the more rapid weight loss would motivate me more becacuse I would see the results. I am very pleased with my decision.

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 didn't have any fears. I knew that the complications from being morbidly obese were much worse and that this surgery was going to save my life.

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 father was pretty much on board from the beginning. My mother on the other hand had alot of questions and wasn't a big supporter. However, her opinion drastically changed after attending Dr. Snyder's seminar. My friends and family were and still are very supportive.

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

I don't currently have a job.

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

My stay in the hospital was a typical stay in the hospital. I was there for two days/two nights. Just make sure to bring your toiletries and anything you want to make you more comfortable. I also brought a robe and slippers as you are walking the halls ALOT!

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

A few weeks after surgery I had a terrible pain and a knot develop under one of my incisions. It turned out to be a stitch that was wrapped around a nerve. (Dr. Snyder had only experience this complication 3 times before me! Lucky me!) It was extremely painful. I went into the Surgery Center at Rose and Dr. Snyder opened the incision back up and removed the stitch. This was an extremely hard procedure due to the fact that I was awake the whole time and although he did numb the area I could feel his hands in my stomach and a pulling sensation that was VERY disturbing. This was a lot worse that the actual surgery.

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 extremely happy and excited when I got the call saying I had been approved and had a surgery date! It was one of the happiest days of my life. I found out about a week in advance and it was a VERY long week! I really didn't have any anxiety, I was just very excited... I knew I was about to start the rest of my life and that was a very good feeling.

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

It is very weird cause you are eating (drinking protein shakes) all the time! I wasn't used to having to eat and drink that much. (especially when your goal is to loss weight and you have to make yourself eat when your not hungry.) I had to sleep sitting up for the first several weeks cause if I laid in my bed I would accidently roll over in the middle of the night and that was not pleasant! I was also on oxygen (at night) for the first two weeks because my oxygen level kept dropping when I would fall asleep in the hospital. I had never had this problem before and it was explained that a lot of patients have low oxygen levels after a major surgery. I got very, very tired of protein shakes and to this day have trouble eating yogart as that was what I had to crush my pills and put it in. Yuck!

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

I just had to go about 20 minutes away, it wasn't bad at all and my aftercare is easy. Only thing is I can't find a support group on my side of town and have to drive at least 30 minutes to attend one.

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.

No carbs! That hasn't been as hard as I thought it would be. It's harder now than it was at first. I was a huge CARB person before surgery and love all things carb.... I have had to rearrange my diet to include primarily protein (low fat protein) and only complex carbs. I really haven't had any trouble with any certain foods. I tried cherries once and the skin blocked the opening and I ended up throwing up. I also have found out I can't eat anything to rich at night (ex. cheeses, milk, ect.) I don't have any problems with that sort of thing earlier in the day but if I eat anything rich at night I will almost certainly throw up.

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

It was good... It built up as the weeks past. I just took it slowly and tried to get in some activity each day and increased it as I could.

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

I tried Bariatric Advanatage vitamines for the first 3 months and then after I began to struggle with nausea I had a really hard time with those. I now take Flinstone Gummy Sours and love them and am taking some chewable calcium from GNC. It taste like carmel and is a treat to take! I still haven't found a b-12 I like and am thinking about trying the RX nose spray (once a week) or the shot (once a month).

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 currently almost 5 months out and for the past two months have really struggled with nausea. I also, for the past month, have begun to lose quite a bit of my hair. I have really thick hair and have a lot of it so I'm not too worried about this. The nausea though has been a real struggle as it has prevented me from eating, exercising and taking my meds like I am supposed to. I haven't dumped yet! (knock on wood!)

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

I would say it all has been 100% worth it but if I had to pick the worst thing it would be the nausea I have experienced the past two months.

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

I need to get more involved in a support group but I am very involved in activities at my church and have something almost every night of the week. Also, there are no support groups in my area of town so I have to drive pretty far to attend. This has been difficult this winter due to bad roads and weather. But I realize the importance of this and am determined to get involved. Dr. Snyder offers a wonderful aftercare support program. Including nutrition classes and follow up visits.

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

I have six little scars on my tummy. They are still alittle red but are looking better each day. I use BIO oil (Walgreens) and that has seemed to help them fade (also great on stretch marks!) My PCP says the redness will take about a year to fade. I am pleased with my scars and they don't bother me at all.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I think I am now experiencing my first plateau. My weight loss is slowing down. However, due to the nausea and I get frequent migraines, I am not exercising the way I should be and I know that would help with the weight loss. However, even though the numbers on the scale haven't changed I am still getting lots of comments from people that I have lost more weight. So I think I am losing inches and not as many pounds right now.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

No one really treats me different. The only person that treats me different is ME! I have much better self-esteem and am much kinder to myself in my thoughts and words about myself. I catch myself walking by a mirror in the house and backing up to take another look!