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

I had heard about bariatric surgery here and there. When I decided to look into it was after my mother-in-law had it done and I saw her results. I had always felt bariatric surgey was not for me because it was a defeat. Taking the "easy way out". Boy was I wrong...It's a lot of work, but well worth it!

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 changed their minds after my scheduled surgery date. They decided to have stipulations. Like a six month time frame and a 25lb. weight loss. Plus several different tests etc... The tests I can see. It is important to ensure you are in good health before surgery. The other two stipulations I felt were useless. It is proven you can gain weight after having bariatric surgery. Wether you waited six months to have the surgery or lost 25lbs, isn't going to make a difference. What's going to make the difference is if you are mentally ready to commit and change your eating habits for life. I feel insurance companies should concentrate on counceling and getting to the bottom of why we eat the way we do. But that would cost them more money. Making us loose weight and wait six months doesn't cost them a thing. It only saves them if we fail.

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

My surgeon was very sensitive, understanding and helpful. She had me watch a short documentary on the procedure, gave me literature and covered all effects of the surgery both good and bad. To get the most out your first meeting, ask a lot of questions.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

When I weighed the pros and cons, the pros definetly won. I had complete faith in my surgeon and most important I had failed every diet and was tired of being overweight!

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I initially wanted the laproscopic gastric bypass, but the closest hospital was 4hrs. away. I was willing to drive but decided to meet with the Dr. my family Dr. reffered me to. After meeting with her I felt confident on the procedure she would do, open gastric bypass. She had great success and had been doing it for almost twenty years with almost no complications. Since I was very heavy I decided on gastric bypass since you loose more weight opposed to the lap band.

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 did have fears of dying, especially after filling out my Advance Directive. But I knew if I did not do something about my weight I would die at a very young age. It also put my mind at ease when I saw how successful my surgeon had been and how low her complication rate was. I also worried about complications after;hernias, suppliment loss, hair loss, internal bleeding, etc...But again the benefits outweighed the risks and like with any surgery they have to disclose the worst that could happen, but statistcally probably will not.

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 for me getting the surgery and supported my decision. My mother was concerned I would die. My siblings felt I was taking the easy way out and were very difficult in excepting what I was doing. My mother was supportive after my surgery as was my husband and children.

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

My supervisor, at the time, was not supportive of my decision and made me jump through hoops to use my earned time off. Knowing the type of person she was, at first I just said I was going in for surgery, no specifics. As the time neared I explained to her what I was having done. I was out for about a month.

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

My stay at the hospital was for 4 days. It was not pleasant. I got the feeling I was not well respected for have the surgery because of comments like, "You brough this on yourself", when I complained once for not feeling well. I kepted coughing up large amounts of blood with flem. I found it hard to breath and had to sleep in an upright postion. I started to become concerned when the symtoms did not go away after a few days. One nurse told me it was from the tracheotomy. I explained to her I had several surgeries and never experienced this. She just shrugged her shoulders and left. Meanwhile my roommate who had the same type of incision I had, but for ligitatmate reasons, (not gastric bypass), was waited on hand and foot. This woman complained, threatened and basically had the whole medical staff at her bedside 24/7. I learned from day one how the staff felt and dealt with it. I had been treated like this before from the outside world when they gazed upon my obese size. I sucked it up walked up and down the halls and counted down the days until I could go home to my sanctuary. I only hoped I would make it there after coughing up things I had never seen before.

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

Refer to the above. Months after my surgery I had to have my varicose viens removed. Before I went under general anesthia and had a tracheonomy, I asked the anesthesiologist if I would go through the same problem I had before. He laughed and said the reason I was coughing up blood and flem was due to the cutting of my intestines and stapling of the pouch. (makes sense.) The blood just came up. Now why couldn't anyone give me this straight forward answer in the hospital instead of making me worry and wonder what was wrong with me? Needless to say my tracheonomy was fine this time.

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 anxious. I questioned if I was doing the right thing, if I was going to leave my kids mother-less over loosing weight. I dealt with it by reminding myself of the positive outcome and the faith I had in my surgeon. To give myself a positive outlook I purchased a "goal" dress to remind me of where I was heading.

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

My first few weeks home were tough. I felt starved, like I hadn't eaten in months. I would begin to eat forgetting after a bite I would no longer be hungry. If I ate one biteful to much I would vomit and it would hurt. This took a while to get used to. It was also a struggle to find out what I could eat. One day mashed up eggs would work, the next day they wouldn't. Trying to get enough protien was hard.

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

I traveled approximately 50 miles. It has not affected my aftercare since I look forward to my visits to see how much I have lost and get helpful tips from the nutritionist.

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.

I ate very little in the first couple of weeks because nothing seemed to agree with me. Slowly I could keep down baby food, yogurt, protien drinks, etc. Eventually I could eat an entire yogurt. I then graduated to mashed eggs, thin sliced meat chewed extensively, etc. The funny thing is one day something would work, the next day I would eat the same thing and it wouldn't. It took awhile before I could eat meat and vegetables. To my surprize salad was the hardest. To this day I can not eat anything sugary. I get the sweats, hotflashes, nausea and vomitting. I have also stayed away from burgers and red meat. It just seems to heavy.( For lack of a better word.)It sits in my stomach like a rock and is very uncomfortable.

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

My activity level was low at first when I was recovering. After a few weeks I kept feeling better and better and more energetic.

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

I take a multi, b-12, iron, calcium, A, & E

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?

The hair loss was the worst. I have little hair to begin with, so when I was pulling it out by the handfuls it was disturbing. It continued for approximately 3 months. I cut my hair short and I'm happy to say it has stoped falling out and is growing back. The nausea bothers me too because it is not your typical nauseated feeling. It is magnified with sweats, light headedness and an all around sick feeling.

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

The worst part had to be the wondering what was I going to eat today and how was it going to effect me? Good or bad?

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

I do not have an aftercare support group, but I know of one in case I ever need it. I feel it is important if you are feeling weak, overwhelmed, etc. I personally have not felt the need for one. I am confident in the change I have made with my eating habits and excersize routine.

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

My scar is approximately 4-5 inches long and very narrow. I had seen pictures of what the scar would look like so it is what I expected. Remember to find a surgeon with small hands! (small hands=small incision.)

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

Plateaus are very discouraging. I have had several in less than a year. At first the weight is melting off you then it trickles and then it plateaus! You wait and wait for your body to catch up. Just when you have had enough and feel the Dr. made a mistake in the size of your pouch, you start to loose again. I have now learned to fight the dreaded plateau; As soon as it starts I start walking more and change my diet just enough to trick my body into loosing again.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Unfortunately, yes. This is the sad thing about our society; heavy people are looked at and treated differently. Since I have lost 105lbs. I was given the opportunity for an outstanding new job. People take the time to talk to me, not stare at me. If only they knew I am the same person thin as I was fat.