Danielle C.

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Obesity & Me

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

It was a losing battle. I was ashamed of how I looked. Who I was. I thought very little about myself. I wasn't worth very much in my mind

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

Endless limits

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

Shopping for nice clothes. And high fashion shoes. Moving around easily. Sleeping and being able to breath.

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

I was a teenager, late 1990's. I saw a show on TV. I wished for so long that I could overcome my weight battle like the people on the show. I just didn't know if my family would back me.

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

I have medicare the approval has a lot easier then other people have been though. Keep on pushing. Push for pre-op tests ASAP. Fight.. your fighting for your life.

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

Three days was the length of my stay. The one thing that I recommend is to work with PT a lot. Moving is important.

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

I couldn't keep anything down. For months. I was trying to fight my pouch. It took sometime but I finally learned that the only way to have success was to follow the rules. The pouch WILL WIN.

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 crazy part is I wasn't scared or suffering from anxiety. I was ready. If was ready to risk my life to save my life.

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

VERY HARD. The reason why you would over eat, ie comfort, deal with stress or what ever the case maybe. The will hit you in the face. You can't run from it anymore. Deal with what you have to deal with. And a heads up.. you WILL lose some friends.

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

20 min by freeway

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've never been able to eat pasta or rice. I still can't. I had a hard time with very solid or heavy foods. I'm able to eat most things now but I can't over eat. I have good pouch days when I can eat most things. Then I have days when I'm stressed and so is my pouch. Those days I have to really watch what I eat. Nothing very solid, dry, heavy, or spicy.

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

I was feeling good. Then I hit the spot about 6mths out, were my body was ajusting. I was very tired. I even looked bad, my face was very thin. Nevertheless, I stuck it out and ended. I'm feeling great.

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

I started out with OTC from walmart. Then went to BA. Tried BB. And a few others. Had some low labs. Right now I take Journey. Plus extra vit D

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 worse has been vomiting. And my teeth have suffered. For me, not for everyone, it last along time. Over a year. But I have a very "grouchy" tummy anyway. I drink a TON of water. And somedays if I eat something and can't keep it down I go for extra protein shake.

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

The mental recovery. Learning who you are. This new person that looks back at you. New things are hard for me anyway. Change is hard but you have to learn to be flexable. And other people will TRY and help. But you have to stick to your guns. You know what's good for you. Assure people that your not killing yourself. You don't need food rewards. They mean well but only you will pay.

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

I made a huge mistake in aftercare. I didn't gone a support group. Learn from me.. GET SUPPORT

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

I had lap. All of my scares are very small.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I had a LLLOOONNGG eight month plateau. I could figure out what I was doing wrong. I stopped depo-shots and changed anti-depressents. Worked great.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Yes.. and I get so mad. Now people talk to me and hold open doors. Make small talk. I learned who my true friends are. I guess I was their friend before because I was no threat on the dating scene. Now they avoid me.
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