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

I first heard about the surgery when Carnie Wilson had it. I thought, "WHOA! Only 4 oz of food! What a scar it must leave!" I never thought I would be able to get it. I thought I was too young or not big enough. But, I thought " Good For Her!!"

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

OH MY!!! I work for my Primary Care Physician and Medical group so, I knew what to do every step of the way. But, at the time of my referral 3/01. The group was switching owners and down sizing. We had a meeting on how our Refferral department will be cutting back to save money. My mouth hit the ground, because I was also a patient. So my refferral was put off and put off and was denied May 11th, 2001. "I DON"T THINK SO!!!" I appealed that sucker so fast!!! I knew what the criteria was and I met every single one and I wasn't gonna let these people who are trying to save money win! So on June 13th, 2001 The approval letter came in the mail!!!! YEAH!

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

Great! I already had done a ton of research via internet so what he was saying was just a repeat but, he spent an hour with my mom and I. Just explaining every question I had. ASK QUESTIONS! That is what they are there for. Don't hesitate to ask because this is your body and you should feel confident.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

Actually it was this site. I was kinda scared. I wanna have kids and still live a normal life. (I'm Twenty) I went online and found this site. I started to chat and research and got so much info. I saw all the before and after sites and that did it. I can do this. This is a chance of a lifetime!

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

The only way he does it is open RNY. And they can mess up with the lap. So he said if your gonna do this it should be done right.

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?

The risks from this surgery are far less then the risks of being obese for the rest of your life. This surgery is a chance of a lifetime, especially when you get to the point of feeling out of control.

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 was very supportive. Friends were sceptical and some what opinionated. Everyone was so supportive after the surgery. My doctor was great. My family was the best. I had surgery in the heat of summer and I was miserable, they really helped take care of my comfort factors.

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

My supervisior is not a very nice lady. She weighs about 100 pounds and doesn't care about anybody or anything. She didn't think that I was big enough to have the surgery. I was out eight weeks due to complications with my asthma. I put in for a transfer when I was off on surgery leave, So I returned with not only the start of a new body but a knew life.

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

I felt okay. The morpheine was a plus. But, I was so hot!!! I was in the hospital 5 days. Only because of complications with my asthma. I wasn't breathing deep enough and they didn't put the oxygen on for long enough. The hardest part about the hospital is getting moving and getting in and out of bed. It is awful. But, you gotta do it as bad as it is, the sooner you do it, the sooner your recovery will begin.

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

Surgery was fine-no complications. Asthma was acting up so I recieved breathing treatments every 12 hours and stayed in the hospital for two more days.

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 so excited!! It felt like it was taking forever for it to approved. I had actually started weight watchers, during the waitin g process because I felt so depressed that I wasn't doing anything for my body. I was in a panic of dying or having a heart attack. I had hit botom. I was crying everyday and praying for an approval. I felt anxiety but I just kept thinking to myself, "This is a chance of a lifetime! Do you want to be obese for the rest of your life, at the rate your going you are going to be dead." You just talk yourself into it.

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

It was bad. I wasn't hungry at all. I had bad heartburn because I could only drink liquids the first week post-op. I was very hot. (I live in the desert, close to Vegas) You don't want to eat, but make yourself eat broth and crackers. The minute it hits your bloodstream its such a boost of energy. The lack of food in your body the first month makes you feel bad. Stay hydrated! I had a lot of back pain. You aren't gonna feel good. But hang in there little by little you will get better. Follow your doctors instructions to the tee.

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

Fifteen minutes. I had it at the local hospital. My doctor is located about an hour away from me, but he came to me for surgery and I follow up with him about an hour away.

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.

First week out of hospital was any liquid I wanted: shakes, juice, broth, water, milk. Second week was soft foods: yogurt, cottage cheese, avacados, pudding, jello, mashed potatoes. Third was normal foods as tolerated. Key word there is AS TOLERATED!! Don't run out and have a steak! Take it easy. Upgrade your softs: mashed potaoes to scalloped potatoes, toasted bread is easier to eat then soft, cream soups, rice, lunch meats, baked potatoes etc. No red meat or soda for the first three months. My best advice is eat, eat, eat! Every two hours put something in your stomach, its when you wait too long between meals that your stomach shrinks and nausea and cramping kick in and you can only have a bite of food. Weither its a cracker with peanut butter of yogurt, eat something. You stomach needs practice after this to learn to work again. So excercise it, don't worry about WHAT you eat in the beginning, its all about what you can tolerate and getting nutrition. Every day you can eat a little more or try something new. But, its like starting over again, you have to see what you can and can't tolerate, if you try something and you get sick, this doesn't mean you can never eat it, just wait a few weeks and try again your body is not ready for that particular food yet. Everyone is different. I am now 10 months post-op and I can eat just about anything, soda hurts me a little bit and sweets by them selves makes me have diarrhea, but sweets right after dinner or something is fine. Meat is digested fine, Im very fortunate that I followed my doctor exactly in the beginning, because now I can eat what I want, if I hadn't followed his instructions, I would probably be getting sick a lot. Like a lot of other people I know.

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

I was up walking around right away. But activity was minimal because I wasn't taking a lot in, so my energy level was severly low. Taking a shower everyday in the beginning wiped me out.

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

I take two multi-vitamins (chewable), liquid b-12 and iron for my anemia that I had before surgery.

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?

Vommiting lasted for about six months off and on not daily. You have to get use to eating slowly and chewing better. You have to listen to your bodies new signals. You have to stop when your full, that was hard for me since I was a big overeater. I had hair loss starting in the third month and ending in the sixth month, but I had thick hair so I look fine. I have these tow inch hairs all over my head because its all growing back. I took zinc to help with that per my doctor. I slept better as I lost weight, because I had sleep apnea prior to the surgery, now its gone. I have cut down on sweets due to dumping. You get severe diarrhea with sweets alone, if i eat them I eat them with a meal and I am fine.

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

The beginning. You have to be positive and have positive people around you. Everything will get better, but you will regret this urgery the first few weeks, but, hang in there listen to your doctor, listen to your body and before you know it, you will be feeling like a million bucks.

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

The last Tuesday of every month is a Bariatric Support Group about 1 hour from my house. Its a great way to listen to other people about what to expect and a great way to teach others and help other people with your experience.

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

Its about five inches long and puffed up still and pink. I am only 10 months post op. But its shrunk since Ive lost weight. I thought it would bother me a lot more then it oes. Its really a small price to pay for what you get.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

Ive been pretty steady. Now I only drop about 1/2 a pound every two weeks. But, that's because I have less to lose then a lot of people and the bigger you are the more you lose in the beginning. I will stop losing about one year post op, I now am 148 lbs. I was 237lbs.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

I get a lot more attention. People that I work with now, have only known the skinny me, they cant imagine me any other way. Its weird. Its hard to believe that I'm not big anymore. You are one way for so long, its still hard to believe.