Lori P.

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Obesity & Me

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

I struggled with my weight all of my adult life. I have lost and gained significant amounts of weight three times. In the 5 years prior to my surgery I developed high blood pressure, joint pain and a feeling that I was eating myself to death. I never really have a serious problem getting the weight off....it was keeping it off that proved difficult.

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

Not being able to participate in life.

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

Exercise without pain. Run with my grandchildren. I feel like I have gained 20 years of my life back!

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

I am a nurse, so I have known about WLS for a long time. I did not believe I was a candidate because I was "only" 100 pounds overweight.

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

The insurance approval was painless. I jumped their hoops for 6 months and was approved without difficulty. It is important to follow the insurance guidelines carefully to speed approval.

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

Bring a list of questions that you want addressed. If you neglect to do that, the surgeon will discuss only the things they think you want to know about.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I wanted to live life again and feel healthy.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I was under a time constraint as my insurance was ending roughly 8 months after I made my decision. The surgeon I chose does lap band or RNY. I chose RNY because I needed both restriction and mal-absorption.

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 have had other surgeries. There is always a fear that you won't wake up or there will be sever complications. I decided that I could not let this fear prevent me from doing something that would really improve the quality of 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?

Overall they were mostly supportive.

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

My supervisor was difficult. She knew in December that I would have surgery in the Spring. I could not give an exact date until close to the time. Once insurance approval happened and I had a date, she told me she would not approve the 3 weeks off that my doctor recommended because of a project she felt I needed to be present for. There was a good deal of talk back and forth as this had to be done before my insurance ended. In the end, I was off for 8 days which was not enough time. I still resent this!

What was it like attending your first information seminar on weight loss surgery? Were you glad you attended? if so, why?

It was informative. I am a nurse so I knew a good deal of the info already. It was nice to hear from the patients perspective though.

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

2 overnights. I brought books, personal care items, earplugs, my computer and cell phone and some lounge clothes.

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

None

In the weeks after you got your surgery date, how did you feel? How did you cope with any anxiety you might have felt?

No anxiety, just excited to get it over with.

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

I needed no help at home. I was back to work in 8 days (not by my choice)

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

45 minutes. I will follow up for visits but will not attend the support groups.

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.

Chicken and fish are difficult. Ground beef, yogurt and refried beans work well.
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