VernaP

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  • BMI 37.3

Obesity & Me

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

At one point, I ate to keep men away. I ate when stressed or excited. I loved food and food loved me.

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

Always felt like I was not accepted by those around me. I noticed much prejudice because of my size whether out in public or in private.

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

I have had the lap band and lost a lot of weight, but it slipped and had to be removed (cry, cry here). I then had the gastric sleeve but it did not work like the lap band, unless I ate large amounts of food (which I did a couple of times); and, I did not loose any weight. So, I recently had a mini gastric bypass. So far, so good but do not know how to prepare the broths yet. I'm learning all over again.

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

Thru my doctor at Kaiser and family.

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

It was a long process, but well worth it. I was concerned about how I would feel with a lap band and how my husband would feel having a smaller wife. I was not afraid of the surgery and wish I would have started the process much sooner.

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

My 24-huor stay at Kaiser Harbor City was very pleasant. I wish I would have brought a book to read while waiting in pre-op. My husband is uncomfortable in hospitals so I sent him home.

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?

Initially I felt confused about what to eat and how much and felt a lot of anxiety about doing the right thing and not eating too much. I re-read my Options notebook dealing with eating post-op and read what others were doing on the message boards at ObesityHelp.com.

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

I really had no problems to speak of until I had my first fill. Then it was learning to sip, not gulp and chew, chew, chew. I am 8 weeks post surgery and I still have problems with this from time to time because if I swallow too much at once, it sticks or comes back up. If I eat a big bite, the same thing happens.

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

I am less than 15 miles from the hospital where I had the surgery and where my doctor practices. The only way this has affected my aftercare is taking time off from work.
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Before & After
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before photo after photo

ARE YOU READY TO PAY IT FORWARD & SHARE YOUR JOURNEY? Your journey will help highlight the many ways weight loss surgery improves lives and makes a difference in our families, communities and world. EACH JOURNEY COUNTS as a voice towards greater awareness.

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