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

I saw a 20/20 report on bypass surgery. At the time there was very little known about the long term risks and/or side affects. Therefore, the report revealed the benefits and very little about risks.

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

Not all insurance carriers covered the surgery at the time. However, the doctor's office staff knew what the insurance company needed and they geared all information and/or reports to provide what they wanted to approve the surgery. My first request was denied but only required one appeal.

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

The first visit was like any other visit to a surgeons office, i.e., information gathering. An individual can get the most out of the meeting simply by having any questions known or written down and know as much as possible about their insurance company.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I was decidedly interested in having the surgery as soon as I saw the 20/20 report...I had been fighting my inner demons for years about being overweight. There was not a date too early to start winning my battle against that...

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I was not knowledgeable about the various types of procedures at the time. If I had it to do over again, I would certainly opt for laproscopic and I would opt for a procedure that reduced the size of my stomach but did not interfere with the absorption of vitamins and minerals.

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 fear of death hit me moments before surgery...but the feelings of self-hatred were worse than my fear of death.

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?

I am a very private person and told very few people in my life. My significant other at the time was supportive by transporting me and visiting me in the hospital.

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

I was able to keep my decision private because I was new to the area and had not found permanent employment at the time of my surgery.

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

Awkward but encouraging. The surgery was discussed as serious but nicely effective for getting the results I was seeking.

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

I was in the hospital for 5 days. Because I have difficulty with sensitivity and allergies to medication the feelings I experienced were nauseating...but in time things improved and I became more focused on the future. I would suggest bringing something to read or do...

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

I had a lot of vomitting and nausea upon waking from the surgery due to my sensitivity (or allergic) to the medication. Then the continuous drip IV for pain meds made me feel sick even longer. Once the IV's were gone my nausea went away but then I got excruciating pain from the gas/air in my stomach/colon...move, move, move....is the key to helping this pain pass. I would also argue (though some individuals around me had a hard time understanding the possibility) that all the medication my body received reached toxic levels and temporarily impacted my sense of smell and taste (it seemed everything smelled like diesel exhaust or/and tasted like chemicals).

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 excited about my surgery date...it couldn't happen soon enough. Again, I saw it as a self renewal date for self acceptance.

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

I was constantly hungry but couldn't each much... it's been so long ago I cannot remember much of the first few weeks...but I do remember experiencing pain when I ate something without chewing well. It would be good to try to remember to chew chew chew very well...I found that was the biggest struggle for me.

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

I traveled 3 hours one-way...this affected my aftercare greatly. I did not have the motivation to followup so far away...In retrospect I wish I would have either maintained contact or found another source for ongoing communication that would provide new information about aftercare.

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 have struggled with chewing my food so it is a safer consistency. To date I have difficulty with broccoli, white rice and any other foods that require a lot of chewing. I continue to struggle with making sure I chew enough to avoid complications from eating. Sweet foods, e.g., sweet rolls/donuts, candy, etc... has and continues to make me nauseous.

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

My activity level increased as my weight decreased.

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

I struggle with dietary supplements... I have always struggled with anemia (even as a child), the surgery complicated this condition. I found myself very B12 deficient which interfered with iron absorption... once I got B12 shots and maitained awareness of the conditon I have been able to avoid the need for shots again. I have found it difficult to stay motivated to maintain a regular regimen. I really have a bunch of questions I would like to ask about supplements but have not found anyone I can ask who would have knowledge about the surgery and a patients needs post-op.

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?

Nausea and pain. The nausea seemed to subside over time. The pain varied...it seemed I felt pain when I ate something for the first time that had any hardness to it and when I didn't chew my food well enough. I coped by trying to remember, remember, remember the consequences for what I was eating.

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

I am disappointed by the scar left behind. I may not be fat but the scar isn't very attractive... I have also found it disappointing that new information about the side affects is being discovered but I am not automatically made aware of them...therefore I am experiencing complications that may be treatable if I could only find a provider that knows how to treat a patient who has had the surgery.

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

I have none...and I am desperately in search of a program and/or provider to consult with... I am experiencing problems that I attribute directly to the surgery but without access to information I cannot find out what to do about the problems.

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

My scar is disappointing. I half expected the scar would go away but it hasn't...it has changed from the redish color to a normal skin tone color, but it remains very visible.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I lost 70 lbs, gained 30 after 18 months post op...and then lost 45... I had to learn that the surgery is not a cure all, it is only a tool and it is up to me to use it to my advantage.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Most definitely...people have no respect for FAT in my world!