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

I first heard about it on the news on television. It seemed so drastic, such invasive surgury when all we needed was to get control of our eating habits and lose the weight. I worried about the long term effects of having such a small stomach, post-op complications, and if it really was a permanent solution to the problem.

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

The insurance issue still upsets me. Our State Merit plan we have through the school system I work for doesn't cover this at all. They did say that everything that comes "after" the surgery is covered. I went to the top, Governer Barnes, and still got no satisfactory answer. We then signed up for TriCare Prime, our military insurance. I was approved in a week and had the surgery 8 weeks later. It was such a totally different experience. I would research all of your insurance options and choose the one with the best approval record.

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

My first meeting with my Surgeon was wonderful. After months of intense research, I came to the appointment totally prepared. I had written a series of papers detailing my weight loss history, family history of obesity, my co-morbidities, and a personal letter about how morbid obesity has effected my life. It helped when the tough questions came to have something to refer to. I think the worst thing you can do is, go to the meeting unprepared or overly emotional.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I wanted to live more than I feared the surgery.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I really didn't decide as much as I took the advice of my Surgeon. He had just returned from 4 months of relearning about the most recent types of RNY surgery. He studied with one of the premier bariatric surgeons. In short I trusted his decision.

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 had severe doubts in the days leading up to the surgery. I feared mostly that I may die while under anesthesia, or that I may have a pulmonary embolism afterwards. Those are normal fears, afterall, this is an elective surgery. I decided that, I would rather take the risk of dying during or shortly after the surgery, as opposed to dying slowly over the next several years from morbid obesity.

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?

Most of my family were supportive. They continued to say that they would help me go on yet another diet so that I wouldn't have to have this surgery. They didn't want me to have it because of the dangers associated with any surgery. They didn't understand the need for such a "drastic" measure, "just to lose weight." Once I made the decision, a warm wave of calm fell over me. I was able to talk to them about what it's like to live as a morbidly obese person, what I had to look forward to if I stayed like this, and why the surgery was the right thing to do for ME. Once they understood it wasn't a cosmetic decision, they supported me fully. They are all curious now, constantly asking, "So, how much weight have you lost?" I tell them this, "I'm not sure, I'm not on a diet so I don't check." They still have to realize, this is a lifetime eating plan, not a diet. The scales won't tell the entire story.

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

My supervisor, the daughter of a Doctor, was very surprised. She did not support me at first. She felt there were safer and more natural ways of weight management. But as the weeks and months progressed, she also began to understand the serious nature of doing this to protect my health in the future. I discussed with her how the surgery, recovery and my future with this would go. She supports me 100% now and checks in daily to ask about my recovery. I have been out for 3 weeks, so I'm not sure how much longer it will be. My guess is 6-8 weeks.

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

I spent 6 days at Dwight D. Eisenhower Medical Center on Ft. Gordon, near Augusta, GA. My hospital stay was exceptional. The staff at Eisenhower is very professional. They are caring and were not put out by anything I asked them to do for me. They even spent time with me in the early hours of the morning when I had trouble sleeping. The most important things I brought were, a comfortable pair of open toe slippers, a long handled scrubbie (to reach the areas you can hardly reach when you don't have stitches to contend with), and a pad of paper and pen to write down questions. I had so many questions, and would forget them by the time the Surgeon came.

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

I only had a few minor complications following the surgery. Fluid, (seroma), collected under the incision and drainage occured. I just had to cover the incision so that the fluid drained onto the bandage. I had one day where gas built up in my bowels and caused spasms. It was quite painful for 2 or so hours, but eventually went away. My sense of smell and taste have been altered. I think that will work itself out eventually. I also experienced a bit of insomnia. My CPAP machine hurt my lungs and we had to back the pressure down a bit.

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

My emotions ranged from euphoria to terror following the announcement of a date for the surgery. I talked these feelings out with my family and closest friends.

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

I was happy to get home at first. I thought I would slide right into bed and sleep for a week. I still had insomnia and could not lie down in bed. I had to sleep on a recliner for the first week. Everything different that happened to my feeding tube, stitches, etc. caused anxiety. My surgeon was 2 1/2 hours away and I ended up calling the Eisenhower ER or Ward 9 several times that week. There is also a change in the care. Your family, friends, or yourself, are now the caregivers. Your food doesn't come on a tray, you have to get it for yourself. Prepare - Prepare - Prepare. Have some, not lots of food items you can eat waiting for you before you get home.

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

I traveled 2 1/2 hours for my surgery. Aftercare was affected only because the calls I made to have questions answered were long distance, and I went home on a Thursday so many of the things that happened after surgery happened on a weekend. It was difficult to know when something was important enough to seek medical care. I did have to go to our local ER one evening for a problem I couldn't reach my Surgeon to ask about. I did bring my paperwork concerning the procedure to the ER which helped with the care provided to me.

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 am only 2.5 weeks post-op so I cannot answer this question entirely. I am having trouble with hamburger meat, but well cooked beef does not cause the same problem. I have stayed on the Stage 3 (soft, mushy) diet.

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

I tire easily right now. I have started taking a vitamin and I'm sleeping more each night. My activity level is increasing daily.

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

I am on a pre-natal chewable vitamin, B12, and will start on a calcium suppliment soon.

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 only side effect still plaguing me is insomnia. So far nausia, vomiting, dumping an hair loss are not problems.

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

The worst by far was the 24 hours I spent in the ICU, I would have preferred to go directly to my room. I also had nausia and extreme heartburn the first 5 days or so. These problems were taken care of immediately and became manageable.

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

I will attend my first support group meeting next week. I think had I gone to a few meetings beforehand, many of my questions and fears would have been answered. I think attending several meetings before and continuing afterwards is very important.

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

My scar is approximately 12 inches, extending from 2 inches down from my breast to my belly button. It was expected as the Surgeon explained how the surgery was to be performed. I didn't expect to have fluid, seroma, collect under the incision and keep it open for so long.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I haven't had a plateau yet.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

I am still early into the recovery process, however; I am already getting the, "so how much weight have you lost", questions. It seems that the weight loss is the primary focus of those around me. I focus mainly on getting healthy and protecting myself from future harm from morbid obesity.