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

At work I ran into an old friend of mine that I did not recognize. She looked wonderful. She looked healthy and vibrant. I was very impressed. Her surgery was 2 years old and she talked to me for a solid hour about it. She introduced me to several others who had it and they all were the same way; they looked great, felt great and contributed it all to the surgery.

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

My experience with getting insurance approval was good. I have BC/BS of South Carolina and I had no problems

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

I first viewed a film that told me the exact surgical procedure. I then met with Dr. Engler and he told me the pros and cons of having the surgery. People can get the most out of this meeting by writing down all the questions they have prior to their first appt. with the doctor. When I was on the way home from my intial appt. I remembered several questions I had forgotten during my visit.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I made my final and complete decision when I got up one morning to get dressed and an outfit I had worn a few weeks earlier was too tight for me.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

My doctor recommended the open RNY to me.

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 the natural fears of not makint it through the surgery. The same fears I had prior to being put to sleep for my c-sections and removal of my gallbladder. Prayer and faith went a long way in comforting me.

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 and friends reacted negatively to my decision. They were afraid of this surgery which is still relatively new to the medical world. My daughter, a RN, was really against it. She does not believe in taking the risk of any type of elective surgey. After the surgery, when I had complications, everyone was very supportive of me. AND no one said "I told you so."

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

My employer didn't really show a reaction. I was out of work 6 weeks. Everyone where I work has been very, very nice and supportive. This is good because I've had to have 2 additional surgeries (for adhesions).

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 6 days. I was at St. Joseph Hospital in Augusta, Ga and the nursing staff there are wonderful.

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

The complications I had: I had to have 2 endoscopes within weeks of the surgery due to swelling at the area where the intestines was joined to the new stomach pouch. At 5-6 months post-op I developed adhesions and had to have 2 surgeries within 3 months to remove them. It was very painful and frustrating for me. Here I am slim and having more energy than I have had in years and years, but at the same time having to deal with the severe pain attacks and facing surgery again. March, 2001. Still having pain from adhesions. Just don't know what to do. More surgery to remove THESE adhesions will just result with MORE adhesions. So stuck at a dead-end that is filled with pain.

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 elated while waiting on surgery. But I was incredibly nervous. I coped with my anxiety by talking online with others who had also been scheduled and were waiting.

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

They were different, to say the least. First two weeks were liquids. I ate so many soups and popsicles! Plan ahead. Have in your home, sugar-free jello, sugar-free popsicles, creamed soups, sugar-free apple sauce, and protein mix for protein drinks. Very important to get that protein in.

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

My surgeon and hospital were about 30 minutes from 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.

The first 2-3 weeks I was on liquids only, then I advanced to full liquids, then to soft chewables by the end of 6 weeks. I had problems with foods in the beginning due to swelling where the intestines was joined to the new stomach pouch. After 2 endoscopes, that problem was corrected and I have had no problems with any foods affecting me adversely. Sometimes I wish I was one of those people who couldn't eat sugar (*grin) as I'm a sugar-aholic. Really have to watch that so I don't gain weight back.

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

Dr. Engler started me off walking, walking, walking. Walking made me feel GREAT. As my weight dropped and my walking increased, my energy level soared.

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

Vitamin and Supplements taken daily: Protein: Very essential to healing and overall health. Helping me build back up muscle that I have lost. I get in 50-100gms. per day. B-12: I take a sublingual B-12, 500 mcg. (Note: I've been told that bypass post-ops can't absorb the B-12 pill). Magnesium: I take this along with my B-12. Iron: I take Perfect Iron. (Perfect Iron is a dry iron. Our bodies can't digest the oils after surgery, so you lose the irons which are suspended in oil. I take my iron on an empty stomach and wait about 45 minutes to eat. Iron needs time in the body alone). Vitamin C: I take this with my iron, because I was told it helps me absorb the iron. Calcium: Citracal Calcium Citrate Caplets + D. (Note: Be sure that you don't take Calcium Carbonate or Calcium made with Oyster Shells). Multi-Vitamin: Centrum A to Zinc (I was anytype multi-vitamin will do as long as it dissolves in water in 10-15 minutes. The Centrum does dissolve).

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 vomiting at first due to swelling. Went away after 3 endoscopes. Significant hair loss at a few months post-op. Now 15 months post-op, some of my hair has returned, but far from all of it. No dumping at all in the 15 months since surgery. No sleep problems. Adhesions formed 5-6 months post-op causing an intestional blockage. Severe pain resulted from that which affected my eating. Since 2 surgeries to remove adhesions, I have felt better. No food is affecting me adversely. March, 2001 update. Again, having severe pain from adhesions.

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

For me it was forming adhesions which adhered to my small intestines causing a partial blockage. I've had 2 surgeries in the past 3 months to correct the problem. I'm now 6 weeks post-op from the last surgery and so far I feel good. Outside of the adhesions, I have felt good. I had no problems with giving up food. I was lucky in that respect.

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

Dr. Engler has 4 support meetings per year. I also belong to several ossg egroup list. They are very, very helpful and important to me.

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

My scar is not bad at all. You can see my vertical scar and the horizontal scar from my tummy tuck at http://www.geocities.com/patsi_p

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

About every 4-5 weeks, I will sit at a plateau for about another 4-5 weeks, then I'll lose a few pounds and start over again.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

People treat slim people ALOT different than they do overweight people. Being a woman, I've noticed that men treat me alot different than the women do.