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

I found out about bariatric surgery when at a medical appointment being treated for cellulitis in my legs brought on by my weight. A nurse who was treating me mentioned it. I knew of the surgery but I did not think the hospital where I get my medical care did this procedure. I found out differently. I am a Disabled Veteran and use a VA Hospital. The surgery was not only done but a well known bariatric surgeon came from a well known University hospital to do the surgery. At that point I cried again and said yes, lets do it.

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

No insurance involved...

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

It was very informed and not rushed. Dr. Raper is highly qualifed in this surgery and comes to VA Hospital from a world know University & Teaching Hospital across the street. Veterans, like myself, have the surgery done at the VA. To get the most of that 1st meeting with the surgeon, you must have knowledge of what you are going to discuss with him/her. An uniformed patient will not understand if don't know even the basics of what you are asking to have done to improve your health and weight loss. You have to have a list of questions. Thinking, I'll remember them when I see the doctor, does not work. You will be nervous and not able to think clearly and you'll forget the questions you wanted to know. Ask the doctor about the survival rate for this surgery. Ask the doctor the long term prognosis after surgery. Look on the Internet and you will find a source of information to read or print which will help in forming your questions and anything else about the surgery prior to seeing the surgeon.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

It was a very simple decision...I had to choose between life or death. Without surgery I most likely would not be here right now. That is the extent of how my health had gone down hill. Luckily, I chose to live. It was the best decision I ever made in my life. I not only am still living but I am living with a purpose and reason. My purpose for living is to make up for a lot of lost time and things I missed out on due to my excessive weight. The reason, is to help, even if it is only one person, not end up like did as a walking time bomb of death. It is not fun to be like that, always wondering will this be the day. Life is a wonderful gift. I abused my life with food and now God has given me my life back to help someone else like me...It is an ongiving process and the most beautiful thing in this world, helping someone recover from the disease of Obesity.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

It was the proceedure of choice for my Surgeon. When I can get this down free as a Disabled Veteran I don't agrue or worry about the cosmetics of open or closed procedure or the type. I go along with the surgeon and was glad that I did.

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?

You will not go into the OR without fears, no matter how much you think otherwise. If I did not have fears, then I would question my motives for the surgery as well as my sanity. You have to remember, this is not the quick fix some people look for. Know your decision for this surgery is what you truly want to do before hitting that OR table. To reverse the surgery, depending on the type done, could cost you your life. Know the complications that you may face. You don't want to have a surprise pop up that you didn't know could happen. Know what the precentages of complications are. Know how they are dealt with should you experience one. I just keep going back, YOU MUST BE INFORMED AND KNOWLEDGEABLE OF THIS SURGERY AND ALL IT ENTAILS...IT IS YOUR LIFE, PROTECT IT.

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 was very skeptical yet supportive. We had just recently lost our mother to cancer and prior to that we lost our brother due to complications of obesity, diabetes, hypertension...etc. They did not want me to be the next sibling to die. Since my surgery my family and friends have been the best when it comes to support. At first they helped me with the physical things I could not do while recovering. Now, they are my morale boosters. I don't let them go crazy with inflating my ego or anything like that. What I allow them to do is share in the good and bad times post op so far. The weigh ins, the physical milestones I may have accomplished, giving me support when I may start to question myself as to "did I make the right decision or not." Things like that. Support is absolutely necessary is order to be a long term successful Gastric Bypass Patient, no matter what the procedure you may have had done. Medical support is also important. Your entire Medical Team must support you in your decision both before and post op. Make sure you will have support for this mission called Life, you need it to survive.

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

My stay in the hospital was very brief. I spent 3 1/2 days, total,in the hospital. The first three were spent in Surgical Intensive Care. I was managed quite well with 2 IV pain medications. I don't remember much else about the stay, except that I was glad to get home where I could get comfortable the way I know how to. Important things to bring to the hospital, a notebook and pen. It helped me to write down questions and also start journaling the feelings I was going through. I brought 3 pictures, my mom, who just died last year and my two nieces. Of course you bring the usual things needed for bathing and brushing teeth. If you know ahead of time you are going to be in SICU for anytime, it is best to leave all at home, unless there is no one to bring it to you.

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

My only problem after surgery is that my incision has been draining in two different areas. The surgeon told me all was okay and not to worry about it. It will take time for that to heal over and stop draining. There is no sign of infection. I just get crazy sometimes changing the dressings a couple times a day. But, if this is all I have to deal with then I am certainly happy. Other people I know how much more complicated complications.

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

The first few weeks after surgery I though I would never have energy in my life again. I could do nothing but sleep, eat the required meals/liquids and sleep somemore. I was so tired all the time. I thought there was something wrong with me. About 3 or 4 weeks after surgery I developed a severe infection with a tempature of 105 degrees. The source of the infection was unable to be determined. That gave me high anxiety for sure. I keep journaling in order to deal with the anxiety and feelings I was going through. I have a great medical team and via the telephone they helped me to keep anxiety at moderate to small level.

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

The first 4 weeks were a little rough. I still wasn't moving around very well at that point. The pain was not a big problem for me. It will vary with each individual. I had a lot of things within easy reach of me including the kitchen trash can. I had help with laundry, lite house cleaning and stuff like that. The help was from family and friends. You can expect to be very tired/exhausted. Your body needs time to recovery physically as well as emotionally. It is one thing to eat what they give you in a hospital setting, but once you come home you CAN'T, CAN'T, CAN'T, go back to your old ways. You must adhere, to the letter, the instructions from your doctor or Dietician. If you chose to do things YOUR WAY you will suffer problems, nausea or vomiting, the "DUMPING SYNDROME," and whatever else may hit you. Some, if not all, have varying degrees of what will happen if you chose to not follow the guidelines that are given to you. You must also MOVE, MOVE, MOVE...You can't just sit in a recliner or on any furniture and think that is recoverying. It doesn't work that way. The first 10 days I would consider just moving around in doors. After that first post op visit, then maybe venture outdoors, weather permitting, just a little bit/few steps each day. Just try to go a little further each day but don't push yourself to increased pain or discomfort.

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

Travel distance and time for me were approximately 15 miles and 30 minutes travel time. It was uncomfortable with the seatbelt across the incision, but just bring a small pillow or soft stuffed animal to put between your incision and the seat belt. It may look funny but it will surely help you. Even though the travel issue may be of quite distance, I would recommend that you find a local doctor in the area so you don't have to travel to another state or long distances within your own state. This doctor could send any information from your visit to your surgeon via a fax machine.

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 6 weeks post op went from liquids to what I like to refer as Mushy foods. Soft foods, eggs, jello, sugarfree puddings etc. For me it was also very experimental. As time went on I tried new things. That is the only way to know if it is something you can tolerate. You can't go by what someone else experiended and think it won't work for you. I can handle ground meat, chicken, pork and turkey...I can not handle, chew up small or mushy enough steak. Minute steaks are the exception. I can eat apples, pears, plums, peaches ext. provided the outer skin is peeled. You must, at all times, take very small bites and chew until you have nothing else to chew. Our newly created pouches are very sensitive and you will never get anything passed them that should not be in there. That is very important to remember. NO, NO, NO surgar products. It is not pleasant to experience the "Dumping Syndrome." For myself, "ONCE WAS ENOUGH." You have to experiment for what will work for you and never compare yourself to someone else. WE ARE ALL DIFFERENT!!

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

I have no aftercare support group. That is lacking where I receive my health care. Getting to the University Hospital is difficult for me because of transportation issues. I did make it there a couple of times before surgery and the support given in that room was outstanding. This is a must for complete aftercare. I only hope now that someday the Hospital I go to will put something this valuable to our recovery in place. If it is available to you after surgery, please take advantage of it. Support is needed.

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

My scar is very long. It runs from right where clevage would stop all the down and around my belly button. It is draining in a couple of places right now, so it is not healing the way it should. I did expect the long scar as I had one in the past for a different surgery. I did not expect to see the areas of drainage pop up. Now, I have to wait on time to heal things up. Update: 11/3/02 My scar is completely healed. Except for the two area's where I experienced drainage it is a nicely fading line going down my abdomen.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

Just over 8 months post op and I have not experienced any plateau's yet. My surgeon told me I can expect to lose at this rate (above average loss) for approximately 4 or 5 months. Then he explained that is when I will most likely hit that first plateau. He also told me not to get upset, it is normal and expected by all who have this surgery. Once, over the plateau, my weight loss will start up but at a much slower rate per month that what it is now.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Yes, I have noticed some extreme jealousy from "friends" since I have had the surgery and subsequent weight loss. I belong to a group that a very few have suggested I took the easy way out to lose weight. To those people who say or think that anywhere in this world, I say this: "Walk a mile or one day in my shoes before surgery...then you'll know why I had this surgery." It is not a quick weight loss gimmick, this is for life just as insulin is for a diabetic. I could not live without this. I get very defensive to run across someone saying something like that or even just hinting about it... Another thing, I AM TREATED WITH RESPECT NOW AND NOT LIKE SOME FAT PERSON ON A SCOTTER WHO IS TOO LAZY TO GET UP AND WALK. That could be a very positive thing but some people who know want my attention did not want anything to do with me as a severely mobid obese person. ...JUST WALK IN MY SHOES...