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

I'm an RN and I did utilization review work and used to actually collect the medical data for the insurance companies to review and determine medical necessity for the procedure. At that point in time I swore that I would do everything necessary to avoid having the surgery. But as the surgery became more common, and was done laparoscopically (much safer) I started to realize that it was a chance at a new beginning and I couldn't not take the chance to start my life over.

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

My insurance approval was very quick- I had medical complications of my obesity, I had a BMI of 52 - I was a walking time bomb. But there are people who aren't as lucky as I was (one of my friends is going through it now). My only advice is to document every single diet, pound lost, problems associated with weight- and bring them to your consult appointment and all appointments with your bariatric team.

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

I met with the surgeon after attending an information session on the procedures and doing my research. We discussed both procedures and the risks / benefits of one over the other. I had questions / concerns written down so I wouldn't forget to ask him anything.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I wanted to live long enough to see my kids graduate high school.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

My eating habits were quite obvious after journaling for a few months and I discussed my options in detail with the whole bariatric team. I came the conclusion that the RNY would work better for me than the lap band because I'm a 'grazer' and I eat a lot of sweets. I was hoping the dumping syndrome would help curb my sugar addiction.

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 didn't have fears about complications because I felt that as long as I listened to my body and notified the doctor of anything I was worried about we'd catch a complication early enough to fix it. I was afraid of dying- mostly leaving behind 2 small children, but I figured if I didn't have the surgery I'd end up dying sooner rather than later.

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 friends and family were very supportive both before and after surgery. I think the least worried person was my husband because he trusts my judgement. My success has prompted both my mother and a long term friend to actually move forward with having bariatric surgery themselves.

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

I didn't tell my employer (I work on a consultant basis and ensured I wasn't working during the inital surgical and post op period). I did tell my employer after the surgery when the weight just started melting off.

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 3 nights. I didn't require a stay in ICU or anything since I didn't have a problem with sleep apnea and medically I was stable. The first day after surgery it was all I could do to keep my eyes open from the anesthesia, but starting the next day I was up and walking around. I took minimal pain medication and was started on a liquid diet - that was the hardest part, getting the fluid down. It actually hurt to sip but after a few hours it didn't feel as bad. Books and magazines were a must - I found I enjoyed the "quiet time" to read - something I can't do often at home!

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

No complications at all - it's been smooth sailing since day one (I'm 10 months out now)

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 surgery date was booked about 4 wks before hand so I had a month to get things in order (I had a 2 yr old and 6 month old and needed to be sure my husband had support at home). I was excited more than anxious or afraid. I felt like I was being given a chance and as long as I kept a positive outlook that everything would be fine (and it has been).

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

The first 4 days for me were the hardest. I had a hard time getting my fluids in and I found the only thing I could tolerate was warm decaf tea so I drank buckets of it - but I'd sit at the kitchen table with a cup of tea, a 30cc medicine cup and sip 30cc every 15 minutes. Eventually I worked up to drinking right from the mug of tea. By day 5 I woke up feeling fine and by day 10 I was advanced to pureed foods. I'd eat very slowly, chew a lot (even though it was pureed) and take a break between bites. As long as I took my time and did exactly what the bariatric team told me I didn't have any problems.

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

The hospital I chose was within 6-7 miles from my home. I felt it necessary to have my surgery close enough to home to ensure that my attendance at support groups and my doctor's appointments were easy to get to.

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.

In the first few months I ate nothing but lean meats, veggies and crackers or toasted bread (whole grain only). After about 5-6 months I started to introduce small amounts of whole grains like brown rice and whole grain pasta- but I can only eat a very small amount of these and will eat them as a side with my protein source. I can tolerate pretty much anything with the exception of ice cream. It makes me very sick (dumping).

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

I walked for 30-40 minutes daily started 3-4 days after surgery. After I got the okay from my doctor (at 6 wks) I started going to a gym.

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

I take b-complex and a multivite daily plus calcium supplements and a b-12 once a week.

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 most bothersome / frightening side effect I had was hair loss and it wasn't really that bad. It lasted until I had a consistent protein intake of 60-70 grams daily.

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

The worst part for me are honestly the plateau's I hit along the way. You get so excited to see the scale go down every week that when it stalls for a few weeks you have this fear that you went through all of this for nothing and you'll never be less than that number you see on the scale.

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

The weight management center I go to has a monthly post op support group (open discussion) in addition to 2 other support groups that are lecture/topic based. I find it very helpful to attend at least one group a month, if merely to share my success with others.

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

I have 4 small scars all about 1/2" in length. They are actually less than what I expected.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I've had 3-4 plateaus each lasting about 3 wks. They are frightening and frustrating. I find the more I loose (the closer I get to goal weight), the longer the next plateau lasts. I've learned to be patient and not drive myself crazy but to increase my water and protein intake and ensure I'm moving moving moving (I was told changing up your exercise routine can help).

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

I don't think people treat me differently, I think I react differently. I'm no longer embarassed to be the fat mom at my son's school and I don't hide under bulky clothes. I enjoy every aspect of life more, just because I feel better about how I look. I always liked who I was on the inside, and that hasn't changed. Now I just like the outside too!