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

I saw it advertised on TV and my first impression was if it really worked.

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

My insurance was approved after 2 weeks. The only advice I have for other people is to keep calling the doctors office to see if they have heard from the insurance people if you dont' hear anything after a few weeks. Sometimes the Drs. office is slow in sending them out.

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

My first visit was very informal, I didn't ask enough questions. I would remember after I would leave the office of a lot of things I wanted to ask. If you want to get the most out of your first meeting with your physician then write down the questions you want to ask and take them with you. Write down any concerns you may have cause it is very easy to forget is you don't have them on paper. Also if there is anything you don't understand make sure your physician knows this, have him explain in terms that you will understand.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

My overall health made me decide to have the surgery. That was the biggest thing. Also I wanted to look good and be able to be active again and fit into clothes. But my health was the main issue.

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

I had my surgery in June of 2000 and I was there for 5 days. The hospital provides most of the toileting items you will need. For yourself the most important things to bring would be your own PJ's, something loose and comfortable and also the same for panties. You will be sore and won't want anything on tight. Bring your own pillow to lay on cause the hopsitals pillows are uncomfortable. Also bring a small pillow to hold to your stomach when getting up, some hospitals provides them others don't. I didn't feel like reading or anything and I slept most of the time so I don't think you will need anything to entertain yourself.

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

I didn't have any complications what so ever.

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 quiet sore after the surgery for weeks. Mostly when I would turn in bed. I only took pain pills for a few days afterwards. I slept alot after getting home and I would take small walks around the house to work the soreness out but for the first few weeks I just layed around and took it easy. I didn't have any anxiety cause seeing the pounds come off and knowing that I was going to be small again helped a lot. I lost 15 pounds while in the hospital.

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

Don't expect much from your first few weeks after getting home from the hospital. Your body went through a lot of changes and it needs to heal. Just take it easy and if you feel like sleeping then do. You will be sore for awhile but you can handle it.

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

I only lived 20 minutes from the hospital and so it didn't affect my 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.

For the first 6 weeks after surgery I only drank liquids. No carbonated beverages or you will get gas in your stomach and it is very painful. I drank mostly koolaid unsweetened, unsweetened tea, gatorade. No surgar whatsoever or you will get dumping syndrome and believe me once you get it you won't ever touch sugar again. I couldn't drink chocolate milk or any milk products. I still can't drink chocolate milk cause I dump. After 6 weeks I graduated to jello, mash potatoes and could only eat a tablespoon at a time. I wasn't hungry though and I didn't have the cravings of food like I use to. I would say after a year I was able to eat whatever I wanted but a few foods I still can't tolerate like saurkraut, weiners, bologna. I still don't eat sugar I don't know if I can but I don't want to try after getting dumping that time. Each month or two you will find something else you can eat that you couldn't before. Everyone is different so take your time and don't rush. I can still enjoy McDonalds and all the other fast food restraunts now.

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

No much activity other than sleeping and laying around on the couch. I would take very short walks around the yard and that was about it. I didn't have much energy at that time.

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

I have been taken one a day vitamins with iron. I also have taken vit B12 injections.

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?

Sometimes if I forgot and drank too fast or swallowed too fast I would vomit. If I took my time it wouldn't happen. I never lost any hair. Dumping was the worse for me and it happened quiet often cause I was getting use to different kinds of food again and learning all over again that there were food you can't tolerate like before. Don't be fooled when someone tells you that dumping is caused by sugar alone cause its not. You can dump if eating too fast or drinking too fast. Certain foods will cause you to dump, but you will learn what you can eat and what you can't. This is a whole new process for you and its like learning new and better habits all over again.

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

The worse part about the surgery was the pain and soreness. But with the pain you have medication and it does relieve it. Don't wait till you're hurting too bad to use it, if you have a PCA where you deliver your own pain medication. If you start to hurt and need something then take it, sometimes waiting too long will take the medicine longer to work.

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

There is no after care support program here. I believe it would be very beneficial for patients to have a support group.

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

My scar is pretty much what I expected its not really bad, and has gotten lighter as the years have gone by.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I'm having one now. I have been at 160 for the past year and I have an appt with Dr. Denning to see about this.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Oh Lord Yes!! I get alot more respect and people seem to take notice of what I'm saying when I'm talking. Men notice me and whistle or flirt but by golly they never flirted with me when I was large so forget them now. I'm still the same person.