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

I first found out about it on a news program. My first thought was disbelief, I mean how many diet programs had I seen on tv that did not work for me at all. Even throughout the whole process of trying to learn about it and getting approved I still felt as if this will never work for me.

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 went pretty smooth,but I was very prepared. I would suggest to anyone out there that you get a three ring binder and start sectioning it off. I had sections for insurance info, diet info, doctor info, physc eval info, etc... I also took pictures of myself in a bathing suit (YUCK) from the front and side to be sent over. I got letters from my family doctor, endocronologist(sp?), and my knee and back doctors. I think these helped. I also wrote a letter myself and my mother surprised me by writing a very emotional letter as well. All in all I think these things combined helped get me approved very quickly.

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

My first surgeon did not go very well. He almost went to sleep sitting right there in the room. I waited for over 2 hours after my appointment time and then was in there for only 10 minutes with him. I came in totally prepared and fought with his office for nearly a year trying to get it all turned into insurance. I finally dumped him and changed to Dr. Tenewitz, which was the best decision I ever made. Dr T. requires you to first attend a group meeting, then at the meeting schedule a time to meet with the patient counselor. After meeting with her she will schedule a time to meet the doctor. The first visit went very well, and because I was so prepared, had my evaluations done, and all my paperwork in order he gave me a date right then and there!

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

This site! If it had not been for this site and all the wonderful people that are spending time updating their profiles I would have been on the fence for a long time! Thank you AMOS and my AMOS family!

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

Once again this decision was from reading the profiles on this site and researching the different experiences. I then was able to gauge what I thought I needed as far as surgery and go from there.

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 did not think about dying that much, not until they were wheeling me into the operating room. Then I got scared. I was concerned about the complications but took all the advice from my surgeon on what to do and what not to do to make the surgery easier. I would suggest to everyone out there that they follow ALL instructions by the surgeon, STOP smoking, DO NOT gorge the week before on all the foods you will "miss", and donot eat big the night before.

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 supportive very step of the way. I never received ANY negative feedback from anyone. My husband was by my side from the beginning to end and never doubted my decisions. I make a decision not to tell my friends, and to this day have not told them exactly what has been done. Maybe after I loose all my weight I will but until then I choose not to. After the surgery my family has been wonderful, by my side and taking care of me. My husband has been absolutely incredible with adjusting to my new habits and needs. It has been nice to know that I do not have to worry about thinking of what to feed him every night when I can not eat any of it anyway!

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

I did not tell my employer what kind of surgery I was having. I explained that I had an abnormality in my digestive system that had to be repaired. I was out of work for over 2 months, but I had some complications during and after surgery that caused me to be sicker than normal.

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

I do not remember much about my stay at the hospital because I was pretty ill throughout all of it. I was in the hospital for 7 days, during that time I received multiple blood transfusions. The staff was nice for the most part and most of the nurses were very supportive and understanding. I think the most important thing to bring to the hospital is support from family!! Other than that I suggest a fan, several night gowns, hair ties for the women, slippers, a comfy robe, SEVERAL pairs of undies (MORE than you need), chapstick, and some before and after pictures from this site do not hurt to have when you are feeling nasty!

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

during my surgery my spleen, gallbladder, and part of my liver had to be removed. I was extremely sick afterwards and very weak. I received several blood transfusions before my blood count went back up. I kept blowing my IV lines and my veins were really bad so I had to get a central line put in, that was absolutely HORRIBLE. I suggest to everyone that you ask your doctor to put one in while you are out during surgery! After that was in they gave me all my shots, IV fluids and drew my blood from it. no more needles. But do not let them do it without any pain meds or numbing agent, it is very painful that way. I just dealt with all of it one day at a time, and my mother, father and husband standing at my side helped.

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 felt like crap! I was so sorry I did this, I hated myself for putting my body thru this. I was ashamed that I had to take such drastic measures to loose weight because I could not control my eating habits. I am not sure how I coped, i just did and each day it got better. I tell everyone that is thinking of this surgery to NEVER talk to anyone that is less than 4 months post-op!

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

I was very sick my first few weeks. later it was found that I had an ulcer and it was causing a lot of pain. My keton level kept skyrocketing and it was making me vomit every 20 minutes, I could not get fluids in and all the medicines made me sick. I think most people do not experience this level of complications.

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

I travel about an hour and a half to my doctors office. The affect on my aftercare has been very little, other than when I needed to go to the emergency room I was no where near my doctor.

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 few weeks I couldnot eat anything, strictly liquids and the only thing I could tolerate was diet sprite mixed with water. I finally started with tuna salad and scrambled egg. Of course I only ate a tablespoon each time. As time goes on I have tried other things but find that I can tell as soon as I put them in my mouth if the consistency is ok for my pouch. I do not eat red meat at all because it is too chewy for me now and it just does not taste good anymore. I eat a lot of chicken at four months out, but it has to be juicy or I can not eat it. Anything doughy is OFF limits, no bread, bagels, etc. Pasta is a NO NO and so is rice. I find that food just does not taste as good anymore. It seems that now instead of eating because I love the taste of food, I eat because I have to!

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

My activity level was very low for the first few weeks due to all my complications but I made sure I walked everyday at least a few houses and back a couple times a day.

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

I take a sublingual B-12 every other day, a multi-vitamin in a soft plastic capsule that dissolved fast and extra protein via liquid or bars.

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?

I think the vomiting and the diarrhea are the worst. I am four months out and still vomit at least 4 or 5 times a week. My pouch just does not accept food sometimes. I can eat the same thing for three days in a row and the third day I get very sick. I have learned not to walk to fast, lay down, or bendover after eating or that makes me sick.

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

The worst part has been the sickness and learning to eat again. It can be very frustrating to learn to not eat or drink. Going out to eat with people and having the waiters constantly ask you if your food is bad because you do not eat anything and learning to make that little tiny bit last as long as a full meal.

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

I do not have a support group. I do tend to get online and read profiles every day on the site to help me along. I would recommend people attend them as much as possible, mind is just too far away.

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

My scar is a lot bigger than I thought it would be. The doctor did explain that mine was larger due to complications. It also seperated very badly because I vomited constantly for weeks after the surgery.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I am only four months out and hit one plateau that did not last long at all.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

I have lost 100 lbs so far and people are definetely treating me different. It is sad, I think I am the same person I always was but because i am not on the outside I get treated different now.