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

I first found out about it because one of the girls I work with had decided to have it done. I was angry at her almost because I felt it was ridiculous to go to that extreme to be thin. I focused on the weight loss for looks and not health. After she had it done I had decided to try to eat what she was eating and see if I could do it, of course that didn't work either. Then her sister, who also works at our same office had it and that is when I began to consider it seriously for myself. I found wls and read it every day sometimes twice a day and through all this decided it was for me.

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

It actually went pretty smoothe for me. I had to have a few tests that my BC required, but I was approved much faster then some.

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

I thought my first consult was fine. I had written down questions for about a month before my appointment. I can honestly say most of them were answered by his presentation alone. I asked him the rest of the ones I had written and he did answer them all. I did feel that he would do the surgery on most everyone though. I have learned since that they are careful with who has it, but alot of people are doing it now.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I saw the fast weight loss on the girls I work with and started attending a support group near my home. It was strange though, because once I did decide and finally got all the testing done and the insurance approval, I had never felt fatter in my life. I know that sounds strange, but I guess by admitting it out loud to myself and the people around me, took a toll on my mentally.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I pretty much had decided to have open and left the rest up to the surgeon.

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 can't say I didn't ever think about the fact that I could have died from having surgery, but I did not dwell on it. I kept myself very positive before surgery. I didn't write letters to my family and stuff preparing in case I died, but I did talk to my sister and let her know what I wanted. The day of surgery I was so calm it was almost strange. My worse time was the three months following surgery. I remember it started when they took me down for the swallow test my third day after surgery to check for leaks. It finally hit me then that if I had a leak I would have had to go into surgery again and for some reason that started a string of fears with me that I dealt with for three months. I thought for sure that anything that could go wrong with me would. It was very hard to deal with and I am making sure that our support group talks alot about emotional issues in order to help others that may be dealing with some of the same fears get them out into the open.

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 co-workers were and still are my best support. My family, mainly my husband, have been there with all the way. I think I had the best support system ever and they are continuing to be there for me. I am grateful.

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

My boss reacted wonderful. In fact, she was so supportive I would discuss my feelings with her alot. I told her the truth about everything as I did with the people I work with. In fact, I do not try to hide the fact that I had this surgery. I do let them know however, that it is only a tool and I am doing the rest of the work. I was off work for 6 weeks and will be off another 2 in June to have my gallstones taken out.

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

I thought my hospital stay was great!! I did not have any problems at all with any staff members and felt I never had to wait very long for anything. I was there from a Wednesday to Saturday. I had two events happen to me but neither was the fault of any staff member. I had a reaction to the pain med vicodin, it made me have horrible nightmares but they changed it the next day to Tylenol 3 and I was fine. The second incedent was after I got the enemas I had gas so bad I was held up for 4 extra hours. But, once I passed it I was fine and released quickly. I really didn't need to bring anything along to the hospital with me. Everything was provided. I do tell people to ask for the tongs that help you wipe after surgery. I found those very, very valuable.

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

I did not have complications...thank God and my surgeon.

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 had alot of anxiety for the first three months. I thought I was dealing with it but I guess I was coming across as very paranoid to my friends at work. Every ache and pain I had I thought for sure it was a blockage, leak or something else. It made me very depressed and I saw my physician and was put on anti-depressants and now I am feeling great!

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

I was sore for the first week and had to sleep in a recliner because it was too uncomfortable to lay flat. I stopped pain meds by my third day home. I walked twice a day. Walking is the most important. I followed by the book what I could put into my mouth and it gave my stomach a chance to heal correctly. I had my mother here with me and she was a big help but I did not let her wait on me. I made myself get up and I did things for myself. i would plan out my meals for the whole day so I did not have to think about it.

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

2 1/2 hours. Did not affect my aftercare much. We had to stop every hour on the way home so I could walk. I went to my first two appointments and then decided to just have my own PC do my three month check up. I will go to the hospital to have my one year.

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.

This is a hard question since it has been so long. I do not eat sugar, I do minimal fat. I try not to eat much fried foods at all. My first picks when eating are protein, then vegetables, and last is carbs. I eat about a cup to a cup and half of food. I have gone to a buffet and I will try a variety but dont clean my plate clean. I always leave food on it now. I can eat just about anything, except pickles, for some reason they make me nauseous. I dont eat much bread, maybe a bite here and there, fills me up too much. I cant do it week by week, It really doesnt change that often.

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

I was walking around the yard and the garage in the days following my surgery. I started out doing two laps around the yard three times a day and then increased it as I felt better. After a couple of weeks I was walking the roads and could about a 1/2 mile. I increased that to a mile and then just kept going. By 6 months out I was walking 4 miles and then biking 4 to 6. On the days I wasnt walking and biking I would do Jane Fondas workout followed by richard simmons.

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

I take two chewable sugar free bugs bunny vitamins a day with two tums for calcium.

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 only dumped once and that was when I started on full liquids because I followed the book suggestion for a meal and it was way too much to eat at once. Other then that I have gotten nauseous a few times and I walk it off. I have never vomited and the hair loss was alot at around 4 months post-op and then it stopped. I am 14 months out and am having some slight loss again, but I am not concerned. My hair is more brittle then it used to be though, I use special shampoos and conditioners and its fine.

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

For me it was being unprepared for the emotional aspect of it. Giving up food was like losing a friend and noone had prepared me for that. I went to counseling on my own and now am dealing with the changes my life has taken, but the surgery process did not include dealings with that aspect and I think it should.

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

I am in a support group that meets once a month and I feel its very important. It keeps me on the right track with my eating and the support of others who have been through it makes it easier. I am also part of the wls group here on line and I read the message board every day still. I have been an angel for two people now and I think the information we all share is vital in our succeeding.

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

my scar was very thin when I first came home but once I started working out it became wider. Its about a half inch in width at some parts. It is fading some in color as I keep tanning but it will always show. The very top of my scar is thick and pulls some when I stretch, I dont like that part of it. Otherwise, I knew it was going to be big and long so I expected it.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

At about 9 months I hit a plateau for two months. The scales did not move. I weigh myself once a week and take measurements once a month and that is the only thing that kept me from going crazy over the standstill. I was losing inches while my weight was sitting still. Then I had a 6 pound loss and it started again. Now that I am over a year out it is coming off very slow.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Yes, yes, yes....People react very different to me now. Men flirt with me and smile at me. Even women smile at me more. I know some people feel comfortable making comments about overweight people to me now and I dont like that part and tell them. I am noticed for different reasons now when I walk into a room.