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

I first heard of bariatric surgery from a coworker that was getting ready for it. She was 400 pounds and at that time I was only 350 or so and I thought she was taking the easy way out. But after talking to her I realized that maybe this might be for me. I was really impressed on how much she knew. It took another 6 months before asking about it with my doctor.

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

I had originally asked about the surgery to a nurse practioner, she didn't recommend the surgery because it was "Butchering up your body". About 6 months later I was very tired and I tried everything I could think of and I asked my primary care doctor. He thought I would be a great canidate for the surgery and started my paperwork immediately. It took another 6 months before meeting the surgeon.

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

I left away very upset because I really thought I would get a surgery date at that time. However, he wanted me to lose 20 pounds before scheduling the surgery and he gave me 3 months to do it. I was very upset because my feelings were that if I could lose 20 in 3 months then why would I need the surgery. However, after I thought about what he told me about how he wanted me to be in the best shape I could possibly be in at the time of surgery, I did what he wanted me to do and I did it in 2 months.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

Because I couldn't take care of myself and take care of my daughter. I also was very tired of being FAT and I needed help!!!

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I went to a seminar that Pacific Bariatric was having and listen to what they had to say and after researching on the internet I knew it had to be the gastric bypass surgery because that was the most successful and if I was going to do this I wanted it to be done correctly and I wanted to be successful!!!

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 really had no fears because I knew God was with me and I have to much to live for. I had total faith!!

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 and friends were totally 100% supportive. My family was another story...my sisters and mom are obese too and they thought that I was taking the easy way out and they thought I was totally out of my mind. But after answering all their questions and after the surgery they have because very supportive. My sisters however, are both very jellous.

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

When I started my new job, I was waiting to hear from the surgeon but I told my employer during the interview for the job that I was planning to do this. They were very supportive and I was out of work for 10 weeks. I could of gone back in 8 but they called and suggested that I take another two weeks.

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

My hospital stay was fine. The care was wonderful and I was there for 3 days. The most important thing to bring was my pillow and blanket because those two items made me relax alot better.

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

I had a really hard time with concentration after my surgery. I was not able to keep very much food down. I would throw up alot. My primary care doctor was concerned and at one point he said it was like I had all the symptoms of someone that was annerix.(not correct spelling) Anyway, after I went back to work for only two weeks I was let go from my job and I ended up going back on disability. It took another 3 months after that before I was feeling better and was able to work again. After taking magnisim for the concentation problem and making sure to take the protein and vitamins I was feeling alot better.

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 very excited and I just couldn't wait. I had dreams about how I was going to look and July 26, 2002 just couldn't come fast enough.

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

I was sore however I was back in the pool for water aroebics, didn't do to much exercise, however, I was there because the pool made me feel so much better because of the weightlessness that the water does for you. I recommend to anyone and everyone who has the surgery to get into the pool as soon as they can because it will make them feel better.

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

I live in San Francisco Bay Area and I had my surgery in San Diego. The only thing that I didn't like was that I just couldn't go to the surgeons office for my followup appts. I had to wait and go to them when they come up north and see everyone like a cattle car. But otherwise the travel part was fine.

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.

I tried to stick with the diet they gave us. First start with mushy foods and kind of like a baby would eat. By the end of the first month I was craving salad really bad but I didn't have that until 4 months out. My husband is a butcher and meat was another thing that I wanted. It took until 7 months out before trying that. The funny thing is that I used to love chicken before my surgery and now, my system doesn't tollerate it at all. I throw up everytime I eat chicken. Red meat is fine, no problems. I recommend that anyone and everyone follow the diet their surgeon gives them to the letter. It makes it much easier.

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

I was very weak. The only energy I had was to go to the gym for 2 hours a day then I would come home and sleep and watch tv. It took 6 months to finally feel that I could work. You see between my 3 month and 6 month I was lucky if I could get 500 calories a day in me. I think it had to do with stress and that I was loosing so much weight so quickly. My primary care doctor was shocked that I saw him at the end of September and when I say him 6 weeks later I had lost 70 pounds. Yes, 70 pounds in 6 weeks.

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

I take a one a day vitamin, magnisim, calcium, vitamin C, and I drink one pro complex shake, made with water only, every day!!!

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 hair loss started at exactly 4 months out. I had alot of hair so it really didn't effect me that much. It just became annoying when I had to clean my hairbrush out every day. The vomiting I still have. I think when I eat something to fast or not chew well enough or when I am stressed, I will vomit. I have learned to slow down so I don't vomit. Another weird thing is that I didn't have the dumping until 11 months after surgery. I get it when I eat dairy products and or alcohol, wine only. So I don't drink alcohol and I eat very very little dairy products.

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

The lack of concentration and vomiting.

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

I didn't start going to a support group until 10 months out. I had two friends who had surgery the same day I did and another who had it 6 months prior to me and we all kind of helped eachother. But I went to a support group meeting 10 months out and I realized I should of done it a long time ago because it was very helpful!!! There was just others going through the same thing I was and it was nice to hear and help other people.

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

My scar is about 10 inches and that is exactly what I expected.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

Well, I really haven't had any because it is now 1 year out and I have lost a total of 195 pounds, I started out at 390 pounds. I am 1/2 of what I was a year ago. There have been weeks that I don't lose anything but then the next week I lose 10 pounds. I longest I have gone without losing anything was 3 weeks. Then all of a sudden I lose. It scared me because I don't ever want to go back to where I was and so I really am tring to eat right and exercise.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Yes, Yes, and YES!! I am not discriminated like I was. People look at me in the face and treat me with respect. I have met alot of new people that some I know would of never talked to me when I was 390 pounds but they will talk to me now. The other day I was driving home and a guy in a pickup truck was trying to pick up on me and it made me giggle and made me feel attractive again that I hadn't felt in 20 years.