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

I found out through a friend who had the surgery about 3 yrs. ago and we talked about it but I never persued it.Then another woman from my home town had it done and through a friend she gave me Information about Dr.Oliphart and his number.So I called.I wanted the surgery to get my health back and to feel better Physically and Mentally.Then I got on the computer and went to Obese Help.com and there everything was,any information you needed.Obese Help.com was really a big plus for me.

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

I'm on Illinois Medicaid and I just gave my card to Dr. Oliphants office and they handled it all for me. It took awhile because my paper work was misplaced,but as soon as it was sent in I was approved first time around..

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

When I got to my appointment I watched a movie and it showed everything that was going to be done,and the risk .I was scared !! After I talked to Dr.O He told me I should be scared because this is a life time Changing surgery...He answered all my questions and was very honest.To anyone going to see your surgen write down all the questions you want to ask him because i forgot alot of mine..

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I WANT TO LIVE NOT EXSIST !! If I don't have the surgery I will not be around to see my grandkids grow up ,so I'm ready to live again...

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I seen Dr.Oliphant and he decided for me to have the open RNY For I have scar tissue from a gallbladder surgery.

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 believe everyone has the fear of dying. I know i did, and I talk to Dr.O and he told me 1-200 do die..He was very honest. But he also explained that most people die from medical promblems they had before the surgery.Like someone who has heart promblems are at risk for a heart attack.So Dr.O put me at ease. If you have any fear's talk to your Doctor about them.

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 is not supporting me with my decision on having the surgery.I have one sister who has alittle fear that something may go wrong.

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

I NOT WORKING AT THE TIME BEING.

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

MY STAY AT CARLE HOSPITAL WAS GREAT. THE NURSES HELPED ME TO GET UP AND WALK BECAUSE YOU HAVE ALOT OF TUBES ON YOU AT FIRST..I WAS THERE 3 DAYS.. THE ONLY THING I NEEDED TO BRING WAS MY TOOTHBRUSH AND HAIR CONDITIONER..

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

I HAD NONE. DR.OLIPHANT WENT RIGHT OVER MY GALLBLADDER SCAR WHICH WAS LOCATED BETWEEN MY BREAST BONE TO MY NAVEL AND I ASK ABOUT THE PAIN AFTERWARD'S AND THEY SAID IT WOULD BE LIKE MY GALLBLADDER SURGERY SO I KNEW WHAT TO EXPECT..I DID START BLEEDING, IT WAS LIKE I WAS HAVING MY PERIOD. IT LASTED FOR 8 DAYS AND THEY SAID IT WAS EXPECTED FOR THIS KIND OF SURGERY..

In the weeks after you got your surgery date, how did you feel? How did you cope with any anxiety you might have felt?

OH WOW, I know I have alot of emotions going on inside of me..I'm happy,excited, But also I have fear that something will go wrong and that I could of lived a few yrs. longer being big. But I know deep in my heart I will die or be messed up from a stroke if I don't do something very soon..I have alot of anxiety but I just keep thinking of the Big Picture when I get done with this surgery. I will be healthy,Happy, so thats what keeps me going..UPDATE !! 8/20/03 I'm down to the wire I've got less then 14 days till my surgery, I'm Very excited..

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

WHAT TO EXPECT...THE FIRST FEW DAYS WAS RUFF..I HAD TO HAVE HELP WHEN I USED THE RESTROOM FROM MY STOMACK BEING SO SWELLED UP,I COULD'NT WIPE MYSELF. I GOT PRETTY AGGERVATED AND WOULD CRY.. I TOOK PAIN MEDICATION FOR THE FIRST 2-3 DAYS AT HOME AND THEN I DID'NT NEED IT..I JUST WALKED AND KEPT MOVING..IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO RIDE IN A CAR,iT WAS VERY PAINFULL.. BEING 2 WEEKS POST-OP I STILL HAVE TROUBLE BENDING OVER..

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

When I first got approved I lived in paris Illinois which was about an hour drive. Since I have moved to Vandalia Illinois and it's about 2 hr drive.

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'M JUST STARTING MY PURED DIET AND I HAVE HAD NO TROUBLE WITH ANY FOOD YET.. COTTAGE CHESSE,REFRIED BEANS AND CHEESE,CHEESE NIPS,MASH POTATOES, ALL OF THESE MUST BE LOW FAT OR MADE WITH SKIM MILK..

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

WHEN I FIRST GOT HOME I WAS'NT TIRED AT ALL, NOW THAT I'M 2 WEEKS OUT I'M STARTING TO FEEL ALOT MORE TIRED THEN I EVER HAVE..

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

I TAKE A FLINTSTON CHEWABLE, VITAMIN B,

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?

AFTER 2 WEEKS OUT I SOMETIMES BECOME NAUSIA.IT'S NOT BAD THAT I CAN'T HANDLEIT. I BELIEVE IT'S FROM DRINKING TO SOON AFTER I EAT..

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

I BELIEVE YOU CAN CHANGE YOUR STOMACK BUT NOT YOUR MIND, I STILL WANT CERTAIN FOODS,ESPECIALLY WHEN MY DAUGHTER COOKS AND IT SMELLS SO GOOD.ALL I WANT IS JUST A SMALL BITE. BUT I CAN'T.. SO DON'T THINK YOU WON'T MISS FOODS BECAUSE YOU WILL...

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

I'M NOT IN ANY SUPPORT GROUPS,JUST PEOPLE ON OBESITYHELP.COM.. MOST OF MY FAMILY WILL NOT TALK TO ME AND ARE NOT SUPPORTING ME AT ALL..

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

DR.OLIPHANT WENT RIGHT OVER MY GALLBLADDER SCAR I HAD.IT WAS FROM MY BREAST BONE TO MY NAVEL.AFTER DR.O DONE THE SURGERY MY SCAR IS ALOT SMALLER THEN IT WAS TO START WITH..

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

YES!!!! Especially Men,I could'nt get a date for years now I have so many ph.#'s I don't know what to do with.Women seem to not want to talk to me anymore.It's sad because I'm the same person just a smaller body.