Patiurple

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Obesity & Me

Describe your behavioral and emotional battle with weight control before learning about bariatric surgery.

Trying different diets and failing, only to try again. And then finally just giving up on diets. I discovered diets did not work for me that I needed to change my lifestyle and after doing research, the bariatric surgery would be a tool I could use to help me accomplish the battle of the bulge.

What was (is) the worst thing about being overweight?

Not being able to go and when I want. Not being able to go hiking or simply do the things that I use to enjoy doing. And getting hot so easily and then sweating. I hate how much i sweat.

If you have had weight loss surgery already, what things do you most enjoy doing now that you weren't able to do before?

walking, going outside being able to ride a bike, not feeling like a huge blimp

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

My doctor in NC suggested it to me 10 years ago. At the time I heard alot of horror stories so I never gave it much thought.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

Tired of being overweight and not seeming able to have the willpower to stay on diets

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

RESEARCH AND MORE RESEARCH did i say RESEARCH

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 have few fears of dying on the table, or dying due to complications. I have more fears of dying from a heart attack if i do not have the surgery. I would tell others to do research.

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 siblings wantedto make sure I knew what I am getting into. When I assured them that I did, they said they would support me.

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

i was in the hospital for 8 days afte RNY. My cell phone and charger cause my room phone was always out of reach

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

yes lost of blood and a stupid RN that did not listen to me...Mursa infection that had me back in the OR three times. A huge hernia and now another HUGE FREAKING BULGE...i dealt with this at first by talking about them and now after being told by my surgeon I keep it to myself...apparently complications does not help the bottom dollar

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

Felt good no anxiety or worries

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

Since I was open RNY I had to deal with pain and the infection was horrible to deal with constantly draining and having a feeding tube plus g tubes was not fun at all...hopefully they will have support ast home which I did not have

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

drove 40 minutes there....none drove myself there and luckily had a friend to drive me home

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.

was not able to eat cottage cheese ot certain foods like that...I am able to eat just about anything I just chose not to....now that I am 9 months post op Most foods I tolerate well

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

some walking no exercise....was unable to exercise for months because of the other surgeries and now I am still limited to what I can do because of the abdominal BULGE

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

all that I am suppose to

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?

hair loss and the vomiting.. dealt with hair loss by cutting my hair and the vomiting by watching what I ate

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

not being able to do for myself

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

i was attending all supprt groups

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

long and kinda wide plus scars from the drain tubes and the holding stitches

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

none

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

yes
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